Renaming a bird?

Owlet · Nov 16, 2016

Can birds be renamed? Might be a bit of a silly question but I found someone who is looking to rehome their green cheeked conure named Coco. The ad doesn't say how old the conure is but if I do decide to contact her in hopes of getting the conure I'll definitely be asking how old he is.

Nicky76 · Nov 16, 2016

When we got Archie (Patagonian conure) he had already had several homes (he's about a million years old) and they didn't know what his previous owner had called him!

We named him Archie and 9 months he definitely knows that's who he is

I'd imagine if you try to choose a name similar to the previous one you'll have no problem

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GaleriaGila · Nov 16, 2016

A rhyming name would be easier, yeah.
If the relationship, care, diet, and environment are good, the name will come along!

Flboy · Nov 16, 2016

Hi,
My JoJo was originally Coco, but we had felt that was wrong for him!

snowflake311 · Nov 16, 2016

People rename dogs all the time. They learn it. If a dog can learn a new name a bird can too. My dogs have many names and they know most of them. haha.

My bird is named Sprinkles pretty sure he thinks his name is baby because that is what I call him most of the time. .

SailBoat · Nov 16, 2016

I really do not believe in renaming Parrots. The process of rehoming a Parrot is to say the less, stressing. Why add to their stress just to fill our huge egos? They need some level of sameness, so why not allow them their name?

There are far worst names that I have seen than Coco.

SilverSage · Nov 16, 2016

I have renamed several birds. When I do, I retain the old name as a "pet name" or nickname, and I transition by using the two names together. This is how my family has transitioned the names of adopted children as well.

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GaleriaGila · Nov 16, 2016

You all have great points!

Where were you 32 years ago? (KIDDING!!!)

His first inspiration was a parrot in the bird store where I found him as a 3 month old chick. He didn't care much for the bird but DID learn to say his name... Rickey. "Rickey" and "Hello, Rickey". I wasn't sure he'd ever learn more words, so the name stuck. I had no idea he'd ever learn more words/names, so I left it as was. OH MAN, I HAD SO MANY CUTE NAMES IN MIND!!!! Now, years later, after he has learned tons of names, words, songs... pfffft! Oh well!

Printer bird · Nov 16, 2016

I kept both of my re-homes names (Charlie and Dipper). They weren't bad - Charlie could say his name (his fave!). I'm not sure if dipper knows her name. She is a good listener - as in generally does what's asked of her - but never responds to verbal cues of any sort - she is a very visual bird. Her only phrase is pretty bird which she uses generally to get your attention if she wants something (be moved from one place to another, head scratched, get picked up etc). I just liked the idea that I was giving them a different home but they were the same bird. I'm sure you could go either way and it will all be fine!

Timmah · Nov 16, 2016

SailBoat said:
I really do not believe in renaming Parrots. The process of rehoming a Parrot is to say the less, stressing. Why add to their stress just to fill our huge egos? They need some level of sameness, so why not allow them their name?

There are far worst names that I have seen than Coco.

The flipside of that is it can help them if they haven't had a good life. Renaming a rehomed bird doesn't stress them THAT much, and can be far nicer than calling them something they may associate with previous unpleasant experiences. It's nice to anthropomorphise our pets, but in reality they don't have the same sense of name ownership humans do.

Kentuckienne · Nov 16, 2016

Timmah said:
SailBoat said:

I really do not believe in renaming Parrots. The process of rehoming a Parrot is to say the less, stressing. Why add to their stress just to fill our huge egos? They need some level of sameness, so why not allow them their name?

There are far worst names that I have seen than Coco.

Click to expand...

The flipside of that is it can help them if they haven't had a good life. Renaming a rehomed bird doesn't stress them THAT much, and can be far nicer than calling them something they may associate with previous unpleasant experiences. It's nice to anthropomorphise our pets, but in reality they don't have the same sense of name ownership humans do.

I've heard that too...to change the name, the cage, everything that might remind a bird of a time when it suffered, guess it depends on the bird...

Puck · Nov 17, 2016

Kentuckienne said:
Timmah said:

SailBoat said:

I really do not believe in renaming Parrots. The process of rehoming a Parrot is to say the less, stressing. Why add to their stress just to fill our huge egos? They need some level of sameness, so why not allow them their name?

There are far worst names that I have seen than Coco.

Click to expand...

The flipside of that is it can help them if they haven't had a good life. Renaming a rehomed bird doesn't stress them THAT much, and can be far nicer than calling them something they may associate with previous unpleasant experiences. It's nice to anthropomorphise our pets, but in reality they don't have the same sense of name ownership humans do.

Click to expand...

I've heard that too...to change the name, the cage, everything that might remind a bird of a time when it suffered, guess it depends on the bird...

I think this is one of those things we, as humans, will never know for sure about animals. I say go ahead and change it unless Coco comes when called (simply because who wants to have to retrain that???). Most birds get called a variety of names on a daily basis (sweetie, honey, baby, or in Lucille's case, Bird Brain, Tweety Bird, Feathers, and a bunch of other nick names) and I doubt they know which is their actual name, so you might as well add another to the list IMHO.

BeatriceC · Nov 17, 2016

I say it depends on how strongly the bird recognizes his or her name. If they react with strong recognition, then I would hesitate to change it.

Leo came to me with the name Jingle Bells. I thought that was the most awful name ever. He absolutely did not recognize his name and I didn't hesitate at all to change it.

Charlotte came to me with the name Scarlett. She absolutely recognized her name. As much as I hated it, I wasn't going to change it. However, I kept accidentally calling her Charlotte. I'm guessing it was close enough that she thought I was just saying her name funny. Charlotte stuck.

Shine · Nov 26, 2016

I recently got my BFA and his name is Booger. I'm not a fan. He doesnt respond to it, but he does say it a lot, ie: Good bird Booger etc. I'm changing it to Fidget, so now I am calling him Booger-Fidget. I figure eventually I will change it to just Fidget.

Reni · Nov 26, 2016

When I adopted a 20 yr. old GCC, her name was "Bird". That name just didn't sit with me, if it would have been a boy, I would have picked "Bert", but had to sound out different name before I fell on "Pearl", kind of the same sound I thought and she adapted to it.
My new adopted GCC was a stray, so no way to know what her name was, so no choice but to name her, which her foster parent did: "Mango", which I liked due to her colours.

chris-md · Nov 26, 2016

In reflecting on when I got my ekkie, I changed his name slightly (from Porker to Parker). I was worried about it, should I? Shouldn't I?

I look back with a more analytical, objective eye and I'm forced to conclude that it really doesn't matter. They attach emotional value to the bond and communication - such as it exists - between us. I don't think they attach emotional attachment to any given vocalization. I think any belief we have about them being attachmed to a name is an anthropomorphisation on our part.

Remember they learn by cause and effect. From their perspective, we utter some vocalization, and are rewarded when they pay attention to it.

That's all a name is to them, a vocalization they've learned means pay attention or look at me.

happy410 · Nov 27, 2016

I messed up and started calling our macaw Big Bird. Now he calls himself that more than Tesla. He has three names for himself that he usually says back to back. Tesla, Tesla Bird then Big Bird.

Loko · Nov 27, 2016

I personally feel it depends on the bird and whether it connects said name to the concept of "I". If so, I would prefer to keep the name, or if it were that bad, then I would only slightly change it, and maybe use a nickname as well. If the bird picks up on the nickname, then I wouldnt worry about dropping the name for the most part, but would use the original name as a back up if the need be. I dont believe that a birds name will remind it of its past troubles.. except.. if there is a word, or a name the bird was called while being abused, for example if the person yelled "monster!" Every time they swung at the bird, then that word is associated with somethimg negative and the bird will react with fear. If the bird is reacting with fear to a certain word, or name, then of course dont use or say it. Very dependanr upon each particular case imo, but for the majority I think keeping the same or very similar name is good as birds feel comfort in routine/what is common to them.

BeatriceC · Nov 27, 2016

happy410 said:
I messed up and started calling our macaw Big Bird. Now he calls himself that more than Tesla. He has three names for himself that he usually says back to back. Tesla, Tesla Bird then Big Bird.

MrC calls Charlotte "Beak Face". She's starting to recognize it as her name. Oops.

Renaming a bird?

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