Smartest questions people ask about your parrot?

[Michael]

Just so you don't think I'm Mr. negativity, I've got a smart question to share. This is just to demonstrate to you that smart questions aren't all that exciting to talk about though and this is why it's the dumb ones that draw the most light. So what are some smart questions you've been asked about parrots?

I took Kili and Truman to the park today and there was a young woman who was watching and taking genuine interest in the parrots. After getting to hold them and Kili showing off some tricks, she happened to ask if I was using positive reinforcement to train the parrots. Finally a smart question and I went on to explain the uses of positive and negative reinforcement in training and also what a large role extinction plays on unwanted behavior. That's it, nothing exciting, I know. Sorry.

[Azure Hanyo]

LOL I am new here and already I know of your infamous sarcasm and smashing wit. The "smartest" question I have been asked was in regard to my BH caique, Galileo... "Is that a parakeet?"

Obviously...I am kidding. No one as ever asked me a "smart" question about them. Ever. My sister asked me if he and my cockatiel were going to share a cage. *facepalm*

[Brittanyv326]

lol, I love that you did this! While trying to think of an even mildly smart question I've been asked, all I could think of was more dumb ones. "Does it talk?"; "How much did you pay for it?" being a couple of them... But I did manage to get some smart ones: "Is it tame?" and "Does it bite?". I think this is the smartest thing to ask rather than just shoving your hand in the bird's face.

[Erithacus]

We went hiking this morning. The starting point was quite tough because it starts with steep slopes. After climbing the slopes, I took a break waiting for my wife to catch up. A man was coming down from the opposite direction. He saw me and Cocoa. He asked, " you have a bird on your shoulder. what bird is that?" I replied, " it's an eagle." He asked again, "how long have you been keeping this EAGLE? Hahaha! He really believes Cocoa is an eagle.

[Erithacus]

Well...the smartest question people used to ask was "can your parrot talk?"
At least they knew my Grey is a parrot and parrots do talk.

[Kim S]

Maybe I just get a lit of people over who like animals, but I actually do get smart questions.
Last week I had my friend Ellen over and her sister Astrid came along. Ellen is already familiar with Kika but Astrid didnt know a thing. She asked me first wether he would step up with her. I told her to give it a try, but go slowly. Next thing she asks me: "whats the best way to aproach him".
Now thats a smart question if I ever got one.

[Erithacus]

I went hiking again this morning, this time only Cocoa and I as my wife had to go to the wet market. I met another hiker when I was taking a break.
He asked if Cocoa was a parrot. He then asked again if I had an eagle which he saw me carry around in the street. He didn't know Cocoa was the eagle he saw in the street.

[tacotaco]

"is it okay if i pet it?" this was from a ten year old and probably the smartest question i've gotten.

[TheNzJessie]

i think the smartest questions i have been asked are when kids ask if they can pat my bird or ask if he bites instead of just helping them selves, i do appreciate people who ask, Jango is to sweet to bite anyone unless they have food. its always nice when they ask

[entrancedbymyGCC]

"What kind of parrot is he?"

I don't understand why, to use Michael's example, asking if you use positive reinforcement and having an ensuing discussion about the merits of various training methods when used with parrots is at all less interesting that having someone ask "do you beat him with a stick to make him do that?" and after talking about why corporal punishment is a bad idea having exactly the same discussion but with someone who needs to have the basic concepts explained first. You can't make fun of the smart girl, and I guess maybe that takes some joy out of it for some folks... but I actually find the fact that someone was smart enough to ask that to be a good thing!