What every potential parrot owner should know

[cml]

It doesn't work with male zons

Stitch is sweetest thing ever atm, we had some aggression issues a while back, with Stitch being agressive towards my wife and "defending" me, but its stopped completely. I think he went through a phase because he is just so much secure in himself now, and much calmer (he turned two recently so it might have been an early terrible two's ^^)
He isnt possessive about either of us atm, nor about his best buddy in world, Leroy .

[KimberlyAnn]

Yes, Pajarita. I think it was one of your comments that actually started the conversation about getting another bird in our home. Started me reading and looking into options. My husband went right to...I want a BIG parrot! Haha, funny guy...No thanks! We will figure it all out, but not over night. We need to find a house first and quickly. Then we know where we stand. Thank-you for the inspiration you have given me on many topics, including this one. It's given me hours of nightly reading and I'm enjoying learning about different things.

Yes, it's understandable that birds are rehomed for reasons that are out of our control. I was not referring to them. I have had a fair amount of hard times in my life and I make my fair share of mistakes too. I just try to do the best I can with what I have. If I can do better, I will try to do so. Most that come here are very good owners. I was not trying to point any fingers at them.

I for sure didn't mean to come off as robotic and unrealistic. I'm sure E&R didn't either. I'm very sorry I was not as clear with my thoughts and points as I thought I was being.

[janetafloat]

You guys, what a great discussion! I feel so privileged to be a part of this forum and hear such thoughtful and dedicated folk discussing a subject so dear to all our hearts - our birds. I learn every day from the amazing people on this forum. Thanks for starting this thread, KimberleyAnn, and for adding to it cml & Pajarita. I think all your points are well made and equally valid.

[InTheAir]

Great thoughts from all the contributors in this topic. It's such a pity that the people who would benefit most from this discussion are probably the ones who will never research their new pet enough to find this wisdom...
I almost wish parrots came with compulsory reading material and a test to pass before you can own one....

[cml]

Yeah its a good thread, I hope I didnt come across as too cross , because I am not!

I agree its a shame that most people wont ever read this thread. We really need to take care of the new people signing up to the forums, so they stay and can take part in all discussions!

[Pajarita]

It doesn't work with male zons

Stitch is sweetest thing ever atm, we had some aggression issues a while back, with Stitch being agressive towards my wife and "defending" me, but its stopped completely. I think he went through a phase because he is just so much secure in himself now, and much calmer (he turned two recently so it might have been an early terrible two's ^^)
He isnt possessive about either of us atm, nor about his best buddy in world, Leroy .

Correct me if I am wrong (I post on several sites and often forget the details of each poster) but Stitch is not mate bonded to a zon hen, is he? Because that's what I was referring to specifically. I have two male bonded to two females and although the females are sweet and like people, I can't touch them because, if I did, the males would attack me. It's not personal, mind you, they just don't like anybody/birdie touching them. I had a zon war in my hands throughout the entire recent breeding season (it's over now) because one of the bachelor males decided to court another male's hen and, after he banished the older male to another spot in the birdroom, he watched him like a hawk ALL THE TIME so, if he so much as started walking in the direction of their nest, he would attack him! And, ironically, I found myself defending Pedro (the older male) which is the most aggressive parrot I have and would love nothing better than to sink his beak into me (he's a wild caught and was abused by his previous owner who tried to 'dominate' him to cure him of his aggression with the result been that the parrot attacked him and every single human relentlessly).

[Eric&Rebecca]

Well no one can predict exactly no one here is saying that. What we are saying is many people don't even think of those possibilities like we do.

I have a legal document saying what should happen to my birds if anything happens, they are insured health wise, we make as many decisions as we can around predicting a future and preventing such situations from occurring.

When I said we will always be there it means that the newness won't wear off and we think thoroughly which is what some owners, not any of us on this forum that comment reguLarly but others don't think like we do.

I think this is the point Kimberlyann and myself are trying to make. Any bird owner should be prepared to make life altering decisions and to come second priority to the needs of the birds.

[cml]

It doesn't work with male zons

Stitch is sweetest thing ever atm, we had some aggression issues a while back, with Stitch being agressive towards my wife and "defending" me, but its stopped completely. I think he went through a phase because he is just so much secure in himself now, and much calmer (he turned two recently so it might have been an early terrible two's ^^)
He isnt possessive about either of us atm, nor about his best buddy in world, Leroy .

Correct me if I am wrong (I post on several sites and often forget the details of each poster) but Stitch is not mate bonded to a zon hen, is he? Because that's what I was referring to specifically

No, he likes everyone in the family pretty much equally now.

We got two male parrots, one white fronted amazon, and one bronzed winged pionus. We had some jealousy issues in the past, as I described, but we've so far been able to work around it .

[Lina]

Ok where to start hmmmm... I am fostering two birds that have become neglected from my sisters health issues. I have taken them on and i know jack s##t about birds. there is two of them and she has told me not to let them out together, their cages are right beside each other tho and i think one is female for sure and i think she trying to nest or somthing, which really gets the others feathers ruffled.

I am very busy everyday i am the caretaker for my mom and stepdad, and on and off for my sister when she is here, plus i have my better half and my dog to give care and love for. I have a full plate and im trying to make enough room on it for the birds too cause i know they need love and attention too, I did today get enough trust to let Riki out of his cage for a few ( it made me happy and i think it did him too) but then i had to put him up too let the other out for a few. I would love to let them both out but i dont know what to look for as play or aggerssion between them or mating. Cause if i could let them both out at the same time i could be able to do other things. They are not in the house with my parents and i live in a small trailer . they have their own big room with two walls that are all window, which i think they really like cause they dont make the noise that they did at my sisters where they each just had a small view of outside. I have a radio in with them and im thinking of setting up a TV for em too ( but it hink the human contact is more important) I would like to get wifi out there so i can play online with my man and be with the birds at the same i do hear that most parrots love to watch cartoons and i do like to play online games (WoW and EQ) with my man that was our hobby together before we moved in too care for my parents.

Any suggestions? advice on if i can let the birds out to play together and what to watch for?

[KimberlyAnn]

When I said we will always be there it means that the newness won't wear off and we think thoroughly which is what some owners, not any of us on this forum that comment reguLarly but others don't think like we do.

I think this is the point Kimberlyann and myself are trying to make. Any bird owner should be prepared to make life altering decisions and to come second priority to the needs of the birds.

Yes, that's just what I meant. Every new potential bird owner should know that birds need attention for life. Not just for the first few months. I just heard another story of a bird that was given to a shop because no one paid attention to it for two years. The wife was sad for it and turned it in. By that time it was plucked almost bare. It was her husband's bird and she was scared of it. Her husband just lost interest. It had just become furniture in the corner of their spare room. Sad.