ThisIsABird
New member
- May 6, 2015
- 1
- 0
Ok so check this out, when I was a kid my parents got me a pet conure for christmas (?), without doing any research, just going off hearsay, off shady origins etc. He was sold to us as a Jenday Conure, but to me he looks more like a Sun conure, or something in between. Flash forward to today. Like most children I had to move out for college, live in a pet-free dorm, etc. I lived pretty far from my family, who has moved around with the bird some. Made my own life, have a SO and a dog and cat of my own who I got after tons of research and knowing what I was getting into.
I'm now due to circumstances in life having to live close to family again, which means we see our bird pretty often (who used to love me but now hates me, and everyone else). For a while I've just felt absolutely awful for our guy. He's angry all of the time. No one gives him attention. He is isolated in his own room. I feel even worse because I felt i could have prevented this guy's terrible life, so I'm trying to make things better.
Back in the day our knowledge of birds was pretty sketchy, and trying to find information about birds/parrots as a kid with ESL and really bad internet and google-fu was really difficult. It was even more difficult to get my parents to listen. Now as an adult, i started diving into bird knowledge again. I said to myself "It makes sense because I know a thousand things about both my cat and dog, but i don't know that much about our bird". It's still extremely difficult to get my parents, especially my DAD to listen. He thinks just screaming at the bird is the way to deal with unwanted behaviors. Telling him otherwise gets me a "Pretend you're not here and im here alone with him" "I know what I'm doing". The sad part is my bird only likes(or tolerates) my dad. I kept reading and realized his cage was too small for him. Realized an all seed diet is apparently not good for him either. All things my parents don't really care about. I decided with some extra money to just buy and build a cage for the little guy myself. This at least made me learn that if I'm ever a parent, I don't get kids pets without realizing they are my freaking pet and responsibility too. Even though he is technically my parent's bird right now, I want to give him the best life I can give him.
So let's pretend that I just got this bird off a rescue, and I have to rehab him. What are things I can do to make his life better? IE: getting him used to handling again, better diet, taking him to a vet, website resources. Right now because his wings aren't clipped, he'll just fly away whenever I pick him up. I'm familiar with clicker training. Any users with experience on any of this?
Sorry for the wall of text. Short story: Got a bird as a kid, grew up, totally know I haven't been my best to this bird and I want to make things right for him.
I'm now due to circumstances in life having to live close to family again, which means we see our bird pretty often (who used to love me but now hates me, and everyone else). For a while I've just felt absolutely awful for our guy. He's angry all of the time. No one gives him attention. He is isolated in his own room. I feel even worse because I felt i could have prevented this guy's terrible life, so I'm trying to make things better.
Back in the day our knowledge of birds was pretty sketchy, and trying to find information about birds/parrots as a kid with ESL and really bad internet and google-fu was really difficult. It was even more difficult to get my parents to listen. Now as an adult, i started diving into bird knowledge again. I said to myself "It makes sense because I know a thousand things about both my cat and dog, but i don't know that much about our bird". It's still extremely difficult to get my parents, especially my DAD to listen. He thinks just screaming at the bird is the way to deal with unwanted behaviors. Telling him otherwise gets me a "Pretend you're not here and im here alone with him" "I know what I'm doing". The sad part is my bird only likes(or tolerates) my dad. I kept reading and realized his cage was too small for him. Realized an all seed diet is apparently not good for him either. All things my parents don't really care about. I decided with some extra money to just buy and build a cage for the little guy myself. This at least made me learn that if I'm ever a parent, I don't get kids pets without realizing they are my freaking pet and responsibility too. Even though he is technically my parent's bird right now, I want to give him the best life I can give him.
So let's pretend that I just got this bird off a rescue, and I have to rehab him. What are things I can do to make his life better? IE: getting him used to handling again, better diet, taking him to a vet, website resources. Right now because his wings aren't clipped, he'll just fly away whenever I pick him up. I'm familiar with clicker training. Any users with experience on any of this?
Sorry for the wall of text. Short story: Got a bird as a kid, grew up, totally know I haven't been my best to this bird and I want to make things right for him.
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