The Second Hand Bird
Bringing a bird who has been in other homes into you life can be a great challenge, and joy. I often hear the phrase "I rescued this bird" used, but to truly be a rescued parrot it needed its life to be in danger, and it is different than a second (or third or fourth…) homed bird. The bird we are discussing here is the one who has been sent to a new home many times for reasons unknown to the adopter. Many of these birds come with behavior problems, from screaming to self-mutilation. Taking in a bird who has been re-homed because of problems is a challenge that only the best of us can overcome.
When a bird first comes into our homes we call this the honeymoon period. Generally the behaviors that lost your bird its last home will not appear immediately. This can lead you to think that all that was needed was a change of scenery, when in actuality changing a birds scenery is very stressful for it indeed. Parrots, like children, need stability in their home lives. When a bird moves to a new caretaker and home things can be rough.
One of the best things you can do for your new companion is to watch him. Take the time to learn his likes and dislikes, what makes him happy and what he is afraid of. For the parrot settling into a new home is frightening enough, with gentle care you can make this transition much easier for you both. Watch for behaviors that you can correct, and be firm from the first day with your new parrot about the ones you wish to go away. If the bird is cussing you will need to ignore those words and teach it new things to say instead. Maybe the parrot you brought home has attachment issues, screaming whenever left alone, that again is something that needs to be dealt with from day one.
Your new parrot will need to develop a sense of security with you. This may take more time than you expect, especially in multiple homed birds. Be patient, the love of a parrot is worth all the work you put into it.