<![CDATA[Parrot Forum - Parrot Owner's Community]]> http://www.parrotforums.com/ Parrot Forums covers the entire range of Parrot ownership and care. All parrot families are discussed as well as pet birds in general. en Thu, 09 Sep 2010 00:27:26 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.parrotforums.com/images/misc/rss.jpg <![CDATA[Parrot Forum - Parrot Owner's Community]]> http://www.parrotforums.com/ <![CDATA[So I don't have a parrot...YET]]> http://www.parrotforums.com/new-members-welcome/5989-so-i-dont-have-parrot-yet.html Wed, 08 Sep 2010 19:14:59 GMT Hi there! I'm from Virginia and unfortunately, I don't have a parrot. My entire family has bird experience, including my parents who had an Amazon. Now I want to experience what its like and find that lifelong companion that I know so many birds are to so many people.

I have two dogs and a cat so I will be supervising time spent out of the cage intensely. I'm a messy person, but I'm pretty good about cleaning up after animals and other people. My eldest cat and first kitten recently died of cancer and I have been looking for a buddy. My room is on the third floor of our house, and our dogs are both getting up in age so they aren't able to make it up two flights of stairs like they used to be able to. The one year old cat we have is insane and is really the one I'm worried about, but he rarely even tries to get into my room. My room is closed most of the time anyway.

While I like larger birds I admit to being intimidated by the HUGE BEAKS. While I expect biting I'm a bit apprehensive about getting a breed that can take small chunks out of my arm every time it lunges at me. I'm more into the birds you can snuggle with, no so much the kind that are itty bitty and you can watch inside the cage. I have several family members living in my house (6) so I hope to keep my bird well socialized. I'm still not sure on what breed I'm looking for, but I do know one thing: it needs to be able to be taken care of on a Geek Squad employee's salary.

So hello everyone, I hope to be a new parrot owner soon! ]]> New Members Welcome Over9kofBorg http://www.parrotforums.com/new-members-welcome/5989-so-i-dont-have-parrot-yet.html Right parrot breed for me? http://www.parrotforums.com/questions-answers/5988-right-parrot-breed-me.html Wed, 08 Sep 2010 19:06:20 GMT Hi there, I've been researching to find out what the best type of breed for me will be. I don't own a parrot, but plan to. I don't want this bird to be a thing where it lives for a couple years and dies, I'd like a lifelong companion if possible living 20+ years. I've kinda been wary of large parrots like Macaws and even African Greys simply because they have huge beaks and getting bitten by them looks really painful... So if at all possible, if there is a breed that's less nippy than some of the others, that's a big thing for me. The biggest thing though is I'd really like a bird that is affectionate and snuggly. A companion that will just kinda chill on my hand or shoulder while I watch TV, curl up and let me pet it and maybe even curl up and take a nap with me.

I admit I do have two dogs and a cat, but it has already been conveyed that any interaction between them will be careful and under intense supervision. I would keep the bird caged in my room which is inaccessible to any other animal in the house. I'd like to be able to go around the house with it when it's out of its cage as well. I have several members of my family living in my house at the moment...6 in fact, including my grandparents so I hope to keep my bird well socialized. I don't mind if the bird chirps or talks a bit, but screeching will wake up most of the house. I work usually later in the day for about 6 hours so I don't know if there are certain birds that are more patient or easily entertained than others, but that may be a factor. I'm going out on Sunday with my dad to visit a breeder. I've kind of been looking at Senegals but all my information comes from pet store descriptions and wikipedia. I thought it'd be a good idea to get some input from actual parrot owners.

So any suggestions would be awesome! ]]> Questions and Answers Over9kofBorg http://www.parrotforums.com/questions-answers/5988-right-parrot-breed-me.html Sad Introduction http://www.parrotforums.com/new-members-welcome/5987-sad-introduction.html Wed, 08 Sep 2010 16:09:49 GMT I wish this was a more happy introduction, but I come to this forum under sad circumstances. I lost my African Grey, Gandalf, a little over two weeks ago, to my own stupidity, and I have been just about inconsolable over it since. We were constant companions for almost 13 years, until a... I wish this was a more happy introduction, but I come to this forum under sad circumstances.

I lost my African Grey, Gandalf, a little over two weeks ago, to my own stupidity, and I have been just about inconsolable over it since.

We were constant companions for almost 13 years, until a non-stick pan accidentally left warming on a stove after a long day of work took away the best friend I've ever known. He gave a little squawk when he stumbled on the top of his cage. I rushed over to see what was wrong, thinking he had gotten tangled in a toy or something. But within 30 seconds, he was gone, and I will never forget him looking up at me as the last tiny breath wheezed out of him.

The pan was not scorched. It didn't even reach 300 degrees. So I suppose we can put to bed any myths of teflon having to reach 536 degrees to become toxic to rest. I will never own another non-stick pan again. I can't blame the pan for my stupidity, but the claims are absolutely not true. My little buddy shouldn't have had to pay with his life for my one mistake in 13 years. I drilled a hole in it before I threw it away, so it would even be impossible for someone to pick out of the garbage and use again.

Knowing this was my fault is the worst punishment I could ever have been dealt. I raised him from a featherless baby. He was a real prodigy...his first words "I love you" were at only 3 months of age, before I was even allowed to take him home from the pet shop. That should tell you what he was exposed to, and how smart he was.

I remember how scared I was for him when as a young bird, he got frightened and flew into a wall, breaking the tip off of his beak; feeding him baby food for the next two weeks was a labor of love.

I remember waking up one night during an ice storm, in which electrical power had gone out, to find him shivering in the 58 degree house. It was the only time in his life he didn't fuss at all when I put him into his travel cage for a trip across town to a friend's warm home.

I have so many memories with him, but there should have been more. He also saw me through some of my more trying times in my life; illness, injury, breakups, etc.

I have been hanging around this site, and it has helped me some, seeing how many others there are that love their birds as much as I love Gandalf. I also think that I will certainly want another bird someday, though I know my feelings are much too conflicted right now to seriously entertain the notion.

I know he's in heaven, probably sitting on my Dad's shoulder, waiting for me, and I'll see him again someday. Until them I've just got my pictures.

]]> New Members Welcome nofearengineer http://www.parrotforums.com/new-members-welcome/5987-sad-introduction.html A Cup of Tea - Mookie http://www.parrotforums.com/congo-timneh-greys/5986-cup-tea-mookie.html Wed, 08 Sep 2010 07:40:55 GMT Hello everyone,

Great forum and a big resource. I just wanted to ask if any of your parrots have tea? I am aware you should not gove them caffiene but when I put the kettle on she shouts out 'cup of tea'.

I make a water based cuppa and she has a few sips and loves it I make one per day. Is that OK? This is my son's parrot but she lives downstairs so I have a lot of contact with her. ]]> Polgara99 http://www.parrotforums.com/congo-timneh-greys/5986-cup-tea-mookie.html Winter bird lighting... http://www.parrotforums.com/general-parrot-information/5985-winter-bird-lighting.html Wed, 08 Sep 2010 06:14:26 GMT As much as I'm never really ready to think about it (until ski-season gets under way ;) ) winter is coming soon up her in the great white north, and with it comes short, short days.

I currently work second shift, 4pm to 12:30am, and with sunset happening near 4:30 during the darkest days of the year I will not be home to leave a light on for Buddy so she gets a 10 hour (or more) "day" in the winter months. Easy solution is obviously a light on a timer, but I'm wondering if others have experience providing artificial lighting for their birds in winter and what they recommend?

Are the UVA/UVB "avian" lights on the market a worthwhile investment (I already use "daylight" florescents in all my fixtures)? What's an appropriate "day" length for a parrot in winter? Any other tips? ]]> General Parrot Information JawzX http://www.parrotforums.com/general-parrot-information/5985-winter-bird-lighting.html Locating the FORUM block http://www.parrotforums.com/technical-support/5984-locating-forum-block.html Wed, 08 Sep 2010 05:49:12 GMT A few changes are taking place within the forum :eek:

If you are trying to locate the FORUM Block ...........

To the left of the screen "Site Navigation" click into Active Topics

Top left hand side of the page FORUM is available.

Antoinette ]]> Technical Support antoinette http://www.parrotforums.com/technical-support/5984-locating-forum-block.html New Member; New parrot owner! http://www.parrotforums.com/new-members-welcome/5982-new-member-new-parrot-owner.html Wed, 08 Sep 2010 03:25:29 GMT Hey! How are you?
I go by eulah or eulahluff online.

Yesterday I purchased my first ever parrot. I've owned other birds such as cockatiels and parakeets before, but this is my first 'parrot' parrot.

She is a female double yellow-headed Amazon parrot. The previous owner said her owners before her had gotten her DNA tested, but she didn't have papers on it or anything. So whether she actually is female or not, I love her all the same!

Her first owners apparently owned her for her first 12 years of life, and then due to work making them travel they gave them to this lady. This lady sold her due to time constraints that only let her interact with the bird for 1-2 hours a day, which obviously isn't fair to the bird.

So her name was Jacob, and she had this name before they found out 'he' was a she! But I just couldn't stand it and renamed her Elphie, which she seems to really like.

I haven't really handled her yet since she's still settling in, but she looks happy, healthy, etc. She looks a little on the heavier side, but that would definitely due to her being on a fattening diet(which I plan on switching her off) and not even having a toy to keep herself active in her cage while her owner was away.

So of course once I got her I had to get her some things to play with and she loves it!

Hopefully I can get her to trust me so I can work on getting her to like my family as well. She's taking food from my hand, but I'm not going to push it so soon.

So hello again! I'm sure I'll have questions very soon about her care. ]]> New Members Welcome eulahluff http://www.parrotforums.com/new-members-welcome/5982-new-member-new-parrot-owner.html Playstand suggestions! http://www.parrotforums.com/cages/5981-playstand-suggestions.html Wed, 08 Sep 2010 02:56:49 GMT Hey, I'm looking to get my Amazon a play stand but i cant quite decide what to get, does anyone have any suggestions or know of any good deals!?!
my budget is about $200.
:greenyellow:thanks! ]]> Cages stella http://www.parrotforums.com/cages/5981-playstand-suggestions.html Almost Panicked! http://www.parrotforums.com/general-parrot-information/5979-almost-panicked.html Wed, 08 Sep 2010 00:09:31 GMT I saw this yesterday, and thought Fred had a sore foot....until I saw the Blueberry remnants on the cage bottom. He's finally tried Blueberries!
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]]> General Parrot Information SharonC http://www.parrotforums.com/general-parrot-information/5979-almost-panicked.html Sun Dappled Levi http://www.parrotforums.com/others/5978-sun-dappled-levi.html Tue, 07 Sep 2010 23:42:07 GMT Levi loves spending time in his window... Levi loves spending time in his window...
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]]> Others SharonC http://www.parrotforums.com/others/5978-sun-dappled-levi.html <![CDATA[Vote for the September Contest "Name Our Bird"]]> http://www.parrotforums.com/pampered-parrot/5977-vote-september-contest-name-our-bird.html Tue, 07 Sep 2010 23:28:51 GMT Hello, the finalists have been selected and the names are now posted in a poll for everyone to vote on. Good Luck! Hello, the finalists have been selected and the names are now posted in a poll for everyone to vote on. Good Luck! ]]> The Pampered Parrot ThePamperedParrot http://www.parrotforums.com/pampered-parrot/5977-vote-september-contest-name-our-bird.html <![CDATA[Hello Y'all!]]> http://www.parrotforums.com/new-members-welcome/5976-hello-yall.html Tue, 07 Sep 2010 23:07:08 GMT Hi there! My name is Kat and I am looking forward to indulging in the wealth of information on this forum. I am currently parrotless, but my family always were and still are bird lovers. My husband and I are doing our research now and hoping to get a cage all set up and ready before we put a... Hi there! My name is Kat and I am looking forward to indulging in the wealth of information on this forum. I am currently parrotless, but my family always were and still are bird lovers.

My husband and I are doing our research now and hoping to get a cage all set up and ready before we put a deposit down on a baby. I am looking around here to see what parrot would be a good fit for our family, but right now I think that we are leaning towards a red lored amazon.

I am very excited to be here!:green1: ]]> New Members Welcome Hurricane http://www.parrotforums.com/new-members-welcome/5976-hello-yall.html unusual feather plucking - Can u help? http://www.parrotforums.com/general-health-care/5975-unusual-feather-plucking-can-u-help.html Tue, 07 Sep 2010 22:51:07 GMT I have an issues that I just cant quiet figure out... Hoping some of you might know. I have a new Plum Head Parakeet and he is just the CUTEST thing ever lived! He was born April 1st 2010, and I have had him about 6 weeks now. WHen I bought him he had been in a fight with some cockatiles and broke... I have an issues that I just cant quiet figure out... Hoping some of you might know. I have a new Plum Head Parakeet and he is just the CUTEST thing ever lived! He was born April 1st 2010, and I have had him about 6 weeks now. WHen I bought him he had been in a fight with some cockatiles and broke a toe, had most of his tail feathers pulled out and a few of his flight feathers, I just couldnt leave him there cause it was love at first sight and I had to bring him home....

I took him to the vet 2 days after I bought him. he got a clean bill of health other than his obvious issues. hi toe has never healed but no longer gives him pain. all his bites and scratches are healed and he is trusting me to even touch his tail finally. So whats the problem?????

PROBLEM IS: he keeps plucking out his NEW flight feathers and tail feathers as they grow in. No where eles is he plucking! and they seem to have an unusually long cuticle (I have no idea what to call that tube that the feathers come out of. so I am using cuticle) the tube is thick and doesnt break away like I think it should. my son makes the the comment that the feathers look fake. and he is right they look like feathers were glued on him. within 1-2 days Jazzy breaks the off or pulls the out despite the associated blood and pain. All of his other feathers are beautiful grow in normally and he doesnt pluck at all. What can I do about this? Is anyone aware of a condition that causes the feathers to grow in like that? ]]> General Health Care Stacey_Erbay http://www.parrotforums.com/general-health-care/5975-unusual-feather-plucking-can-u-help.html Bird Community, Please Help these Parrots! http://www.parrotforums.com/birds-sale-free-good-home/5974-bird-community-please-help-these-parrots.html Tue, 07 Sep 2010 22:13:57 GMT Hi, an aquantance of mine had a terrible family accident! His mother is now paralized and in a nursing home. He is 20 years old and thought that he could care for his mother 3 parrots. She owned a female Eclectus, a male Mini Macaw, and a Male Yellow Headed Amazon. The female Elceltus (named... Hi, an aquantance of mine had a terrible family accident! His mother is now paralized and in a nursing home. He is 20 years old and thought that he could care for his mother 3 parrots. She owned a female Eclectus, a male Mini Macaw, and a Male Yellow Headed Amazon. The female Elceltus (named Scarlet) has began plucking intensley! But is the only one who will come out of the cage and step up- but does BITE! Both males are in what appears ok health. But these birds have NOT been handled or even let out of the cage in 4 years since the accident! None of the other family members could hold the birds before their mother's accident and now the birds are very poorly socialized! They were (according to the son) very lovable and talkative before the accident. The birds are all around 15 years old, I have there birth dates/ months. This guy HAS NO CLUE what he is doing! He has been feeding the poor things seed for the past four years! Its no wonder the Eclectus is plucking! He has decided, after talking to me, that it is best for the birds to be rehomed (DUH)! He is asking $200.00 each and they all come with there own cage. He is willing to negotiate price, he is really just looking to get something back on the cages, not so much the parrots. If you have any suggestions, or are willing to bring one into your home, please let me know!!! The birds are in Maryland! Thanks so much! ]]> Birds For Sale or Free to a Good Home jultiren16 http://www.parrotforums.com/birds-sale-free-good-home/5974-bird-community-please-help-these-parrots.html Hello from Vivica and Wrnts http://www.parrotforums.com/new-members-welcome/5973-hello-vivica-wrnts.html Tue, 07 Sep 2010 19:46:21 GMT Hi i'm Vivica and I am 23 years of age. I have a fifteen year old parrot named Wrnts (because of the noise he makes) and he is in desperate need of a psychological breakthrough. He's a nice bird most of the time, but very destructive when it comes to boxes in his path. He even sleeps in one. I already posted about what needs to be done with his behavior, but he's just not getting it. We're both growing older together and his temperament gets me a little upset sometimes. He's very territorial, and nips when you're readjusting his boxes. He usually warning nips, but today I got a pretty big bite from him and it all went downhill. I don't hit or yell at him, but try to stay stern and tell him what he's done wrong. He'll fly at my parents in law--knowing they're afraid of him. He bites ANYONE that touches his boxes, oh he's a mess sometimes. I still love him nonetheless. ]]> New Members Welcome Vivica http://www.parrotforums.com/new-members-welcome/5973-hello-vivica-wrnts.html