What does attention mean in terms of parrots

[Truepacifist]

Hi so I'm confused

Articled I'm reading say parrots depending on species require anywhere from 1 hour to 6 hours of attention a day. But what does that actually mean. What is attention.

-Is a parrot being on your shoulder or finger as you read/watch TV/listen to music attention

-Is your parrot being on your shoulder as you move around the house attention

-Is saying good bird and offering a treat as your parrot is perched near you attention

-is shared activities like eating together or showering together (do people shower WITH birds? I know they do need baths) attention

Obviously things like training attention. I'm only confused because I have bunnies and I spend all day with them and they like being hand fed treats, sit on lap and chew on toys I make them and they're very happy just being around the action and together. But I dunno what birds like.

 

[texsize]

I would consider all that you mentioned to be attention.
But use Caution on the eating together part.
It’s important not to share food you have eaten from, your saliva has bacteria that’s bad for avians.

I rarely pass by my birds without at least saying hello.

 

[Rozalka]

About showering - some people do it but not all. Personally I find it as a silly idea but it's up to you... (if so, there are some restrictions about it but as a person who doesn't do it, I don't know them)

 

[Truepacifist]

About showering - some people do it but not all. Personally I find it as a silly idea but it's up to you... (if so, there are some restrictions about it but as a person who doesn't do it, I don't know them)

I ask because my friend showers with her conure every day. She's who got me interested in birds as she's always talking about him. They are together 24/7 and she even sleeps with him in a small sleeping cage facing her

 

[Truepacifist]

I would consider all that you mentioned to be attention.
But use Caution on the eating together part.
It’s important not to share food you have eaten from, your saliva has bacteria that’s bad for avians.

I rarely pass by my birds without at least saying hello.

If I'm cooking a meal can I cook them a mini version of it. So today I had wild rice with chicken and veggies. Could I give them the same meal but without the Spices

 

[texsize]

If I'm cooking a meal can I cook them a mini version of it. So today I had wild rice with chicken and veggies. Could I give them the same meal but without the Spices

I would just set aside a portion I would not eat from and let them have that.

I shower with my African Grey almost every day.
She doesn’t often want to get wet herself and 90% of the time I don’t force her. She is bonded to my wife not me so our shower time is sort of special to me.
I sometimes take my Yellow nape Bingo in the shower but…

vet just trimmed his toenails and he can’t hang on well.
He loves getting wet in the shower but he is sometimes reluctant to go into the bathroom.
For Bingo a shower is to get wet and not a bonding experience.

 

[Truepacifist]

I would just set aside a portion I would not eat from and let them have that.

I shower with my African Grey almost every day.
She doesn’t often want to get wet herself and 90% of the time I don’t force her. She is bonded to my wife not me so our shower time is sort of special to me.
I sometimes take my Yellow nape Bingo in the shower but…

vet just trimmed his toenails and he can’t hang on well.
He loves getting wet in the shower but he is sometimes reluctant to go into the bathroom.
For Bingo a shower is to get wet and not a bonding experience.

Why is the African grey bonded to your wife only? Do parrots only bond to one person? If I live alone and only have one bird does that mean the parrot will definitely bond with me because parrots have social needs?

 

[texsize]

Why is the African grey bonded to your wife only? Do parrots only bond to one person? If I live alone and only have one bird does that mean the parrot will definitely bond with me because parrots have social needs?

I can’t answer the last question.
When I say Bella is bonded to my wife what I mean is.
Only my wife can scratch her, anyone else gets snapped at.
Bella will fly back and forth following my wife wherever she goes.
Bella will snuggle with my wife only.
Bella almost never poops on my wife.

That doesn’t mean my Son and I are completely left out.
We can pick her up and carry her around.
She is happy to do some shoulder surfing with us.
She poops on us whenever the mood strikes her.

I think African grey‘s are a bit less one person birds, unlike Amazon parrots.

I don’t know why Bella “chose” my wife as her person.
It could be due to a mistake I made with her in the early days of adopting her.
I don’t think mortal man can understand the mind of a parrot.