The Pet Bird Thread

[kenny]

We have a zillion cat and dog threads but it sounds like we have quite a few bird lovers here.
This thread is for you to tell us about your feathered friend.
We can compare notes, and get more edjucated and this may take some of the mystery out of birdie love for people who have not had a bird ... yet.

Copy and past and answer as many of the following questions as you like and post as many pics as you like.
If you have more than one bird introduce us to each of them.

1. What kind of bird do you have?

2. Your bird's gender, age and name.

3. What is the bird's diet? Any surprising foods?

4. Is birdie tame? Was birdie a hand-fed baby?

5. If there are other pets in the house, what are they and how does your bird get along with them? Who's boss?

6. Whats the best and the worst thing about your bird?

7. Tell us about notable qualities or stories about your bird.

8. How much time is spent in the cage vs. out of the cage daily?

9. Do you have playgrounds or perches around the house for birdie? Pics please.

10. Are the wing's clipped? If so has your bird ever flown.

11. Does birdie have a favorite human in your home?

12. Is birdie friendly with strangers?

13. Does your bird ignore or love toys?

14. How often does birdie get a bath?

15. Does your bird breed?

16. Is your bird being noisy a problem?

Add whatever other questions you think would be good.

 

[kenny]

I'll start, even though some of this has been posted before.

1. What kind of bird do you have?
Only one Senegal Parrot

2. Your bird's gender, age and name.
I think of her as female but am not certain, 4 years old, Puppy.

3. What is the bird's diet? Any surprising foods?
75% fresh food like fruits, veggies, bread, pasta, peanuts, soybeans
20% safflower seed, 5% pellet which I have to grind up and sprinkle on other food.
She LOVES breaking open chicken bones and gorging on the marrow while the dogs whine and cry since they can't have chicken bones.

4. Is birdie tame? Was birdie a hand-fed baby?
Very tame hand fed baby.

5. If there are other pets in the house, what are they and how does your bird get along with them? Who's boss?
Two dogs and the bird is the boss. Puppy will jump onto the kitchen floor, march over to the dog's bed and the dogs will scatter while the bird sits in the middle of their bed.

6. Whats the best and the worst thing about your bird?
She's affectionate with evryone, but screams for attention sometimes when I can't give it.

7. Tell us about notable qualities or stories about your bird.
She lays on her back and hangs out in my shirt.

8. How much time is spent in the cage vs. out of the cage daily?
She is only in her cage when I'm out of the house, which is rarely since I mostly work at home.

9. Do you have playgrounds or perches around the house for birdie? Pics please.
Yes, she loves to be in different locations to avoid boredom, and I'll get some pics.

10. Are the wing's clipped? If so has your bird ever flown.
Clipped, she's never flown.

11. Does birdie have a favorite human in your home?
Yes, not me. My SO, and it's kind of a problem. When he gets home he wants to chill and veg out alone, so the bird screams and I have to give her a nap in the dark-towel-covered-aquarium she sleeps in.

12. Is birdie friendly with strangers?
VERY.

13. Does your bird ignore or love toys?
Ignores many of the expensive ones but loves the free ones like a branch from a tree.

14. How often does birdie get a bath?
About daily she'll bath in her water dish, I'll get a pic.

15. Does your bird breed?
No.

16. Is your bird being noisy a problem?
With the neighbors, no ... but with me and my SO sometimes.

 

[Begonia]

I love birdies.

1. Cockatiel (pearl)
2. Female
3. 5 years old
4. Ziggy Louise LeFlocker, Zee, Sweet, Bird, Princess Zee, Chicken Tot, Chicken Pot Pie, McNugget, Chicken Hawk...
5. Seeds, veggies, scrambled egg, brown rice, chickpeas, popcorn, cereal, cheese, sunflower seeds (occasionally), millet is her comfort food, ooh love broccoli, the odd bit of chicken, are we having Italian tonight? That's great too.
Not as 'workable' as other kinds of birdies. Likes to spend time on my shoulder though, loves to play with my bead tray (I'm a beader) as she loves bling of all sorts.
6. She's always watching out for predators and seems to be protecting us too. She not very tolerant of people she doesn't know...
7. She has a shower with one of my sons every day. A wet bird is a funny bird. Gotta spend at least 2 hours getting prettied up after that...
8. She spends btwn 3-8 hours out of her cage daily.
9. No other perches, although I keep meaning to. I take her around the house and pop a paper towel under her. She has a fast metabolism
10. Clipped wingies, she's just too damn good without them clipped. She's pretty darn good with them clipped as well.
11. Her and I are besties. She's fond of the hubbie too.
12. Not so much, but she is partial to good-looking blonde guys. Not my type, but the heart wants, what the heart wants.
13. Not much of a toy girl, loves bling, books, plants, but not a paperback that you donate to her chewing cause. Electrical wires, my new retro teak lamp, pencils...she adores pencils. Would it kill me to get her a new piece of willow twig?

I love my bird.

 

[woofmama]

I don't currently have birds but did years ago.
One hand fed Quaker named Gumby.
Two cockatiels Addy & Piglet. ex husband found Addy half starved on Addison Rd in Chicago. Piglet was a hand fed baby.
Several very friendly adorable parakeets. All had out of cage time. I would love to have another parrot when we are retired.
I love senegals

 

[kenny]

Begonia, that's so funny you have all those names for your Cockatiel.
I had a sweet friendly Cockatiel named Beaker for 12 years.
I thought it was a male but around age 8 an egg appeared in the cage.

I have a few other names for Puppy.
Puppita, Puppywuppy and Peepee.

Once at my SO's family's house my BIL had Puppy in his hand at the dinner table and he said, "I'm holding Kenny's little green Peepee and it feels so warm."

 

[Begonia]

Thanks Kenny

Beaker. Great name, gonna have to remember that. Chicken Totsky is a girl, she laid 27 eggs last year at this time (hence the chicken references). She's getting all sexy on us again, but so far no eggs. Beautiful little eggs, but duds. We can't convince the good-looking blondes to...well never mind.

Puppy I was worried for a while until you reassured us all some years back your feathered bestie is alive and well. Playing possum tho.

It's nice that Puppy likes people. Opens us her world, and theirs. Ya gotta have friends of all kinds.

I love birds.

Wanna bring Puppy over for a playdate? If only...

 

[Dancing Fire]

1. What kind of bird do you have?
Amazon Blue Front

2. Your bird's gender, age and name.
don't know gender,18 yrs old,Sunshine

3. What is the bird's diet? Any surprising foods?
seeds and fruits, loves spaghetti

4. Is birdie tame? Was birdie a hand-fed baby?
yes

5. If there are other pets in the house, what are they and how does your bird get along with them? Who's boss?
no other pets in the house.

6. Whats the best and the worst thing about your bird?
talks a lot.

7. Tell us about notable qualities or stories about your bird.
really strange...when Chinese new year is near (every year) he would say "Happy New Year" in Chinese.

8. How much time is spent in the cage vs. out of the cage daily?
he'll spent most of the day in his cage and only a few hrs out of his cage.

9. Do you have playgrounds or perches around the house for birdie? Pics please.
no

10. Are the wing's clipped? If so has your bird ever flown.
his wings are clipped every 6 months.

11. Does birdie have a favorite human in your home?
my wife

12. Is birdie friendly with strangers?
no,i told him never talk to strangers...

13. Does your bird ignore or love toys?
once awhile he'll play with his toys.

14. How often does birdie get a bath?
once a week

15. Does your bird breed?
no,he is a virgin

16. Is your bird being noisy a problem?
no,he sleeps at night.

Add whatever other questions you think would be good.

 

[JewelFreak]

PHOTOS PHOTOS PLEEZE!!!

 

[CrazyBirdLady]

It's lovely to see we have some bird lovers here. Love your bird Kenny and great thread

1. What kind of bird do you have? Sun Conure

2. Your bird's gender, age and name. Male, 9 year old and his name is Sunny

3. What is the bird's diet? Any surprising foods? I buy him a fancy seed mix (he loves the dried fuit in it). He loves apples, oranges, pasta, bread. Sunny also likes foods that are not very good for him like ice cream, potato chips and chocolate cake. These are foods that he's not allowed to have but he occasionally get a dropped crumb if I'm eating these foods (he searches for these crumbs on my top )

4. Is birdie tame? Was birdie a hand-fed baby? Super tame and he would never dream of biting

5. If there are other pets in the house, what are they and how does your bird get along with them? Who's boss? No and I don't think he would want any other pets in the house. He likes being an only child.

6. Whats the best and the worst thing about your bird? The worst is by far the noise. If you have heard a Sun conure you would understandThe best is the love and entertainment he gives us. He's full of personality and character for a little bird

7. Tell us about notable qualities or stories about your bird. He's toilet trained which is super handy and he'll tell you when he needs to go to the toilet with a little beeping noise. He loves hiding in your top. He will put a million tiny holes in your clothes if you let him (so your clothes look like they have been attacked by moths). When you brush your teeth he also moves his head backwards and forwards like he is brushing his teeth with you.

8. How much time is spent in the cage vs. out of the cage daily? If someones home he is out of the cage.

9. Do you have playgrounds or perches around the house for birdie? Pics please. He has the one main cage with lots of perches and toys. Twisted rope perches are a hit and he always sleeps in his happy hut. Wooden ladders are hours of chewing entertainment.

10. Are the wing's clipped? If so has your bird ever flown. Yes both wings are clipped so he can come outside in the garden. He will fly off if he gets a scare. Having both wings clipped means he can't fly up.

11. Does birdie have a favorite human in your home? Yes and it's not me!! I'm very offended as I'm the main care giver. He likes my husband the most and does the flapping wing thing when he can see DH so he'll pick him up.

12. Is birdie friendly with strangers? Not at all if they are in the house. He thinks they are intruding his nest

13. Does your bird ignore or love toys? He's always scared of any new toys in the cage but after a few weeks he falls in love with them

14. How often does birdie get a bath? Once a week and he makes the cutest noises when he's washing

15. Does your bird breed? No. If he was introduced to another bird he would kill it. If you have a bird video playing on youtube he will attack the screen to get the bird. He's a crazy little guy

16. Is your bird being noisy a problem? Some days yes and he is soooo loud.

I love my little Sunny to bits and wouldn't swap him for anything in this world.

 

[kenny]

When you brush your teeth he also moves his head backwards and forwards like he is brushing his teeth with you.

OMG too cute.
We gotta get admin to let us post videos.

 

[kenny]

DF is your Blue Front Amazon bilingual?
What else beside Happy New Year does Sunshine say?

 

[Rockdiamond]

Awesome thread Kenny- thanks for posting it. I've had a lot of birds over the years- but Ill answer about the one I had the longest. He lived an amazing 18 years



1. What kind of bird do you have?
Lovebird

2. Your bird's gender, age and name.
Boo, I assume male as we never found an egg

3. What is the bird's diet? Any surprising foods?
Pretty much anything we were eating- but mainly parrot mix

4. Is birdie tame? Was birdie a hand-fed baby?
Completely tame ( if you know how to handle him)- we got him when he was still "spoon feeding

5. If there are other pets in the house, what are they and how does your bird get along with them? Who's boss?
Nope
6. Whats the best and the worst thing about your bird?
Incredibly smart, devoted and cute- LOUD LOUD LOUD
7. Tell us about notable qualities or stories about your bird.
Loved to spend time in my pocket. Fearless- this little guy would attack a dog or cat no problem.
8. How much time is spent in the cage vs. out of the cage daily?
Lots of time out of cage- but also loved the cage
9. Do you have playgrounds or perches around the house for birdie? Pics please.
nope
10. Are the wing's clipped? If so has your bird ever flown.
Not clipped ever. Boo would fly to me. We had to be super careful with windows and open doors when he was out.
Not that he'd try to escape- but if he did fly out by accident, he'd get lost. He was a great flyer.
11. Does birdie have a favorite human in your home?
I was Boo's favorite- but he loved anyone who took time with him.
12. Is birdie friendly with strangers?
Yes- but you need to know how to approach him
13. Does your bird ignore or love toys?
Ignores his toys. Poops on mine

14. How often does birdie get a bath?
Once or twice a week- in the sink, more accurately, my hands cupped beneath the faucet creating a mini bird bath- very funny
15. Does your bird breed?
No skin in that game
16. Is your bird being noisy a problem?
Oh my yes
Add whatever other questions you think would be good.[/quote]

I truly miss boo.
But don't think I'll get another.
I also miss a bunch of other parrots I was closely acquainted with.
they do get into your soul. And they definitely have individual personality traits.
I had the good fortune of managing a parrot store when I was 22 fr about 6 months- a short hiatus from the diamond business.

 

[Dancing Fire]

DF is your Blue Front Amazon bilingual?
What else beside Happy New Year does Sunshine say?

that's the only chinese phrase we taught him.

 

[kenny]

RD, Boo sounds like a sweetheart.
I had a friend in Brooklyn who had a prolific breeding pair of lovebirds.
The highest head count I remember was 14.
They all flew and it was kind of cool but kind of crowded in the apartment.
Only one was semi tame but only came to his human.

Did Boo chew up the edges of newspaper and put them in his tail?

 

[CrazyBirdLady]

Wow that's weird that they tuck it in there wings and tail. My guy loves ripping paper up into a million tiny pieces and then tossing it away

 

[hawaiianorangetree]

1. What kind of bird do you have?

An Eastern Long Billed Corrella

2. Your bird's gender, age and name.

Fred, short for Freddie Krueger, (it was the 80's). He is a male and we don't know how old he is. We have had him for almost 30 years and he had two owners previously, so we will just say 30+

3. What is the bird's diet? Any surprising foods?

Bird seed, he love's sunflower seeds. He gets treats like milk arrowroot biscuits and thistles, but tends to destroy them rather than eat. He loves to have a taste of anything on your plate and pretends to drink a cup of tea with me.

4. Is birdie tame? Was birdie a hand-fed baby?

Fred is tame, he talks, sings, loves watching TV, chases my mum around, I would assume he was hand reared.

5. If there are other pets in the house, what are they and how does your bird get along with them? Who's boss?

Fred is the boss. If he walks up, the dog will get up and move, the cat has a very healthy respect for Fred. Fred is in love with the cat.

Here's Fred and the Cat... [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/an-unlikely-friendship.183768/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/an-unlikely-friendship.183768/[/URL]

6. Whats the best and the worst thing about your bird?

He is funny! He has the best sense of humour and can play dirty tricks on people. The worst is that he bites! and hard. He doesn't bite meb ecause he loves me but anyone else is fair game. The squawking gets pretty loud.

7. Tell us about notable qualities or stories about your bird.
*Not a very PC story*
When I was young, my dad used to go up to the cage and say to Fred under his breath "you w*nker" (fred hated dad). On Saturday mornings i would get up and let Fred out of his cage and he would come inside and watch tv with me on the lounge. He loved it! He would sing and laugh and squeal, until one day when my dad walked in. He jumped off the couch and ran over to him and started attacking his boot and biting it viciously. Dad flicked him off the boot, Fred rolled over a couple of times, got up, gave us the dirtiest laugh and said "ha ha ha you w*nker!"

He always knew when to laugh, in the right places and with the right intonation. It still amazes me.

8. How much time is spent in the cage vs. out of the cage daily?

Fred has a large avairy that he lives in with a pink anf grey galah. He comes out on weekends to stut his stuff. Poor mum has to walk around with a broom for protection. I went over on Sunday to find Mum stuck in the pool and Fred circling her, she couldn't get out.
It's a shame that he attacks everyone, because he would be allowed out a lot more if he didn't.

9. Do you have playgrounds or perches around the house for birdie? Pics please.

Not really, Fred just sits wherever he wants, chairs, tables, lounges.

10. Are the wing's clipped? If so has your bird ever flown.

Back when we first got him my dad used to clip his wing. We haven't done it in probably 20 years? He can fly, but doesn't get very far off the ground or fly too far. I ususally have to go rescue him if he makes it to the trees.

11. Does birdie have a favorite human in your home?

I am the favourite human. He adopted me when I was about 8 after my sister left home. I completely expected him to adopt my daughter as she grew up but he really does only have eyes for me. I am the only one he wont bite on purpose.

12. Is birdie friendly with strangers?

No! He has a great trick where he will coax a stranger up to his cage by being all sweet and speaking softly and saying "hello, hello, hello" until they get their face close enough and then he throws his wings out, screams, scares the cr*p out of someone and then does his dirty laugh...

13. Does your bird ignore or love toys?

He doesn't play with toys too much (he usually buries them) but he loves to dig holes and plays with sticks (twirls around with them).

14. How often does birdie get a bath?

His water dish is big enough to bath in so whenever he wants.

15. Does your bird breed?
No.

16. Is your bird being noisy a problem?

Mum currently lives on 10 acres so the noise isn't a problem, but... Fred is going to live to 80 years + and I am going to inherit him so I am sure the noise will become an issue then. I'm thinking we will have to cover his cage at night or something.

 

[kenny]

Wow, Fred sounds like a grouchy old man with a soft spot for you.
The friendship with your cat just amazes me.
They never fight, even play fight?

 

[hawaiianorangetree]

He is less of a grouchy old man and more of a toddler that has absolutely no manners or social graces. I was told once that the correllas have the intelligence of a 2 year old and you can really see that he does in how he plays and interacts and throws tantrums when you don't pay him enough attention.

I think the cat is too wary to play fight as he knows what Fred is capable of. In the begining the cat was VERY interested and used to use his paws to hook into freds tail feathers... until fred gave him a quick bite and showed him who is boss! Fred will pick up Cosmo's tail and nibble on the fur and Cosmo will just watch him, not bothered at all.

It is an incredible friendship they share.

I really wish we could post videos as I have some great ones! The pictures don't do him and his personality justice.

 

[Rockdiamond]

RD, Boo sounds like a sweetheart.
I had a friend in Brooklyn who had a prolific breeding pair of lovebirds.
The highest head count I remember was 14.
They all flew and it was kind of cool but kind of crowded in the apartment.
Only one was semi tame but only came to his human.

Did Boo chew up the edges of newspaper and put them in his tail?

Lovebirds are some of the coolest little guys!
They are spunky to the max. If you don't get them as babies, they are next to impossible to train- they are also stubborn.
BUt if you meet one that has been hand reared, they make faithful friends.
Boo was raised in an envoronment where a lot of people held him- so he'd get close to anyone who'd take some initiative and pick him up.
Sometimes I'd just walk up to someone and with boo clenched in my palm, an shove him down their shirt.
Strangers got quite upset about this.
Seriously- we got boo when my dd was about 7- and they became very close as well.
Boo loved to be inside someone's shirt.
I'm getting all sentimental thinking of him now.
Here he was after a bath.



DF- I LOVE blue fronted amazons too! They make great talkers.
I'll be his head has a lot f yellow- they get even prettier as they age.
How long have you had him?

 

[kenny]

Sometimes I'd just walk up to someone and with boo clenched in my palm, an shove him down their shirt.
Strangers got quite upset about this.

I've done this too, but only after the person has spent some time getting comfortable with the bird, and after asking.
People love it and of course it's a photo op since everyone except me carries a smart phone camera now.

Awww, wet birds look so funny.

 

[minousbijoux]

Kenny, HOT's Fred is so close to Cosmo that he meows - how cool is that?!! I love this guy because when he decides to love, it sounds like he is all in.

Major problem with this thread is a lack of pictures. Each of you should post lots and lots.

 

[Rockdiamond]

Yes Kenny- they are so cute when wet- even a big macaw looks all bony when wet......
bijoux- I LOVE it when parrots imitate other animals.
I've heard African Greys bark and you could not tell it was not a dog.
I remember a blue and gold macaw that woud say "Meeeow"
Not really imitating a cat, but more like a person would say it.
Sampson was my Yellow Nape Amazin- he used to say
"I'm a good bird!"


Here's a cool shot of Sampson in flight


One time Sampson was on top of his cage, and without warning took off sceaming and landed on my brother's shoulder. My brother freaked out and Sampson bit him on the ear.
OUCH!!

There was no love lost between the two prior- but after that? my brother hated Sampson........
Funny thing is that years later he got into birds and had a Cocktoo called Mozart for many years.

eta-
I just remembered this...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbZ0cZfxTd4

 

[kenny]

Wow, awesome pic of an Amazon flying in a room.
I just visualize crashes and broken expensive nick nacks.

Minou, I will post pics, though I do get carried away with that.

 

[johnfish]

I had a Quaker and a Green Cheek Conure. They were raised together by the breeder and were the best of friends. Unfortunately 2 years ago a house fire took both of them. They were only 2 years of age. I miss both of them!

Rest in peace Tiki and Maui

 

[Rockdiamond]

Wow, awesome pic of an Amazon flying in a room.
I just visualize crashes and broken expensive nick nacks.

Minou, I will post pics, though I do get carried away with that.

LOL- yes that poor staircase on the wall was eventually destroyed when the old boy tried to land on it IIRC

 

[kenny]

I had a Quaker and a Green Cheek Conure. They were raised together by the breeder and were the best of friends. Unfortunately 2 years ago a house fire took both of them. They were only 2 years of age. I miss both of them!

Rest in peace Tiki and Maui

OMG, so sorry!
I'd be devastated.

 

[MsP]

I have had several birds throughout my years... but have none now. One day in the future I will though! I have a soft spot for older birds who have lost their homes and hope to be able to provide a home to a few in the future. When I was a kid we took in a red crowned amazon from a neighbor who got it as a wedding gift several decades earlier-- he must have been 40+ and was wild caught. He was NOT tame but was such a character.

My first parakeets died at ages 7 and 9 years. They spoke all kinds of things and while not hand-fed they were very very tame. I know some people want flashier birds but parakeets are wonderful and cheery birds!

I had my cockatiel for 11 years but didn't get him as a baby... I was a second owner. Once again, not hand fed or tame at all when I got him. He came around to be somewhat tame but was pretty unpredictable. He hated being in his cage and spent about 6hrs a day sitting on top his cage whistling a whole book of tunes. If you made him get in his cage before sundown he would screeeeeeach.

I had my mitred conure for only 4 years and lost him to poisoning. It was a horrible loss... he was my baby. I got him from a breeder in distress. I hand fed him from just a few weeks old and he loved to sit outside on his harness while we were outside.

I've fostered (somewhat long term) a goffin cockatoo, a sun conure, and a really cute pionus.

 

[johnfish]

I had a Quaker and a Green Cheek Conure. They were raised together by the breeder and were the best of friends. Unfortunately 2 years ago a house fire took both of them. They were only 2 years of age. I miss both of them!

Rest in peace Tiki and Maui

OMG, so sorry!
I'd be devastated.

Thank you Kenny. I was truly devastated. They were both hand raised and were so affectionate and gentle. Iam getting misty just writing about them. I had to go into the house and retrieve them and then I burried them in the garden. I knew they would like that. I balled my eyes out while I was laying them to rest. Here is a picture of them.

 

[kenny]

How sweet and heartbreaking.

I also have a few feathered chambers of my heart buried in our backyard.

I think birds wiggle their way deeper into our hearts because they are by necessity so fearful.
Winning their trust friendship is such a huge compliment.

 

[fabulousfindk]

I don't have birds, but I had a next door neighbor growing up that did. I have so enjoyed reading this thread! Keep the stories coming. Fred is a hoot!