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My name is Katie and I am new to birdline. I have joined because I want to get a pet bird and thought that fostering a needy bird could be a nice way to do it. I have tried reading through a few posts but can't find the answer to my questions and there's a lot of stuff to read.

I rent a fairly small 2 bedroom house and both my husband and me work full time so it's empty most of the day during the week. I would like to know if this is suitable for rehoming birds? Obviously the bird would need to be small and less needy of constant attention, but some of the adverts from the birds are very vague i.e. does loves attention or likes a lot of time out of cage means that I would not be a very good home for this bird? Even birds that don't like direct attention seem to suggest they need to be somewhere where people always are. I am extremely conscious that my application will be taking up a volunteers time and therefore if I am clearly unsuitable in the first place I don't wish to apply. It just all seems ambiguous to me.

I know it doesn't seem to work that way but I would love to foster any bird I can provide a suitable home for, so rather than applying for one bird each month and waiting is it possible to just put forward my details and get an inspection before being deemed suitable for that particular bird? Do home inspections roll on or do I have to have a new one each time I apply?

Thanks for any help given. I really don't mean to come across as lazy, I just genuinely am finding it difficult to answer these questions.

 Hi and welcome!

Foster home checks are only done when a bird(s) is applied for, but once that check is done (nominal fee applies) it is usual that if that particular bird you applied for is not suitable, you may well be offered another that is.  As the house is empty mopst of the day I would suggest applying for a pair? As they will at least have company during the day. A single bird doesn't normally do well on it's own unless it doesn't like other birds, in which case you may be ok  It's all about the write ups, read read and read, and if you think you might like that bird, apply.  If it's not suitable, then another one we know about may be 

Whereabouts are you? If we knew where you were, we could tell you your nearest ACO (Area Co-Ordinating Officer) and you could call/email and they would be able to answer any questions you have. As for letting the bird out - any Birdline bird must be out of the cage for a reasonable amount of time. Just think, if you were in the most luxurious room with tv, games, books etc. great food, all that, but weren't allowed out of that room, just how frustrated and bored you'd be. Birds need to be where the action is, not shut away in a room alone somewhere. If you're out all day, that's ok, you can get a bird that doesn't mind that, as long as when you're home you pay attention to the bird. It sounds more difficult than it is. Birds are intelligent, they need stimulation, things to think about. Let us know your area, we can put you in touch with someone (hopefully local) that can talk you through it all. No pressure at all. You might even end us as a Safe House....
Doddie

Thanks for the replies.

I'm in Altrincham in Greater Manchester and would really appreciate some direct contact with an ACO to raise my concerns. I'm not new to birds, I grew up with cockatiels so I do know about them and what they are like. I was never suggesting that I would shut away a bird in a cage forever, however I am aware some birds have had it pretty rough and therefore don't like to leave the safety of their cage - this was more the extreme other end I was referring to in the scale of a bird never being in a cage to this and where on that scale I could provide some help.