Spill it: just how happy are you with your birds

In the immortal words of Charlotte: “I’m not happy all day, every day, but I’m happy every day”

I was reflecting on my current life with Parker and how I seem to be on his outs more and more every day; I’ve been growled at so many times today. So it’s a rough day, even though I’ve spent 8 hours of it outside not even around him.

Just got me wondering, what’s the reality on the ground for everyone? I’m probably at 60/40, happy 60% of the time, unhappy the other 40%. Parrots hard HARD so This doesn’t actually strike me as being too bad, but still “rehome” has been discussed before.

So spill the tea Folks, how is your happiness split? Let’s see what public consensus actually is!

I am never unhappy with Nike. I never feel like yelling at her and and just never feel unhappy with her, never wish I didn't have her. Do I wish she was better at some thngs, sure, but unhappy...nope!

I voted 80/20 in this poll. The 80 is for Fang and Valentino, and Lilly when she isn’t being a bloody little terror, and when she’s asleep. The remainder is for Lilly for the rest of the time!

I’m gonna say 70/30 I’m happy most of the times with Mambo, but he has some days where he bites all the time or screams. Also, when he’s doing something wrong and that I tell him 10 times in the end I say it a bit louder, so well at that moment he gets angry and he will be like that for the rest of the day! He makes you feel like it’s your fault when it’s his lol


Jose

I am a 70/30 person most of the time; the stress about the overpreening, the screamingbehaviour, demolishing my house and the possible agression leading to injuries between the birds are the lions-share of the not-so-happy time.

(oh and Appie just got into a paludarium and chewed up part of the background I had painstakingly build up over a few weeks/ but those are just pinpricks)

Getting partially undressed by a macaw (this morning she decided my leather belt is the best toy of the day and tries to steal all of it) makes up for a lot of it.

Off to a 'groupshower' now...
soaking parrots is always fun!

I voted 80/20. The 20 is for the times when I don't feel well and have to clean his cage etc. Re-homing has been tried briefly because I was worried about his long term future and my health but since that didn't work out we are back together.

What I hadn't expected was my feelings and tears when I was packing him up for the move and how bereft I felt when he wasn't here. He was gone for just 24 hours but it feels right now he's back in residence.

i only vote 90/10 because the alpha clark dictates my bedtime, I either have to go to bed with the flock or pretend to sleep till she goes to sleep... She runs a tight ship.

I voted 90/10, only because y'all wouldn't believe a 100/00 vote. Seriously, Salty is like our ideal parrot ! I couldn't imagine one who was better. We love him so much.

Great topic!
Julio came to us in the normal fashion, abandoned. The youngest Amazon, but not the sickest. Whenever I am unhappy with him, I remember those early weeks of a fear filled Amazon being stuffed with medication. Those early months did not leave much of a starting point, but we worked slowing out of that deep dark hole.
Today, his bites are lighter as he has applied his pressure point training (self-taught) warnings rather than finger snappers. But if he believes he needs to make a point, he grinds a bit.
The split varies, but I'm going with a 90/10 today as he has come a very long way and also taught us even more of the life of living with a Parrot.
Even when the bites are painful, I force myself to remember they have no natural reason to befriend us.
It is much easier to say; It's never the fault of the Amazon, it is always the fault of the Human when he is grinding the point home!

I wouldn't necessarily call it "unhappy", but there are moments when I feel the struggle. When he screams his needs (like when he needed formula at just the right temperature and just the right consistency and just the right angle and just the right timing - if nothing was perfect he'd throw another fit), when he knows he's doing something naughty but does it anyway (he gives himself away with dark muttering and evil laughter, then runs off whistling when I walk over to move him away), when he and my partner miscommunicate (and then he bites)..

Those sorts of things stress me out, and I know I need to work on how I handle stress. So it's not really him - I'm lucky on that he doesn't bite me even when he's upset at the world for waking up on the wrong side of the perch.

I voted 70/30, though I feel like a selfish @#$& for doing so because he really is a well behaved bird. Don’t get me wrong, I do love Kiwi, I try to give him the best care possible and I do try to remain understanding of his right to personal space, but after over a decade of working with him and taking really good care of him, he still won’t let me pet him or scratch his neck or help with pin feathers even and that makes me really sad. He is clearly intelligent and understands the rules of the house and that I’m not a threat, but he just doesn’t want to have that special bond with me other people have with their birds. I see/hear about birds being rescued at various ages from all kinds of terrible situations all the time who within a few years adore their owners, but not Kiwi. I’ve always had such a rough time connecting with people, which I can accept, but it really hurts that I can’t seem to connect with Kiwi.

Kiwibird: I am flabbergasted about you not drowning in great friends out there in the meat-space-world; you are such an amazing person!
Disapointing behaviour is always cause for some amount of stress, so if you feel it keenly 30% is not too bad a score for your stubborn rescue
(mentally kicking Kiwi's feathered behind about this)

I wasn't sure how to answer this... Does 'Unhappy' mean frustrated/stressed/exhausted or does 'Unhappy' regretting having the bird? If the former, then I'd answer 70/30. If the latter then my answer is a flat out 100/0.

I figured you meant something in the middle, so I answered 90/10. I LOVE my boys, but they've sure changed out lives. Mostly for the better, but there are times when they're screaming while we're trying to watch a movie or trying to steal the veggies from my dinner plate... however, even at those times I can't imagine life without my sweet boys.

I voted 90/10. (By the way I wonder if the person who voted 10/90 made a mistake WTH)
Anyways, my birds are REALLY good birds. I mean seriously really really good birds. They're very quiet most of the time, they behave and listen to me nearly all the time and none of them bite me or my husband EVER (even Finley will only mouth me with his beak now and he used to be a big biter). I can basically handle them whenever I want even if it's interrupting what they're doing such as eating or playing they step up no problem. None of them scream for no reason...there is always a fairly easy fix and I usually find it pretty quickly. All 4 of them will settle in for scratches and a cuddle pretty much at any time too. Ollie is 3 and Finley is 2 and I've so far had no issues with hormonal behavior which is pretty uncommon.
I'm REALLY lucky.
However, most of this behavior is training I've worked very very hard on. Some of it is personality and that they were young when I got them but I seriously put in hours and hours and hours of my time and still do, however now I can relax more with them and it's easier. I do keep a set scheduled bedtime and rituals for them and if I'm away or out to dinner I do have a bird sitter who comes in and completes the routine for me and that really really helps them stay happy. I also have sleep cages upstairs where it's super dark and quiet and the day cages are filled with toys and foraging for them also.
The 10% unhappy is basically about mess cleaning, many many vet visits and the occasional unsavory behavior but no one's perfect.

chris-md said:

In the immortal words of Charlotte: “I’m not happy all day, every day, but I’m happy every day”

I was reflecting on my current life with Parker and how I seem to be on his outs more and more every day; I’ve been growled at so many times today. So it’s a rough day, even though I’ve spent 8 hours of it outside not even around him.

Just got me wondering, what’s the reality on the ground for everyone? I’m probably at 60/40, happy 60% of the time, unhappy the other 40%. Parrots hard HARD so This doesn’t actually strike me as being too bad, but still “rehome” has been discussed before.

So spill the tea Folks, how is your happiness split? Let’s see what public consensus actually is!

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Currently it is 90/10 for Consuela and me. Her first moult has begun and in a few weeks her clipped primaries will have been replaced. Flight School will begin; ascending flight, descending flight, turns, stalls, etc. THAT will be fun. She will be 10mos. on 26Apr. The 10% is for chewing on EVERYTHING. EVERY THING. =(

Sent from my SM-J320V using Tapatalk

I'm 95/5 but rounded up to vote!

The 5% represents the repetitive nature of supportive daily and deep cleaning, ignoring the morning/evening screaming, etc. They are truly wonderful companions, it is worth a reminder they are creatures of the sky and adapt mightily to our confines. The one thing I would love to offer is harness flying outdoors, but the raptors above pose mortal threat.

So Nike doesnt scream or chew. She can get loud-ish for 10-30 seconds once in a while but her loudest call is significantly more quiet than my Amazon was....I can even tolerate it while she's on my shoulder.

Even having said that, if she was bad she would just be acting like a parrot and I can't be unhappy with that.

I voted 90/10! 90 % of the time I am very happy with my birds!

Reason being...

They are small (three cockatiels), they have huge cages so I know when I am at work they still have tons of room and are safe. They are not very noisy. Two of my birds are a pair and prefer each other's company, though the male does step up and will sit on my shoulder.

Ember, my hand-tame male is very sweet and affectionate most of the time, but he does have his bratty moments. But he loooves people and wants nothing more than to sit on your shoulder and get head scratches.

Kiwibird said:

I voted 70/30, though I feel like a selfish @#$& for doing so because he really is a well behaved bird. Don’t get me wrong, I do love Kiwi, I try to give him the best care possible and I do try to remain understanding of his right to personal space, but after over a decade of working with him and taking really good care of him, he still won’t let me pet him or scratch his neck or help with pin feathers even and that makes me really sad. He is clearly intelligent and understands the rules of the house and that I’m not a threat, but he just doesn’t want to have that special bond with me other people have with their birds. I see/hear about birds being rescued at various ages from all kinds of terrible situations all the time who within a few years adore their owners, but not Kiwi. I’ve always had such a rough time connecting with people, which I can accept, but it really hurts that I can’t seem to connect with Kiwi.

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Kiwi's brother, by a different mother, has the same dislike (fear) of being touched especially around the neck and head. I so agree that it is heartbreaking that we cannot get past this point. It is disheartening to see others in which this simple joy comes with ease. The joy I have is that whatever caused this no longer supports it and maybe some day, just maybe some day...

I would put it this way.

I am not happy all the time with all my birds but I am always happy with some of my birds.

Closest to 100% would be Mango and Angle. Always happy to see me and always wanting to get scratched.

Bingo would be a close 2nd 90/10. He may not always want to be picked up but will want scratches unless.... wet hair, hat/jacket or incorrect clothing.

Bella is one bird I can't rate. I am disappointed with her cuz of her plucking and lack of wanting affection from me. She is a special case and still a work in progress.

Luna & Merlin would be lowest. The noise level from those 2 is just over the top. But at the same time Merlin is friendly and will always step up as long as he is outside of his age.