Cockatoos?

[sundial]

I just looked at the photos. Awwwww.

Boise birder, that video brought a smile.

Your Daisy sounds just like Lemondrop, a 'too that I met. She loved to search pockets and gave lots of little kisses.

I just read a little about the conures and the poisephalus. Maybe those birds are more appropriate for our family. And the budgie too.

[snapdragen]

Snowball is awesome - a head banger cockatoo!

A hairdresser I used to go to kept birds, and did rescue work. He had one poor girl cockatoo that had been abused; she plucked all of her feathers out of her chest. She would come to the salon with him and hang out. She finally got to the point where I could pet her, but it took a while. She also did a great rubber chicken impression -- even more so because of her naked front.

[snapdragen]

sundial - I've had two budgies - they're very sweet, funny birds. Both of mine talked a bit -- Mickey barked like a dog too!

[Tuckervill]

My friends have a budgie. I went over for dinner, and about halfway through, I heard very low, like it was in the back of my head, an NPR voice, speaking very well. It totally creeped me out because I couldn't figure out where it came from and I thought I was the only one hearing it, and it felt like someone whispering in my ear.

It was the budgie. When they left the house they'd turn on NPR for it to listen to, and all its bird calls were Steve Inskeep's voice.

Karen

[sundial]

When they left the house they'd turn on NPR for it to listen to, and all its bird calls were Steve Inskeep's voice.

Is he the story teller?

I thought about the budgies all day today and and had moments where I wanted to head over to the pet shop to *rescue* the birdies before the store closes on the 2nd. Oh why did I start this thead??

[TsPoet]

Here's Pepper eating the seeds from a bell pepper - notice what's left of the phonebook behind her. I left it out and before I knew it, she shredded it - confetti all over my floor. I could also post a picture of the molding around my closet, or rather what used to be molding.
One possible advantage of smaller birds is, if you watch them, you can leave them flighted. Pepper flies loose around my house, and follows me everywhere (you think a dog following you into the bathroom is annoying, try a bird). But, it also means destruction if you aren't careful. Bigger birds that fly can be even more of a danger to themselves and your house.
(BTW - the thing in Murphy's mouth in my avatar is a bird seed treat log - I gave it to my budgies, Pepper stole it from them, then dropped it trying to fly away with it and Murphy thought he was the ultimate victor - but I took it away from him after taking the photo and threw it away).

[sundial]

.... notice what's left of the phonebook behind her. I left it out and before I knew it, she shredded it - confetti all over my floor. I could also post a picture of the molding around my closet, or rather what used to be molding.

LOL! Sounds like a typical day at my house with the dogs. What kind of bird is Pepper? She looks to have alot of character. I feel like I could reach out and pet her. Does "flighted" mean you can let them fly loose in the house? I can just see me trying to train Niki to "leave it" when the birdie flies by her.

[TsPoet]

LOL! Sounds like a typical day at my house with the dogs. What kind of bird is Pepper? She looks to have alot of character. I feel like I could reach out and pet her. Does "flighted" mean you can let them fly loose in the house? I can just see me trying to train Niki to "leave it" when the birdie flies by her.

I think the #1 thing a bird owner needs is a sense of humor and to be OK with chaos. Not clipping birds wings is controversial - but I've only every clipped wings once, I let all my birds fly and when I'm home they fly free (in groups that get along).
She would love it if you petted her, she loves all people and is jealous of all other pets. She loves loves loves to have her head scratched constantly. My dogs know to leave her alone. The biggest problem I have is when she and one of the dogs both want my attention at the same time. She instigates it, biting the dogs, then I have to stop them from retaliating, which is unfair, but the way that it is. When I feed the dogs, she lands on the chair by them and spreads out her wings to intimidate them. Sometimes she can get one of them to back off so she can steal their dinner.
She is a Meyer's Parrot, she is about 8" from beak to tail (they have very short tails). She thinks she is my largest pet and all others better get out of her way. My Shiba Inu x disagrees.

[tulip]

If you decide not to clip the wings, there are several things to be very aware of (may seem obvious to other parrot owners).

Do not turn on ceiling fans.

Make sure all doors and windows are closed.

Watch them because they chew things. Like electrical cords. Also, they can decide to take a nap (snuggled in laundry or pillows) and someone can end up sitting on them if you don't know where they are.

When I had my parrot (I do miss the guy) he liked to hang out on my shoulder. I'd go about my chores with him happily chatting at me the whole time. Occassionally, though, he'd get quiet, even once he fell asleep. Once when he was not in a chatty mood, I forgot he was there and I just walked out of the house. I was on the porch when I realized, with horror, that he was still on my shoulder. He took off. Being flighted, he flew across the street, then into the top of a large tree, then around the neighborhood. We followed him around (we could hear him screech) for 8 hours, and amazingly at dusk he flew into a low tree to roost. My ex got the ladder and I was able to grab him. Usually escapes don't end up that way. If he'd flown one more block, he would have gone into a National Park and we never would have found him, and he'd probably had been an easy dinner for an owl or hawk.

I decided then that it was much better to keep his wings clipped. But as TSPoet says, some people don't clip.

[Eden]

Even if you clip - do be careful. I found a parrot one morning... My husband came in the house and said there a parrot out there. I didn't believe him and figured it was just a flicker - they are so noisy... but I went out and lo and behold it was a red and green parrot. He was sitting on a low fence and came right up my arm when I offered it. It was pretty cold that morning and I expect he was grateful to be found by then.

We found the owner probably less than an hour later - she was walking the neighborhood looking for him - thank god... cause by then he had warmed up, was getting quite vocal and starting to nibble my ear.... She had lost him the evening before. He was a young bird and she was trying to socialize him, by taking him most places on her shoulder. Even though he was clipped, it was conservative, and he had enough left to get a little lift and glide. When he was startled by a large truck he'd taken off from her shoulder and managed to get up into a tree. She was extremely grateful to have him back and was going to have his wings clipped a bit better. (he was a conure btw)

[elk]

We have 2 African Greys and a Senegal....one of the greys is my husband's "bird wife"....they are in love for 10 years now...When he talks to me and she's on his shoulder she moves around to his face and gently takes the corner of his mouth and pulls it towards her....But we have a good relationship too...

Birds are amazing...but except for above bird who is very very gentle and quiet...I wouldn't do it again...."they have the intelligence of a 5 year old child and the emotional needs of a 2 year old....FOREVER!!!

SO many of them end up in rescue because people are simply unprepared for life with these guys. I feel a kind of chronic guilt that I don't give them all they might need....and I LOVE them...they get great meals, tons of toys, lots of time out.

OMG...you should see them in my DH's painting studio!!!!!!

And toos are particulary social/needy/emotional birds.

I spend 24 hours with my 4 dogs...we train, do therapy work, go to shows, take naps, walks together...and I wouldn't want it any other way....but birds...
I know some remarkably dedicated parrot fans.....and animals are my LIFE....but I'd be totally happy with just my dogs....

Just a little red flag. Maybe you are a bird person....just be sure to test yourself carefully!!

[malkin]

Don't let your birds see this:

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fu...deoid=30206961

[elk]

Don't let your birds see this:

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fu...deoid=30206961

that, BTW, is one of those cute conures....