The transcript of my afternoon session at the NPR Parrot Festival, Houston ,TX 1/27/2018. Making it easier to communicate and understand your parrot starts with thinking like a parrot.
Parrots will be parrots, first. It's unreasonable to expect them not to bite, or attempt to bite. It is a form of communication. Snickers communicated with extreme prejudice, but for a very good parrot reason.
Diffusing and essential oils have entered the companion animal arena with great success for some, and a sad end for others. The thing about diffusing essential oils is; it isn't essential. But it does require essential understanding.
Sounds our companions make mean so much more than just that sound. They tell us stories, they tell us their mood and sometimes they are just in their submarine.
Once upon a time. My favorite whimsy opener.
Having a flock means living with your companions, not just having companions. To them all things are a team effort. Including popping popcorn for ducks. For Kirby, this is his calling.
Thank You Kathy. There are so many reasons they should fly. And very few valid reasons to clip. It is a never ending battle, trying to educate people. I have been booted off a few groups for my stand on keeping birds flighted. But some of the comments we get are just crazy. There was one from Arizona Avian Blah! And a "NOVEL" new way to clip. And the sick comment from someone, "Because I can." I am pro flight, and have seen to many times, the long term damage clipping can do. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/2a0538ac2fe0afa9799aadc3724adf3e038f458cfa494cd87a02342ab8a14387.jpg
Kathy I loved your article I found it very informative. My dear severe macaw Mimi died suddenly 18 months ago. I was devastated I live alone retired with no family she was my dear constant companion. I wondered around bird rescues and bird stores so depressed just to be near a bird. One day in a store that I puchased toys for Mimi the lady in the store asked me if I was OK I just started crying and told her about my loss the lady was boarding a moluccan cockatoo for a friend she said the friend had been looking for a year for a good home for this bird. His name was Skippy a 40 year old wild caught at 10 years bird. I admit I never did my homework on large cockatoos but when I saw him I fell in love. He was beautiful no evidence of feather plucking they told me he was a stubborn old man was very quiet. I did everything wrong I let them bring him to my house where I had a manzanita stand for him and many toys. He would not step up for me so the owner took a towel and held him by his neck when he immediately became passive I was told if he wont step up hold him like this he’s stubborn. I paid the rehoming fee of $500 and he was home. I don’t know his history the people I got him from tell me he was with them for 30 years but I doubt it. 18 months later he allows me to preen his top feathers, will step up when he wants to but does not accept any affection. he dispayes at night and plays with me when I shake his favorite toy at him. He loves his fresh cooked vegetables with soy beans for lunch. Sometimes IFeel sad because I dont think he will love me the way Mimi did but he will allways be my forever bird
