Good Evening Nancy: I too own parrots. I have a Green Wing Macaw, which I hand fed. I have an Umbrella 2 which I have hand fed. I have a wild caught Moluccan 2, which wouldn't mate up for the breeder, so I purchased. I have a Hahn's Macaw which I had purchased from BC. Flew in on Canadian Airlines :), and a new African Grey baby I'm currently hand feeding. I love looking at your website and the success stories. I feel so sad for these babies when their owners for whatever reasons can't keep them. I know that when I bring a new bird into the house that mine get a "knot on" for a bit, so must just be devastating for them to not have their owners or their home anymore. So so Sad. I believe that what you are doing is awesome and to publish it the way that you do takes a lot of courage. You are a wonderful person and must have a wonderful family, man it gets noisy here, I can just imagine at "talk times" how much noise you must have within your home! My greeting committee knows the sound of my truck in the yard and I can hear them as soon as I step out. I have to come say hi to them all and they settle until sundown their next session. Unless of course the dogs are barking then they have to make their voices heard as well. Keep up the wonderful work that you are doing. Don't let the others get you down, they don't deserve a second thought. Anyone in my books that can help people out to try and keep their birds, or find homes for them, or keep them yourselves because of issues, deserves so many medals you could line the walls with them!! But your walls are probably lined with cages instead. Love what you are doing, would love to keep in touch. Keep up the great work! Hugs to you and yours. Sue
        
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This was recieved in a card today along with a donation and I have copied the text here. We just want to express our thanks for heling us and Sunny and Duster, It;s such a small token for such a large endeavor that you do. The world is a better place because of what you do.
Our deepest appreciation.
Dave, Wendy and Andrea

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Hi Nancy.. How are you? I thought I would send a quick note because I know your busy with the birds, but I just wanted to check in and see how Felix has been doing. Derek and I felt so happy when we left your place last Saturday, we knew that he was in good hands. Thank you.

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First let me say as an onsite volunteer at PASO for over a year,the work Nancy and her husband do with the birds that come in is phenominal. At first glance I thought it would be all fun and feathers...
After hanging out and observing the special cases that come in, I have gained a whole new respect for Nancy, Brett and the kids, the patience and devotion shown to re-habbing a phobic, plucker, or screamer and sometimes a combination is really magical.
It does take a family unit to create the success that you will see today.
Nancy and Brett take the time to get to know each bird as an individual and seem to find the answers to their issues. I have seen some very frightened and angry large birds come in, that noone would dare to love never mind handle if they valued their skin in tact, with a bit of time and love, I have seen these very same birds sitting on their knees, being stroked, you would never know it was the same bird!
As a volunteer i must say that I feel very fortunate and honoured to be entrusted to come out and meet and help care for these special birds, not only to learn from Nancy herself but to see the magic of a bird transformed from a biter, to a bird wanting to be loved and give love back,something it may have been missing for a long time!
Nancy has always been there, I have learned that no matter how silly I think any question might be, and believe me, if you ask her she will tell you I ask alot...she has always come up with a straight forward honest answer.. the only thing I would ask of anyone, if you ask her advice... please please follow it!!!Nancys' answers are constructed with the birds wellbeing first, owner second... after all a happy bird is bound to have a happy owner!!!
To see the birds so free and carefree in the house is amazing, and yes they ARE birds and sometimes will get into trouble thinking a new dinette looks tasty enough to sample...But this family takes the good and the bad, and they pull together at the end of the day, in various roles... Nancy and Brett do alot of the grooming and behaviour and day to day chores, which is probably the hardest job there is... their son ensures the birds want for nothing when it comes to feeding at dinner time,... and their daughter is the "nurturer" of the group she is a natural at providing the TLC and mothering to the the feathered kids.
To watch it all come together, all in a days work is a tremendous amount of work, and for that we can only respect and thank them for the sacrifices they are making on a daily basis, so that firstly the birds can enjoy a life full of love, fun and that owners like you and I and some who haven't found their bird have the chance to be graced with a parrot that deserves that 2nd chance in life.
So this is my open letter/reccomendation to the Daniels family thanking them again, for allowing me to be a part in this amazing world we call bird rescue, hopefully I will continue to learn and grow while spending time, it truly is a feeling of accomplishment and a huge reward to see a bird so desperately needing another shot, get it, thanks to this family and the look of happiness from the new owners when they come to pick up their adoptee makes it all worthwhile in the end!!!
If anyone has ever thought about obtaining a parrot or reliquishing one, I strongly urge you to please contact Nancy.
Also if you can set up some time to become a volunteer, it is an education you couldn't pay to learn!!!!
Again,thanks Brett , Nancy and family!!!
Lori

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You and your family are certainly bless to have the gift to treat animals as you do, I am just sorry that my wife and I weren't give the same blessing. I guess there is a plan for each of use when were put on this earth.

We would love to see some picture of Pebbles and you other birds some time.
Wendell

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Hi Nancy!

It’s Leila. I was away from work for a couple of days so I got your message and a message from Bonita’s new family at the same time today.

They sound wonderful! And it seems they are very happy with little Bonita…I am just so glad. I don’t think she could have gone anywhere better from the sounds of these people.

I have written them back and hopefully we can stay in touch for a long time to come.

Thank you so much for everything you did for Bonita, including finding her the perfect home…

I’ll be in touch.

Happy holidays and god bless you for what you do!

Leila

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Hi Nancy and Brett!

Thank you so much for the bird! She has behaved so wonderfully for us and we think she may be able to teach our former macaws a good thing or two. She has eaten supper with us for the past day and a half. I do my homework with her and she doesn't bother me at all. She is still pooping red (from being on Zupreem Pellets) but I'm sure she will get out of that soon. She knows not to poop in my room and she is a good baby and we are glad to have her! Last night she had trouble sleeping last night because mom made some new toys so we took them out and she slept fine. Mom and dad have been working with Star since you came over
and told us to contiue doing it. She is doing fine in our home and we thank you for this beautiful bird. Mom has even gotten a Christmas ordiment of her!
Thanks!
Melissa Brouwer
( James and Lynda Brouwer's daughter)

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Around November 20th 2004, I received an e-mail from Nancy regarding parrots that are in need of a forever home. I contacted her right away asking her about her Quaker. I was then asked to fill out an adoption form. I was unable to use the form that was provided on the web site my computer would not allow me to do so. She was willing to take the time to go through the process the long way and answer my hundred e-mails with out hesitation and in a timely fashion (often with in a few minutes). This was my first parrot so she explained what Sweetie would need. She did not have a picture to show me but she did the best she could by describing her to a tee. Sweetie has now been with us about a month now and is doing great. With out Nancy's time and care Sweetie would not have been the bird she is today. Sweetie trusted us right from the beginning. She is a very happy Quaker she loves to sing, dance, and she talks up a storm now. these are thing that take a lot of time and work and a lot of love and that's what Nancy and her family provided Sweetie and many other parrots that are in need of a loving caring knowledgeable family. Nancy is also there when ever you have a question or concern regarding your feathered friends after the adoption takes place. In my opinion Nancy and her family make a big difference in these birds lives; if it wasn't for them people wouldn't have a place to turn to for help when it is needed. Nancy and her family need to be recognized for the good they do. It takes a lot of time, patience, and money to work with troubled birds.

Sincerely,

Donna Gee
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Well I guess that I can start by saying that Life is never easy but it sure gets better when you can find the help that you need. This is what Oliver and I found when we contacted Parrot Adopt of Southern Ontario (PASO)!
Oliver is (was, more on that later) my Blue Fronted Amazon. Our love affair started when HE spotted ME at PJ's pet center. Yes, I know, not a breeder but a pet store. And I say he spotted me because that is the truth. I had always been interested in parrots but thought that when the time came I would end up with a Cockatoo or a Jardine; but here was this energetic green bird that stole my heart and I just could not leave him there.
That is how we began. I read all the books and followed all the right rules. He learned trickes, sang songs, talked all the time, ate a variety of nutisious food including a pelleted diet. He even came with us to the cottage on vacation. So why, you may ask did I need help? Well, as happens in many lives, things got complicated. By husband and I had a child. I am home on Maternity and was spending as much time with Oliver as I could but in the back of my mind was always the reality that eventually I would be going back to work Full time and that I was spreading myself thin as it was. How was I going to give Oliver the time he needed and deserved? In an attempt to find some help I found the Parrot Adopt website and contacted them but email. This was our first contact:
Hello,
I am hoping you can help me. It is very hard to write this because I am not even sure that I want or need to give Him up. I guess I should start at the beginning.
I have always loved birds specifically parrots and always vowed that I would get one from a breeder but about 6 years ago I fell in love with a Blue Fronted Amazon at PJ's Pet Store. We bonded instantly and I just could not leave him there, so home he came. He is a wonderful bird, very smart and gentle. He talks up a storm and even does some tricks. I have an Avian vet that takes care of all my animals and Oliver has always been Healthy. Now to the problem....
I think we pushed a little too much 4 years ago when we moved to a new house and got a dog at the same time. Oliver started to chew his feathers. Not pluck, just over preen and break off the outer feathers. I gave him more toys, rotated them, increased the variation of his diet and spent more time One on One with him. It seemed to help a little. However, I now have a 3 month old baby and I know that I am not spending the time with Oliver that he needs and deserves. He is VERY bonded to me and I worry about how he would be anywhere else but in My heart I worry that he is not happy and that is not fair to him!. He have a very large cage (mim 4 feet wide 2 feet deep and 4 feet high) He gets out of his cage 90% of the time when I am home.
I guess what I am getting at is... What should I do? and can you help?
Thank-you for your time
Allison
The response from PASO was very quick. I was given some more ways to deal with the feather problem and tried them right away but when we made the decision to put our house on the market and plan a move to the West end I now knew the reality of the situation was not going to be fair to my beloved pet. I contacted PASO again in the hopes that they could find a forever home for my Oliver They were Wonderful! I brought him over that day and meet the family, Human and Avian. It was the hardest thing I have ever had to do but the best for Oliver. They quickly fell in love with my wonderful bird and for now he has become a perminant fixture.
I can visit him as often as I like and as hard as it is to leave, I can clearly see that he has a life that is full of interaction, stimulation and new feathered friends. Not a day goes by that I do not miss him, and from the bottom of my heart I am sorry that I could not give my beloved bird these things myself, but I am ever grateful to PASO for providing the services, education and support that they do!
Allison

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Sammy White Capped Pionus - Sammy has been adopted by a very nice woman who is a volunteer for the Humane Society. She has experience in dealing with disabled birds. I know that Sammy is going to have a wonderful forever home.
Shrek and Fiona - We just thought you would like an update on the birds we got this past week from you. Well our youngest daughter named them as soon as we got them home, their names are (male) Shrek, and (female) Fiona.
We have been able to train them to hand and not get nipped anymore, Shrek has been easier so far than Fiona, we think cause he's so much younger than her.
Thanks so much, we love them so much already, they are truly a joy, and part of the family.
Dave and Tara
Kiwi Update - Just another quick update she has moved on to a pellet and seed mix diet and she is eating after only one day of putting it in her dish she doesnt like he little yellow ones but all the others fall prey to the little mouth of the kiwi monster.She is already yapping up a storm and playing with my tiels.Thank you for the oppurtunity to care for such a sweet little Fid as Kiwi,our house is a better place with her in it.
P.s. I have had 2 invitations to bring my talking lovebird to various parrot enthusiast groups,as I have been told that she can't be talking because lovebirds don't talk and when they do certainly not females.That's a laugh and a half huh?Thank you again we love her like crazy.

John

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Thank you both for the interest taken to keep me up to date. Molson looks like he has taken to your surroundings with the other birds etc. I know now that Molson is in good hands and I certainly appreciate your kindness towards him.
Our trip to Scotland is getting closer [18 april] . I am sure we will enjoy the break away from the normal trend. I will send some pics. on our return. Trusting that Molson will eventually let you get some sleep on your Saturday mornings.

Best regards to all your family.

Terry, Nancy & CLAN.

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XX Please note that the names have been changed at the request of the owner. Email reference letter posted with permission. Very long.
Hello -

When I was only 16 (12 years ago), I worked for a XXXXXXX as a XXXXXX. When the XXXXXXX closed down due to financial problems, XXXXXXXX gave me a Moluccan Cockatoo. Charlie had been "rescued" twice at that point, but I am finding that his feather picking has grown steady worse in the past 5 years. He has actually started to self-mutilate his flesh and leaves a growing open sore on his chest. When we put a preventative collar on him, he does eventually heal, but in the process, he gets very depressed, loses his appetite and stops speaking. When he came from his original home, he had just jumped from a high perch (after a particularly bad wing clip), and broke his tail bones. His tail feathers have never grown in properly and he picks out the pin feathers when they start to grow in. He has always been a highly-strung bird, and although I love him dearly, I feel that he is need of a better home then I am able to provide.

He is quite loud when he wants to be, but he is a wonderful singer and says several English words including "hello" and "I love you". He was originally a handfed baby born in Ontario from wild caught parents (though, he doesn't have a band), but is quite timid and cuddly with people. He readily comes up when he is not in his cage. He has never been sexed, but seems to act like a male.

I am looking for suitable home for him, perhaps in a place where there are other birds. He used to be so healthy and vibrant (even with no tail), but since I moved away to college and then entered the workforce, he has steadily regressed with my inability to provide sufficient attention. It breaks my heart to see him in this condition, but I don't have a lifestyle that can help him heal. Each time that I feel we are making progress, something happens to put him back in self-destruct mode. I really feel that he needs to have a home were there are other birds around so that he doesn't get lonely, and where he can behave like a bird without getting into trouble for being too noisy.

Would you be willing to consider accepting Charie? I only want him to have a good home, even though I love him very much and will miss him. Please let me know how you usually deal with similar situations. In the proper situation, I am sure he would thrive, but he has a hard time with change (moves are particularly hard for him).

You may leave message at my home
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Thanks for your call. I am really struggling with making this decision, and am having difficulty keeping my emotions in check when I start to talk about this. It's much easier for me to use email to communicate for now. I apologize in advance for the lengthy email, but this is a major life decision and I want to be as clear as possible.

I want to make sure that you understand that I am not trying to "get rid" of Charlie, but I know that he needs to be in a better situation than I can provide. I've also put out inquiries to other bird places in order to determine the best place for him. Are you able to allow us to visit your facility before we bring him to you? I understand from the website that you have security issues, but I am not very comfortable releasing him into an unknown environment. I know that I can't ever take him back and I want to make absolutely sure that he is going to a good place. I would also like to bring him to you. We currently share a rather uncomfortable living arrangement with people who are not particularly sensitive to this issue or my emotionally vulnerable state and I am having a hard enough time with this decision without dealing with flippant comments.

He has been to two different vet clinics in the past ten years. He went a few times to wild bird clinic at the XXXXXXXXXXXX to check out his tail and was also tested for a variety of avian ailments. Nothing ever came up, but that was quite a while ago, before he started picking at his flesh. He also had a friend, a little Quaker name Smiley who passed away several years ago (when she was in her twenties), so he was tested at that time incase she had something contagious (she had a brain tumour). I got him 12 years ago and I think that he was at least 4 or 5 when I got him - so he might be as old as twenty.

He had also been to a vet in Waterloo (after the scab started), who performed some tests and gave him a collar. Basically, she said that there's was nothing to do other than surgery which would have cost at least $2000 and would essentially be cosmetic and not stop the picking. I am not a wealthy person and the previous vet bills were several hundred dollars. I know that he needs to be seen by a vet again soon, but I don't have the money. Are you able to provide regular veterinary care for him? I am sure once he settles into a routine and get proper attention, he will thrive. I don't think that he's in immediate danger from his picking, but it's not getting better. I also want to request that he is never adopted out, since change in routine seems to be his worst enemy and he was always most happy surrounded by other birds.

His scab is getting worse daily, he picks along the edges and makes it bigger, though he seems to leave the centre alone. We have been putting polysporin ointment on it twice daily which makes it heal, and he doesn't like the taste, so he leaves the scab alone. Putting the collar on him is a stressful ordeal for everyone, he hates it, I have to wrap him in a towel, and he won't speak to me or come up on my arm for weeks after I put it on him. He also stops using his feet for eating or dancing - he just sits there looking miserable. I don't know which is worse - seeing him happy and talking with a big scab on his chest or sitting with his head in a cone all depressed. We have been able to get it healed up on a number of different occasions, but this is the worst that its been.

He does have his own room, (it's a large bedroom on the second floor) with a good window that he can look out. He chirps to the wild birds and barks at the dogs in their yard down below. My husband visits with him during the day (he adores my husband), and comes out in the evenings after I get home from work. I spend about 45 minutes with him in his room each evening, singing or cuddling (his choice). He likes to watch the Simpsons (or sitcoms with a laugh track) on TV with us, and dances to my husband's music. He is very social and likes to be around people. He used to sit on an open perch, but occasionally jumps off (and injures his tail). He sleeps in a covered cage, since we live on a busy road and the car lights shine in his window and wakes him up during the night. He normally wakes up around 10am and goes to bed around 10 pm. He says "hello" in a really sweet voice, when he's ready to get up. There is a regular ceiling light in his room, but I was thinking that he might need some better light (like a plant light) for the winter months. He's just started to get more natural light from his window which I think is good for him.

His diet is varied - I used to feed him pellets, but then the stores stopped carrying it, so I am feeding him hot porridge made of cornmeal, 7 grain cereal, maple syrup (or honey or dark brown sugar) mixed with the Hagen vitamin powder. I spoon feed him the first few bites, (that started when I first put his collar on him), but has a good appetite right now (the collar is not on). He gets his porridge meal in the evening and a scrambled egg in the morning. He gets different combinations of fresh fruit/veg (bananas, apple, grapes, peach, pears, celery, tomatoes) three times a day (10 am, 4 pm, 7 pm ). He gets Cheerios with his fruit - they're a fun food. He likes bananas to be on the green side and sliced into round so he can eat the insides of the bananas and toss the rings. He gets lots of treats in small quantities - pizza, cheese, pretzels, chocolate, even ice cream, but I worry about the salt and fat content, so he only gets a little bit. He likes to float things (especially Cheerios) in his water dish and then squawks when he has dirty water.

He like dry spaghetti, he holds one end in his hand and bites it into little wee pieces. I give him about 5-6 whole pieces a day, but I don't think he actually eats any of it, so I classify it as "fun" and not food. He likes to pull apart rope toys. He has a "buddy" rope that he preens every day. He has a chain with some large wooden beads on the end. I put empty toilet paper tubes on it and he systemically tears it into little tiny pieces. I braid a rope toy around the bars of his cage and he unbraids it. He also like the leather octopus toys that are commercially available now. He's not fussy about kongs or things that last longer than a week or so. If he can't completely destroy it in a few days, he loses interest. He also likes to toss his water dish at the cat when she ventures into his room. He always waits for her to go right under that side of the cage and then he dumps it right on her and laughs wickedly.

I have had to take him with us to four different housing situations since I moved out on my own, none of which were particularly positive for anyone involved. Ironically, he was a major influence for us to actively start saving for our own house, but that option won't be available for at least another year, and even then, I don't think our lifestyle will change enough to be able to make him healthy.

Although I agree that he should take his toys and dishes, I would like to keep his cage. I have an idea (my husband thinks I am being sentimental) about adopting a parrot sometime in the next 5 or 10 years, when I am in a more secure living situation (though I have sworn to never keep a cockatoo or a grey). Hindsight being what it is, I should have never taken responsibility for this beautiful creature. I was only 16, still living with my parents, before college, before boyfriends let alone marriage - and absolutely overwhelmed with the offer to take care of this beautiful and fragile bird. (I have suspicions that my ex-boss chose to give me a "valuable bird in order to keep me from suing him from the back wages that I was never paid - without particular regard about how it would affect either one of us long term). After all, I was in no position to make that kind of decision at that age, it was like accepting an infant into my care at 16 years of age. Although I loved him then and now, I am painfully aware of the time commitment and emotional commitment that it takes to keep a companion bird in a family. I do not make any decision lightly when it involves another life on any level. Mr Mollie will leave a real void in our family.

Please let me know if you will let us tour your facility or meet with you in person before I choose where he should go. Even photographs or a detailed description will be helpful in making the decision.

I will be staying at home for the majority of the day, and will not be accessing my email, so if possible please call me tomorrow before noon.
Thanks again for your time.
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Here's a pretty good link from Colorado -
http://www.featheredfamily.com/featherabuseinformation.htm

I've read similar theories about pluckers. The one about the endorphins being released is just like how an autistic child will strike herself because the pain releases endorphins, which in turn, makes her feel better. (XXXXXXXXX is a high-functioning autistic and compulsively pulls out her eyelashes when she is stressed out - sound familiar?) I personally think that it's a combination of many factors - including genetic heredity and taught behaviour. XXXXXXXXXXXXXX- it made me realize that I have a lot to offer Charlie in the way of love and care and he is really not in bad condition.

Steve and I are really grateful for all of your advice. Just considering giving up Charlie was causing me a lot of grief and angst. I kept thinking about it and weeping uncontrollably (and no one but Steve seems to understand). When we came to your house for a visit, Steve (who has no previous experience with parrots), was greatly inspired by your set-up. I think that he also saw what a great bird Charlie really is. By seeing your birds, he realized that it's okay for Charlie to make noise and destroy things - but after all, isn't that what parrots do? Yes, he yells loudly and rips things up into little pieces, and yes, he picks at his chest. But he is mostly a well-behaved, well socialized bird with some unfortunate past history. He rarely bites, and when he does, it's well warned and probably deserved. He loves to talk and sing and dance. He's also smarter than a lot of people I know...

Instead of finding a new home for him, we've decided to try a change in our lifestyle to see if we can make our life more Charlie-friendly. Steve has re-modeled the big perch (just like the centre piece in your living room) so that Charlie can watch TV with us and try to out-yell Steve at the basketball games (guess who wins that one!). He laughs at all the right places in the sitcoms and sings along with the commercials. He has a couple of games that he plays with us (we're still learning the rules) that include a bottle cap and a cup. Steve is changing the rooms around so that Charlies cage is in our main living area. I used to be concerned that if he was up too late at night (or had different bedtimes), then it would be bad for his well-being. After my discussion with you, I think that the benefits to having him around the family at all times vastly out-weighs any mis-conceptions about maintaining a rigid schedule. He's already looking happier, and I didn't even have to put the collar on him. I keep thinking about how he could live another 30 or 40 years - Steve and I are in a position that we could keep him for the rest of his natural life. Most parrots don't spend so long with a single human family - I saw one cockatoo in my research that was 10 years old and had 8 different homes!

We couldn't find any liquid St John's Wort, so I am trying out the capsules. I don't think that he likes the taste too much, but if you put enough sweet stuff in his porridge, he'll eat anything! Based on the weight difference between an adult human and Charlie (who's about 3lbs), and taking into account the faster avian metabolism, I stir about a fifth of a capsule into his porridge at night (a human would take three capsules per day). He's noticeable stopped picking at his scab, but it's still got a long way to go before he's healed up. I've found another supplier of the pellets, so we've added that to his regular feedings. Bob has been diligent about putting ointment to aid in the healing and we are waiting for some warmer weather so that we can give him a proper bath and sit out in the sun to dry.

We want to keep in touch with you, as your advice has been wonderful. We were feeling at our wits ends for a while; when you have health and family issues, it's hard to put emotional energy anywhere else. Charlie seems to be so sensitive to those types of stress. You've really inspired us that with a little extra effort, we are capable of keeping our beautiful Charlie with us. We really like the idea that there is a place where he could go if our situation requires. It's comforting to know that we do have options if things get too hard to handle. That in itself makes it easier to think about the next few years. I think it also helps that we have found some experienced bird-people to talk about things. Since XXXXX closed down, I have only had minimal contact with people who keep large parrots (and they are breeders, a practice of which I have mixed feelings). I've always loved birds (all types) and feel an affinity for them. We are even considering (sometime in the next couple years), of getting a little companion for Charlie - maybe a little green cheek conure, or a lovebird to fly around and drive him crazy. I think that he still misses Crowe and Dimitri from the old days... maybe after we find our house, we could apply for a bird adoption!

Again, we appreciate all the help that you have offered to us. We are looking forward to staying in touch with you and talking birds. I want to take regular pictures on him so that we can track his progress. I've attached a picture of Charlie from December 2002. Even without his tail, he's still gorgeous!

Take care and keep in touch...thanks again! :o)
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Hi XXXXXX,

I just came across some more information on plucking that I thought I would share with you. I cut and pasted it from another email. Read below.

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I am so grateful for your support with this! What you do is definitely worthwhile! I know that it takes a great deal of time and emotional energy to care for a bird like Charlie, so when life occasionally gets hard, it certainly helps to get feedback and inspiration from others. Bob and Charlie were fast friends since they met, but I think that Bob didn't realize what kind of living environment Charlie really needs to thrive. We decided that we are going to put the collar back on (for the summer only), since we are planning on moving to our own house in the fall. Hopefully, this will give him enough time to heal up, and we won't have to worry so much about what the stress of the move will do to him. I hate to see him unhappy with the collar on, but he has done it before. By the way - I've been experimenting with different porridge recipes that have the St John's Wort in it - I think he actually likes it now! Oatmeal, couscous and maple syrup with a full capsule of the St J W. I make a big bowl of it and keep it in the fridge for a week. When it's supper time, I give him a hot bowl full with four or five froze blueberries mixed into it....he loves it!

I don't mind if you want to post my email about Charlie - I would prefer if you removed the name references, though. I am concerned that the people who may XXXXXX might recognize our names and have a negative impression about XXXXXXXX. I wasn't the only one who XXXXXXXXXXX...so there might still be some resentment still out there after all these years. I still remain amicable with XXXXXXXXX, even though I have some frustrations with the responsibility that was given to me at a very young age. XXXXXX XXXXXX now and rather old fashioned in a lot of ways - he thinks that now that I am married, I should stay at home and take care of babies (birds and humans). I don't want to stir up anything....so I'd appreciate it if you could remove the references to the XXXXXXXXX
Anyway - I look forward to keeping in touch....I will send you more pix of Charlie as he learns not to pick.
Happy bird-loving! :

I am so glad that you have decided to keep him. If visiting us made a difference in Steve then I am so happy for you. Tell him I am very proud of him!!

I would love to keep in touch with you and see update pictures of Charlie. When I saw the picture I thought to myself he doesn't look that bad!

Believe me I have see so much worse.

Now maybe it's just me but I don't care if a bird is plucked as long as he's happy and enjoying life.

As for the St. John's Wort you can try a health food store or a naturopath as they usually carry it in the liquid form. I have never used the capsules
but if it works then wonderful!!

I would like to ask you a favor. Your letter is so wonderful and really did bring me to tears. Can I post it on my website as a reference story, I would love to put the picture of Charlie up there also and even show his progress. I can make sure there is no name reference if you prefer. But it was so beautifully written and these are the exact results that I really strive to achieve.

You have also made me feel that what I am doing is worthwhile. If I find anymore useful information I will definitely share it with you. I really do hope that you can all live happily every after.