IQ of average parrot owner

[Michael]

Thanks Michael on not only introducing me to the species but helping convince me to get a Sennie instead of a GCC. I look forward to the fun times, accomplishments, as well as all the frustrating hard and difficult times ahead with my little Tobi!

I did that?? I hope I don't end up taking the blame if you don't like it. But don't say I didn't warn you

[lainmai]

Believe me, I'll love Tobi for his good and his bad habits/moments.
I have experience (although very limited) working with Amazons, Cockatoos, Macaws and a few other birds. I know bites are going to happen if I like it or not! I was leaning more towards the GCC originally because they are super cheap right now in my area, literally EVERYONE is breeding them it seems so they are down to $100 from most breeders. I just wasn't sold on how small they are and how LOUD they can be, as goofy as they are I was looking for something just a tad different. The little Sennie just stole my heart as did my little 'lets! I'm looking to keep a baby(male) from one of their clutches as a pet when Midori finally decides to lay eggs. I'm assuming that few if any will survive the first clutch and possibly even the second so by the time they have babies that survive I'll finally have time to hand feed them (when I'm done school).

But yes - no matter what kind of animal you are looking at the majority of pet owners are idiots who do not do the research prior to purchase & often can't handle the animals they DO buy. Most dog owners buy a dog for their looks, not for the proper fit into their family dynamics and lifestyle....let alone the dogs demands.

[Michael]

And dogs are easier than parrots. There are breeds that have been artificially selected for many generations for certain behavior (besides looks and other traits) so you know what you are getting. Parrots on the other hand... ha! Good luck knowing what you'll get. We have a ballpark idea of genera and species but we really don't know all that well when it comes to behavior.

[penelope's person]

hmmmm.... It is an interesting problem. One thing I have learned, which is true of many instances, not just for pet care, is that many if not most people do not like to read more than a paragraph, let alone analyse and compare research and opinions. It's sad but true. They may buy that book on lovebirds, but chances are they won't touch it. That's why videos like the ones on YouTube are so great. They can be short, to the point, and can each focus on one aspect of care.

I was wondering though, if there are obedience and care classes for dogs, why aren't there any for birds, or fish, or reptiles? I would kill for even a single hour sit-down with someone who knows what they're doing (would have saved me a tankful of fish when I first started keeping them)! Think of all the misconceptions you could clear up, talking to someone in person!

I have an experience that illustrates this. When I first started keeping fish, I wanted some dwarf gouramis. I did some searching online and every place I went to said they were not territorial or aggressive at all. So, I bought two gouramis..and the next morning I woke up to find one of them absolutely black and blue. I remembered that my lab instructor was an ichthyologist, and sent a frantic e-mail off to him and he actually sent his wife (another scientist), who had a ton of aquarium experience over to my dorm to pick up one of the gouramis. What that woman told me in twenty minutes was better than hours and hours of research.

I think, once I actually learn myself what I'm doing, I'll put a little note up on my local kijiji or craiglist, offering a sit-down for people thinking about small parrots in my area. We don't have a local bird club.

[lainmai]

Penelope you've hit it right on the head there...I've actually been considering down the road offering my services but didn't want to try and jump in with my limited experience. I figured after I'm done my schooling and have my own place I' love to foster some larger birds and offer assistance with behavioral problems. There are very few "known" sanctuaries here and I'm only just starting to look up information on the local bird clubs as well. Hopefully down the line I can find someone to take some seminars and learn more that I have from my previous schooling (based around dogs, cats, small animal care as well as livestock) and experience.

In the long run I'd love to work from home, care for my little fids and also help others, its just in my nature

[Kim S]

Luckily we have a parrotstore nearby that have the opportunity to go there with your parrot and have something like an obedienceclass for parrots. Well for owners really. Its mostly us who screw up.
But still, I thought it was a good idea and we went there when we firstgot Kika. He couldnt tell us a lot more than we already knew, but I think a lot of new parrot keepers could learn alot!

[BirdbrainJan]

I agree, I think that if you have the information and you encounter someone who doesn't, it's worth trying to get across whatever education you can. If you inspire one person to become a better parrot-owner, you might have saved a parrot's life!

This forum was invaluable to me in making my decision, and I really didn't know much at all about parrots before this. My degree was a BSc in Agroecology, Animal Studies, but again, that's a lot of physiology, cows and pigs! It makes for handy dandy research skills though.

As far as the local information goes, I was hoping to get a lot more useful behaviour discussion going with the sanctuary owner, rather than the "don't ever get a parrot" peptalk. It doesn't look like we have an active local bird club either, so it's really been this forum, scores of books and the internet that helped me out.

I definitely vote yes on your business cards Michael!

[Brittanyv326]

And dogs are easier than parrots. There are breeds that have been artificially selected for many generations for certain behavior (besides looks and other traits) so you know what you are getting. Parrots on the other hand... ha! Good luck knowing what you'll get. We have a ballpark idea of genera and species but we really don't know all that well when it comes to behavior.

I have to disagree with everything you said here! Dogs are NOT easier than parrots, dogs just are more common so more people know how to interact with them. And even if you have a purebred dog, the "breed descriptions" are just basically stereotypes and every dog can be different. Admittedly, most times these descriptions hold somewhat true, but not always. Just like the description "Senegals are quiet" is true in my case, it's not true in everyone's. But yes, most boxers jump, most border collies are smart, most labs love to retrieve... But for me, I have never owned a purebred dog. I've lived with (not owned) about half a dozen mutts, but never a purebred. I knew a lot more about Senegal Parrots before I got one than I did about my dog's specific mutt-mix-combo before I got her. With parrots, I feel that people are communicating effectively and sharing our experiences - that is the way to learn. I do wish that locally we had an educational group about parrots, but I know a couple people I can call at any time if I need a specific question answered, so that's all I can ask for really. I don't know if your statement "dogs are easier than parrots" applies also to overall care and training, but if so, I'd have to wholly disagree with that too. But we're talking about training the RIGHT way, not just the average dog's amount of training. We're also talking handfed sweet birds!

[myakando]

Gosh, you are so right, Michael! I've run across my share of people like this. Kinda makes your blood boil

[entrancedbymyGCC]

I have to disagree with everything you said here! Dogs are NOT easier than parrots, dogs just are more common so more people know how to interact with them. And even if you have a purebred dog, the "breed descriptions" are just basically stereotypes and every dog can be different. Admittedly, most times these descriptions hold somewhat true, but not always:

I wouldn't have said it this strongly, but I did want to say something along these lines. Dogs aren't born trained any more than birds are, but dogs are more naturally adapted to being in a hierarchy than birds are, and very few insist on being the pack leader, most will happily be a follower given a minimal amount of structure. Also, dogs are truly domesticated, so we have shaped their temperaments more than we have (yet) with parrots. So they are easier, perhaps, but not EASY.

But breed characteristics... they don't come out like matching star-bellied Sneetches, all stamped from the same mold. While aggressive Golden Retrievers are rare, they can happen, and my husband had a Rottweiler that was afraid of a kitten...