Betrisher
Well-known member
- Jun 3, 2013
- 4,253
- 180
- Parrots
- Dominic: Galah(RIP: 1981-2018); The Lovies: Four Blue Masked Lovebirds; Barney and Madge (The Beaks): Alexandrines; Miss Rosetta Stone: Little Corella
I've found this forum today and have spent a very pleasant hour or two reading posts and enjoying the stories about everyone's birds. What a great place! I'm sure I'll learn a lot here! 
I've always kept animals of one description or another and there's always been at least one bird in the mix. When I was young, I flew pigeons, but later kept rosellas and quail. My Dad had four Galahs and I have inherited the remaining boy, Dominic. Sadly, Dominic is a vicious biter and will only allow my brother-in-law to handle him. Funny, that, my BIL has hard, horny hands, just like my Dad used to have...
Anyway, my son (who is an adult person living with autism) has enjoyed taking care of our four pairs of African Lovebirds over the past few years. Recently, a little violet coloured Fischer's flew down to our yard and I was able to catch him. His name is Nimbus. We're still looking to see if there's a sad owner anywhere around, but so far no luck. Nimbus is now a happy third in our cage along with Periwinkle and Mango.
Our latest arrivals is our pair of Alexandrine parakeets, Barney and Madge. We call them 'The Beaks' because they were rather nippy in the first week or so. Poor Barney really nearly had my finger off! I've never been bitten so hard by a bird, not even a Sulphur Crested Cockatoo, which can pack quite a bite. Anyway, Barney only bit from fear and has not bitten me again, not even once.
The Beaks' cage is in our kitchen, which doubles as a family room. Of course, we are extremely careful of cooking fumes and the birds are never allowed out when kitchen-type activities are going on. I've been having pleasant morning sessions with them on my own this past week and have found they're so much more focussed on learning when everything's quiet and there's only me to worry about.
Both birds have learned to say a couple of words. They can do 'Hullo', 'G'day' and (I think) 'Barney'. We're working on 'Madge'. They also chortle a line from an operatic aria, which I think is pretty cool. They're cultured birds, our Beaks!
Our whole family is enjoying the company of these new members, even my husband, who hadn't grown up with pets in his life until he met me (poor bloke!) The Beaks are pretty vocal, especially in the early mornings, but I wouldn't say their noise was too bad. I find the Lovebirds a lot harder to listen to when I'm feeling fragile.
Anyway, that's me: Betrisher from Newcastle. I'm looking forward to reading about everyone else here as well.
I've always kept animals of one description or another and there's always been at least one bird in the mix. When I was young, I flew pigeons, but later kept rosellas and quail. My Dad had four Galahs and I have inherited the remaining boy, Dominic. Sadly, Dominic is a vicious biter and will only allow my brother-in-law to handle him. Funny, that, my BIL has hard, horny hands, just like my Dad used to have...
Anyway, my son (who is an adult person living with autism) has enjoyed taking care of our four pairs of African Lovebirds over the past few years. Recently, a little violet coloured Fischer's flew down to our yard and I was able to catch him. His name is Nimbus. We're still looking to see if there's a sad owner anywhere around, but so far no luck. Nimbus is now a happy third in our cage along with Periwinkle and Mango.
Our latest arrivals is our pair of Alexandrine parakeets, Barney and Madge. We call them 'The Beaks' because they were rather nippy in the first week or so. Poor Barney really nearly had my finger off! I've never been bitten so hard by a bird, not even a Sulphur Crested Cockatoo, which can pack quite a bite. Anyway, Barney only bit from fear and has not bitten me again, not even once.
The Beaks' cage is in our kitchen, which doubles as a family room. Of course, we are extremely careful of cooking fumes and the birds are never allowed out when kitchen-type activities are going on. I've been having pleasant morning sessions with them on my own this past week and have found they're so much more focussed on learning when everything's quiet and there's only me to worry about.
Both birds have learned to say a couple of words. They can do 'Hullo', 'G'day' and (I think) 'Barney'. We're working on 'Madge'. They also chortle a line from an operatic aria, which I think is pretty cool. They're cultured birds, our Beaks!
Our whole family is enjoying the company of these new members, even my husband, who hadn't grown up with pets in his life until he met me (poor bloke!) The Beaks are pretty vocal, especially in the early mornings, but I wouldn't say their noise was too bad. I find the Lovebirds a lot harder to listen to when I'm feeling fragile.
Anyway, that's me: Betrisher from Newcastle. I'm looking forward to reading about everyone else here as well.
Your Beaks are cultured birds....HAHAHAHA....that is SO sweet! I also cringed when reading that one of the Beaks almost removed one of your digits. 
OUCH!! Glad to hear Barney never bit you again.
