Outings with new baby

[marie83]

it may be pin feathers- there seems to be a lot now. i might take him to the vet just to be on the safe side.........

And may I be the first to say... hu?

Ignore it, we randomly get people/bots make an account, copy something someone else has put and paste it on an entirely separate thread. No idea why it happens but occasionally there are links on signatures or in the thread. Don't click on anything that doesn't seem right and if in doubt about the post then copy the text in to the search bar and it will show you if the exact same sentence has been posted elsewhere by a legitimate member.
I've had several things I've written used in this way which is a bit bizarre reading through a thread and thinking "eh? I'm sure I wrote that..."

[Pajarita]

I think that is why many new bird owners struggle with some of these issues. We don't have our own experiences to help guide us. The best we can do is research the issue and then make up our own minds.

Yes, indeed, the disparity of opinions about bird husbandry and, on most points, the lack of long term evidence of its effect on the bird makes it very difficult but not only for new bird owners but for all of us.

When it comes to decisions on my birds, and as I've mentioned over and over, my motto is: when in doubt, don't do it (better safe than sorry). I don't follow any one person's advice but, if I am going to take anybody's opinion into account, it won't be the opinion of a man who makes his living from birds. I base everything I do on scientific research, the way they live in the wild and this motto. On this particular practice, scientific research says that young birds that are exposed to stress remain high-strung for the rest of their lives; the way they live in the wild tells me that babies remain in the nest far longer than the age when we wean them and sell them. And the truth is that NOBODY knows how this unnatural socialization will affect them in the long term. Maybe in the future, there will be a study that compares birds that were exposed to it to birds that were not and we will be able to tell whether the stress is beneficial or not. But, until I know for a fact that this is indeed beneficial to them, I will fall back on my motto and my recommendations will reflect it.

I made many mistakes with my parrots in the past (and I am sure I am still making way too many)and I know I am the kind of person who beats herself up with guilt when I find out I messed up even when I did it with the best of intentions - so I've learned not to take risks and play it safe. I've been using this tenet for years and it works real well for my parrots and my peace of mind.

[Wolf]

There are a few areas that Pajarita and I have some difference in our opinions, but I must say that for the most part I do agree with her and even when I don't entirely agree with her, I find her logic to be sound. I too, would not place much stock in the opinions of someone who makes their living from the breeding and sale of these birds. My reasons for this are really quite simple and they stand out like a glaring floodlight when you examine what breeders have done to these birds. Thanks to their breeding programs the life expectancy of captive parrots has been reduced to 1/2 or even 1/3 of the life expectancy of the same bird in the wild. This is even more of a travesty when you realize that with proper medical attention and a good diet and no predation the life expectancy should be close to double that of the wild bird since the majority of them do not live out their full life expectancy in the wild. Then you add in the deformaties and weakened immune systems caused by the inferior breeding habits and practices of these same breeders and you can see why I do not place any credibility in their opinions. If they knew and cared about the wellbeing of our birds the current breeding practices would not, could not exist.
I do not recommend that you take the effects of exposure to the outside world and all that is in it lightly, you should be nervous about this especially with your young birds, the stresses that they are exposed to do in fact stay with them well into adulthood and even for their entire life because they are affected by these stress more so than an adult bird would be. This is true whether you are speaking of dogs, cats, humans, or birds, and this is a fact that we all already know. Most of us just do apply it to our animals, because we tend to think of them as things, as what's, not as who's. We think we are exposing a bird to adverse stress not exposing our baby Kiki to adverse stress.

[JaydeParrot]

He doesn't really seem stressed he gets very exited. Sure I get people to ask to hold him. He knows step up very well. Some people he will some he wont. I put my hand close to their still hand and if he goes fantastic, if he doesn't go then I simply say . "I'm sorry, he doesn't want to go to you" and that's that. I don't try to force him on anyone's hand. That might hurt hehe. My bird is a captive bird.

I enjoy taking my bird out as well but I wouldn't recommend letting someone I don't know very well hold the bird, I let people give my bird a little stroke on the head occasionally- Generally they hold their hand out and ask 'does the bird bite?', I critcally look at the person and only tell them she's okay if I think their okay.

As wolf mentioned about silly incidents between strangers and your parrot, I one of those people. A person I was talking to and letting stroke my bird became so inamoured with the bird that she would leave my bird alone, I eventually got my bird to step to my hand from my shoulder in an attempt to nicely get away, the person got even more interested and pushed her hand against mine in an attempt to get my bird to step up for her. Eventually I got away but decided never again to let children or people with mental disabilities handle my bird sounds mean but my bird, my rules! .

[kikidee]

I'm not the most experienced with parrots especially when it comes to taking them out. I do think Pajarita often has a lot of key information and she knows how to take care of birds for sure. I am a bit on the fence about this subject. I do think it isn't the best idea to bring a parrot to a crowded place with a lot of sudden stimulus. However, I do want to bring my own bird to see the ocean that is right down my street sometime (from a distance of course) so he can experience some cool sights beyond my house. I definitely do think, though, that maybe you wait until the bird is not so much a baby, so maybe at least a year?
My POW is soon to be 5 months old and I only take him in my well covered backyard when I feed my turtle to get him used to outdoors and have sunshine. Even with us alone with no birds visible, he clings onto me, hides on me, and will sometimes freak so bad that he'll try to fly somewhere to safety (he is clipped though from when I got him, and my backyard is enclosed and mostly covered so he can't fly away) and I feel really sad for him being so stressed, so I've only done this maybe 4 times. He is starting to get more brave but won't go more than 2 feet outside the door on his own even with me around.
That is just my opinion though.

[Harpmaker]

Even with us alone with no birds visible, he clings onto me, hides on me, and will sometimes freak so bad that he'll try to fly somewhere to safety (he is clipped though from when I got him, and my backyard is enclosed and mostly covered so he can't fly away) and I feel really sad for him being so stressed, so I've only done this maybe 4 times. He is starting to get more brave but won't go more than 2 feet outside the door on his own even with me around.

Maybe your bird will be happier outside in a carrier for protection, until he gets used to it. I assume you've read the lectures on this site about how clipped birds can still fly if they are motivated. By Murphy's Law, of course, your bird will be magically swept through the opening NO ONE thought was big enough, just at the moment the freak blast of air rips him off your shoulder. .

All unlikely, but the principles of risk management say you compare the likelihood of the risk with the consequence. A "probably won't happen" risk that causes "bird is lost forever and dies of thirst leaving owner bereft and in mourning" may be one you don't want to take.

[kikidee]

I completely agree. I definitely need to get him a harness and will do very soon. I don't take him out really anymore, and won't till I get him one and when hes a little older.