King Caravan, Spring 2009!

[bluebirdsnfur]

Originally Posted by Lady Tarheel

Couldn't the fee be waived for those taking in the pigeons and/or driving so many miles to help in the transport?

Well I just think the bird rescue needs all the donations from adoptions they can get. I don't mind paying the fee and offering gas and transport.

[kippermom]

LakotaLoft...your point is well taken and we do plan to try this a bit later for weather purposes...but we need it all lined up so if a horse transport comes available, we are "good to go"...

Travel cages/boxes would be semi protected in a horse stall...three side at least. I am sure we can secure the crates/cages and get them snuggled in.

[Charis]

I hope that everyone adopting is aware that if the Kings they are adopting will be kept outside, the loft needs to be predator proofed from top to bottom. This means 1/4 inch hardware cloth, stretched tight and a floor that will keep rodents from tunneling inside and snakes getting through.
You have time to prepare. Do it right so there are no tragedies to report.

[Elizabethy]

Regarding a new thread: I think there should be a HOW TO RESCUE KINGS Sticky (with loft info, care needs, contacts) and a Kings Caravan Spring 2009 thread (don't know how to move keeper-type stuff over)

Regarding adoption fees: The $10 adoption fee is more symbolic than anything else. If a king needs vet care, it can cost in the hundreds as we well know. I APPRECIATE the offer to donate $$ towards adoption fees and understand the suggestion to waive it (I've been tempted many times) but prefer that adopters pay it and have come to believe that it is a worthwhile symbol. If you're adopting 10 and paying $100, it's a reminder that you're embarking on a significant endeavor.

Regarding donations: We ALWAYS need them for vet care. MickaCoo is still in the red for Mocha, Art & Gus and there will be new birds that need care. If you can donate, please do! I PROMISE your (tax deductible) donation will be used with great care. Go to www.Mickaboo.org/MickaCoo and scroll down towards bottom of the page. PLEASE NOTE THAT YOUR DONATION IS FOR PIGEONS. Hopefully you won't have any trouble but if you do, PLEASE contact me at AdoptKings@gmail.com

Lastly (for now): Not that I want to derail this whole deal but YOUR LOCAL SHELTERS MAY HAVE PIGEONS THAT THEY ARE NOT POSTING ON THEIR WEBSITES NOR PETFINDER.COM Often Bay Area shelters didn't bother because they didn't get much (any?) response and so came to assume that the pij were unadoptable and stopped trying to some degree... I'm still VERY worried that there are Pigeon King pigeons in dire straights throughout the country. And the country's largest squab plant is in South Carolina... PLEASE-if you want to rescue a pigeon, call your local shelter and ask them about pigeons. They may be getting them in... if not- I've got enough kings for everybody but, if they are, I don't want them to miss out on their rightful rescuers (you!).

[Maggie-NC]

Elizabeth, in all due respect, this is a unique situation where adopters are literally going out of their way to adopt these Kings and spending dollars that an ordinary person would not be spending. Someone "off the street" so to speak, forks over the $10, picks up the bird and goes home. Our people are spending a lot of money for gas and even working on repairing or building lofts.

Our members who, out of the goodness of their hearts, are doing this should not be classed in the symbolic statement because, goodness knows, how much more could their commitment be than what they are offering to do.

[Elizabethy]

Hi Maggie,

I disagree. I may not be right, but I see it differently.

I've never adopted a bird out to someone off the street. I put local adopters through all the same hoops and more because I come out to their homes and do a visit, getting all up in their business and telling them what I think needs to be changed, added, cleaned up, etc. before I can place a bird with them.

If an individual is concerned about the adoption fee, I'm open to discussing it but it does raise a concern that, if the budget is that tight, perhaps now is not the time to be adding more animals.

Mickaboo does give a break to adopters who adopt more than one (1 budgie for $25, 2 for $40) and I could consider that for MickaCoo. I would also consider having the adopter deposit the money with an avian vet instead of donating it to MickaCoo so that there's a little rainy-day fund for the bird...

I do TRULY appreciate what people are doing to help these birds and don't want to impede their adoption. I can assure you that I do my very best to help these birds find good, safe, FOREVER homes.

I'm an amateur. I never intended to rescue king pigeons. I didn't even know there was such a thing as a king pij until I started volunteering at the SF ACC. So, I'm open to discussion but, for the moment, I think the practice of paying an adoption fee is positive.

[lizz]

uhm, not to be a jerk, but adopting a parrot, whether it's a parakeet or a macaw can run from a hundred to nearly a thousand dollars. yes, i'm totally serious.

personally, i think the ten bucks a bird is beyond cheap. maybe i see it differently, because my king [s] will be house birds, and members of the family as are the rest of my birds, so a measly ten dollars for 15+ plus years of pigeon love is negligible.

the money's going to a rescue situation/group, no one's making a profit off of this - having been in dog rescue for many years, trust me on that point!

doing a little driving, burning up a few hours, and some gas, plus an extra ten bucks for all the care they've been given to date is very very worth it from my perspective.

just my two cents, but i thought i'd throw it in there.

[Maggie-NC]

OK - I give up.

[bluebirdsnfur]

I for one will gladly set aside the cost of a couple bottles of my favorite Pinot Nior in order to adopt a couple of King snowballs. I want a couple of chickens but I put that on hold too.

[lizz]

i wanted a chicken, too! a clean-faced aracauna - i think that's how you spell it.... but i think the kings need me more.

i just filled out the app, and signed a check for mickaboo....

LET THE GREAT KING CARAVAN OF 2009 BEGIN!!!!

[Elizabethy]

Hello-

This will become the The Great King Caravan thread

[Elizabethy]

Hi Maggie-

I appreciate your advocacy on behalf of both the pigeons and the adopters and all the incredible time and effort you invest in PT. This rescue stuff is tricky. And I absolutely agree- being a PT member is a HUGE plus when it comes to potential adopters!

[bluebirdsnfur]

Apps in the mail and donation done thru paypal. Now "if" I get approved, here is my new KING COOP. We will be adding the 4' x 8' x 6' aviary to the back.

[Lovebirds]

That is darling. Can I move in too?

[bluebirdsnfur]

It was an old unused play house given to us by a friend. What a job! The guys, bless their hearts, had to get it on a trailer, get it here, take down part of our fence, and then set it on top of the stacked 4 x4s. That is . . after my DH built the deck and set and attached the 4 x 4s! We needed it elevated so we could stand up inside. It is still a work in progress. No varmits bustin in there!