Parrots for Dummies

[Rio Mom]

I've been wanting to buy the book "Parrots for Dummies" for a while now, I see a lot of people here recommend it. I got lucky today and found it for $5 at Ollie's! Woohoo for cheap prices!

Any books specific to Greys anybody has read and would recommend?

 

[MollyGreenCheeks]

"Alex and Me" by Irene Pepperberg is a Must read for anyone who owns a Grey. It will open your eyes.
[ame=http://www.amazon.com/Alex-Me-Scientist-Discovered-Intelligence--/dp/0061673986/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1330481664&sr=8-1]Amazon.com: Alex & Me: How a Scientist and a Parrot Discovered a Hidden World of Animal Intelligence--and Formed a Deep Bond in the Process (9780061673986): Irene Pepperberg: Books[/ame]


The Alex Foundation- Home page

 

[IcyWolf]

I got parrots for dummies, iguanas for dummies and reptiles and amphibians for dummies all at ollies, I love it!

 

[BillsBirds]

Barron"s puts out some great Bird books. "The African Grey Parrot Handbook" is a very good general guide to Greys. Also in that series, "Guide To A Well-Behaved Parrot", and, "Guide To Companion Parrot Behavior" are both very good general parrot information books. I often recommend them to interesed people. And, any of Irene Pepperburg's books, especially, "Alex & Me".

 

[Spiritbird]

Book called FOR THE LOVE OF GREYS

 

[roxynoodle]

Barron"s puts out some great Bird books. "The African Grey Parrot Handbook" is a very good general guide to Greys. Also in that series, "Guide To A Well-Behaved Parrot", and, "Guide To Companion Parrot Behavior" are both very good general parrot information books. I often recommend them to interesed people. And, any of Irene Pepperburg's books, especially, "Alex & Me".

I have 2 of those books as well that I bought back when I first got Rowdy. I also bought one by the same author a few months ago about getting a "second hand" parrot. Personally I would rather call them "second home" parrots, but there were parts that were helpful.

I bought Alex and Me from Spiritbird's recommendation and it is an excellent book, but be forewarned you will cry in parts. But, if a book or movie can make me cry I consider it an excellent one.

I still need to get For the Love of Greys

 

[Wulfgeist]

Those were the books I got from Amazon yesterday: Parrots for Dummies, African Grey Parrots handbook and Barron's Guide to Companion Parrot Behavior. I had also purchased For the Love of Greys at the place I bought Jasper. All very good books, the handbook and for the love of greys has some similar things in it but the handbook does not include a breeding section and talks more on toys and socialization and such. Anyone looking specifically for Grey books I would recommend those two.

I haven't dipped much into the Parrots for Dummies yet but what I have browsed looks very good and probably should be a must for any parrot owner. It has sections about illness and I think maybe first aid and would probably be a good reference book for anyone to keep on their shelf.

 

[roxynoodle]

Ok, I've been debating whether Parrots for Dummies would have much of value for me at this point having been with birds my whole life. But, the first aid sections and illness sections could benefit me. I do have 2 older avian veterinary books. I could use an up to date one of those as well. They are too old to have anything in them about Bornavirus for example.

 

[Wulfgeist]

Maybe I misremembered, sorry for any confusion I was just double checking the PfD book and it doesn't have first-aid in it..don't know what I was thinking..it does talk about different ailments I think though. As far as an experienced parrot person needing it, you'd have to ask someone else on that one. My experience with birds consists of a couple of conures in my lifetime and budgies when I was a child. For me, yes, it's a definate need..for someone like you..maybe someone else with your experience level could better advise if it is worth getting.

 

[roxynoodle]

Well, it's not like I've had that many birds either. I had budgies for the first 30 years of my life. Then 2 conures for the last 12, but one died in the fall. Her dying is what mad me adopt the amazon, because Rowdy was depressed. And Merlin has been here less than 2 months. So I don't have a lot of experience with large parrots.

 

[Doris48]

I just ordered this book after reading this thread.Didnt know they had a Parrots for Dummies book(LOL) we have alot of Dummy books here...Amazon has them used for like 1.88 plus 3.99 shipping..I thought that was a pretty good deal.

I love books and cant have too many..

 

[Enjru]

"Parrots For Dummies" is one of the best, easy-to-read, all-purpose parrot information books around! I have a library of almost 100 parrot books, and if I could only recommend ONE general-purpose parrot book, this one would be amongst the top contenders.

As for books specifically about African Greys, I prefer the following:
1 ) "A Guide to Grey Parrots As Pet & Aviary Birds" by Rosemary Low (ABK Publications, 2006)
2 ) "For the Love of Greys" by Bobbi Brinker (Lucky Press, 2005)
3 ) "The African Grey Parrot Handbook" by Mattie Sue Athan and Dianalee Deter (Barrons, 2000)

For touching and entertaining stories about African Greys, try:
1 ) "Alex & Me" by Irene M Pepperberg (Harper, 2008)
2 ) "African Greys" by Sally Blanchard (compilation of articles from Pet Bird Report and Companion Parrot Quarterly)

For serious scientific/veterinary/behavioralist literature on African Greys, I would recommend:
1 ) "The Alex Studies" by Irene Maxine Pepperberg (Harvard University Press, 2000)
2 ) Selected chapters from "Manual of Parrot Behavior", edited by Andrew U. Luescher (Blackwell Publishing, 2006), especially "Captive Parrot Nutrition: Interactions with Anatomy, Physiology, and Behavior" - Chapter 6, "Grey Parrot Cognition and Communication" - Chapter 13, "Parrots and Fear" - Chapter 20, "Problem Sexual Behaviors of Companion Parrots" - Chapter 21 and "Feather-Picking Disorder in Pet Birds" - Chapter 23

Happy reading!
Enjru