CallumConure
New member
- Apr 10, 2019
- 132
- 7
- 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.
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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