Moms and Parrots... Particularly Aggressive.

Okay, those who are parents here... How do you manage them?

I have some questions I'd like to ask.

1. For those of you with aggressive parrots who tend to bite hard (especially with cage aggression) how do you keep kids and parrots safe? So far, plan is to keep cage away from kid, but you know some kids can be too curious for their own good. I'm particularly worried about Munch because she is cage aggressive and that's not really something she can help. Her cage is kept high up, but I'd love to hear how other people keep little kid fingers out of biting birds cages lol


2. Noise? Baby noise disturbing birds and birds disturbing babies... how do you deal with it?



3. Attention. Must be very very busy, but how do we safely give everyone the attention they need and want? How did your birds react to the new family member? Particularly for multiple bird owners.


Just curious what other people's experiences are mostly.

When we brought Jackie home my little one was almost a year old...I put up baby gates- lots of them lol not only to keep the kid in one area, but around the cage as well in case he made a jail break

Another thing was I never let Jackie within grabbing distance of the kid because I did NOT want those chubby lil fingers getting bitten by a disgruntled amazon. Plus I didnt want the kid smashing jackie with toys or whatever Jackie didn't like very many people, but he tolerated the kid VERY WELL. The kid never got bit by Jackie...and he was aggressive.

Chili on the other hand is in cahoots with the kid and they're both out to give me heart attacks. Lol. Chili is far from "aggressive", but she has bitten him though- not to be mean, but that's what happens when a little person sticks their pudgy fingers in her face and she wants to check it out Haha

As for covering bird noises- turn on the radio and/or a box fan or some other white noise...it will help drown out the bird noises- my son could sleep through an amazon flock call

Another thing we are working on with the kid is how to handle animals NICELY lol sometimes he gets a little vigorous petting the cat

getwozzy said:

When we brought Jackie home my little one was almost a year old...I put up baby gates- lots of them lol not only to keep the kid in one area, but around the cage as well in case he made a jail break

Another thing was I never let Jackie within grabbing distance of the kid because I did NOT want those chubby lil fingers getting bitten by a disgruntled amazon. Plus I didnt want the kid smashing jackie with toys or whatever Jackie didn't like very many people, but he tolerated the kid VERY WELL. The kid never got bit by Jackie...and he was aggressive.

Chili on the other hand is in cahoots with the kid and they're both out to give me heart attacks. Lol. Chili is far from "aggressive", but she has bitten him though- not to be mean, but that's what happens when a little person sticks their pudgy fingers in her face and she wants to check it out Haha

As for covering bird noises- turn on the radio and/or a box fan or some other white noise...it will help drown out the bird noises- my son could sleep through an amazon flock call

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i'm liking the fortress of baby gates idea.

well my birds are small, so there's more of a danger to them with a kid than they are to the kid, with the exception of munch who has bitten me down to the bone a few times now. and she's quick to bite if fingers are in her cage when she doesnt want them in the cage. so she's the one im nervous about. soooo baby gates im really liking the idea of!

We have these gates, which are metal and the door is easy to open with one hand
North States Superyard 3 in 1 Metal Gate http://amzn.com/B000U5FOT2
You can also purchase additional panels, but the number of panels it comes with is more than enough to protect Chili's big cage lol.

I have found it's easier to keep them barricaded from getting to the cages, than to try and teach them not to bang on it or stick fingers through the bars lol (we do work on not doing that though)

Are these your kids? Planning to have kids?

Well, depends on the age of the kids.

I didn't have any until my daughter was about 5. By the time she was seven, I was rehabbing the biters, and she was going with me to the parrot rescue, and helping me work with them.

I am a firm believer that half of bird training involves training the humans. Sit down and teach them not to get too close, and not to stick your fingers in the cage, because they bite. It's okay to look but don't touch.

If they are too young for that, then absolutely, you need to find a way to block it off so that they can't reach it, or put it in a room where they can't get in.

For what its worth: i had a 2 yr old with a Green cheek, MY GCC passed due to a pet sitter i thought was reliable and i was so wrong....regardless, i think if i child is brought up around birds they have a greater respect for them. I actually have a 5 yr old (my then 2 yr old) with ataxia and she is the girl from "paulie" to a T with my eckie.

She actually watches the movie with him in her lap!
My other bird, a cag is less comfortable with children and i have the cages in a very active room. My girls are now 3 and 5 and both have grown up learning how to respect them and treat them like family and not objects. They have been around birds since birth so they aren't anything too exciting.

My 3 yr old has come running saying "grey bird bit me" with a little red mark on her hand. I feel horrible and irresponsible, but in the same respect i noticed my cag only puts enough pressure to leave a mental impression, not physical. So i guess i'm lucky but i use it as a learning opportunity and let them know that she is scared of "small people" and no hands can go near her cage unless mama or dada are there.

I think since you have smaller birds you should be fine and your child will grow up with an apathy for animals that seems to be so rare anymore. but even i wouldn't go out and buy a macaw with children so young, even though they seem to get the concept that the parrots need space and can leave a mark....aaaand i bet i sound like a horrible mom now..

to sum it up, i think it will be easier raising your child around the birds than it would be bringing in a bird when the child is older and more curious.

This is what I do...

I have told my kids (5 year old boy and 3 year old girl) to keep their fingers out of the cage bars. Most of the time they listen...if they don't, they get bit. It doesn't really worry me. If I had a bigger bird with a bigger beak, then it would be different. Yoshi has a pretty good pinch but it's not going to break a finger.
My daughter stuck her finger in a couple days after we got him (after I had repeatedly told her not to). He bit her, she cried, I cuddled her, and said "that's why we don't stick our fingers in the cage, ok?" She hasn't done it since then!
If she was too young to understand then I'd find another way but she's old enough to learn consequences.

Noise... I figure that the kids and the bird need to get used to each other's noise. Luckily Yoshi quiets down at night and he goes to bed not long after the kids.

Time... That one is harder for me. I'm always running short on time. I get up at 6am and get Yoshi out for cuddles before the kids get up, then we have more cuddle time on my lunch break (I work full time), then I get him out after work with the kids home before I make dinner, then again for nighttime cuddles right after the kids go to bed.

getwozzy said:

Are these your kids? Planning to have kids?

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yes, my kid. or kids if its twins. we actually just found out last night and had it confirmed at the doctors this morning that we are indeed pregnant my husband and i are super excited, it will be our first kid. so of course we have some questions (but twins run super high in my side of the family.... will find out with first ultra sound. we find out in 2 days for test results to come back to tell us how far along)

AHHHHHH!!!! That's SO EXCITING!!!! Congratulations!!!!!!

luckily our kid will be born into having birds around. we got small birds, but munch does bite hard enough to give a kid stitches. she's bitten me once or twice deep enough and she knows how to slice too. tsuka bites as well, but hes not cage aggressive like munch. he is moody but will bite more if you try to ask him to step up. he has bitten me through the nail before (shocked me, i didnt think a cockatiel could!) so i worry most about the tiels.


i grew up with cats, never birds. i learned young that you get scratched and bit by cats. mind you... i was a stubborn kid who had to always learn the hardest ways and it would take multiple bites and scratches that resulted in stitches before i actually learned... but now today we have our furry fids too and im less concerned about them with the kids because i feel i know cats more with children. we have 4 cats as well and only one i think will actively seek out the kid because shes in everyone's business and shes overly friendly lol one doesnt do nothing to anyone--sits there like a bump on a log. one i think *might* be a concern because shes very possessive over me, but she doesnt scratch--she "punches" or "boxes" pretty hard. and the other we think will be more scared than anything.


of all our pets, munch worries me the most. dally the least because dally is really good with kids, has been petted and held under supervision with kids as young as two and three. she puts her head down for scritches and goes to them for attention and shes never bitten anyone, ever, not in her 4 years (almost) shes been born. she can bite, she just doesnt which is totally awesome because she's a perfect bird to have around to teach kids how to be nice around them. most kids looove to pet her and she is so sweet with them.

Awww well congrats! your in for an exciting and totally rewarding new chapter in your life!!!

I really think already having the birds and growing up with them as part of their constant house rules that get implemented as they start grabbing/standing/walking works out better. Kids have a tendency to hover over new and exciting things. When they are already there, its just a part of life.

I remember when i was 7-8, my friend had a beautiful scarlet macaw. I thought she was crazy because she didn't stare and ogle over him all day. He was just a part of her life that was always there, so she thought i was crazy for wanting to spend so much time around it and ask so many questions!

Your tiels are adorable, by the way! i have always wanted a pair!!! It's really hard finding hand fed ones around here and the pet store ones are so mean (with good reason)

Sadie13 said:

Awww well congrats! your in for an exciting and totally rewarding new chapter in your life!!!

I really think already having the birds and growing up with them as part of their constant house rules that get implemented as they start grabbing/standing/walking works out better. Kids have a tendency to hover over new and exciting things. When they are already there, its just a part of life.

I remember when i was 7-8, my friend had a beautiful scarlet macaw. I thought she was crazy because she didn't stare and ogle over him all day. He was just a part of her life that was always there, so she thought i was crazy for wanting to spend so much time around it and ask so many questions!

Your tiels are adorable, by the way! i have always wanted a pair!!! It's really hard finding hand fed ones around here and the pet store ones are so mean (with good reason)

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well only one of our tiels is handfed (the one in the photos)

but our other is just as tame and affectionate--but he packs a nip that i wouldnt trust around many children.

lol i was the same, if someone had a bird i just loved it. my nonna had a canary when i was like 12. i'd go over to visit on weekends and i'd take care of her and change her cage around, give her some lettuce, clean her cage... my nonna didnt understand that she needed to do these things often because no one taught her and she didnt read english or have internet. but i was always so happy to see the bird. i never had them growing up and i was never allowed birds until i left on my own. so i guess i'm just not used to the idea lol but guess it's not so different than me who's always had cats.


thank you for the help everyone i've gotten some good ideas that i definitely plan on using!

Congrats.... that is exciting...

Having kids is an amazing, if somewhat aggravating at times experience.

And yes, baby gates will do just fine until the child is old enough to understand the meaning of the phrase, "No fingers in the cage. That's an oowwie!"

And as the child(ren) grow(s), he/she/they will appreciate animals...

Oh my gosh, what GREAT GREAT news!!!

Many many congrats to both of you!!!!!

WO-HOOOO!!!!!!