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Welcome to Parrots Etc.
Welcome to Parrots, Etc.! This is a place for parrot owners (or more accurately those of us owned by parrots) to share our knowledge of parrots, recipes, stories about our feathered kids, ask for advice and just enjoy the birds.
The only requirements here are to follow the TOU of EONS.
The only requirements here are to follow the TOU of EONS.
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General FAQ of Keeping Parrots
I've seen a lot of good tips shared over the past couple of years I've been manager of this group and was thinking tonight we should corral them all into one easy to read faq that would help those new to keeping parrots or just those seeking an answer to something that's come up with their bird(s). 2 examples that come to mind are the 12 hour darkness suggestion for hormonal/biting birds and to be careful when there is a respiratory infection in the house as it is a fact that our birds are susceptible to human respiratory infections.
I'm going to sticky this thread, so feel free to add any tips/advice that have been helpful to you with your flock and I'll put together a faq from those posts.
I'm going to sticky this thread, so feel free to add any tips/advice that have been helpful to you with your flock and I'll put together a faq from those posts.
How many pet birds do you ?
Usually a bird lover will add a few more birds to the flock. Has anyone done that besides me? I have 2 Cockateils, a White Dove and a little Zebra Finch.
Graysun, our Vasa
I've written here before, about Graysun. Graysun's a greater Vasa parrot - a species specific to Madagascar and a few tiny associated islands. While they're commonly called "black parrots", the truth is they're a dark shade of gray. They have a bit of a whiteish skin eye ring around their dark-colored eyes and there's some lighter gray feathers on their butt, but by and large they're dark gray. Truly striking in sunlight, you really need to look at them close in good light to appreciate how pretty they are.
And I can't say enough about this bird's personality. I didn't know what to expect when we brought Graysun home in November of '09, but we'd soon start to learn. He's easily spooked, and I don't know if that's a special trait or just a Graysun trait. He's getting to be more at ease as time goes on.
Today I came home from a shopping foray and Graysun was acting nervously on his cage. I might have checked it off to being excited about my arrival, but the other birds seemed antsy too. I looked out into the back yard - thinking maybe I'd see a cat or a stray dog. Hah! As I watched, a big hawk landed in the yard and snapped up an unwary lizard. THAT'S what they were nervous about!
But here's what I really wanna say about Graysun. He's one smart cookie. And does he learn quickly. Amazingly quick, in fact. I've never had a bird that you could see such emotion and calculation on. His eyes and his head say SO much. And the actions that follow confirm that he's got the jist of whatever it is he's concentrating on. He don't miss a lick!
He's playful - probably THE MOST playful bird we've ever had. If you get one of these guys, it would be criminal to keep it in a cage all day. They need room and freedom to clamber over, around and thru their homestead. If you've got enough room for them to fly a bit, that'd be good too. They fly like no other parrot I've seen - they've got SO MUCH wing area that it takes very little effort for them take off and stay aloft - nothing like an Amazon or a smaller hookbill. I let Graysun circuit the house for a time. I would cringe as he disappeared into the foyer and head on thru the living room / dinining room areas.... But then he'd emerge thru the doorway at the far end of the kitchen and softly flap his way back to where the journey had started. Heh - when he lands then - he looks at me as if to gage whether or not I'm gonna be upset. I'm sure he's relieved that I'm not. TO BE CONTINUED.....
And I can't say enough about this bird's personality. I didn't know what to expect when we brought Graysun home in November of '09, but we'd soon start to learn. He's easily spooked, and I don't know if that's a special trait or just a Graysun trait. He's getting to be more at ease as time goes on.
Today I came home from a shopping foray and Graysun was acting nervously on his cage. I might have checked it off to being excited about my arrival, but the other birds seemed antsy too. I looked out into the back yard - thinking maybe I'd see a cat or a stray dog. Hah! As I watched, a big hawk landed in the yard and snapped up an unwary lizard. THAT'S what they were nervous about!
But here's what I really wanna say about Graysun. He's one smart cookie. And does he learn quickly. Amazingly quick, in fact. I've never had a bird that you could see such emotion and calculation on. His eyes and his head say SO much. And the actions that follow confirm that he's got the jist of whatever it is he's concentrating on. He don't miss a lick!
He's playful - probably THE MOST playful bird we've ever had. If you get one of these guys, it would be criminal to keep it in a cage all day. They need room and freedom to clamber over, around and thru their homestead. If you've got enough room for them to fly a bit, that'd be good too. They fly like no other parrot I've seen - they've got SO MUCH wing area that it takes very little effort for them take off and stay aloft - nothing like an Amazon or a smaller hookbill. I let Graysun circuit the house for a time. I would cringe as he disappeared into the foyer and head on thru the living room / dinining room areas.... But then he'd emerge thru the doorway at the far end of the kitchen and softly flap his way back to where the journey had started. Heh - when he lands then - he looks at me as if to gage whether or not I'm gonna be upset. I'm sure he's relieved that I'm not. TO BE CONTINUED.....
I miss...
seeing the comments and interacting with my parrot friends here on EONS. However, I do not get over to this site very often as, like a lot of us, I use Facebook. I have been rescuing and rehabilitating parrots since 2008 and find it so rewarding. If any of you (Arcade and others) care to find me on Facebook, please look for Bonnie Williams Middaugh and send that friend request and put a comment with your user name from Eons. Arcade, I truly hope things are going well for you and your flock.
Welcome macscout!!!`
I hope if you have some birdies of your own, you'll share with us about them here. Of course, if you're just a fan of birds, that's fine too. We welcome you to our little gang avian addicts.
Again - WELCOME!
Again - WELCOME!
our birdies
we have 2 Amazons and 1 Conure. Last week we had to give up our Amazons , after 18 years because my husband has lung problems. I know they are in good homes but I sure miss them. We kept our Conure but he doesn't talk like the Amazons did. I just needed to share this because I feel so lost without them. I hear from the new owners and the parrots are adjusting really well, but I am not.
White Dove
I have a White Dove who loves to take a bath in my cake pan. Does anyone else have a White Dove? And what other things do they like?
Birdie things
Well, it's been quite sometime since our group originator has been here. I don't want to fear the worst, but can't help it. She never said much about what was ailing her, but it was easy to read between the lines that something was going on. I wish her well. I don't wanna think the worst.
I contacted folks in other groups she was a member of and they expressed concern over her abscence too.
As a moderator, I've been feeling guilty of late about not keeping this group lively. I DO write alot, and we DO have 4 parrots in our flock, so it's not like I CAN'T find any birdie doin's to report.
In my topic post titled "Great News!", I've been talking about out latest addition - Mealy Amazon (Amazona Farinosa), Gonzo. He's really a sweetie and it seems he "catches on" to the routine here really quick. I THINK he's finally weaned now. He hatched April 9th, so next week he'll be four months old. He's a beautiful bird - there's NO denying that. Vibrant shades of green with red and blue wing patches, deep, dark eyes set against a white eye ring of bare skin, and big black feet.
Our Red-Bellied Macaw - Rosco - is now 20 years old. His stand is about 3 feet from where the incubator kept him warm 20 years ago. Even tho he has a chronic sinus irritation, he's lively and loving most days. We have some birdie decongestant we administer when he seems unusually stuffed up, but that isn't very often. We think he's jealous of the new guy, Gonzo, but we're not really sure.
Buster, the Lilac-Crowned Amazon has been with us 28 years this summer. Thank GOD, breeding season is gone again. He can try my patience when the hormones are surging. Of course, we both come out of that time alive every year, and he's precious otherwise. Quiet and does not get into trouble, I clipped his wings during "the season" to inhibit his resultant aggression. Actually, what really got him clipped was when he jumped poor Rosco and pulled out ALL of Rosco's tailfeathers. Geez, I was furious that day! Of course, everythings cool now. You wouldn't know Buster was here unless I overlook putting him "to bed" at 7PM sharp! I swear that bird can read a clock!
Then there's our bouncing baby bird, Graysun. Graysun's a Greater Vasa Parrot. Most of the time we call him Gray for brevity's sake. Sometimes I call him the Madagascar Ow-Ow Bird, since "Ow - Ow - Ow!" was the first thing he learned to mimic - that and the fact that his species is native to Madagascar. Gray's turning into a chatter-bird. He knows the names of all the other birds, he knows how to ask for a kiss and then give one. He says Hi Gray, or even Hi Gray-Gray (that's was his own devising) and whatcha doin'? There's a lotta yet unintelligible talk - with the requiste tonal inflections. We KNOW he's tryin' to say something, but I trust time and practice will reveal what it is.
This bird plays HARD!!! He's SO active at times. He literally has me in tears from laughing at his antics so much. It's just amazing. We've had active birds before, but nothing like Graysun. I hope to get some of it on camera to share on YouTube eventually.
You have to SEE to believe as he rolls on his back and then scoots himself along like that. I keep saying I want a transfusion from him so I could have just a fraction of his energy.
And the way he comes over and LEANS into me in the morning - wanting me to fuss over him and lay on the kisses. That REALLY gets to an old man's heart. I was tough on myself for paying as much as I did for Graysun, but had I known what he was gonna be like - 2 or 3 times that amount would've been reasonable!
OK- let's hear it fellow Birders!
I contacted folks in other groups she was a member of and they expressed concern over her abscence too.
As a moderator, I've been feeling guilty of late about not keeping this group lively. I DO write alot, and we DO have 4 parrots in our flock, so it's not like I CAN'T find any birdie doin's to report.
In my topic post titled "Great News!", I've been talking about out latest addition - Mealy Amazon (Amazona Farinosa), Gonzo. He's really a sweetie and it seems he "catches on" to the routine here really quick. I THINK he's finally weaned now. He hatched April 9th, so next week he'll be four months old. He's a beautiful bird - there's NO denying that. Vibrant shades of green with red and blue wing patches, deep, dark eyes set against a white eye ring of bare skin, and big black feet.
Our Red-Bellied Macaw - Rosco - is now 20 years old. His stand is about 3 feet from where the incubator kept him warm 20 years ago. Even tho he has a chronic sinus irritation, he's lively and loving most days. We have some birdie decongestant we administer when he seems unusually stuffed up, but that isn't very often. We think he's jealous of the new guy, Gonzo, but we're not really sure.
Buster, the Lilac-Crowned Amazon has been with us 28 years this summer. Thank GOD, breeding season is gone again. He can try my patience when the hormones are surging. Of course, we both come out of that time alive every year, and he's precious otherwise. Quiet and does not get into trouble, I clipped his wings during "the season" to inhibit his resultant aggression. Actually, what really got him clipped was when he jumped poor Rosco and pulled out ALL of Rosco's tailfeathers. Geez, I was furious that day! Of course, everythings cool now. You wouldn't know Buster was here unless I overlook putting him "to bed" at 7PM sharp! I swear that bird can read a clock!
Then there's our bouncing baby bird, Graysun. Graysun's a Greater Vasa Parrot. Most of the time we call him Gray for brevity's sake. Sometimes I call him the Madagascar Ow-Ow Bird, since "Ow - Ow - Ow!" was the first thing he learned to mimic - that and the fact that his species is native to Madagascar. Gray's turning into a chatter-bird. He knows the names of all the other birds, he knows how to ask for a kiss and then give one. He says Hi Gray, or even Hi Gray-Gray (that's was his own devising) and whatcha doin'? There's a lotta yet unintelligible talk - with the requiste tonal inflections. We KNOW he's tryin' to say something, but I trust time and practice will reveal what it is.
This bird plays HARD!!! He's SO active at times. He literally has me in tears from laughing at his antics so much. It's just amazing. We've had active birds before, but nothing like Graysun. I hope to get some of it on camera to share on YouTube eventually.
You have to SEE to believe as he rolls on his back and then scoots himself along like that. I keep saying I want a transfusion from him so I could have just a fraction of his energy.
And the way he comes over and LEANS into me in the morning - wanting me to fuss over him and lay on the kisses. That REALLY gets to an old man's heart. I was tough on myself for paying as much as I did for Graysun, but had I known what he was gonna be like - 2 or 3 times that amount would've been reasonable!
OK- let's hear it fellow Birders!
