I currently have two ( a male and female ) Greys, approx. 8-9 weeks old ,“Penelope” and her “Buddy”. One of my staff members recently attended a class on rehabbing basics , and came back from school with two Greys ( also a M and F). Hers are a tad younger, maybe by 2 or 3 weeks. I was wondering, if there is a magic cut off age that two groups could be safely combined; and if could be, would this improve their chances of a successful release?
Also, I have to confess.. The last 6 days have been very convicting. After the loss (escape) of my little male Flyer ( “Tiny”), the worry of if he’s alive , the stress of searching for him, and knowing the separation anxiety I’m sure this has caused his cage friend “ Teenie”, I honestly don’t think I can go through all this again with two who are meant to escape ( be released). The thought of all the what if’s; what if one shows up to the PRC for night, and one doesn’t . What if one spooks, and gets lost from her buddy , what if both get lost?? Etc. etc. I think this lost Flyer has revealed I’m just not cut out for this I need to just stick to the blind, brain damaged, lame etc; the ones that need help, possibly a forever home (Snickers, Doodles, Dandies, and now, my lonely little Flyer girl Teenie, no thanks to me ) The healthy ones need to be turned over to a real rehabber, with a tougher heart than mine .
So was thinking, maybe I could co op with my young kennel girl; buy the blocks, have husband build a proper PRC cage, make the boo balls etc.; and combine these four if possible, and their release process over to my ambitious to learn, young employee ( with my help from a distance, if makes sense?) Otherwise, I may need to consider turning these two back over to my local rehabber; or if there is a TSB near NE MS, will be glad to transfer them to a tougher person than me. I’ve grown attached already; should have known, after getting heart stolen by my other NR’s. And sadly the Flyers, that were possibly releasable, had I not been so interactive with them over the winter... now it’s too late for Teenie. Praying her lost friend, by a miracle, survived his accidental hard release . But I have minimized handling these two, so they wouldn’t get too tame . They are now nearly weaned. Any thoughts welcome. Had no idea how tough your jobs are; maybe this is beginners wimp syndrome?? I don’t know. I was hoping to go further and take classes, get licensed, have a retirement mission. But “Tiny’s” disappearance has made me reconsider