Home Remodel Projects In A Parrot Home

In the last few weeks, I have had my shower replaced, floors laid, and my hardwood floors refinished. This is not an easy challenge when your home is a parrot home. When the men were working downstairs, I would move the parrots upstairs. A little crowded in the corner room...but they actually seemed to enjoy the quarters. I had the TV on to the cartoon channel to reduce the scary noises. I completely sealed off the doors and vents and did not open them until well after the dust and fumes diminished. To get to my kitchen, I would go outside and around my house. Believe it or not, the parrots now seem quite calm about the whole process. Ventilating well, playing music or TV, and cushioning the casters of each cage with folded washclothes underneath (to absorb some of the vibrations of the hammering) are some of the methods that I use. Sealing off the birds from fumes and dust are the most important. Lastly, providing a calm presence and some warm comfort food distracts them as well.

 

Do Macaws Smile?

Recently I cared for two playful macaws in their home. Upon arriving I would uncover them and bring them out of their cage for a walk down the hall to the kitchen where they would supervise the goings on. In the hallway there is a small mirror on the wall. Being a "parrot person" I know all too well how much joy macaws get from seeing their own image! As we pass, I allow them to sneak up to the mirror and say "Peek A Boo!" I don't know if "Dad" does this, but he probably does. Because there is nothing happier than a macaw smiling! 

Why Board With Me?

This is Artie. She is a sweet shy little girl goffins that had just recovered from a bit of mutilation on her chest. Mom decided to keep the plastic collar on while she boarded with me just to
make sure that she didn't get anxious and open herself up again. Boarding (even here!) can be stressful. Artie seemed to accept the collar okay. She probably would have enjoyed life more without it! She didn't seem interested in food at all. I observed her closely and tried to tantalize her with various concoctions. She would play with a seed or nut but would shun the fresh produce and other foods. I spent a lot of time holding pinches of warmed cooked grains (my psittacine cuisine!) in my fingers and pretending to eat it as I offered her a bite. "Yum!" I would say, and she would taste it. I felt as if I were priming an engine. She would taste a little sample and I would delicately place it in a smart crock right next to her. Smart Crock makes a wonderful shallow plastic crock that slips in and out of an easy-to-install mount that can be placed wherever you want it to be. Great for parrots that resist going down to the food bowl for their breakfast! Warm scrambled egg? Warm Harrison's Mash with banana? I was very aware of her intake and her output, or should I say, "outpoop?" She gradually ate a little more. Once she was "primed" (I could see her naked crop fill!) she became interested in little morsels of pomegranate! I felt that was the epitome of success! You go girl!

Acoustics Make a Difference

After emptying my entire living room and dining area including the draperies in preparation for having my hardwood floors refinished, the project got delayed for a week! A new client had to leave town unexpectedly and asked if she could board her parrots with me on short notice. I set them up in the living room and they seem very happy. Did I mention that this group includes two sun conures, two moustached parakeets, a nanday conure, and a little Goffins girl? In a large empty room with ten foot ceilings! Boy, is it ever loud! They are having a ball! Me? I am wearing ear plugs. These guys are fun, active, playful, and loud. I gently groomed their nails and wings which usually will quiet down a noisy day....not this group! They threw a party!
Once they were trimmed, they could all come out to play on top of the cages and on the playgym. Quite a community! It will be interesting to see if they are as noisy during their next stay. Do they love the empty-room acoustics? Or, are they always this vocal? We'll see. 

My Clients are Parrots

When I am caring for your parrots in your home, I consider the birds to be my clients. I talk with them, I play, I prepare their foods, I fetch fresh clean water, and so on. They seem to enjoy me and I them. I try to make sure everything is as neat and clean as possible. I know that housekeepers have their secrets....they leave their strong scent of lysol and do that "folding the end of the toilet paper..." how important is that! You always know that they have come.

In the parrot nanny business, however, I can clean the cages, sweep the floors, insure the freshest of water, produce, and foods...and before my car has left the driveway...I am quite sure it looks a mess! That's the nature of the business. I am comfortable that my clients know the care that I take and realize the mess is part of having parrots. Just know that I care and I do my best so that when you return tired and road weary...you come home to happy birds but they need clean water....again.

KIEFER KNOWS HOW TO PLAY

KIEFER is a Yellow Collar Macaw that knows how to have fun. He seldom sits on a perch...he swings from hanging ropes, dangles by one foot, pokes his head into any box or bag, etc. He is always on the lookout for something fun to do. Some parrots are perch potatoes...not Kiefer. This is one case where a small (relatively) parrot needs a large cage and lots of out-of-cage time. Kiefer has an ever-ready battery. But boy, is he fun!

Perfect Parrot Needs A New Home

I've made the heart breaking decision to find the perfect home for one of my perfect parrots. Kiefer is two years old. He is playful, talkative, relatively quiet, and learns very quickly. My business is keeping me quite busy and this little guy, because of his young age, needs to get more attention and enjoy interaction with people. He will only go to a very good home. Ideally, someone who is around a lot and is familiar with the needs of a parrot. If anyone knows of such a situation, please email me. I am asking $1200 for Kiefer with his cage and playstand. Believe me, he is worth every penny because he has no faults. He also comes with a lifetime supply of parrot nanny boarding at no cost. Sad but necessary decision.