Any parrot owners here?

[Chickn Killa]

I'm new to arachnoboards. Next to tarantulas my Congo Grey is my favorite animal. Her name is Lucy and she is about 2 years old. She has probably a 100 word vocabulary and can do a few tricks. She great.

 

[Arachnoheebs]

Parrots, too!!

Of course!

We have an Eleanora Cockatoo (medium sulfer crested) "Ziggy", she's 12 y/o. She was sort of a rescue, she only has 1 toe on her right foot. That's the foot she sleeps on, hangs upside down on, etc., she has no idea it's not the norm. Her vocabulary is...is..., well if you know about parrots, you know about the cockatoo's. Let's just say, she TRYS and thinks she's really talking it up. But when it comes to the daily SCREAM FEST, she's the master!

We also have a Double Yellow Headed Amazon "Kiwi". He was a TRUE rescue. He's about 30 y/o, has only one eye (due to abuse/neglect) and a vocabulary of around 90+ words. He HATES men (one of his previous owners), sorta hates me, but loves our 13 y/o daughter. So, now she belongs to him. He's been through several homes and must have belonged to someone named Linda. He calls her name, but not so much as he used to. He calls our daughters name, but needs to work on it. We have had him about 6 years and he seems to be happy now. He's not going anywhere.
We have always wanted an African Grey. We already have too many pets now, but maybe can add one in the future.

WELCOME TO THE BOARDS....

Keri Neuling

 

[Socrates]

3 of them

Yep, another one owned by parrots here.

There's "Hunter", our 7-year old female Yellow Nape Amazon who's been with us since she was 12 weeks.

Then there's "Tia", a 4-year old female White-Bellied Caique. She came to me from Lousiana at age 3 months.

Lastly there's "Quincy", my 3-year old male Double Yellow-Head Amazon. I've had him since he was 5 months. (he was a gift from my GF)

Both my Amazons talk up a storm, especially my DYH - there's no stopping him. See here for some of their vocabulary: http://www.arachnoboards.com/ab/showthread.php?t=81038

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Wendy
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[padkison]

Jenday Conure - friendly and loud. Likes bathes (see avatar)

 

[Philth]

I have a White capped Pionus. He chills with me, and panic's when I ignore him. He digs my spider collection.

 

[bigo]

you know it

i have a sun conure named sunshine who was a rescue, he is missing one toe and for some reason he hates women and little kids :wall: he is very protective he would attack anybody who gets to close to me or if anyone is yelling at me ask my mother his vocabulary is about 20 words and has a very high pitch scream that could be heard 4 house down or soo

 

[Capella]

Ahh the flock An Umbrella Cockatoo (Capella) who will be four soon, A Goffins Cockatoo (rescue who will be 13 next summer), a five year old African Grey and 15 year old African Grey who was a critical rescue. "Come get this bird or...". He's been with us five years now. He still wears his clothes funny (feather plucking), but is so vastly improved and yacks up a storm.

 

[GailC]

I have pooky, a 3 year old sun conure. He also is protective and will attack the dogs if they get close to me.

 

[Varden]

I have one greenwing Macaw, Solly. Used to be Soloman until we found out that he was a she. She has a fairly extensive vocabulary for a greenwing, and speaks clearly for her species. And she's a ham for the camera.

 

[xanadu1015]

They all sound so cute. My Mom has a Violet Factor Lovebird aptly named "Violet" lol who has the attitude of a parrot. My husband calls her the spawn of Satan. She's territorial, especially when she lays her infertile eggs, which means she gets bitey. I get along just fine with her. If my husband would only give her a chance. Its unusual since my husband is a "bird person" that he wouldn't like her. Oh well. He wants to get an Grey African parrot someday but I like the cockatoos, macaws, conures and the Amazons myself.


Laura

 

[AviculariaLover]

I have a crazy Caique named Pepper, he's so much fun! Since I'm at college now he's back home with my family, and I really really miss him. His owner died and left him to a family friend of ours, who didn't want him, but we did! We have never had any birds before, and I dont think we want any more, he's quite a handful.

Loves to play, but hates just about everything including paper towel tubes, paper, plastic, metal, stuffed animals, baggy clothes... he just loves to rip and chew. Imitates a few words and sounds, great at whistling. And I'm his favorite.

He doesnt like teenage boys though, always tries to attack my brother and my boyfriend and guy friends. Have any of you noticed something like this in other birds?

Here he is:

 

[Socrates]

He doesnt like teenage boys though, always tries to attack my brother and my boyfriend and guy friends. Have any of you noticed something like this in other birds?

Aaaah - he is so gorgeous! I adore Caiques.

Mine isn't particularly fond of my dogs when she's out and about and one of my dogs want attention, too. She goes straight for their soft parts (nose), and they've learned to stay away when she's out. Other than that she's THE most playful bird I have ever owned, and the most outgoing, too.

Perhaps yours was just never introduced to boyfriends/teenage boys?

After seeing yours I just have to share a picture of my Miss Tia, too.

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Wendy
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[jwmeeker]

I don't have any experience with Caiques, but you'll often find many birds that prefer males vice females and vice versa. Some get very attached to one owner and won't let any other family member pick them up too.

 

[brandi]

Ah! I love Caiques, I would so like to have one of my own. I haven't owned any parrots, but I've *been* owned by one.

And as you all mentioned about certain birds preferring males/ females - this tends to be a pair bonding trait. My boy Sampson, below, bonded to me and considered any other male (human or otherwise) that approached me as a threat to "his" girl!

 

[Khaz Rhoz Zek]

Parrots are truly magnificent creatures. I hope to make a CAG a part of my family one day.

 

[Socrates]

And as you all mentioned about certain birds preferring males/ females - this tends to be a pair bonding trait. My boy Sampson, below, bonded to me....

WOW, Brandi! Sampson is magnificent. I've been lucky enough to meet a few Hyacinth Macaws when my best friend had a breeding pair. The first time I laid eyes on one my jaw flew open. Pictures just don't do these creatures any justice. :drool: And they are SO soft.

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Wendy
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[brandi]

Thanks Wendy! The collection I worked with at the Zoo included several flavors of Amazons, conures, scarlet macaws, and a wonderful molluccan cockatoo. But of the three hyacinths, Sampson was my absolute favorite. He used to let me cradle him like a baby and rub his belly. I miss him so much!

....Some day

 

[Jaymz n Dave]

its been a very long time since ive posted here, or anywhere for that matter! but, this is a topic very near and dear to my heart...and profession!

our household is currently run by many animals, 2 miniature pinschers (not mini dobermans, miniature pinschers are a much older breed than doberman pinschers), a german pinscher (again an older breed than dobermans, but in size intermediate between min pins and dobies) and a chihuahua/dachsund cross...whos got the biggest napoleon complex...ever! we also have 2 aquariums and a cat..but our flock also consists of 11 birds, 8 of which are parrots.

let me start by saying, i work with several hundred parrots, and a few hundred other finches/canaries/assorted feather bearing creatures. and id also like to state that lovebirds (as well as budgies (aka parakeets...theyer one of many species of parakeet. cockatiels, conures, cockatoos, and macaws, are ALL parrots...every single last one of them!)

our avian flock consists of:

2.5 year old Triton cockatoo...my Boyfriend and i got her when we moved in together 2 years ago. shes a joy, and now that shes out of the terrible 2s shes fairly quiet, for a cockatoo. this is the baretta bird. she has a 30 sentence vocabulary, and aside from "hi" she ONLY uses full sentences. shes not very clear, but, a few minutes around her and you can understand her without any issues. by the way, shes really a he, but after being our little girl for so long we didnt want to confuse her.

10 year old Congo african grey...he was actually put on consignment in my store...very sweet temperment, as any well socialized grey would have, he was hit by a customers son, who is no longer allowed in the store, and since i was the one who "rescued" him, he went from liking me to prefering me to all others. he actively dislikes my boyfriend, to the point of biting me if i try to remove him from my shoulder while my boyfriend is standing within 3 feet of my (many many parrots follow the same thinking "if you cant bite the one you want, bite the one youre with") he has an enormous vocabulary, i stopped counting at 300 words (he has many others now) and 50 sentences, he has complete conversations with himself, produces some interesting sound effects, and generally makes life a little more fun!

2.5 year old Black capped lory...Lucy our female, loves my boyfriend and has hated me ever since she had to be restrained for emergency leg band removal (i do not recommend taking a birds leg band off for any reason other than a true emergency...the bands pose no danger to the birds under most circumstances). she is an excellent talker, as are most Black capped lories, with a large vocabulary, and very good clarity.

1.5 year old black capped lory...Lola is our male, used to love me, now prefers to be left with his toys. but, he is an even better talker than our female, and just as clear as most African greys. he was given to me by a customer of mine who loved him dearly but could no longer handle the mess lories make (they eat only liquid, so what comes out is only liquid) but they are such colorful parrots they are worth the plexi on the walls!

those are our 4 pets, we also have others as breeders and future breeders

we have 2 5 to 8 year old female iris lories, which as weve come to find are very rare, in the 2 years weve had them weve met one person with a male and they arent willing to let him go!

a 2 year old pair of Eastern rosellas, these might be the only birds to out do lories in terms of color. theyre an aussie parakeet, and they have every color you can imagine in their feathers, red orange, yellow, green, blue, lavender, white and black. theyre no where near tame, but, theyre fun to watch, and they sound like ray guns from star wars!

a pair of true age unknown diamond doves. i always wanted them, so when one of our local breeders brought in 10 of them, i snapped up the nicest pair. very small doves, with a very sweet call.

and last but not least, a rescue red factor canary...due to his first owners negligence he had to have one of his feet amputated...shhhhhhh dont tell him that! he will stand on his stump as if hes standing on a fully functioning foot, i think the only thing he cant do is mate, but hes an amazing singer, and makes a cute menage a troix with my doves, they all sleep together with the canary in the middle.

well i think that post was long winded enough! i wont bother with the birds at work, since most of them are 6 to 12 week old babies that i raise in a shop.

J

 

[Jaymz n Dave]

oops i did leave one thing out...ive had the pleasure of working with about 13 hyacinth macaws, including hand raising one till she was 11 months old, and im currently raising another at work...tho they are gentle giants, ive only met 1 that was actually aggressive, and 1 other that was very timid with strangers, they are also exceptionally addept at taking things apart, as much or more so than any of the white cockatoos, they still dont compare to black palm cockatoos! they are super sweet birds, even not so well socialized adults have been known to cuddle with complete strangers, and to hear one talk has to be the funniest thing on earth...well next to hearing a goliath black palm cockatoo talk. i consider myself very lucky to work with parrots for a living, theres something to be said about working with such intelligent animals...theres also something to be said when one takes apart its cage and drops it on one of the owners heads!

J