Parrot Lovers?

Hi LCB'ers!

Do we have any bird lovers here? I've just got a couple of African Greys and I don't know the first thing about training. They've come from a long term home and the owner passed away. They've been with me now for a couple of weeks and they're getting more comfortable. I've been bitten and it wasn't fun but I know it's going to happen. I'm trying my best not to stress them out. They tweet all day and they are slowing learning gibberish so I know they are on the verge of talking. Does anyone have parrots and know how to work with them. Any resources you could suggest would be greatly appreciated.

I'm thinking hymacaw might have some bird experience 

Here's pics of my babies. One had plucked his feathers out at his previous home but they are growing back in the short time he's been here. Seems to me they're happy so far.



Here's little Plucky. His neck was completely bald when I got him. You can see all the feathers coming back.

Awww,poor little Plucky,looks like that would hurt.

Sorry I don't know anything about parrots but I'm sure they will come to love ya Froggy,just like we do here!!

Bird freak here!

They are gorgeous Froggy and you've done a wonderful thing by taking them on. 

I've rescued many birds over the years and the last bird I rescued was my parrot called Blue.  Here is a link showing what foods you must not feed them http://exoticpets.about.com/cs/birds/a/parrotdiets_3.htm.

My parrot was scared of hands and bit everyone except me.  Talk to them, offer them treats through the cage bars and just generally try and get them to trust you.  Make sure you let them out often or keep them out of their cages if you can, to keep their wings strong.  To get them back in, just don't hand feed them and keep their food in the cage.  They will go back in when they are hungry.

They like to eat when you eat, so if you have some nice fresh veggies, give them some off your plate.

Here is a great site with a list of foods you can feed them.  http://www.parrothelp.com/page1/page2/page2.html

With poorly treated birds, its all about time, patience and trust.

I wish you the very best of luck with them.

I have a cockatiel most annoying bird EVER!  but I love her and since I would NEVER get rid of a pet, Linda will be living out the rest of her annoying years with my family haha.  Your African Greys are beautiful!  I don't know much about birds, I work for a reptile and amphibian vet and the only ones we see are the chickens our clients feed to their monitors haha.

Blue how cool of you that you rescue birds!!!  People seem to think that birds are disposable, they are actually highly intelligent and live for a LONG time!

Three sons left home, went out on their own and prospered. Getting back together, they discussed the gifts that they were able to give to their elderly mother.

The first said: "I built a big house for our mother."
The second said: "I sent her a Mercedes with a driver."
The third said: "I've got you both beat. You know how Mom enjoys the Bible and you know she can't see very well. I sent her a brown parrot that can recite the entire Bible. It took twenty monks in a monastery 12 years to teach him. I had to pledge to contribute $100,000 a year for twenty years but it was worth it. Mom just has to name the chapter and verse, and the parrot will recite it."

Soon thereafter, Mom sent out her letters of thanks.
She wrote to the first son: "Milton, the house you built is too big. I live in only one room, but I have to clean the whole house."
She wrote to the second son: "Marvin, I am too old to travel. I stay home all the time, so I never used the Mercedes... and the driver is SO rude."

She wrote to the third son: "Dearest Melvin, you were the only son to have the good sense to know what your mother likes... The chicken was delicious."

Those are great resources blue. They love oranges more than anything. Plucky will eat right out of my hand but the other one is still so skittish. They both come out but I'm looking for a new cage with a playtop. Right now they just climb to the top of the cage. Oh and they dance too. I look like a fool bobing my head in front of their cage. Thanks for the feedback everyone

P.S. very nice what you do for birdies blue. I would love to see some pics.

Blue is the bird whisper!! I give you a lot of credit and a big thumbs-up!!

Froggy,you are a delight and I can see you bobbing your head!! Too cute,I wonder what they would do if you did the chicken dance!!

I LOVE your birds froggy! Like blue i am a huge bird lover, not sure what i favor more birds or dogs! I had a parakeet that would talk up a storm and was never in his cage. He would sit on my shoulder all the time and say the cutest things.

My dream is to own a cockatoo and don't be surprised in the near future ya'll don't see a pic or two of one 

Here is a pic of my parrot Blue who very sadly passed away in January.  I'm absolutely broken hearted still and I miss him every day.  He was a crimson rosella 

The only comfort I have is that he had a better life with me than with his previous owner and he trusted me completely. 

I've rescued many, many birds over the years and I will continue to rescue unwanted or mistreated birds. 



Sounds like you're well on your way with your birds Froggy.  I truly wish you tons of joy from them....which I am sure you will have with them.

blue

Awww so sorry to hear that blue. He was beautiful and what a good feeling when you can build that trust in them. You are doing a wonderful thing and is highly commendable.

Here is a pic of my Chubbers. He is  parakeet that is about twice the size of a normal parakeet. They aren't very trainable birds.  When the pet shop told me he was returned after the previous owners didn't want him cuz he didn't talk or sit on your finger and they were having a hard time finding a home i bought him. He has been with me now for almost ten years.

He does have a beautiful whistle!

That is a gorgeous bird blue. I'm so sorry you lost him but you're right, at least he had a good life with you. That's what he remembered.

Lips, your bird has the same face as blue's. Just more colors going on with yours.

Froggy,you are a delight and I can see you bobbing your head!! Too cute,I wonder what they would do if you did the chicken dance!!

Thank you LIps and Froggy. 

Your Chubbers is beautiful Lips and I agree with Froggy, very similar features to my Blue but more colourful.

blue

Here the newest addition to my family, cockatoos! I just got them yesterday and am soooooo excited!

They are a couple of beauties! Love the pink color. Any thoughts for names? Looks like one is getting a kiss from the other.

Absolutely stunning Lips.  What are their names?

blue

I have not named them yet until i get to know their personalities a bit better. Right now they are sooooooooo scared. Its going to require a lot of patience to build a trust.

They are Major Mitchell cockatoos and one of the most difficult to train. Unfortunately these precious darlings were never given the attention they so much need. So i have rescued them and hope and pray they will learn to trust me after 16 years of emotional neglect.

I am open to names if anyone has any please share them!

Lips

The one on the left looks like a "Rosie" and the one on the right looks like a little "Mildred".  Rosie and Mildred (or Milly for short).  They are so gorgeous Lips and you certainly have your work cut out.  I wish you tons of luck and I know you will certainly get immense pleasure out of them.  They are just so beautiful.

blue

They are so cute. They are male and female I believe. Need cute names for a pair lips.

Ah so Rosie and Milly are no good then. Darn it.  Back to the drawing board.

blue

Aww thanks anyway blue they sure were sweet names 

Awww so sorry to hear that blue. He was beautiful and what a good feeling when you can build that trust in them. You are doing a wonderful thing and is highly commendable.

Here is a pic of my Chubbers. He is a parakeet that is about twice the size of a normal parakeet. They aren't very trainable birds.  When the pet shop told me he was returned after the previous owners didn't want him cuz he didn't talk or sit on your finger and they were having a hard time finding a home i bought him. He has been with me now for almost ten years.

He does have a beautiful whistle!

My little Chubbers broke his beak the other day. I was sooooooo freaked out cuz it bled and feared the worst. He is much better now and is slowly back to eating normally after giving him baby food and warm oatmeal. 

But i know he was in a lot of pain because he didn't act himself for a few days. I am just so thankful it didn't break off too short.

Lips

Awwww no, that's awful Lips.  Poor little thing.  Glad Chubbers is on the mend and getting back to normal. 

Glad he's doing okay now lips. Such a sweet little bird.

Awe, I just came across this post. I love birds, they are so entertaining! I don't have any but you all have such beautiful birds, especially the African Greys.

Meet our newest addition, Blue!  Linda is on the bottom.

Very cute jodi and of course, love the name.

blue

Cuties Jodi

Im terrified of birds. As long as they are in a cage im ok but they scare me. My friend has one of those big red macaw birds and she has to put him away when I visit. I can hear it screaming in the other room and I just imagine it pecking at me with that huge beak. lol I suppose I should at least try to hide my crazy. All beautiful birds you have every one.

I don't own any birds but I do remember when i was a kid our next door neighbor had a parrot. They inherited the bird after friend of theirs died. This bird would talk a mile a minute. One day I asked them where the bird was cuz I didn't hear it talking in a good couple weeks. Turns out it was flying around the kitchen and ended up in a pot of boiling water on the stove. Needless to say it scarred me enough not to own one.

OMG liquorman! That's awful! Poor thing, do ya think that was really true? You have to be so careful if you let your birds out. They are supposed to be away from the kitchen for that reason and even the fumes from cooking can make them sick.

I kept the dogs in the kitchen when I went out and somehow they knocked the knob on the stove and it was ticking. I could smell the gas when I came in. The first thing I did was check my birds. Ugh the knobs are off the stove when I'm not home now. Actually, the culprit gets put in his cage when I'm not home now. He's a terror.

That's really awful liquorman.  Horrible story and I can understand that it must have affected you when you were younger.

blue

OMG Liquorman that is a horrible story. Poor birdie.

That was a terrible experience and it surely makes you think twice before getting any pet.
Poor bird.