I have taken Star to the avian rescue. For those of you unfamiliar with my story, long and agonizing posts can be found in Inadvertant Budgie Breeder and They Even Defy Hormone Shots. As briefly as I can make it, I got 2 rescue budgies Star, younger female and Comet, older male and they just got along great.

Too well it seems, they wanted to mate 365 days a year! My avian vet was at a loss and a retired budgie breeder suggested I just let them go to it. They had 2 clutches (photos of some of the babies elsewhere on this forum) and wouldn't even use a nest box when provided. My landlord and I helped every step of the way and we ended up with beautiful, tame, healthy babies. Unfortunately Star and Comet would not stop and that's when I joined this forum. The members were very helpful;we tried putting them in a cooler, darker bedroom in the winter and that stopped them but it's not always winter here, 30 degrees today. Separating them resulted in screaming galore and bad behaviour, fake eggs didn't work, hormone shots given twice at dosages for larger birds didn't work, eggs appeared again after 3 weeks. Then I got them same sex cage mates; Comet was nasty to his new friend and Star tried to kill her cagemate after a couple of weeks, I have never seen such a nasty, unprovoked attack by a generally calm bird. So I got everybody into separate cages and put Star in my bedroom with a good view out the window . The screaming and calling diminished between her and Comet but it never went away, once Star got out of the bedroom and back to Comet and it was ultimate chaos. Apparently budgies don't bond for life but I think this pair is different although Comet will choose to bother other birds, I think Star and him have a fatal attraction.

The last 3 weeks, Star has stopped singing, playing with her toys, won't come out to exercise and is hanging from the cage bars, she LOOKED depressed. I have a good relationship with my rescue lady and she will make sure that Star gets into a good home, hopefully a one bird only family, she would do well with a retired individual or somebody that is home quite a bit. Potential adopters have to fill out an extensive application, pay a fee and have followup so she won't be placed in a breeding situation. Saw a sign at work last week, 2 budgies with cage, FREE. Thinking I could quarantine them in my bedroom until the rescue could find them a home, I was too late in contacting the party, the birds were gone so I hope they made it to a good home. I will continue to support animal rescues and foster any animals that I can but I can't take on anybody else at this time. I feel terrible about this, sorry Star, but as most of you would agree, this was a unique and uncorrectable situation and totally goes against my module of pet ownership "to death do us part" :hap:

Edited July 3, 200619 yr by Phoebe

Oh dear. I know you have thought long and hard about this, and, although you know there was no alternative, it doesn't make it any easier, does it? Sometimes being a good and responsible pet owner can break your heart. My thoughts are with you, and, please keep us updated on the progress of finding a forever home for your beautiful, well loved bird.

I don't know how many homes Star had in her life before I got her, all I can say she looked in a whole lot better shape when she left than when she arrived, I know my rescue lady will keep me involved in the adoption process so that's a comfort, thanks.

Phoebe, I know how much effort you have put into trying to solve the problem, and how much cost it has involved. I hope she finds the home she deserves, poor thing. I wish we lived closer, I could have got my parents to take her, and then you would have had 'visiting rights'.

:hap: Thanks Lin, was going to try and keep her and put her downstairs in the in-law suite when my Mother and I buy a house together (within the next 2 months) but she and Comet would still be aware of each others existence.

I remember you discussing that, but, I think the bond between these two is unnaturally strong, and, no matter what you did, would not work out. Especially as you feel so strongly for the well being of your babies. You've made the ONLY decision you can.

Phoebe, you did your very best to try and find a solution. I certainly admire you for your efforts.

Thanks Shawna, like I said before, can't win a lottery but I ended up with this crazy pair. :hap:

Phoebe you have given Star a wonderful home, its really sad that you live so far away..Id have loved to give Star a home with my flock :hap:

Keep up informed on how its all going and take care of yourself..

:hap: Thanks Una, Star is an enigma, she might do fine with another female and she might do fine with another male, all I know is she was right crazy when she and Comet were together. My rescue lady said that somebody wanted to put her into an aviary situation and I said no, I would prefer my rescue lady observe her for a bit, I still think she would do best in a single bird family but who knows what potential she has away from the influence of her man, Comet. Haven't moved her cage out of my bedroom yet, tend to veer in there in my trips to the bathroom, feel badly but I knew for the last few months it was bound to happen, she looks so healthy and pretty so I am sure somebody will want to adopt her.

I know my rescue lady will involve me in any decisions, like I said, I am very close with her, give her donations, have several rescue birds from her, she won't let me down. Potential owners are carefully screened (and that turned me off at the time, SO much paper work!) but I now see the need for it. Even though I spent as much time with Star as I could and my landlord visited her, that is no life for her in my bedroom.

I am sorry for you Phoebe, we all know this decision hasn't come lightly and we totally support you.

I hope you feel better about this decision soon.

Thanks Karen, I felt very empty when I got up this morning, and opened my bedroom curtains and Star wasn't there anymore.

When she does find a home, it should be acondition of adoption that they join this forum and keep us updated with pics and stories. That way it will be like she is still with you

oh im really sorry Phoebe, what a horrible decision to have to make. you shouldnt feel guilty you should be proud that you gave her a loving home. im sure she will get a great family and will love her as much as you did.

take care

My thoughts are with you Phoebe, you did the best that you could. Sometimes we just have to accept that we can't do any more, and that's a hard thing to have to admit. I think you've made the right decision. Hugs to you and Star. Here's hoping she finds a wonderful home *fingers crossed*.

Thanks Janette and Cheeky, I am feeling a little bit better about things today, Comet is very quiet, although he couldn't see Star, he could always hear her. And although that is a great idea Lin, don't think we can have that written into the contract, there is already so many loops that one has to jump through on the application form but that is a good thing.

Edited July 5, 200619 yr by Phoebe

Reading your posts and talking extensively with you, you did the right thing for Star and she will be forever grateful.

Thanks Lovey.

I wish Star to find a great home !!!

Thanks Zebra, at least I have a say in who she goes to and there WILL be follow up.

I had been feeling so sad as poor Star has been in rescue a year and not adopted while other budgies came and went. I thought the potential egg layer thing had turned off people and that was why she was still at the rescue. Several people had applied to adopt her but my rescue lady just wouldn't approve them. Star has NOT laid one single egg since she has been returned to rescue. (Remember, with her boyfriend Comet, they would lay 365 days a year and wanted to make every one of them fertile!!) Turns out my rescue lady is so attached to her that she couldn't let her go;she loves watching her being the first one out of the aviary into the flight cage outdoors when the door is lifted, is first in line to be misted/sprayed and is very good with newcomers! Star is now off the adoption list! And she and Coco, (whom I had to return to rescue after she wouldn't stop laying either even although she was housed alone) are getting along fantastically well. After all the guilt I went through turning her in, I am truly happy. If it weren't for Comet chasing every female bird of any species, Star and Coco would be here still. And Comet had better watch out because Phoebe the lovebird does NOT care for his advances!! So glad that it all worked out with Star!

Glad to hear the update Phoebe, Great news, and I always believe that all things will work for the best even hard situations, we will come out of it happier and stronger. Good on you

Great to hear that she is having a ball along with Coco.