Parrot/Bird Question for Kenny

[lyra]

Just a follow up so as not to derail the bully thread. Can you tell me if it's possible to rehabilitate a parrot that has been either abused or neglected? I saw a very controversial ad in a local Craigslist saying that a person was selling a 12 year old Hyacinth Macaw male for $15,000 for breeding purposes only, as the bird was not tamed at all and could not be handled. I suspect there was more to the story than that though, as there was mention of "haters" and FB groups.

I love birds, and know my home is not right for one, but I am curious to know about this topic. Can birds ever be rehabilitated? I am not sure how I feel about the larger birds like Macaws being in captivity, but what about the smaller parrots. They seem to always be up for rehoming. Can rehoming be successful, or do birds get "broken" in a way that can never be fixed. Just curious.

 

[redwood66]

I am not kenny but have had parrots.

A Hyacinth macaw will take a special person to care for. They are so big and really do damage to a person or home if a place is not set up for large birds, let alone a Hyacinth. I would hope only a very knowledgeable bird person would even consider taking this bird on. Bird breeding of large birds is so controversial I am not surprised that there are haters mentioned. And a Hyacinth is so expensive it is highly unlikely someone local to you has one of the opposite sex. And then hoping they would actually mate would be even more unlikely. This is someone trying to make $ on a bird that few people can handle. It should be given to a rescue capable of handling it.

 

[lyra]

Oh I believe the macaw definitely WOULD need a special home Redwood, but I am wondering about parrots in general. I hadn't realized that so many birds end up "homeless", and do wonder if they take to training after living in a neglected state for several years. I see conures up for resale a lot. I wonder if it's possible to permanently ruin a bird in a short period of time.

Here is the text of the ad on the Macaw that made me curious about rehoming:


A 12 years old breeder hyacinth macaw male is available for sale He has an open band, came from Edmonton . He is not tame, only good for breeding. Never had a female.
Now just screwing a perch so ready for breeding now.
No pluck, good health.
Asking $15000 and not taking offers.

Call at xxxxxxxxxxx if interested.

P.S THIS IS NOT A SCAM, SO STOP DISCUSSING ON DIFFERENT FACE BOOK GROUPS.
THOSE WHO ARE DISCUSSING NEED TO GET A LIFE !!!!

 

[redwood66]

Oh I believe the macaw definitely WOULD need a special home Redwood, but I am wondering about parrots in general. I hadn't realized that so many birds end up "homeless", and do wonder if they take to training after living in a neglected state for several years. I see conures up for resale a lot. I wonder if it's possible to permanently ruin a bird in a short period of time.

It is so much work and painful too! I feel bad for all the birds that people think they need and then do not take the time with them. From what I have heard from rescue people it is possible though if they find a home that is willing to take the responsibility.

 

[lyra]

I guess I'm willing to be bit, and I'm not afraid of birds. I can still "feel" the beak bite although it's been decades since I've had a bird, and know that a bite means I did something wrong, and I accept that. I do love birds though, and they've always bonded well with me.

I'd love to see a pic of your birds Redwood.

Don't know if you'll see this Kenny, but I've been wanting to see pics of your bird too! It's been a long time.

 

[redwood66]

I have been bit many times Mostly during that time of the month when my African Grey boy was a teenager.

I had two parrots until a few years ago. My Grey passed away suddenly about 2 years ago at the age of 18. I got him when he was 6 weeks old and bald as a cue ball with only pin feathers. I had to feed him with a syringe. The mother of a coworker was a breeder of greys and she and her other son were killed in a car accident. I offered my coworker to take some of the birds if they needed homes but the boyfriend of the mother would not let anyone care for them. I hope they all ended up alright because he was not such a nice person.

A few years later I got a Goffin cockatoo and she was sure a lively happy bird! And so loving to my DH. But at about the age of 10 she became so miserable and picked feathers. We determined it was the lack of sexual activity inherent to them. She humped my DH's arm all the time. I found a reputable person that had Goffins and she lives with them now. I miss her but know she is happier.


Casey my Goffin on our Christmas tree one year.





Max my African Grey. I miss him so much and he talked up a storm with more than 100 words he could use in proper context.

 

[kenny]

Just a follow up so as not to derail the bully thread. Can you tell me if it's possible to rehabilitate a parrot that has been either abused or neglected? I saw a very controversial ad in a local Craigslist saying that a person was selling a 12 year old Hyacinth Macaw male for $15,000 for breeding purposes only, as the bird was not tamed at all and could not be handled. I suspect there was more to the story than that though, as there was mention of "haters" and FB groups.

I love birds, and know my home is not right for one, but I am curious to know about this topic. Can birds ever be rehabilitated? I am not sure how I feel about the larger birds like Macaws being in captivity, but what about the smaller parrots. They seem to always be up for rehoming. Can rehoming be successful, or do birds get "broken" in a way that can never be fixed. Just curious.

Sorry, I have no expertise when it comes to taming an old untamed parrot.
If even possible I'd guess it would be very difficult and require the most special, gifted, parrot person and tons and tons of time.

I've never tried to tame a wild bird.
Getting a hand fed tame baby directly from the breeder a couple weeks after weaning has been my experience.
Even with this optimum start, meeting all the needs of a parrot is a formidable challenge and life-adjustment, though I get back 100 fold what I give.

The Hyacinth macaw is one of the most rare/endangered/expensive of parrots.
I hear when tame they are extremely affectionate and are great pets ... only for the right home of course.
They have massive beaks that probably could snap off a finger so attempting to tame a wild mature one would be very risky.

I do hope this male gets to breed.
We need every individual in a breeding program to preserve this magnificent species.

 

[missy]

Beautiful birds!
I hope all these magnificent species can be saved.

 

[kenny]

Lyra, FWIW there are parrot consultants and even parrot 'psychologists' that you could research.

I can understand the objection to the pet bird trade, especially when it contributes to extinction of a species.
But after humans have taken over their natural habitat, and there are few remaining individuals, IMO it's imperative that we breed those birds.
Reintroducing them into the wild is preferred, but IMO pets going to good homes is a good thing, obviously.
The problem is the bad homes.
The challenge is educating the public about the many needs of parrots before they buy.
It's a tragedy so many people get them when they have no clue what they are getting themselves into.

I wouldn't call myself a 'hater' of people who breed parrots for money and let them go to anyone who can afford them without educating them.
But I DO feel education is essential, yet I have no clue how to enforce this.

 

[Rockdiamond]

I love bird talk!!
Red- sorry to hear about your Grey- I know how attached one can become, and 18 is very young to loose such a bird.
I LOVE Goffins- they are one of the best Cockatoos IMO- remarkably smart.


About taming:
There's a big difference between a wild bird, and a neglected/abused yet domesticated bird. Adults caught in the wild are pretty much impossible to domesticate.
But it's pretty rare to find such birds today as all the popular species are being successfully bred here in the USA.
In many cases domesticated birds that seem viscous have been abandoned. I truly believe many parrots are intelligent enough to know it.
As Kenny suggests, time and patience are the main tools.
I had a Blue and Gold named Max that was a terror.
He spoke so many words, but pretty much every time anyone tried to touch him, he'd attack.
When I had the bird, I was managing a store called "Parrot Jungle" in Manhattan.
I spent a few months working with Max, and after a while we became incredibly good friends. He'd still bite anyone he didn't know, but I could play with him like a kitten.

$18k for a Hyacinth is CRAZY expensive IMO

I think the one in this picture sold for about 3k ( ETA- I called the store to check and I was incorrect on the $3k number- it was $10K)

 

[redwood66]

Thank you David. I miss him so much. Every day I would walk in from work he would holler "Hello Dear!"

I love that Hyacinth and it looks to be a younger one than the one kenny posted. $3K is a cheap price for one that is for sure. I have seen $10K or more. They definitely need to be protected. I never had the nerve for a big beak parrot (macaw) and I knew I would be timid which is a no no.

 

[lyra]

Thank you so much everyone, for the information and pictures.

Kenny, I see your point about captive breeding. Yes, it must exist, that makes sense. I hope that the prohibitive cost of these birds helps somewhat with dissuading people from getting in over their heads to start with. The birds are a lifetime commitment also, with their long lifespans.

I have sympathy for all abandoned/rescued pets. I wish I could foster at least, if that would help. A friend of mine rescued a Cockatoo as she was part of the admin of an SPCA branch here in Canada. She was the ONLY person I would have trusted in that situation. He was a holy terror, but she was the right person for the job. Not everyone is a bird person. Yes Redwood, big beaked birds are a bit scary to me also.

The pics of the Hyacinth Macaw are stunning. What a beautiful colour!

 

[sonnyjane]

Lyra,

Yes, progress can be made with any bird, no matter how bad their life, but it's just that... PROGRESS. It doesn't mean magically that a bond can be formed, it just means that you can improve the state that you found the bird in.

In those initial stages when there's a lot of aggression, you just "feed the piggy bank". You do a lot of work from outside of the bars - drop an unexpected treat in and walk away for example. You can train some behaviors from behind the safety of the bars to build a relationship. For example I've worked with several surrendered macaws (including hyacinths) that I wasn't able to physically handle, but still could train to do husbandry behaviors. Training nail trims with a dremel was a great way to build a positive reinforcement relationship in a "protected contact" situation. Vocalizations are another behavior that can be done through bars. Eventually you can get to a possible point of stepping up the bird to transfer them to sun cages etc., but I had one Amazon that I couldn't step up no matter what, so we just opened his door, he climbed out on top of the cage for the day, then we'd put his food bowl in and he'd climb in at the end of the day so we could secure him.

There are parrot behaviorists out there (several of my close friend do this on the side), but the most frustrating aspect of their job isn't the birds - it's the owners. Birds will make progress easily with the right training, but it's very easy for owners to give up and revert to their own ways, and then blame the birds (or my friends) for not making more progress. I've even worked with feral birds that were taken from the wild illegally and seized and formed decent relationships - you really just have to be INCREDIBLY sensitive and patient, but you may never get beyond just saving the bird from a worse situation as opposed to forming a close bond, and you have to be okay with that.

 

[Rockdiamond]

Thank you David. I miss him so much. Every day I would walk in from work he would holler "Hello Dear!"

I love that Hyacinth and it looks to be a younger one than the one kenny posted. $3K is a cheap price for one that is for sure. I have seen $10K or more. They definitely need to be protected. I never had the nerve for a big beak parrot (macaw) and I knew I would be timid which is a no no.

In my experience, Greys could be tougher ( and more painful) that large macaws. I think you're well tough enough to handle a big one Red
Not that you should.
I agree that far too many people buy birds without realizing the responsibility it entails.
Captive breeding has indeed secured a future for breeds whose habitats are rapidly getting destroyed.
And this has also created a glut of certain species leading to more aggressive selling, and ultimately a lot of bad homes for the poor birdies....

 

[sonnyjane]

In my experience, Greys could be tougher ( and more painful) that large macaws. I think you're well tough enough to handle a big one Red
.

I've been bitten but just about every bird out there (toucans hurt particularly badly), but I'd take a macaw bite over a gray or Amazon bite any day!

 

[Rockdiamond]

In my experience, Greys could be tougher ( and more painful) that large macaws. I think you're well tough enough to handle a big one Red
.

I've been bitten but just about every bird out there (toucans hurt particularly badly), but I'd take a macaw bite over a gray or Amazon bite any day!

WORD!!! The smaller birds generally have sharper points on their beaks.

I've also been bitten by a Toucan- although "sawed" is probably a more accurate description- they have beaks like razors.

 

[redwood66]

In my experience, Greys could be tougher ( and more painful) that large macaws. I think you're well tough enough to handle a big one Red
.

I've been bitten but just about every bird out there (toucans hurt particularly badly), but I'd take a macaw bite over a gray or Amazon bite any day!

True that I guess. When he did bite it was not a strike and then let go, it was a grab and then grind the lower beak into my flesh. It was all I could do to get him off without flinging him. Hurt like hell. I think it is the beak size on a macaw that is intimidating.


LOL David I ain't that tough.

 

[sonnyjane]

In my experience, Greys could be tougher ( and more painful) that large macaws. I think you're well tough enough to handle a big one Red
.

I've been bitten but just about every bird out there (toucans hurt particularly badly), but I'd take a macaw bite over a gray or Amazon bite any day!

True that I guess. When he did bite it was not a strike and then let go, it was a grab and then grind the lower beak into my flesh. It was all I could do to get him off without flinging him. Hurt like hell. I think it is the beak size on a macaw that is intimidating.

Honestly, it's hard but with parrots, when you're bitten, it's best to not make a big reaction. They are much like little kids in that if they see they're having an effect on you, they'll continue the behavior. Many, many times I'd get bitten, hold a steady hand, wait for them to let go, finish what I was doing, and then go freak out privately haha. It is ok to "dump" them though, if they bite you on the hand while you're holding them (or if they're on your shoulder or head etc.) Birds want a steady perch. If they bite their perch, it falls. It's ok to dump them on the ground to stop a behavior. You dump them and walk away. Don't give them an opportunity to continue.

 

[redwood66]

In my experience, Greys could be tougher ( and more painful) that large macaws. I think you're well tough enough to handle a big one Red
.

I've been bitten but just about every bird out there (toucans hurt particularly badly), but I'd take a macaw bite over a gray or Amazon bite any day!

True that I guess. When he did bite it was not a strike and then let go, it was a grab and then grind the lower beak into my flesh. It was all I could do to get him off without flinging him. Hurt like hell. I think it is the beak size on a macaw that is intimidating.

Honestly, it's hard but with parrots, when you're bitten, it's best to not make a big reaction. They are much like little kids in that if they see they're having an effect on you, they'll continue the behavior. Many, many times I'd get bitten, hold a steady hand, wait for them to let go, finish what I was doing, and then go freak out privately haha. It is ok to "dump" them though, if they bite you on the hand while you're holding them (or if they're on your shoulder or head etc.) Birds want a steady perch. If they bite their perch, it falls. It's ok to dump them on the ground to stop a behavior. You dump them and walk away. Don't give them an opportunity to continue.

Yep definitely. My Grey was so smart but he got "dumped" if he was on my hand. Mostly the bites were picking him up from a place he where he wanted to stay. Like a toddler he didn't want to got to bed.

 

[YadaYadaYada]

Quite a few years ago we went to a store here that had a hyacinth and she was a really beautiful bird but very intimidating! The owner also had a black palm cockatoo named Phantom, he was really a cool bird but again, very large and you would need a whole room for him alone.

Here is a picture of a black Palm:

 

[sonnyjane]

Quite a few years ago we went to a store here that had a hyacinth and she was a really beautiful bird but very intimidating! The owner also had a black palm cockatoo named Phantom, he was really a cool bird but again, very large and you would need a whole room for him alone.

Here is a picture of a black Palm:

Ugh, this thread is a walk down bird-memory lane. This is (creatively named) Palmer, the Palm Cockatoo. The good thing about their beaks is that it's hard for them to bite you b/c of how it lines up haha.

 

[blackprophet]

Even with this optimum start, meeting all the needs of a parrot is a formidable challenge and life-adjustment, though I get back 100 fold what I give.

The challenge is educating the public about the many needs of parrots before they buy.
It's a tragedy so many people get them when they have no clue what they are getting themselves into.

This is the most fascinating thread I think I've ever seen in hangout.

I grew up with two cockateils, one died pretty early after getting a egg stuck in its uterus. The other lived with us for almost 20 years (not sure how old it was when we got him). It was really sad when he died.

With regards to the snips above, Kenny and others, can you elaborate on what would be needed to take care of one of these birds? I've always been interested in getting one, so I'm really curious about what it takes. Any insights would be appreciated.

 

[kenny]

Beautiful birds Red.

Like others I'm fearful of large parrots because of that beak.
For me a Conure or Senegal is the perfect size.
Some conures are very loud, but the green-cheek conure isn't and they're much more quiet than the large parrots.
I'd imagine some parrot people have early hearing loss.

I found a pic with a Gray and a Conure for size comparison.



My good friend has a tame Congo Gray and I've brought our conure over there.
The birds pretty much ignored each other.
Both birds could not fly (clipped wing feathers) so I felt there wasn't much danger as each bird stayed on their daddys' shoulders.

 

[sonnyjane]

With regards to the snips above, Kenny and others, can you elaborate on what would be needed to take care of one of these birds? I've always been interested in getting one, so I'm really curious about what it takes. Any insights would be appreciated.

Obviously different types of parrots require different needs, but if you're looking at a parrot (macaw, gray, Amazon etc.) you need TIME. You need PATIENCE. You need to live somewhere that doesn't have a noise ordinance (only half joking). A parrot is a screaming toddler - for 80 years. They are intelligent, they are LOUD, they bite, they are LOUD, they destroy things, they are LOUD, and it is their biological nature to want to be with their bonded mate (ideally YOU) 24/7. They scream when you're not there because they want to locate you. They chew things to maintain their beaks. They can be aggressive toward your friends and family because it's in their nature to protect their mate and space. Any negative thing owners typically find about their parrot is 100% a part of their natural instincts.

If a parrot is left alone too long, they start to develop neurotic behaviors. They may pluck their feathers out (very hard to cure this behavior once started), they may not eat, they may start regurgitating to the point that they corrode their beaks right off of their faces (I've witnessed all of these horrible things). They need your absolute attention and devotion, just as a 2-year old child would, but they never outgrow that phase - they will never be self-sufficient - they will ALWAYS need you around WHENEVER you can, and it's not enough to just be in the room, you need to interact with them.

In addition, it's expensive to properly maintain birds - cages are expensive and must be made with non-toxic materials. Your home WILL experience some casualties as far as art, furniture, etc. Just like with any pet, there are good quality foods and bad quality foods, and their health will be determined by how much effort you put into a balanced diet. Avian vets and can be expensive, and while birds don't necessarily have a lot of health problems, if they DO get sick, they go south FAST so you need to have access to a good avian specialist.

I would only recommend a bird honestly to someone that does not travel (unless you have another bird friend that can provide live-in care for your bird while you're gone), that possibly works from home or works only part-time, or that is retired.

If you have two birds that are bonded and can keep each other company, that's a bit different, BUT, there's no guarantee that two birds you take in will like each other let alone bond with each other, so that kind of bliss is hard to achieve.

 

[House Cat]

This is an amazing thread!

 

[kenny]

Even with this optimum start, meeting all the needs of a parrot is a formidable challenge and life-adjustment, though I get back 100 fold what I give.

The challenge is educating the public about the many needs of parrots before they buy.
It's a tragedy so many people get them when they have no clue what they are getting themselves into.

This is the most fascinating thread I think I've ever seen in hangout.

I grew up with two cockateils, one died pretty early after getting a egg stuck in its uterus. The other lived with us for almost 20 years (not sure how old it was when we got him). It was really sad when he died.

With regards to the snips above, Kenny and others, can you elaborate on what would be needed to take care of one of these birds? I've always been interested in getting one, so I'm really curious about what it takes. Any insights would be appreciated.

Yeah, you can get really attached a bird; I cried more when my Senegal parrot died than when my parents died.

Long post alert ... you asked for it.

First and foremost: Your job is to replace your birds natural fear with trust.
It's NOT easy.
Well, it's easy after you learn how, but the how is not obvious.
I'm an old fart and honing this skill has been one of the most interesting, challenging, and rewarding things I have known.
Every bird I get is better than the last one ... of course it's not the bird, it's the knowledge and approach of their companion human.
I feel sorry for my first birds; I knew so little.

There are so many needs to consider, diet, environment, physical, social, psychological.
I've learned a lot, but I do not have the professional-level knowledge that Sonnyjane has.

After a lifetime of of being the companion human for a few parrots I think the bird will have the best life if you think of it and approach being a bird companion much like you'd approach having a child, a child that never grows up.

I guess I'll just randomly spit out some stuff I've learned.
Diet: Parrots love seeds but seeds are a unhealthy diet.
They are cheap and easy so unfortunately they end up being the main diet for many parrots.
Manufactured parrot pellet are best.
I use Zupreem brand.
Also give fresh fruits and veges every day.
Keep offering healthy foods even when they are ignored; it may take months.
Fresh water twice a day and rotate bowls so the unused one dries out to kill the bacteria that needs moisture.

Environment: Buy the largest cage you can afford, longer/wider is better than taller.
Stainless steel or powder-coat paint only.
Don't buy an old painted cage since it may have lead paint.
Position cage away from kitchen fumes and hopefully in a place where birdie can see a human or dog from his cage.
My parrots have never liked to be isolated.
Don't put it near the drafts of open windows or doors and where there is plenty of light but no direct sun.
Birds feel safer if the cage is not next to a door where people suddenly walk in and startle the bird.
In the middle of the room feels less safe than against a wall.
Better yet in the corner furthest from the entry to the room.
Birds are delicious and know it, so they don't like potential prey surprising them.
They like to see and hear you coming.

I know few can do this but if possible work at home and have several bird-safe perches/playgrounds throughout the house so birdie can be near you.
Bibi even loves to perch on the shower curtain rod when I shower.
He wants so sit on the laundry basket when I do laundry and hang on my guitar strap when I play guitar.
Companion parrots just want to be part of whatever is going on.
Bibi's my buddy.
Unlike those poor birds that spend their lives behind bars Bibi has an interesting and stimulating life.

No teflon pans, if overheated the fumes teflon gives off can kill birds.
No aerosols in the house ... more dangerous fumes.
My vet says the tissues in bird's lungs are very thin and fragile ... that's why they used canaries in coal mines.
No poisonous houseplants ... actually I gave them all up.

Wings: to clip or not? More controversial on a parrot forum than abortion/politics/religion.
I choose to clip so Bibi doesn't break his neck flying into a window/mirror, drown in the toilet, burn on the stove, get "cuisinarted" by a ceiling fan, fly out a door, fly to unsafe places in the house, find and chew on electrical cords.
Feathers grow back and require trimming; it's as painless as cutting your hair or nails but you have to avoid touching new 'blood' feathers or the bird could bleed to death if you don't know the first aid.
When Bibi's feathers start to grown back he becomes a brat, but reverts back to a cuddly butterball immediately after wing clipping since he's once again dependent on me, his on-call Uber driver.

Potty training ... more controversy.
I've heard that birds can be trained to 'hold it' but that is bad for the bird.
Here's what I do.
I learned Bibi poops about every 10 minutes. (I think larger birds poop less often.)

When Bibi's on my shoulder, and it's time, I place him back on his perch and say "Poop".
95% of the time he'll poop right on command over the paper.
I immediately say, "Good Boy!" in a happy voice and put him right back on my shoulder ... where he wants to be.
So actually it's Kenny who's potty trained.

Speaking of poop, you can mitigate it but eventually you're gonna get some on your shirt so have some shirts set aside to wear for birdie.
If this is a deal breaker don't get a bird.

Mess: Birds make a mess. They'll squeeze the juice out of apple and fling the pulp onto the wall.
When they groom themselves there will be a kind of dust and some feathers on the floor.
If this is a deal breaker don't get a bird.

Noise: Birds make noise.
You can lower it by learning more and addressing needs and you can pick a species that's less loud but you're gonna get some noise.
It will happen at the worst time.
If this is a deal breaker don't get a bird.

Chewing: I like that saying, "A bird's gotta chew what a bird's gotta chew".
I've read birds need to keep their beak skills in top form for nest building season.
You can buy chew toys but often you can find free stuff that's safe, like pesticide-free tree branches of safe species from your yard, toilet paper cardboard tubes, $100 bills.
Bibi is obsessed with my Octavia.
If your bird can fly everything in the house may get chewed up.
A parrot will chew on your shirt so again set aside a few bird shirts.
If this is a deal breaker don't get a bird.

I think the most commonly poorly-understood parrot need is social.
Parrots are flock animals.
You, your family and dogs and cats are their flock.
That explains much of their perplexing behaviors.

They want and need to be near you, or at least be able to see you or hear you.
Often if Bibi has to be in another room (like when I'm cooking or cleaning with bleach) the bird will yell.
When a bird is separated from his flock, and can't fly back to it, it has to be stressful.
If I just sing or talk to him pleasantly, or make clicking sounds he'll stop screaming.
He feels he's safe and knows I'm safe.

Biting; As Sonnyjane said, birds love drama.
Don't reward them with a dramatic response when they bite.
This is very difficult.
Don't teach them that the flesh next to the fingernail is the best place to bite.
Divert attention when the beak approaches that zone by dropping your hand (his perch) just enough so he looses his balance.

Cuddling: all of my birds have liked to cuddle, against my neck, under my chin, against my arm.
Every morning when we wake up (after that huge morning poop - 8 hours saved up) I let him crawl into bed under the sheets for 10 minutes; he LOVES it!
He'll run up and nibble on my mustache for a minute, then run back under the covers were it's warm and make cute chortling vocalizations he makes only at this time.

Outings: I take Bibi out everywhere, except work.
He hides in my shirt but will poke his head out my collar when I'm talking to someone.
Sometimes he'll come out to greet the stranger.
If safe, and after giving some guidance and telling the person what to expect, I'll let Bibi climb on the new person ... quickly up the arm he goes ... Bibi makes a Bibi-line to nibble gently on their ear & hair.
It's really amazing how friendly he is.
People are thoroughly charmed with him.
Clearly there is some risk in doing this, but IMO it offers Bibi a better, more stimulating social life.

I'm so lucky to have this little guy in my life.

 

[kenny]

Here's my buddy Bibi, a Yellow Sided Green Cheek Conure.
We don't know the gender so just I flipped a coin.
If he ever gives us an egg I'll call Bibi a she.

You gotta send blood to a lab to learn the gender of this kind of bird.
I don't bother because I don't care.

 

[Rockdiamond]

My Yellow Naped Amazon Sampson once got out of his cage, and chewed up my wallet- including a few hundred in ca$h...OUCH!!

Kenny- about seeds- interesting about the pellets.
What have you learned about seeds that make them detrimental?

 

[redwood66]

Mine did not get seeds from a bag because they have little nutritional value. Only sprouted seeds as treats and Harrison's organic pellets plus veggies and fruits. Max loved grapes and would get into them if he could. Bad bird.

Thank you kenny for putting so much time and thought into your post. People definitely need to think very hard before getting a parrot.

 

[kenny]

My Yellow Naped Amazon Sampson once got out of his cage, and chewed up my wallet- including a few hundred in ca$h...OUCH!!

Kenny- about seeds- interesting about the pellets.
What have you learned about seeds that make them detrimental?

Seeds do not have the balanced nutrition that high quality pellets have.
Seeds are full of fat.
IIRC, some seeds, like sunflower, have addictive properties.
I recommend you Google the illness and poor health that results from a seed diet.
Consider the source of course; for instance, the website of a pellet manufacturer.

I do offer Bibi a tiny bit of safflower seed as a treat, maybe 5 seeds offered, one at a time, twice a week.
He LOVES them!
Some bird trainers use a seed as a reward.

It is very difficult to wean a bird off an all-seed diet or one high in seed.
It can take a long long time.

Bibi is the first bird I've had that started out day-1 on a good pellet diet.