Cockatoos?

[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....