What Are Your Pet Peeves with Owning Birds?

CallumConure

New member
Apr 10, 2019
132
7
Central Minnesota, USA
Parrots
Callum- GCC Hatchday: October 15th, 2016
(nonparrot friends include rats, a dog, and a few reptiles :))
I've sort of been having this frustration build up inside me about the thing that irritates me the most with having our feathered companions. It has nothing to do with the birds, whether it be screaming, pooping, needed attention, etc. I actually don't mind the noises they make, the need to groom me and be near me, or the constant pooping. All of these "issues" I either don't mind or can be trained with a bird.

The thing that does annoy me with having a bird...

It's the people!

Feel free to share your pet peeves, stories, etc. I'll start us off!

My biggest pet peeve is watching how friends and family just NEED to interact with Callum. Callum is a younger GCC, just two years old, and has a bond to my grandmother and I, the only human residents of the home. He loves to perch on us, groom us, call for either of us, etc. He just loves our attention. He is also extremely vocal about when he wants us. He loves to perch on just about anything, so long as he can see one of us and gets a "Hi Callum!" every so often. He's cuddly when he wants to be, loves to give kisses, and I really don't ask him to step up too often, because if he wants to be near me, he'll fly to my shoulder and follow.
(Fun fact about this habit: I've gotten so used to the fluttering wings, rapidly beating to catch up to me, that I'll stop dead in my tracks until I feel his little nails curl into my shirt. Then I walk forward)

Anyways, I digress. As I was saying before, just bugs the heck out of me that friends constantly need to touch my bird (Yes, I'm slightly possessive over him. I love him to death and don't like people just touching my animals without my permission). They will constantly try to get him to step up, to pick him up, grab him, etc. I can tell them "Don't touch him" and they still will try to touch them. Callum gives them plenty of warning before a bite-- backs away, leans back and away from their touch, opens his wings slightly like he wants to fly away, does fly away, etc. Then he bites. But some are thickheaded enough to keep touching him! Augh! Makes me so mad, because I'm sure one will whine that he bit them, even after he and I have warned them and told them not to touch him.

Usually, their excuse is "But he's head bobbing at me." They don't seem to understand that Callum head bobs at just about anything. If you're eating, drinking, or he just wants your attention, he head bobs. I tell them this and they still think that he wants them to touch him. They still try to touch him, and then gets confused when he flies away or bites them. I've even calmly and politely explained he head bobs at anything, but it goes over their head most of the time, or they just don't listen.

Yes, at this point, they aren't allowed to touch my bird, not even if he lands on them or comes over to say hello. Callum likes the attention, not the cuddles or kisses. Some people need to learn "Look, don't touch." Also, I'm not too impressed with my friends, some are about to be removed from "Allowed to come over" list if they continue to pester my bird or other animals (I have a mini zoo. GCC, budgies, fancy rats, reptiles, a dog, etc.)

EDIT: (Before responses, if any) I know some people will discourage me telling my friends not to touch him, but I honestly don't want to risk some friends getting upset that he bit them or whatever. I'd really prefer someone with bird experience to help him socialize more before I do introduce non-bird people to him for socialization. Callum does sit quietly around us and enjoy the company, he just doesn't want to be picked up or touched by other people. This can be trained out, but for now, with a bird who wants cuddles on his own terms (which I'm fine with), it just drives me nuts that people feel the need to touch my bird and have to get banned before getting it through their heads.
 
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Smerft85

New member
Jun 10, 2019
178
10
Colorful Colorado with colorful birds
Parrots
6 budgies, 3 cockatiels, 1 amazon and two Indian ringnecks
My thoughts, if you want to touch an animal here, that's what the dogs are for, if they like you. I'm on the same level with folks that come over, 6 foot iguana bites your finger, it's up to him if you get it back. Sometimes the potential risks are worth feeling like an over reactive jerk.
 

munami

New member
Apr 13, 2019
223
4
Ottawa, ON
Parrots
Luna // F // Whiteface Pearl Cockatiel
The petting thing is the same with me. I always tell people, please don't pet her unless she wants you to. She will let you know. People don't listen. Thankfully there haven't been an issues where she has bitten anyone else yet. I usually can catch her signs before they go to pet her. She's a very tolerant bird though and I can catch the signs before she actually bites anyone.

The other thing that bothers me is when she does want to be petted, they'll pet down her back. I stop them from doing so and explain it. I just wish they'd ask beforehand so I can let them know. At the end of the day, if she gets upset and hormonal, she's gonna end up biting me, not them...

With non bird people, they just don't know what signs to look for. I don't know any bird people in my area though. The only person I actually know is her previous owner. While we talk, we're not really friends and he no longer owns any birds anymore.


Even with dogs, I wish people would ask. I do so every time. You don't know what temperament that animal has.
 

Jen5200

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Mar 27, 2017
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Baby - Sun Conure;
Tango - GCC;
Bindi - Sun Conure;
Stanley - Pineapple GCC;
Screamer “Scree� - Cockatiel;
Tee - Pineapple GCC; Jimmy - Cockatiel
I would agree that people are my biggest peeve about having birds - the commitment and the work is totally fine with me. It’s not that I have a lot of people over who try to touch them, although anyone who comes in is told not to touch them.....what irks me the most is people who talk about birds as though they are stupid and are so surprised that they are intelligent and social creatures. Thankfully most of the people that I interact with regularly now have a basic grasp of the fact that birds are companions and part of the family. Non-bird people are told when they come into my house to not touch the birds - and I’ve never had someone ignore me on that. I have a couple of family members who do have birds, and they always ask before handling the birds which I’m good with.
 

HannahandSunny

Well-known member
Parrot of the Month 🏆
Jan 13, 2019
547
638
Australia
Parrots
Cockatiels. Percy & Gizmo

Forever in my heart. Sunny the Corella
Now I technically don’t own a bird.. The bird owns me!
Anyhow.. I totally understand your frustration with the people. When there are guests at the farm and Sunny comes to say Hi while sitting on my arm or whatever. I ALWAYS say ‘he likes strokes around the eyes and head. NOT his back. He shouldn’t be stroked on his back for various reasons’ but what do they go and do.. Imediately go and stroke his back, Sunny quickly spins around with beak open. They never learn. And then they do try and stoke his head but have already pissed Sunny off so he bites them:rolleyes:
 

Betrisher

Well-known member
Jun 3, 2013
4,253
177
Newcastle, NSW, Australia
Parrots
Dominic: Galah(RIP: 1981-2018); The Lovies: Four Blue Masked Lovebirds; Barney and Madge (The Beaks): Alexandrines; Miss Rosetta Stone: Little Corella
My peeve is people who stick their fingers in my birds' cages.

He sticks his finger in the cage and bird responds with the only means at his disposal: its beak. He withdraws yelling in surprise and what does he do next? Why, he sticks his finger in again, as if to check whether the bird really can hurt him that much again.

My second peeve is people I call 'Maulers'. My daughter is a Mauler, so I don't feel bad talking about them here. Maulers are those who simply cannot keep their hands off an animal, no matter what. The animal might be eating, sleeping or sitting quietly in its allotted place doing exactly what it should be doing. The Mauler sidles up with hardly any warning and either seizes the animal up or literally mauls it all over its body, placing the arms or legs or both into unnatural positions (Cat Maulers do this all the time, usually accompanying the offence with 'He loves it when I do this!' (NB. He doesn't.)

Dog Maulers get bitten, but that often doesn't deter them. They come back with 'I understand dogs...' and then get bitten a second time. By then, they proclaim your dog a man-eater and finally leave it alone.

Horse Maulers are appalling. They grab the horse by the ears or the muzzle or round its neck rubbing and pulling it every which way. Some horses don't mind a bit of a scratch about the head, but most eventually get sick of it. That's when the Horse Mauler invokes the use of the bridle or halter and *forces* the horse to submit to his ministrations. Drives me nutso!

In general, as much as I do love my animals to bits, I leave them to approach me if they desire physical bonding. The birds are great: they just land on my wrist and stay there. The cats can be a pain (I'm not a cat person): they will inveigle themselves into my lap or, worse, onto my keyboard, when I least require it. The dog is always welcome. She just parks exactly next to my feet and stays there until I move. Then she comes with me to wherever I go.

My sister used to be a Horse Mauler, but one day my mare got her a beauty. Sister was petting the mare's nose incessantly and she (Ellie, the mare) got jack of it. When Sister turned her head momentarily, Ellie grabbed her by the ponytail and lifted her off her feet. Problem solved: no more Mare Mauling! :D
 

ParrotGenie

Member
Jan 10, 2019
946
19
Indiana
Parrots
2 umbrella Cockatoos One male named Cooper and female named Baby 1 Little Corella male named Frankie and have 5 Cockatiels three named Male named Pepper, Fiesco for the female and female named Wylie.
The old don't touch the bird. People never learn. Some have to be persistent even after warning and claim, or her the phase "she won't bite me". Then the bite come. Cooper my male U2 will warn you by showing his beak, or putting out his wings. My Baby female U2 not so much, she very quick and will just bite you without hesitation and then agrue with you as well. My female U2 can bite very hard, very quickly piercing the skin and blood. Back when I first adopted her, she was a way more aggressive bird as last owner kept her in a rusted cage 24/7. She didn't trust anyone much. It took me about a year to get her to trust and socialize her.

Now thankfully she way more social now and hasn't bitten anyone in about a year and she usually beg at times for people to pick her up by putting her foot out saying "hello". If it a lady she say "hello lady". Next door neighbor lady she fly to her, when she see her as she babysits my birds at times, so she bonded to them. Remember one lady customer over 2 years ago that saw her talking and wanted to pick her up claiming she dealt with birds in the past that was warn not to pick her up as she could bite very hard and she still tempted fate and was bitten quickly in the nose, thankfully she realized completely her fault, now saw her again last week and ask this time if she could pick her up as my female U2 was putting her foot out to get pick up? I let her and both were talking up a storm. Kind of was surprised after that lady was bitten 2 years ago that she would still want to try to pick her up again, but she did adapt a Macaw a few years back, so she does handle bites well? Thankfully Baby wanted to get pickup and when smooth and Baby my female U2 got the attention she wanted.

Frankie no one allow to pet, or pick him up as he bite you without warning ⚠ I keep him in Aviary behind plexiglass. I still have to work on socializing him, he only bonded to me and doesn't like anyone to touch him. My cockatiels, except my male Pepper are friendly and love to buzz over people heads and get pickup and start whistling. Pepper don't like to be handle it took me a while before he step up for me, as he was a pet store bird and guess they mistreated him, as he always hated hands. I at first took it as he scared of me, but he would stay on shoulder no issues. Just hates hands and he start hissing at you. Same as have to tell people don't pickup as if you try he bite you, but at least he warn you by hissing at you.
 
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OP
CallumConure

CallumConure

New member
Apr 10, 2019
132
7
Central Minnesota, USA
Parrots
Callum- GCC Hatchday: October 15th, 2016
(nonparrot friends include rats, a dog, and a few reptiles :))
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I'm still new, so I don't know how to quote multiple replies, so please bear with me! I'll do my best to reply, but I agree with everything said here.

First thing I'd like to say-- I don't like saying I own an animal. In legal terms, I am the owner, but I much prefer saying human companion, caregiver, animal lover, etc. I am owned by my birds and rats. And they totally know it. It's funny how my friends realize how much my bird and I got each other wrapped around our fingers. It's a very mutual relationship between Callum and I.

Smerft85 - I totally agree. If you get bit, it really is up to the animal how much skin is removed and how long they hold on. Getting bit by an animal is almost always your fault. I see people will argue otherwise or say it's my responsibility as the "owner" to control their behavior, but let's be real. I don't have control over my dog every waking moment. I can't control people, and I can't control my animals. It really is up to them how they react to people breaking the boundaries I set down.
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munami - I tell people not to touch my bird and they still touch him. Dunno how I can expect them to understand why not to touch his back, butt, chest, tail, etc. I should be more forthcoming with my animals, but it really sincerely irritates me when I tell people "Please don't touch Callum" and they do it anyways. Sometimes I want Callum to bite them so they'll leave him alone, but that's not fair to Callum.

I don't have too many bird people around me too, but I just can't trust my friends to help socialize Callum more if they consistently break my rules and do all the Bird no-nos. People also just seem opposed to the idea that "Callum is not a dog. Petting his back, scratching him like a dog would love, is not fun or enjoyable for Callum. Callum has different warning signs of a dog. He is a bird." I see people do this with cats-- not understanding that the cat can get crabby with too much petting by becoming overstimulated, etc. I don't understand why people can apparently love an animal so much, but constantly think it's EXACTLY like a dog.
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Jen5200 - Anyone who asks to handle or touch my animals first is always allowed to say hello or pet the animal (if the animal wants), so long as they follow the rules I've set down. Thankfully the people I'm surrounded with realize how intelligent my birds and rats are, but I always get those irritating few who are like "rats are so stupid, smelly, disgusting, etc." when they're really not. If anyone is curious about rats, they can DM/PM me, but yeah.
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HannahandSunny - It's always a little funny, honestly. It sounds mean, but the people who immediately ignore you, do the no-no and then get punished for it.
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Betrisher - We had a guy come in my room the other day and I was very close to putting up a sign that said "Do not stick your fingers in the cages, they WILL bite you." Those signs are up at the zoo, why is it any different at my own little mini zoo?

I gotta say, I was definitely an animal Mauler. Now I know better and don't just forcefully pick up cats, dogs or my rats. I feel the urges every so often, but I stop them. It's not fair to any animal to be assaulted by a human lol. I try to teach people that just existing with the animal can be just as fun. I find more enjoyment with that anyways.

Yay, another horsey person! I'm actually volunteering at a horse camp right now. I've definitely seen some parents go straight for the horse's noses or ears, tell the kids they have to "show the horse who's boss" etc. Always irritates me, but I never speak up. I don't like people using the halter or bridle for anything but soft corrections or some guidance.

Fun little fact about me: currently treating a 35-year-old horse for a GSW to the hind leg. She had fallen and not been able to get up last Friday, even with people trying to help her up and get her up, etc. I go out there and she immediately starts to get up and is back on her feet. She isn't very happy with me right now, I'm the one cleaning her leg (the wound is left open to drain) and everything.
--
ParrotGenie - As another user said, a lot of people just don't understand those warning signs and may take it for play or whatever. It bugs me, but I understand how they could mistake it. When I first started owning birds, I didn't always know what every body signal meant. I even missed extremely subtle warning sgns.


---
This totally seems like a people hater post. While I'm not entirely fond of people, I'm even less fond of people who ignore me, break rules, invade my animals' space, or do anything I've told them not to do. I don't like people like that and I just needed to vent because these few friends persistently tick Callum off and get bitten and don't understand why. At this point, he's allowed to do his own thing with us, but people are just banned from touching my animals.
 

munami

New member
Apr 13, 2019
223
4
Ottawa, ON
Parrots
Luna // F // Whiteface Pearl Cockatiel
I just be honest with them. I tell them not to do it cause it makes her horny and can cause lots of problems. I do have to tell people that multiple times. It sucks because in the long run, it just creates more problems because then strangers = negative experiences.
At the same time, I hate denying her because she loooooves to perch on other people.



No, I don't think so at all. It isn't a people hating post but more of a respect thing. I think often times people forget animals are not plush toys, but living beings. Every one of them has times they don't want to be touched and they don't want to do what you want them to do. Even dogs, it surprises people that sometimes they don't want to be petted. Most of them just have more tolerance than other animals.
If I see an animal not showing the excitement and signs of wanting attention/to be touched, then I don't touch them. It's as simple as that. If the cutest dog is around me, I ask their owner/caretaker if I can pet them. Then I go approach them and see how they're feeling about it. If they don't start wagging their tail and approach me themselves, then they're not into it.


It makes me so sad that when I tell this to people, they automatically assume I'm an extremist.
 

Smerft85

New member
Jun 10, 2019
178
10
Colorful Colorado with colorful birds
Parrots
6 budgies, 3 cockatiels, 1 amazon and two Indian ringnecks
How about the folks on Craigslist selling their aggressive bird a hundred dollars more than I got my hand fed baby? You know, "cockatiel that bites, hisses, may be sick, I've never handled him in 10 years, and now I want $400 to insure you will go thru hell trying to fix my mistakes" type of folks? I've emailed two and was straight with them, I'll take your bird in free of charge if you are more concerned for the bird than the few bucks in your pocket, wonder why I never heard back.....
 

munami

New member
Apr 13, 2019
223
4
Ottawa, ON
Parrots
Luna // F // Whiteface Pearl Cockatiel
@Smerft85
I know exactly the type! The equivalent here would be Kijiji for Canada. I see so many people who keep their birds in way too small cages, only dowel perches, no toys, no interaction, and they have the gall to be like, oh they'll be tame if you work with him. Often times they have took long beaks and nails.

I need to stop looking on those sites honestly. :c
 

Smerft85

New member
Jun 10, 2019
178
10
Colorful Colorado with colorful birds
Parrots
6 budgies, 3 cockatiels, 1 amazon and two Indian ringnecks
@Smerft85
I know exactly the type! The equivalent here would be Kijiji for Canada. I see so many people who keep their birds in way too small cages, only dowel perches, no toys, no interaction, and they have the gall to be like, oh they'll be tame if you work with him. Often times they have took long beaks and nails.

I need to stop looking on those sites honestly. :c

Me too, just found what appears to be a male version of my newest cockatiel, "might be two years old, bites and hisses, but loves to sing and whistle" says he has a cage for sale, but contact him for rehoming fee. I wonder what his response may be when I tell him I'm home 95% of the week, and will work with his bird if he will donate him to me, he is very pretty, but when you just walk by a cage for months, years and decades, how do you expect him to act, the "singing" is what I'd guess to be the bird actually screaming for attention and not getting it. I'll offer a good home for the bird with no cash transfer and see if he is serious about the concern of the bird or not. Wish me luck I suppose!
 

Kiwibird

Well-known member
Jul 12, 2012
9,539
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1 BFA- Kiwi. Hatch circa 98', forever home with us Dec. 08'
Maybe my bird just puts off the “ I will @#$& you up” vibes or something:confused: because no one dares try to touch him:green:

I’ve noticed the typical response of guests in our home is to approach hands behind their backs and keeping a sensible distance. Even in public in his pakobird people don’t poke at the carrier or anything. Only a few people besides us have ever handled him (to be clear we handle him all the time, he’s very closely bonded to us). Other people who have held him have mostly been other experienced bird owners and once or twice some of my husbands sibling have cautiously allowed him on their arm. My SIL was totally creeped out by how his feet felt and quickly handed him back ��
 
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musky

New member
Jun 9, 2019
3
0
Essex
Parrots
Jasper (Congo grey or African grey)
I completely agree "It's the people"



We are new to looking after Jasper (African grey) luckily we knew Jasper for about ten years beforehand so he is sort of use to us. He is very friendly with us, but he doesn't really like strangers. I tried explaining this to a visitor, who came in saw Jasper in his cage, walked straight up to him shouting "pretty polly" "Hello Polly" Jasper growled at him, I told him to back off from the cage or Jasper would bite, he laughed then put his finger in the cage and guess what, yes you got it Jasper bit him.

Hopefully he won't visit again, it really upset me, I thought it was just because we have only just got Jasper or I was just being over protective:rolleyes:



When will people learn :33:


It's just polite isn't it to ask if you can touch or stroke someone else pets, I certainly wouldn't like anyone touching or stroking me without asking :eek:
 

ParrotGenie

Member
Jan 10, 2019
946
19
Indiana
Parrots
2 umbrella Cockatoos One male named Cooper and female named Baby 1 Little Corella male named Frankie and have 5 Cockatiels three named Male named Pepper, Fiesco for the female and female named Wylie.
First thing I'd like to say-- I don't like saying I own an animal. In legal terms, I am the owner, but I much prefer saying human companion, caregiver, animal lover, etc. I am owned by my birds and rats. And they totally know it. It's funny how my friends realize how much my bird and I got each other wrapped around our fingers. It's a very mutual relationship between Callum and I.

Agreed as parrots are complex creatures, "right up there with apes and humans for the most part. They have a large brain, their bird brains are not bird-brained. Parrots are exceptionally intelligent animals, Compared to other animals, humans and primates have large pontine nuclei, so this enlarged brain structure is thought to play an important role in high intelligence, then most animals. They have highly advanced language skills, and leading complex social when lives in the wild. Parrots are almost on par with, well, us. They speak in regional dialects, can differentiate between colors, and exhibit a variety of behavioral qualities; the ability to "carry emotional baggage." and throw temper tantrums and etc. Yes they can able to associate words with their meanings and form simple sentences and they know what you are saying and understand the meaning. They can get upset and love and have deep feeling, hence how they form bonds to humans and other birds.

I won't consider a Parrot as a pet, they are companions. They're not just part of your life. They become your life and part of your family!

People think parrots are like domesticated animals and not even close. Even if a captive bred, they possess the same wild traits as their wild born cousins who live in the jungles and rainforests. Domestic animals are animals that have been bred for hundreds of years to live in the care of humans and are distinct from their wild ancestors. Birds commonly kept as pets are no different than their wild relatives—they are the native species of other countries.

Most people who acquire birds as companion animals discover that parrots, including lovebirds, budgies (parakeets), and cockatiels, are noisy and messy, and they can be destructive. Vocalizing (squawking, chirping, talking) is an important part of any parrot’s social communication; birds eat continually throughout the day, dropping and discarding bits of food everywhere; birds are instinctively programmed to chew and shred wood, whether it is a perch, toy, picture frame, or furniture. Birds will also chew electrical cords, paper, and curtains. So yes birds are destructive by nature.

Parrots are extremely intelligent and social—they have been compared to human toddlers in the needs of their emotional and social lives, but, unlike children, they never grow up. Birds are meant to fly and to be with other birds. Confinement in cages all day and not at least 3 hours, or more out of cage time a day can lead to neurotic behavior, excessive screaming, feather plucking, self-mutilation and other destructive habits and reason a lot are dumped at rescues unfortunately as people don't realize this and think they are like other domesticated pets. As a result, very few people are capable of caring for the special needs of exotic birds or comprehend the seriousness of the commitment for the birds’ life span—20 to 90 years or more depending on species.
 
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Betrisher

Well-known member
Jun 3, 2013
4,253
177
Newcastle, NSW, Australia
Parrots
Dominic: Galah(RIP: 1981-2018); The Lovies: Four Blue Masked Lovebirds; Barney and Madge (The Beaks): Alexandrines; Miss Rosetta Stone: Little Corella
Fun little fact about me: currently treating a 35-year-old horse for a GSW to the hind leg. She had fallen and not been able to get up last Friday, even with people trying to help her up and get her up, etc. I go out there and she immediately starts to get up and is back on her feet. She isn't very happy with me right now, I'm the one cleaning her leg (the wound is left open to drain) and everything.


Oh my word! Poor thing! A GSW to the hindleg had to have been very serious. How come the horse wasn't put in a sling for support? (Not that I know squat about GSWs in anything - although my best friend once shot me in the kneecap with a BB gun). We've always found that cold hosepiping is very useful in reducing deep wounds like ulcers or (heaven forbid) a GSW. Please let me know how your horse gets on! Best of luck to you!
 

Ellie777Australia

New member
Apr 12, 2019
1,280
98
Queensland, Australia
Parrots
SI Eclectus Female, Ellie; RS/SI Eclectus Male, Bertie (both adopted as rescue/re-home)
What a great thread CallumConure...I agree with all the pet peeves that have been posted whilst my internet was down past 36h....eh now, that's part of the 'bush life in the land down under' :D...


I think that my priority peeve is the same as Betrisher's Mauler :mad:..:mad:.:mad:..:mad: that one really gets my goat! Turns me from sweet neighbour :21:into MONSTER MOM :62::smile010:
 

noodles123

Well-known member
Jul 11, 2018
8,145
472
Parrots
Umbrella Cockatoo- 15? years old..I think?
It drives me crazy when people who don't know about birds have them anyway (without trying to learn more and without planning ahead). I know they think they know...but it is so sad and frustrating.

For example--an acquaintance of mine just got some birds--a mutual friend of ours mentioned it to me (e.g., "person X just bought 2 new birds"). Anyway, later that day, I was talking to person X (an overall smart/funny/responsible individual) and person X mentioned birds. At some point in our chat, I asked if he/she had stopped using Teflon and standard household cleaners, and person X was like "WOW. Mine are just budgies, so they don't have all of those restrictions" (Grrr). Then hormones and petting came up, and person X said something like "Oh well, mine are budgies so they are different." (proceeds to show me a picture of one of them completely enveloped inside of his/her hands with only the head sticking out).

At that point I was trying to figure out a way to educate without being pushy (and/or flat-out angry), so I was like "Hey, since you just got these, let me know if you have any questions because I have learned way more than I ever hoped to since adopting Noodles." Person X replied: "Oh, I grew up with budgies so I am not worried about it." I went home concerned and a bit deflated.

Fast-forward 2 weeks-
9:30 at night, person X asks me if I would be interested in taking in 2 budgies.
I said that I couldn't because I was already very busy with Noodles, but that I would be happy to help in any way that I could---especially if it was training or behavior related.
I then asked what the problem was.
At that point, person X (someone old enough to know better--30's) proceeded to tell me that while he/she was house-sitting/pet-sitting for his/her out-of-town parents, he/she basically got bored and thought that said parents' lone budgie would be HAPPIER WITH A FRIEND!!!! So, he/she went to the pet store, picked up another budgie and put them in the cage together (without consulting parents)--- No quarantine, no observation to see if they would kill each other, no vet visit to ensure that they were both healthy, no knowledge of gender....

He/she tells me this as though it was a normal thing to do...Followed by, "Anyway, now my parents are like, well since it was your idea, you should keep them. The problem is, I don't want them." That is how she acquired the 2 "new" birds.

I offered to post about them here but person X said not to worry about it....I also made sure to tell person X that the birds would likely be easier to tame if separated. I have no clue whether they are still looking for a home or not.

Person X is a nice person....BUT WHAT THE HECK?!?! People are so ignorant (especially if they THINK they know what they are doing). I can't even imagine how many other things are being done wrong if Teflon, hormones, and common-sense quarantine procedures weren't even on his/her radar...and for his/her parents to be so willing to part with their bird, it makes it even more heart-breaking.

I wish I could have taken them, but there was no way that I could in my current situation.
 
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munami

New member
Apr 13, 2019
223
4
Ottawa, ON
Parrots
Luna // F // Whiteface Pearl Cockatiel
@noodles
That is just awful to hear noodles. I'm so sorry to have to deal with such a thing.

Please don't blame yourself in any way, you can only do what you can do. You tried to tell them and help them out, but they refused to listen.
 

AmyMyBlueFront

Well-known member
Apr 14, 2015
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Connecticut
Parrots
Amy a Blue Front 'Zon
Jonesy a Goffins 'Too who had to be rehomed :-(

And a Normal Grey Cockatiel named BB who came home with me on 5/20/2016.
I am a bird lover first and foremost...and an animal lover in general ( NOT SO MUCH with cats) I've had birds in my life for fifty years. A pet sparrow when I was a kid,a wonderful budgie as a young teen and "parrots" for over thirty years. Amy is mostly a one person bird...ME! He is well socialized and will go to almost anyone IF he wants. I HATE people like you described,typically a "non-bird" person. I take Amy with me to ALOT of places...to keep him socialized. One day we were at Wally-Mart and he was riding on the handlebar of the carriage,making Amazon sounds and talking ( he does get excited around people) so he was yelling " Hello!..How Are you?" etc. One lady heard him talking and came right up to us,fingers out to pet him,and said " Ohhh...IT talks!" ( he IS NOT AN IT!! HE IS A PARROT!!) and without even asking me reached out to pet him. Of course Amy fluffed up with beak open,and in a very clear AND loud voice said.. " I BITE!!" the lady looked at Amy,then me,with her eyes popping out of her head and mouth to the floor,turned and scurried off!
I laughed so friggin hard lol.

A few years back I met a woman and we started to date..the first time she came over she went right into the living room to see the fids and walked over to Amys house,opened his front door and stuck her hand right in and promptly got bitten!! She screamed and cussed " That !@#*&^ bird just bit me!!" I said "of course he did! he doesn't know you from adam and you go invade his space by putting your hand in there! I would have bitten you too!"

We broke up soon after lmao.. You need to BE a bird person to understand them..but I do agree people just don't give a rats patootie and think they can do whatever. Even with doggo's I ASK before I even touch!


Jim
 

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