Parrot Approved

[Jennifer]

I've been working a lot with parrot groups recently, and decided to start my own parrot information Web site. I literally only started working on it the night before last, but it's coming along quickly, and I've been dieing to share it!

http://www.parrotapproved.com/

[MadClikr]

I love the articles and cute videos on the new Facebook page, too! ♥

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Parrot...18652758181222

[peio]

My sister just got a baby African Grey, and hand feeding it. It is 7 wks. old, and growing like crazy! He/She, is going to be smart. Years ago, my sister had an African Grey, Cockatoo and several different Macaws.

[MadClikr]

I hope they didn't force the bird away from its parents early. I know that some pet shop type places tell people that it helps with bonding, but in actuality, they just want to sell the bird earlier, so the can breed more sooner. It can be really detrimental to the bird's health and well being both now, and later in life.

We've been thinking about adopting/fostering a caique, conure, or grey from one of the local parrot rescues. They are such amazing animals.

[peio]

No, we got the bird from private individuals, people we know, who raise them. No, they don't have tons of them, either. They have several different types of birds, though. My sister has raised and hand-fed many. If you wait too long to get a bird, especially a large one, you are asking for trouble, believe me. We have a cockatoo that likes only my husband. She was about 30 when we got her. I highly suggest hand-feeding from a baby, as soon as it is able to be away from it's mom. I also have 6 beautiful Gouldian Finches. 3 males and 3 females. They are gorgeous!

[MadClikr]

I volunteer with parrot rescue organizations, who often stress the problems with hand feeding birds unnecessarily. Yes, the bird may bond with the person at first, however in the wild, birds reject their parents in adolescence, and go off to find their own mates. If the bird sees their owner as a parent, when they reach adolescence, this can cause trouble... not to mention the problems which come from inexperienced people trying to hand feed birds (everything from crop burns to starvation and death). If the hand feeding works for your sister though, more power to her!

Older parrots are also very adoptable, for the right person, with the right experience. Fortunately, they are social creatures. If you get an older bird who has not been properly socialized though, you'll have your hands full with training! Birds which like only one person often see that person as their mate, or may have not yet learned to trust other family members. Here are a couple of articles which I've come across recently:

"Creating Right Relationships": http://blog.pamelaclarkonline.com/20...episode-8.aspx

"The One Person Bird Prevention & Rehabilitation": http://www.nipsparrot.org/Educationa...z%20Wilson.htm

Since many of the larger parrots live longer than their human handlers, the idea of a "forever home" when raising a baby tends to be a bit of a misnomer (macaws can live to be over 80 years old!). Last winter, I adopted two older parakeets from the animal shelter, which had already gone through at least two other families. They were not tame at all when we got them, but after a couple of months, I had them eating out of, and stepping onto, my hand. All of our birds (three now) have free flight access to the living room (I almost never close the cage doors), where they have their regular cage, a "play" cage, and a couple of play stands - they're all as happy as can be!

[peio]

Thank you for the nice articles! My husband's cockatoo has been in our family the entire time, but moved several times. She used to be a great bird to everyone. It's psycho for sure, now. However, my husband can do anything with that bird. She has bad habits, and we have to keep an eye on her when she is on her "out of the cage" perch. She likes to get down and eat everything! My husband loves her. He takes her outside with him and for walks.

I agree with, and understand what you are saying, and the dangers that go with hand feeding, but I also think it's good to hand feed and get them used to humans. My sister never had a problem with any of her big parrots. Maybe she's the lucky one.

[peio]

Thanks again for the aritcles. I did enjoy reading them, and am sending them to my sister. One can never learn too much.

[MadClikr]

I was just reading about Gouldian Finches (also called Rainbow Finches) - how colorful! I always wondered what kind of bird was in the ViewSonic logo.

[peio]

They are great little birds, and will turn a frown, upsidedown! They are fun to watch. All of mine have different colors and personalities.