A Chance To Make A Difference

People have been keeping parrots as pets for many many years. The way we care for them has improved considerably as our knowledge and appreciation of their high intelligence has come into play. Most of us know that these guys need an enriching environment that satisfies the parrot's intelligence, curiosity, emotional and psychological needs. There are still some parrots out there that are kept in the "old way." Probably out of habit and not knowing any better. I think of the Victorian parlor with the small brass birdcage where a parrot would be kept (as part of the decor). Or, I think of how birds are kept in other countries in small hanging cages and no thought given to their needs. This little grey has lived in this tiny cage for 15 years. She has a bell and a chain. She eats seeds. Her cage is hung from the ceiling. She gets ambient attention from the people in her life. She has come to know this way of life and has accepted it as normal. While the "parents" are on a trip, the daughter is "babysitting." The daughter realizes that there is plenty of room for improvement. I am so glad that she called me. She will soon acquire a larger cage and I am working with her to help this little grey girl adapt to a wider world. She is cage bound and toy shy so the changes will have to come slowly. Truly an opportunity to improve the life of this bird. I do not judge people...I just try to make a difference. This appears to be a wild caught grey which gives her a better sense of who she is. Sad? Yes, but stay tuned. Good things are going t0 happen!

My Fluffy Grey, Buster

This is Buster. He is the most entertaining and personable little man. He always has a comment to make. He is, at this moment, ringing and whistling and having phone conversations in the next room. "Hello, Parrot Nanny, this is Gayle." I clicked this photo of him last night as he was enjoying a capful of water. He has started sprouting some chest feathers. I try not to get too excited now about signs of improvement in his feather appearance. I now know that there will be times of improvement....and then, setbacks. He is quite happy and I love him so much. I am always looking for ways to combat his feather destructive tendancies. Light, humidity, diet, sleep, etc. I'll keep you posted on any hopeful tips.

Noise Control

Recently had a rough weekend (for a parrot nanny). It is Springtime, of course, and I had three Blue Crown conures here feeling their oats. Boy, was it noisy! One of the culprits was "my" BC conure, Ben. He has spent most of his 26 years alone. He was beside himself with joy when Kiku and Tank arrived for a stay. But the three of them lived up to the reputation of noisy conures. Whew! I was told by the parents of Kiku and Tank that they have been unusually noisy lately. I tried a few of my own suggestions and took note of what actually worked in this situation. In their cages was a definite noise problem. Even just opening the doors helped. However, a drenching shower and time spent way up high on a hanging playgym seemed to quiet the din considerably. Most distractions only lasted for a few minutes....but the high hangout was good until they got hungry and needed to come down. That one hour of quiet time was much appreciated by the entire household. Even my two greys were yelling, "quiet, don't bark!" from upstairs. Never leave parrots out unsupervised.

PYRRHURA CONURES

This is Josh. He is a fallow (color variation) greencheek conure. These little guys are excellent companions. They don't have the noise level of some other conures...ie the ARATINGA conures (Blue Crown, Sun, Nanday, etc) and they are small and easy to manage. They definitely have huge personalities as anyone who shares their home with one will attest to. They seem to be great little birds to have children around. Never, ever, get a parrot of any kind for a child unless you can supervise daily and insure a life-
long commitment to the bird. Children lose interest and bird's live "forever." Also, never get your parrot another parrot for a companion unless you can commit to it as an independent being if the two birds don't enjoy each other! But these little ones are fun, interactive, and not too intimidating. They are fun and easy to train to do tricks (behaviors) on command. If you live in a noise sensitive home or don't have a lot of space, a greencheek conure or maroon belly conure (the two most common pyrrhuras) might be the parrot for you. There's no such thing as "a starter bird" because every bird brings with it a huge commitment. But some are easier than others and don't present a complex combination of issues. All the same rules do apply. Establish the right kind of relationship, teach them to entertain themselves, provide a large and exciting cage, etc. I'm certainly enjoying Josh!

Recycling Parrot Style

In a parrot household, trash must be carefully considered prior to tossing it away. Around here, the first thought is, who would enjoy this? Cardboard egg cartons (if they have no egg residue), an Oatmeal Box (the residual oatmeal is tasty), any box or cardboard or paper is something to be considered. Always check safety. Is it clean? Are there no staples or metal parts? Could the item get stuck on the bird's head? Is there a chance my bird will turn it into an unsafe item? It's difficult to keep coming up with new and exciting "toys" but using your empty containers can alleviate boredom for many birds. I gave Munchkin, the cockatiel above, an empty kleenex box with a large hole cut into it and he proceeded to turn it upside down on top of himself! The box was moving around the cage floor like a little tank! I "rescued him" and noted the possibilities! Even plastic is fun for certain birds. Plastic bottle caps floating on the water dish can become "shot glasses" for larger parrots and fun pick up toys for little birds. Plastic is one of those things that each parrot person must decide about its safety. As with everything, some will cringe and some will gladly offer it. Depends on the bird and the person!

Incredible Greys

African Grey Parrots are really fun to live with. I am lucky to have two of my own. I also get to experience guest greys and find out so much about their lives as well. They all have similar beeps, whistles, and rings (phone rings). Most carry on complete conversations including the dial tone, conversation, "bye now", and click. I am amazed at the continual learning process that my two greys express. They have a rich environment filled with stimulating situations. (ie Birds coming into the home and sharing other sounds and interactions.) Recently I moved my two greys Buster and Bug up to a sunny bedroom and they seem to love the new setting. They have a TV to watch and a window to the front garden and street. They carry on verbally in a happy manner much more than when their cages were in my living room. Greys seem to talk more when you are out of sight. I sat down to write this because I was listening to a new sound from them and couldn't figure out where it came from. Definitely electronic, but different.... then, I heard my cell phone in my purse let out a small alarm that the battery was low. Ah ha! That was it. Grey's are either psychic or they have very very good hearing. When I am at one end of the house and pick up the phone to dial a number, they will "dial too" and start the conversation. They often seem to ring just prior to an incoming call. It's fascinating to share your home with a Grey Parrot.