Running what’s turned into a bird blog has had me contemplate the kind of impression I give to others. What I hope is that people look at my posts and get warm fuzzies. However I’ve been thinking lately... do I contribute to people making quick decisions to get a bird without proper research so they can have a bird like the cute one they saw online? It’s so beautiful to have birds, but hard too. And so I want to share the hard parts honesty. Kowhai (the budgie) and Whero (the goldfinch) were recently introduced (under supervision) after quarantine and what at first looked like would be an acceptance of each other has quickly turned into Whero becoming territorial and violent against Kowhai. The main setup is the whole house is free roaming for the birds, but now Whero chases Kowhai off everything in every room. It got to the point where they are needing to be separated constantly. Poor Whero, who is only acting on her natural instinct, is being forced to stay in one room with less company, which is very unfair to her. Poor Kowhai who already has weak wing feathers has lost two of his only grown in ones due to being chased.
So an incredibly hard situation has presented itself. What I hoped would be rescuing and helping a little bird out and adding to my family has turned into an unfair situation for both these little fluffballs.
We’re hoping to come up with a fair solution soon. Sadly, it may mean re-homing Whero where she can own the territory she needs.
I just want to occasionally post the honest truth that comes with having these wonderful dinos in our lives. As much as I would love to have Whero and Kowhai live in a beautiful utopia together in my bird-safe home, I need to respect their needs. Kowhai needs to be safe in the home that’s always been his. Whero needs to practice her natural instincts in a safe place too. Sometimes different bird’s needs don’t mix. It’s worth every second I spend with my birds, but it is hard too. While you get cute videos and pictures, it also comes with hard choices. I hope any of you considering adding a bird (or getting a second one) to your family will consider these situations before you venture forward. <3
