Places You Take Your Birds.

[kaylayuh]

So is it ok to NOT want to take your parrot anywhere crowded with non-parrot people? I sure don't, I couldn't handle the attention. I guess for that reason I can't really say, but to me it seems pretty risky. People can be jerks

ps. would a parrot really get put-down like a dog for biting someone, has that ever happened?

I'd say if you're uncomfortable taking your bird anywhere crowded, you probably shouldn't. The stress wouldn't be good for you and would add to the bird's stress.

The most that has happened so far is people point and say "oh, look. it's a bird!". I smile and keep walking. Cheney Bird doesn't really pay attention to anything other than the d ring on his harness and trying to pick it apart, so he doesn't usually move off of my shoulder.

[TheNzJessie]

i take jango down the my local park while i go and play some basketball mostly i just shoot hoops and he likes to sit on my shoulder. i think hes more comfortable being in his cage out on the deck that actually going out with me.

[patdbunny]

Chris&Akilah wrote:So is it ok to NOT want to take your parrot anywhere crowded with non-parrot people? I sure don't, I couldn't handle the attention. I guess for that reason I can't really say, but to me it seems pretty risky. People can be jerks

ps. would a parrot really get put-down like a dog for biting someone, has that ever happened?

You take your bird where you want to take it. It's for your and your bird's enjoyment.

About the getting put down for biting, I was a divorce paralegal in my former life. Many many years (definitely over 10 years ago) there was a couple divorcing over one too many parrot bites. The parrot bit the tip off the husband's nose. He was divorcing wife and suing her separately for personal injury. He was also pushing to get the parrot destroyed. He got a settlement in the personal injury suit, but he was not successful in getting the parrot destroyed. Don't know if there are actual cases of parrots getting put down for biting.

[Michael]

What about court mandated taming classes? And bird handling counseling for the husband?

[kaylayuh]

So I ended up taking Cheney Bird with me to the farmer's market, on the bus, and to the Family Dollar this morning. Where I was nervous about being asked to leave, I should have been nervous about having an overstuffed bird. He was more than happy to be pet for all kinds of treats. He had a tropical fruit and nut blend from one of the organic nut stands. He had dried cranberries from a dried fruits and vegetables stand. He had strawberries from one of the fruit vendors, kiwi from another produce vendor, tomato basil bread from a Mennonite bakery, and dried papaya which he really seemed to enjoy so I bought some of it for all of the birds.

When you all take your birds out, do you find that people want to give them food? I was okay with it because everything is homemade and fresh. It also distracted him while people were petting him, so we ensured no one's blood was lost.

[GlassOnion]

You took him on a bus?!

[kaylayuh]

You took him on a bus?!

Sure did. I actually wasn't going to at first, but the driver didn't say anything as I got on. When an old lady finally realized there was a bird on my shoulder, she was a little startled and started laughing. The driver kept looking back at him, so I was nervous we were going to crash! Cheney Bird just sat there playing with his bell. He really didn't seem too impressed by the whole ride.

[jayebird]

We've gone on walks, to a flower shop, in a CVS, to my school, etc etc...

So I ended up taking Cheney Bird with me to the farmer's market, on the bus, and to the Family Dollar this morning. Where I was nervous about being asked to leave, I should have been nervous about having an overstuffed bird. He was more than happy to be pet for all kinds of treats. He had a tropical fruit and nut blend from one of the organic nut stands. He had dried cranberries from a dried fruits and vegetables stand. He had strawberries from one of the fruit vendors, kiwi from another produce vendor, tomato basil bread from a Mennonite bakery, and dried papaya which he really seemed to enjoy so I bought some of it for all of the birds.

That sounds awesome! What a day for Cheney Bird Win.

As for treats, yes, people want to touch/hold/feed the bird. I usually carry baggie full of safflower seeds (one of his absolute favorites) in my pocket for people to feed him. This way at least I have a safe treat for them to use for distraction or reward. He's not always ready to be pet or held by strangers, but he's always ready to take a treat from a stranger's hand.

One trick I've learned is to have the stranger offer him the treat in the palm of their open hand. That way he can plainly see that its there and will gently pluck it from their hand. If they try to offer it in pinched fingertips then he sometimes gets scared and runs away from their "attacking fingers" or makes threatening gestures at it because he doesn't really notice the treat, just the hand coming at him. It's also a good way to get him to "step up" to someone he's a bit wary of because if they are calm, steady, unafraid, and willing...then they can put the seed on the far side of their palm so that he has to step onto their hand to reach it. Once he's on a hand he never attacks it - hasn't yet. I only risk this because I know my bird, his tendencies, his personality...and we are working hard to train and socialize him.

But still...be super, super careful about risking any of this. Like someone said, a beak can so easily draw blood, and new people are scary things. God forbid you both ever got in trouble. Not to mention displaced aggression because the bird is scared of someone/something and goes for your ear instead just because it's closer...yeah, it's a careful line to tread. Just be cautious and safe. It's like being a defensive driver, but a defensive parrot-on-my-shoulder-out-and-about type person.

[Lokums]

Hi,
The story about the farmer's market is very cool! There are several near my house, I may have to wander over there with Piper (senegal). I bring her to work at least once a week, there are several people there that enjoy her company. She is still young so I am hoping the extra socialization will do her good.

I would never ever bring Loki somewhere someone may try to pet him. I could bring him to work easily enough, but if he decided to vocalize in the office.... bird people would laugh, everyone else would call security

Mike

[Vicki5280]

I LOVED your Farmers Market story!

I've taken one of my two birds just about everywhere with me. They've gone to the grocery store and rode on the cart (I took a hand towel and put it down behind where he was perched to catch anything that dropped), Lowes, Wal-Mart, the Bank, my son's school, to our psychologist's appointment (turns out she's afraid of birds and really appreciates having JJ there to work on her fear. Go figure.), in fact, I think I'd probably take JJ just about anywhere with me. Bucky, not so much. JJ will hold her poop until I put her down and tell her to go, so there's never any fear of a mess with her. Plus, if worse comes to worse, like someone else said, she loves crawling in my shirt and hiding. Her little toenails would make me crazy, but I'd get to finish my meal!

The caveat to all this is that I always consider whether she would be happier with me doing whatever for however long I'll be doing it, or happier at home in her "room" until I get back. That's usually what tilts my decision one way or the other.