Biggest Lesson Learned?

[SilverSage]

I have learned a lot of things since birds came into my life, and I have a lot left to learn! Just wondering, what are the biggest, strangest, or most surprising lessons you learned after bringing a bird home?

 

[Featheredsamurai]

Biggest thing I learned is to never take a bird outside without some sort of restraint. I had Rosie outside around 3-4 months after I first adopted her, her wings were heavily clipped but she had recently grown in one primary on each side. We were walking out to my car for a pet store trip, right when I got to my car she suddenly got a really freaked out look and bolted into the air! She flew across the street, and completely across a 6 house court before landing on the ground. I of course was racing after her, that was one of the few times I was glad she had no stamina. If would of been heart broken if I lost her

 

[SilverSage]

How terrifying! I lost a cockatiel baby who flew away when a neighbor let him out of his cage. I had the cages outside so they could enjoy the sun, and I only had to go inside for one second. I think I was 13? That boy also let out my Quakers and finches that my parents put in the garage while they installed drywall while I was on a trip. It is terrifying to have them loose!

 

[Featheredsamurai]

That's terrible! What was your neighbor thinking opening the cage!

This is a photo from around the same time she flew across the street, after she flew I NEVER took her out without a harness again.

 

[SilverSage]

My neighbor was a very naughty little boy about 6 years old. He was nice, he wasn't mean tempered but he did a lot of really naughty things like let my birds out. One time we caught him letting our dog off of her tie out, too. His family was going through a lot a the time.

 

[Agapornis]

That little boy sounds like Dennis the Menace! He is probably some kind of sociopath today.

The biggest thing I have learned with birds is that they have very complicated personalities, and not at ALL like a dog or cat. Also, I've learned not to take it personally when I get chomped on.

 

[jugoya]

Birds even small ones take up ALOT of space.

Over the years I've accumulated so much bird junk.. lols that I find I need to get rid of some of it.

Crazy aspects of owning birds... but food bags; toys, perches... old perches and cages all slowly but surely add up.

At least I will never lack for cages in my house... and I have enough that I can house all three of them seperately without using the cages they are in now. Wouldn't be ideal conditions but it would work well enough.

 

[Acindo]

Never ever fall asleep without putting your bird back in its cage.

I remember falling asleep when my old bird was out of his cage. I woke up and first thing I did was look at his cage to see it empty. I proceeded to panic and jumped out of bed... then heard him laughing. He was perched on my bedhead and had been napping to.

Scary though.

 

[FineFeatheredFriend]

The biggest lesson I have learned is not take my birds without proper supervision. I lost two birds because of this. My Meyers parrot M

 

[FineFeatheredFriend]

Monty to a hawk last August (2012). Last December (2012) my sun conure Peaches to a accident. Both birds were too young to pass away. I have learned from the heart breaking lessons.

 

[patch]

No matter what, sometimes a bird just won't want its wings and tail touched, and isn't interested in rolling onto its back. Every bird is different.

 

[JamesC]

1. Birds have very unique and individual personalities and can change moods during the day or over time.

2. Don't wait. Find a good vet you trust as early as you can.

 

[crimson]

my biggest issue and lesson are bird toys can be dangerous!!!
my Num Num recently broke his jaw in three places after getting it wedged into a chain which was on part of the toy.
Now I am very cautious with what toys I purchase.

 

[SilverSage]

Oh no!!! I am new here, what kind of parrot is he? I am so sorry to hear that! Ugh how awful!

 

[Chelle]

My biggest lesson learned was to make sure ALL doors on the cage are closed and locked before leaving the house. This past weekend we decided to go out last minute and I quickly put the birds up and closed the cage. Little did I know my daughter had changed out the food and did not lock the door back (she just closed it) I am assuming they pushed the food bowl while eating and discovered it opened the door. We returned several hours later with my babies running around the house like they owned the place! Thankfully my 2 dogs (tea cup Yorkie and toy Poodle) did not eat my birds.....

 

[SpotsandSally]

ALWAYS clip ONE wing.
Not both.
One.
With both clipped they can still get a even stream of air - one wing they are too unbalanced to fly. (This is referred to pigeons, not parrots). Always check if they can flip after clipping wings, too. Had some small pigeons that even with clipped secondary feathers could still fly - had to clip the primary.
And probably the other one would be always latching doors... Lost 1 pigeon due to this, and almost lost another 2.
Sorry, I've had pigeons longer then parrots xD