Everyone has had some great suggestions here. I tend to agree that in a situation like this, some vet work really is essential, as is quarantine. $400.00 is fairly hefty for a "rehoming fee", particularly where there has been no vet work. It may represent her trying to recoup the cost of her cage, which may or may not be worth that much. Or, she may have had to pay that in ransom, just to get the bird out of the situation she was in. Sometimes folks use a fee like that as a screening device to weed out the potentially uncommitted. You may be able to find out more by just talking things over. I'd try to feel her out on at least sharing the vet costs, or knocking some vet costs off the rehoming fee, something like that. Probably best to have the vet work done yourself, since then you know for sure what is done.

All that said, once you meet the bird, you have to go with what your heart tells you, as well as your head. I paid not much less than that for a mature and cranky DYH Zon and a ratty old cage that wasn't any good. Once I met him I knew I had to get him out of there, and the money didn't much matter any more.

Thanks Nate, that's great advise, and I think I will follow it. I'm afraid of getting burned, but also afraid of passing up a great chance at a new friend with this bird.

Everyone's advise has been wonderful and greatly appreciated. I'm in a strange and new position and don't want to chew off more than I can handle. I'll keep you updated on the situation, and if there is more advise, please share.

Well, I just spoke with the woman with the grey. I will be going over one evening this week to meet Katy the grey. The woman sounded really nice and I did get a good feeling from her, not a "oh, no" feeling. I tend to trust my gut because it's rarely wrong.

So, I asked some more questions which she answered very honestly. It seems that the original owner had bought the grey 9 years ago (from a breeder) and then just started to collect birds. So it was a type of hoarding situation. The woman who now has the grey (going to call her 2nd owner) was looking for a bird to use in her educational program on animals. I don't know how she came into contact with the orig. owner, but believe it was through Katy's breeder who was trying to intervine in the hoarding situation. The orig. owner said that Katy was fine with being in groups and around children, as they were always running through the orig. owners home. The 2nd owner found that Katy did not like going into new situations and was not a good candidate for her educational program. So, she has been pondering finding her a new home for a while now. She only got Katy about 9 months ago. She's stuggled with the decision to rehome her because of her missing toes (two on one foot, and one on the other), and the fact that she doesn't want her to go to a bad home or be skipped around. I do believe her when she said these things, as she was being totally honest about not having the bird vetted and that she only gets her out about once a week (which she doesn't think is fair for the bird). She did state that Katy is fine with her dogs and child being around, and that her daughter even feeds Katy. She just didn't like the group of kids she was subjected to. The 2nd owner does have a quaker parakeet as well as other animals that she uses in her program. I am more worried about what the bird was exposed to in the original home since there were many birds there.

Anyway, I will go meet her sometime this week, and see what she thinks of me. If I see the green light in my minds eye, I will likely talk to the woman about taking Katy to the vet before I decide to take her, but we will just have to see how things work out. I'll keep y'all updated.