Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Parrots and Noise
I have received birds in the rescue for many different reasons. One of the most common is due to the noise they make.
What I have found interesting is an individual’s tolerance level varies from person to person.
Some have brought budgies to us they felt were too loud for them and others the almighty voice of the cockatoo!
All birds will make noise. It is in their nature to make noise when they are happy, sad, bored or when they want food. Parrots make noise just as a baby cries. They also need to make noise as it is natural for them to call home their flock and welcome in the new day!
They will do it when it's inconvenient, like while we are watching TV, trying to hold a conversation or talking on the phone. You can count on it! It is something that needs to be taken under consideration when you own a parrot. If you tolerance for noise is low, then a parrot is NOT a good choice for you!
How we chose to deal with the noise is up to us. We can get mad and frustrated or we can learn to live with it and make it a part of everyday life.
I know that people have asked my husband and I how we can stand the noise as we typically will carry on a conversation even with parrots squawking in the background.
We have learned to tolerate the noise and to live with it. Although not easy for strangers that come to the house or people without birds to understand how we do it, it is part of our life and this is what we do and is now so natural for us we don't even notice it any longer.
This is not to say that they squawk incessantly as most of the time it is actually quiet around here. They have certain moments like anything. They get excited when visitors arrive or if we have been away for a period of time. They get loud when we are eating dinner as they would love to sit and enjoy it with us!
The trick I use during dinner is to feed the birds at the same time we eat. It makes dinner time much more enjoyable!
There is a difference between everyday noise in which we NEED to learn to tolerate and excessive.
Excessive noise would be continuous non stop noise for hours on end when the bird has everything from food, water and toys and has had playtime with his family.
We can teach birds to scream incessantly by our own reactions to a birds screaming.
First we have to make sure that the bird’s needs are fulfilled. It's had playtime, food, water and has plenty of toys to keep him busy.
If he continues to scream, you should ignore it. Even if the screaming persists just ignore it. As I tell visitors here if the bird screams non stop for 20 minutes then suddenly you either yell at him to stop or you go and check on him the bird just won! Next time he will scream longer and longer.
If you can't deal with the noise go out for a walk! Just don't acknowledge the screaming for one second!
Within few days you will see the bird screaming less and less.
As soon as the bird has been quiet for a minute or two reward him with a treat and tell him how good he is for being quiet. Make sure to always praise your parrot during positive moments and reward with treats.
Never pick your bird up when he is screaming as it is only rewarding negative behaviour.
When you have been away for a prolonged period of time your bird will make sounds of joy in seeing you. This is not the same as screaming. It is important that you differentiate between the different sounds the bird makes.
Happy sounds are quite normal and can be acknowledged. There are also moments when we will scream right along with the birds and join in the fun with them. As long as the bird is not incessantly screaming it is fine to enjoy these moments with the bird.
I have heard many horror stories of pet stores telling new owners to squirt the bird with a water bottle. Let me tell you that that is NOT the way to train a bird. All that does is teach a bird to fear water which will make bathing much more difficult. It is also a form of torture! If you ask people that have tried this method they will tell you that it doesn't work anyway!
We have also found people that will cover their bird when they are being loud. This is also not a good idea. You are acknowledging the bird during his screaming. Then covering him when he is actually looking for attention is more of a punishment than anything. Removing him from the room is also detrimental to his well being.
We have found people that have moved the birds into the back of the home and left them in the dark covered and alone. This is no life for a bird. They are such social creatures and want to be part of your flock.
We only hope that if you find yourself using these steps that you either bring the bird to us or start over and bring them back to the family and allow then to be a part of the family.
Before getting a parrot, spend some time around some. In a pet store, at a bird club, zoo or a friends place with birds. Determine if this is something you can live with.
Another important thing to remember is where you live. If in an apartment, condo or highly populated area where noise travels then you aren't going to want a conure, cockatoo or macaw. You are sure to get an eviction notice! Stick to some of the quieter species of birds like the cockatiel and lovebird. It must be remembered that they also make noise and can go on for prolonged periods of times however the decibel level is much lower. Some people can't even tolerate the noise from these smaller birds and neighbors have been known to complain even about some of these.
Some birds by nature can be quiet just as we all have our own personalities so do many different birds of the same species. There are tendencies within the species but even some of the largest birds can be quiet by nature. However to find a quiet cockatoo, although they do exist is quite rare!
The most important thing is to determine your own tolerance level and that of your family as not everyone will agree. Then find a bird that suits your life style. If you presently have a bird, then start today! Make sure he has his wants and needs fulfilled and then ignore the negative. It may take a little longer but eventually the bird will quiet down.
What I have found interesting is an individual’s tolerance level varies from person to person.
Some have brought budgies to us they felt were too loud for them and others the almighty voice of the cockatoo!
All birds will make noise. It is in their nature to make noise when they are happy, sad, bored or when they want food. Parrots make noise just as a baby cries. They also need to make noise as it is natural for them to call home their flock and welcome in the new day!
They will do it when it's inconvenient, like while we are watching TV, trying to hold a conversation or talking on the phone. You can count on it! It is something that needs to be taken under consideration when you own a parrot. If you tolerance for noise is low, then a parrot is NOT a good choice for you!
How we chose to deal with the noise is up to us. We can get mad and frustrated or we can learn to live with it and make it a part of everyday life.
I know that people have asked my husband and I how we can stand the noise as we typically will carry on a conversation even with parrots squawking in the background.
We have learned to tolerate the noise and to live with it. Although not easy for strangers that come to the house or people without birds to understand how we do it, it is part of our life and this is what we do and is now so natural for us we don't even notice it any longer.
This is not to say that they squawk incessantly as most of the time it is actually quiet around here. They have certain moments like anything. They get excited when visitors arrive or if we have been away for a period of time. They get loud when we are eating dinner as they would love to sit and enjoy it with us!
The trick I use during dinner is to feed the birds at the same time we eat. It makes dinner time much more enjoyable!
There is a difference between everyday noise in which we NEED to learn to tolerate and excessive.
Excessive noise would be continuous non stop noise for hours on end when the bird has everything from food, water and toys and has had playtime with his family.
We can teach birds to scream incessantly by our own reactions to a birds screaming.
First we have to make sure that the bird’s needs are fulfilled. It's had playtime, food, water and has plenty of toys to keep him busy.
If he continues to scream, you should ignore it. Even if the screaming persists just ignore it. As I tell visitors here if the bird screams non stop for 20 minutes then suddenly you either yell at him to stop or you go and check on him the bird just won! Next time he will scream longer and longer.
If you can't deal with the noise go out for a walk! Just don't acknowledge the screaming for one second!
Within few days you will see the bird screaming less and less.
As soon as the bird has been quiet for a minute or two reward him with a treat and tell him how good he is for being quiet. Make sure to always praise your parrot during positive moments and reward with treats.
Never pick your bird up when he is screaming as it is only rewarding negative behaviour.
When you have been away for a prolonged period of time your bird will make sounds of joy in seeing you. This is not the same as screaming. It is important that you differentiate between the different sounds the bird makes.
Happy sounds are quite normal and can be acknowledged. There are also moments when we will scream right along with the birds and join in the fun with them. As long as the bird is not incessantly screaming it is fine to enjoy these moments with the bird.
I have heard many horror stories of pet stores telling new owners to squirt the bird with a water bottle. Let me tell you that that is NOT the way to train a bird. All that does is teach a bird to fear water which will make bathing much more difficult. It is also a form of torture! If you ask people that have tried this method they will tell you that it doesn't work anyway!
We have also found people that will cover their bird when they are being loud. This is also not a good idea. You are acknowledging the bird during his screaming. Then covering him when he is actually looking for attention is more of a punishment than anything. Removing him from the room is also detrimental to his well being.
We have found people that have moved the birds into the back of the home and left them in the dark covered and alone. This is no life for a bird. They are such social creatures and want to be part of your flock.
We only hope that if you find yourself using these steps that you either bring the bird to us or start over and bring them back to the family and allow then to be a part of the family.
Before getting a parrot, spend some time around some. In a pet store, at a bird club, zoo or a friends place with birds. Determine if this is something you can live with.
Another important thing to remember is where you live. If in an apartment, condo or highly populated area where noise travels then you aren't going to want a conure, cockatoo or macaw. You are sure to get an eviction notice! Stick to some of the quieter species of birds like the cockatiel and lovebird. It must be remembered that they also make noise and can go on for prolonged periods of times however the decibel level is much lower. Some people can't even tolerate the noise from these smaller birds and neighbors have been known to complain even about some of these.
Some birds by nature can be quiet just as we all have our own personalities so do many different birds of the same species. There are tendencies within the species but even some of the largest birds can be quiet by nature. However to find a quiet cockatoo, although they do exist is quite rare!
The most important thing is to determine your own tolerance level and that of your family as not everyone will agree. Then find a bird that suits your life style. If you presently have a bird, then start today! Make sure he has his wants and needs fulfilled and then ignore the negative. It may take a little longer but eventually the bird will quiet down.
Labels: behavior, behaviour, ontario parrot rescue, parrot noise, parrot sound, parrots
Monday, October 15, 2007
Metal Poisoning and Pets
One of the most important issues that I can't stress enough is to research before and after getting your pet. Having rescued over 400 parrots in Ontario and placed many into new homes has opened my eyes to how sometimes simple things can have major, debilitating effects on the lives of our pets.
Today's discussion is on Metal Poisoning in parrots. Zinc is poisonous to birds so all birds toys or toy parts, cages, food bowls etc should be made from metals that are Zinc free. The best metal to use for bird toys is stainless steel as it is Zinc free. However Stainless Steel is at least double the price of other metals.
Having a parrot rescue in Ontario has prompted me to write about issues that have appeared here at the rescue. We have had two birds arrive that have both been devastated by metal poisoning in their homes. The medications to help the birds can be as dangerous as the poisoning itself not to mention extremely costly. The best cure is prevention.
We expect that toys that we purchase would be made parrot safe but given the current events coming out of China with toys for our own children being recalled, we have to investigate the toys ourselves as there are those individuals that like to cut corners or don't do their own research before designing toys for our pets. Toys made in the US and Canada and sold on Ebay have also been found to contain Zinc.
One parrot we have at the rescue was given a toy with a bell attached to it. It was purchased in a pet store specifically designed for birds. The owner assumed since it was purchased in a pet store that it would be safe for his bird. However the bird got progressively sicker and sicker until it was determined that he had contracted metal poisoning.
Upon investigation to determine the cause they found that the bell on the toy was not made of stainless steel at all! It has made of some other metal. The toy creator had cut corners to save on the cost of an actual Stainless steel bell.
Well $10,000 in treatments later and the bird has finally gotten a clean bill of health. However we have to be very careful not to introduce any metals to the bird at all. He still has feather loss but other than that he is doing much better. It was a very expensive lesson to learn!
We have another bird that came to the rescue who has had no use of her legs for the past 15 years due to the owner giving her the wrapper off a champagne bottle as a toy! It is simple little things like this that cause the majority of injuries such as metal poisoning.
Another bird who contracted metal poisoning was transported in a metal dog crate to various events. This bird used to rub his beak (a normal practice by most birds) on the bars of the cage. As the story goes he also contracted metal poisoning by introducing small shards of metal into his system.
We have a responsibility to our pets to research for ourselves and determine if the products we buy are in fact safe for our parrots. We need to contact manufacturers and ask them what materials the birds toys are made of and then check for ourselves. One way to test for zinc is to use a magnet. If the magnet sticks then there is definitely zinc in it. We should also research other safe metals that are zinc free. Lead is also another metal poisonous to birds. The magnet test is not the the be all and end all. There is still a chance of zinc or lead being in the item tested. We can't take it for granted that what we buy even from some of the best pet stores is safe for our pets. We need to check and double check for ourselves to ensure the safety of our parrots.
Today's discussion is on Metal Poisoning in parrots. Zinc is poisonous to birds so all birds toys or toy parts, cages, food bowls etc should be made from metals that are Zinc free. The best metal to use for bird toys is stainless steel as it is Zinc free. However Stainless Steel is at least double the price of other metals.
Having a parrot rescue in Ontario has prompted me to write about issues that have appeared here at the rescue. We have had two birds arrive that have both been devastated by metal poisoning in their homes. The medications to help the birds can be as dangerous as the poisoning itself not to mention extremely costly. The best cure is prevention.
We expect that toys that we purchase would be made parrot safe but given the current events coming out of China with toys for our own children being recalled, we have to investigate the toys ourselves as there are those individuals that like to cut corners or don't do their own research before designing toys for our pets. Toys made in the US and Canada and sold on Ebay have also been found to contain Zinc.
One parrot we have at the rescue was given a toy with a bell attached to it. It was purchased in a pet store specifically designed for birds. The owner assumed since it was purchased in a pet store that it would be safe for his bird. However the bird got progressively sicker and sicker until it was determined that he had contracted metal poisoning.
Upon investigation to determine the cause they found that the bell on the toy was not made of stainless steel at all! It has made of some other metal. The toy creator had cut corners to save on the cost of an actual Stainless steel bell.
Well $10,000 in treatments later and the bird has finally gotten a clean bill of health. However we have to be very careful not to introduce any metals to the bird at all. He still has feather loss but other than that he is doing much better. It was a very expensive lesson to learn!
We have another bird that came to the rescue who has had no use of her legs for the past 15 years due to the owner giving her the wrapper off a champagne bottle as a toy! It is simple little things like this that cause the majority of injuries such as metal poisoning.
Another bird who contracted metal poisoning was transported in a metal dog crate to various events. This bird used to rub his beak (a normal practice by most birds) on the bars of the cage. As the story goes he also contracted metal poisoning by introducing small shards of metal into his system.
We have a responsibility to our pets to research for ourselves and determine if the products we buy are in fact safe for our parrots. We need to contact manufacturers and ask them what materials the birds toys are made of and then check for ourselves. One way to test for zinc is to use a magnet. If the magnet sticks then there is definitely zinc in it. We should also research other safe metals that are zinc free. Lead is also another metal poisonous to birds. The magnet test is not the the be all and end all. There is still a chance of zinc or lead being in the item tested. We can't take it for granted that what we buy even from some of the best pet stores is safe for our pets. We need to check and double check for ourselves to ensure the safety of our parrots.
Labels: abused birds, birds, lead poisoning, metal, ontario rescue parrot, parrot rescue, rescued parrots, safe toys for parrots, toy making, zinc
Deadly Fumes
Parrot Safety - Fumes
We operate a parrot rescue in Ontario www.theparrotrescue.com and will be writing a series of articles in hopes of helping parrot owners and some of our prospective parrot rescue owners with information that is of great importance to parrots or birds in general.
Parrots are intelligent and beautiful creatures that make wonderful pets. However there are some issues that owners and those thinking of becoming a parrot owner need to make themselves aware of.
Everyone has heard the saying Canary in a Coal mine. Well that is because Miners used to bring canaries into the coal mines with them. If there was any poisonous gas to be found the canary would keel over dead within minutes and this would warn the miners of impending danger.
Canaries and birds in general have very small lungs and can succumb to many things that other animals don't.
Anything with a fragrance should not be used around parrots. I.e. Candles, aerosols, cleaning products, bug sprays, air fresheners etc.
Although there is no fragrance the following items pose a very deadly threat to parrots.
Teflon
Not just pans but ANYTHING coated with Teflon can be deadly to birds. This would include irons, curling irons, frying pans and pots. There are many items that are coated with Teflon which has recently been determined to be detrimental to humans and animals alike. There is some information recently published by DuPont on their website at www.dupont.com.
Scotch Guard
This is another product that is deadly to birds. Some birds have been known to die on the arrival of new furniture as it had recently had Scotch Guard applied to it.
The best we can offer our pets is to request that it not be applied to our furniture, carpets or drapes at all. Otherwise the next best solution is to ask that it remain in the store AFTER it has been applied for no less than a week uncovered. Once it is fully dried it should be safe to bring into the home.
It is our responsibility to ask questions of manufacturers and not expect them to know how their products impact our lives. Research is the best thing we can do for our pets.
You will find more information posted on our website at www.theparrotrescue.com
We operate a parrot rescue in Ontario www.theparrotrescue.com and will be writing a series of articles in hopes of helping parrot owners and some of our prospective parrot rescue owners with information that is of great importance to parrots or birds in general.
Parrots are intelligent and beautiful creatures that make wonderful pets. However there are some issues that owners and those thinking of becoming a parrot owner need to make themselves aware of.
Everyone has heard the saying Canary in a Coal mine. Well that is because Miners used to bring canaries into the coal mines with them. If there was any poisonous gas to be found the canary would keel over dead within minutes and this would warn the miners of impending danger.
Canaries and birds in general have very small lungs and can succumb to many things that other animals don't.
Anything with a fragrance should not be used around parrots. I.e. Candles, aerosols, cleaning products, bug sprays, air fresheners etc.
Although there is no fragrance the following items pose a very deadly threat to parrots.
Teflon
Not just pans but ANYTHING coated with Teflon can be deadly to birds. This would include irons, curling irons, frying pans and pots. There are many items that are coated with Teflon which has recently been determined to be detrimental to humans and animals alike. There is some information recently published by DuPont on their website at www.dupont.com.
Scotch Guard
This is another product that is deadly to birds. Some birds have been known to die on the arrival of new furniture as it had recently had Scotch Guard applied to it.
The best we can offer our pets is to request that it not be applied to our furniture, carpets or drapes at all. Otherwise the next best solution is to ask that it remain in the store AFTER it has been applied for no less than a week uncovered. Once it is fully dried it should be safe to bring into the home.
It is our responsibility to ask questions of manufacturers and not expect them to know how their products impact our lives. Research is the best thing we can do for our pets.
You will find more information posted on our website at www.theparrotrescue.com
Labels: fumes, ontario parrot rescue, parrot rescue ontario, parrot safety, scotch guard, teflon, theparrotrescue.com
Friday, October 12, 2007
Parrots and Toys
I have seen some strange things during our time rescuing birds and I would like to point out a few things that have just floored me when it comes to peoples thoughts on bird toys.
Here is a sample of some of the things I have heard "he doesn't like toys he just wrecks them" or "this is the only toy he hasn't destroyed". Well, birds do wreck toys. That is what they do. They use the toys to keep themselves busy and it also helps condition their beaks and nails. There are many types of toys such as preening toys, foraging toys, swings, wooden toys, leather toys, feather toys, foot toys, paper toys, you name it there are toys for just about everything. We all know toys can be expensive however this is an expense that any bird owner should count on as a monthly expense when you own a parrot. Toys should be changed regularly and if they are destroying the toy then WONDERFUL! Then the toy has fulfilled its purpose and the bird is getting exercise and conditioning and stimulation!
Toys can be made out of plenty of house hold items or even things found in the dollar store. It doesn't have to be a huge expense! Having 30 plus birds here at any given time and forced my creative juices to flow in order to keep these guys in toys.
One of my favorite secrets that I am about to share is the Goodwill Store as they typically have bins full of small rattles and plastic chains and little stuffed animals the birds love to pull apart! You can get a bag of small toys for around $2.00! The dollar store is also a great place. You can find baby blocks, plastic spindles, popsicle sticks, beads, plastic golf balls and any number of other items that can be used to make toys!
All it requires is a little imagination and within minutes you can have many different enjoyable toys for your birds.
One trick I like to use as you obviously have internet access to read this is to do Google search parrot toys and you will have more ideas then you will know what to do with!
I hear people say sometimes that their parrot does not like toys because they show no interest. There could be several causes for that. One is that they do not play with toys everyday but once in a while they will destroy a toy until it is gone. The other reason is probably because it is not the right toy!
The birds should have a variety of toys made of different items. Your parrot will probably chose one or two as a preference. If these ones are getting destroyed then they are obviously the parrots favorite and should be offered up regularly to the parrot.
Toys with paper for shredding are usually a favor for many birds. Newspaper or adding machine rolls can make a wonderful toy that the birds can spend hours destroying! Make your toys colorful and bright and they will bring plenty of hours of busy beaks to your bird.
What is even more important is to ensure that the materials you use are safe for the bird.
There are lists of safe woods posted on the site as well as an article about zinc and metal poisoning that should be read before making toys for the parrots.
Here is a list of safe materials:
- Wooden or plastic beads
- Almost anything plastic
- Adding machine rolls
- Vegetable tanned leather strips
- Stainless steel nuts and bolts
- Anything stainless steel
- Popcorn can also make great toys
- Popsicle sticks
- Wooden skewers for shiskabobs
- Plastic golf balls
- Unbleached coffee filters
- Straws
- Cotton rope or stainless steel chain can be used for threading and hanging the items
- Chunks of wood made from pine or apple branches are wonderful! Be careful about the type of woods you use. Make sure to research which are safe! Cedar is definitely NOT safe!
- food coloring or Wiltons cake icing coloring makes vibrant colors of your wood and comes in a great variety of colors!
This is only a small list but out of the list can come 100's of toys!
Some tools that can be used:
- a drill for drilling holes through wood and plastic
- scissors for cutting the ropes, leathers, straws and coffee filters
- a bowl for mixing the food coloring
- a pan for drying the objects that have been colored
- a hole punch can be used for items that do not require a drill
With the above items or even a partial list of items can make hours of enjoyment for your parrot!
I do not find toys that are indestructible to parrots of any benefit. First the birds don't typically like them, they do not help in the conditioning process and last they are extremely expensive!
There are also a few online clubs for making parrot toys. If you find you are lacking in imagination you can always join a club or purchase toys at your favorite pet store!
Here is a sample of some of the things I have heard "he doesn't like toys he just wrecks them" or "this is the only toy he hasn't destroyed". Well, birds do wreck toys. That is what they do. They use the toys to keep themselves busy and it also helps condition their beaks and nails. There are many types of toys such as preening toys, foraging toys, swings, wooden toys, leather toys, feather toys, foot toys, paper toys, you name it there are toys for just about everything. We all know toys can be expensive however this is an expense that any bird owner should count on as a monthly expense when you own a parrot. Toys should be changed regularly and if they are destroying the toy then WONDERFUL! Then the toy has fulfilled its purpose and the bird is getting exercise and conditioning and stimulation!
Toys can be made out of plenty of house hold items or even things found in the dollar store. It doesn't have to be a huge expense! Having 30 plus birds here at any given time and forced my creative juices to flow in order to keep these guys in toys.
One of my favorite secrets that I am about to share is the Goodwill Store as they typically have bins full of small rattles and plastic chains and little stuffed animals the birds love to pull apart! You can get a bag of small toys for around $2.00! The dollar store is also a great place. You can find baby blocks, plastic spindles, popsicle sticks, beads, plastic golf balls and any number of other items that can be used to make toys!
All it requires is a little imagination and within minutes you can have many different enjoyable toys for your birds.
One trick I like to use as you obviously have internet access to read this is to do Google search parrot toys and you will have more ideas then you will know what to do with!
I hear people say sometimes that their parrot does not like toys because they show no interest. There could be several causes for that. One is that they do not play with toys everyday but once in a while they will destroy a toy until it is gone. The other reason is probably because it is not the right toy!
The birds should have a variety of toys made of different items. Your parrot will probably chose one or two as a preference. If these ones are getting destroyed then they are obviously the parrots favorite and should be offered up regularly to the parrot.
Toys with paper for shredding are usually a favor for many birds. Newspaper or adding machine rolls can make a wonderful toy that the birds can spend hours destroying! Make your toys colorful and bright and they will bring plenty of hours of busy beaks to your bird.
What is even more important is to ensure that the materials you use are safe for the bird.
There are lists of safe woods posted on the site as well as an article about zinc and metal poisoning that should be read before making toys for the parrots.
Here is a list of safe materials:
- Wooden or plastic beads
- Almost anything plastic
- Adding machine rolls
- Vegetable tanned leather strips
- Stainless steel nuts and bolts
- Anything stainless steel
- Popcorn can also make great toys
- Popsicle sticks
- Wooden skewers for shiskabobs
- Plastic golf balls
- Unbleached coffee filters
- Straws
- Cotton rope or stainless steel chain can be used for threading and hanging the items
- Chunks of wood made from pine or apple branches are wonderful! Be careful about the type of woods you use. Make sure to research which are safe! Cedar is definitely NOT safe!
- food coloring or Wiltons cake icing coloring makes vibrant colors of your wood and comes in a great variety of colors!
This is only a small list but out of the list can come 100's of toys!
Some tools that can be used:
- a drill for drilling holes through wood and plastic
- scissors for cutting the ropes, leathers, straws and coffee filters
- a bowl for mixing the food coloring
- a pan for drying the objects that have been colored
- a hole punch can be used for items that do not require a drill
With the above items or even a partial list of items can make hours of enjoyment for your parrot!
I do not find toys that are indestructible to parrots of any benefit. First the birds don't typically like them, they do not help in the conditioning process and last they are extremely expensive!
There are also a few online clubs for making parrot toys. If you find you are lacking in imagination you can always join a club or purchase toys at your favorite pet store!
Labels: parrot rescue, parrot toys, safe toys for parrots, toy making
Saturday, October 6, 2007
What to look for in a rescue or sanctuary
There are various types of rescues for birds and I would like to discuss some of them here. People have different visions for their parrots after they can no longer care for them.
Some wish to see their birds flying free out of doors or in huge aviaries. In most instances and in our Canadian climate these are not possible.
I have even told me that some plan on having their pets put down as they do not feel anyone would either want them or would care for them they way they do. I find this quite sad as there are many wonderful homes out there that would love to give a second hand parrot an excellent and loving home and would willingly follow the previous owners routines and provide plenty of years of love to a parrot.
There are shelters which provide temporary care and usually some behaviour help until the parrot finds another wonderful family to care for it.
There are those that have wonderful aviaries with trees and play areas and keep all the birds and refuse to adopt out. They believe this is the only environment for a parrot. However they take in more and more and at some point the birds no longer recieve the attention they deserve.
The pros and cons of this are that birds that enjoy that type of environment would thrive in there. It would be a wonderful place for ex breeders and birds that do not enjoy human companionship. The sad part is those birds that love attention from human companions as most of the time the do not do well in this type of environment. They would rather be cuddled and snuggled and talked to and played with regularly. These birds you will find cowering in the corners of these aviaries, frightened of the other birds. Even volunteers can not offer these birds the bonding and attention an individual home can offer.
There are others that house the birds in any type of container they can find and are stacked on top of each other with 500 or 600 birds! This environment is not good for any bird! They do not adopt out birds and also feel their system is best.
Although it might be nice to see a bird flying around in an aviary we need to remember that these birds were hand raised and conditioned to wanting human companionship.
We feel here at PASO that each bird is an individual and needs to be assessed based on their needs, history and experiences. We do not feel that ALL birds can fall into one category. Although a nice sanctuary setting would be wonderful for some. It is not for all. Some birds would thrive much better in an individual home where they would recieve one on one attention in a family setting.
We certainly don't feel any place with 600 birds is good for any bird!
When choosing a rescue/shelter/sanctuary for your bird, carefully look at how the birds in the sanctuary are. Are they happy? Well adjusted? Are those running the rescue able to handle ALL the birds they presently have? Do they look comfortable with the birds both large AND small? Remember these people will be your birds care givers for a long time and maybe permanently. Do they rely on volunteers to work with the birds instead of themselves? How many volunteers do they have? Is it clean? Do they try scare tactics to avoid checking other rescues? Most of all do the birds at the rescue look comfortable with the rescuers!
These are more important that clinical cleanliness! We all know parrots make messes and rescues are no exception! Most importantly is how do the birds react to the their new rescuers are they fearful and is the rescuer capable of handling your parrot.
These will make your parrot integrate into the rescue easier and will assure both you and he that they are in good hands.
Can you get references for them through your local bird clubs, zoo's, SPCA etc. Word of mouth is another form but not the end all and be all. Does the rescue cut up other rescues trying to get "your business"? Does the rescue use scare tactics? Does it look like they are trying to hard or ramble? If these things are happening it's probably due to the lack of skills on their part so they make up for it using these tactics.
You are the advocate for your parrot. Make sure to check the rescue and get outside references such as those described above.
Some wish to see their birds flying free out of doors or in huge aviaries. In most instances and in our Canadian climate these are not possible.
I have even told me that some plan on having their pets put down as they do not feel anyone would either want them or would care for them they way they do. I find this quite sad as there are many wonderful homes out there that would love to give a second hand parrot an excellent and loving home and would willingly follow the previous owners routines and provide plenty of years of love to a parrot.
There are shelters which provide temporary care and usually some behaviour help until the parrot finds another wonderful family to care for it.
There are those that have wonderful aviaries with trees and play areas and keep all the birds and refuse to adopt out. They believe this is the only environment for a parrot. However they take in more and more and at some point the birds no longer recieve the attention they deserve.
The pros and cons of this are that birds that enjoy that type of environment would thrive in there. It would be a wonderful place for ex breeders and birds that do not enjoy human companionship. The sad part is those birds that love attention from human companions as most of the time the do not do well in this type of environment. They would rather be cuddled and snuggled and talked to and played with regularly. These birds you will find cowering in the corners of these aviaries, frightened of the other birds. Even volunteers can not offer these birds the bonding and attention an individual home can offer.
There are others that house the birds in any type of container they can find and are stacked on top of each other with 500 or 600 birds! This environment is not good for any bird! They do not adopt out birds and also feel their system is best.
Although it might be nice to see a bird flying around in an aviary we need to remember that these birds were hand raised and conditioned to wanting human companionship.
We feel here at PASO that each bird is an individual and needs to be assessed based on their needs, history and experiences. We do not feel that ALL birds can fall into one category. Although a nice sanctuary setting would be wonderful for some. It is not for all. Some birds would thrive much better in an individual home where they would recieve one on one attention in a family setting.
We certainly don't feel any place with 600 birds is good for any bird!
When choosing a rescue/shelter/sanctuary for your bird, carefully look at how the birds in the sanctuary are. Are they happy? Well adjusted? Are those running the rescue able to handle ALL the birds they presently have? Do they look comfortable with the birds both large AND small? Remember these people will be your birds care givers for a long time and maybe permanently. Do they rely on volunteers to work with the birds instead of themselves? How many volunteers do they have? Is it clean? Do they try scare tactics to avoid checking other rescues? Most of all do the birds at the rescue look comfortable with the rescuers!
These are more important that clinical cleanliness! We all know parrots make messes and rescues are no exception! Most importantly is how do the birds react to the their new rescuers are they fearful and is the rescuer capable of handling your parrot.
These will make your parrot integrate into the rescue easier and will assure both you and he that they are in good hands.
Can you get references for them through your local bird clubs, zoo's, SPCA etc. Word of mouth is another form but not the end all and be all. Does the rescue cut up other rescues trying to get "your business"? Does the rescue use scare tactics? Does it look like they are trying to hard or ramble? If these things are happening it's probably due to the lack of skills on their part so they make up for it using these tactics.
You are the advocate for your parrot. Make sure to check the rescue and get outside references such as those described above.
Thursday, October 4, 2007
We were surprised to find this article in our monthly bulletin as we were unaware of the impact we had on this couple. This was originally posted in the Durham Avicultural Society Bulletin. We have reprinted it here with permission from the author.
To Durham Avicultural Society
Attention Bulletin Editor
I'm submitting this article to be considered for your monthly bulletin news letter. My wife Jackie and I became DAS members through odd circumstances. We have always been dog and cat people and all our animals are rescue cases. In January of 2005, I was asked by a working acquaintance if I would look after his birds while he went on a one week vacation. He told me that the person that normally did this for him was going through some hard times and was unable to help him out.
He asked me because he knew I was a huge animal lover and it wouldn't cost him any money. A couple of days before he left I went to his home to get a briefing on what I was supposed to do for the care of the birds. When I went to his home he took me to where the birds were kept, it was in an unfinished basement with block walls and one small window at ceiling level with plastic hanging from the beams to keep the heat in. There were three birds in two different cages, two Amazons and one African Grey.
When we went down stairs it was apparent the bird hated him and they appeared absolutely viscous. They went crazy at the sight of him. Now he proceeds to tell me that he has had the birds for about twelve years and has never had them out of their cages and I'm going to have to be careful when I change their food and water because they will attack. He told me the amazons can take off the tip of your finger. Holy cats.......what have I gotten myself into here.
I should have left right then and there but something told me to stick it out. He said just come twice a week to change their food and water. I knew when he left I didn’t have to show up for a few days but I could not get those birds out of my mind. I went to the house the first day he left and just stood by the cages, I had a sadness that drew me back to them. I did not know anything about birds but I was smart enough to know that any living being would go crazy under these conditions. I came home and told my wife Jackie about my thoughts, she could tell this was really bothering me, so later that day she had to go and see for herself. When I took her down into the basement her first thought was it looks like the set from the movie Silence of the Lambs - dark, damp and scary. There wasn’t even a chair to sit on to hang out with the birds.
So this was the beginning of our relationship. Despite the fact there was no way we could put our hands in the cages, it was very apparent they wanted a relationship with us. Bart, the African Grey seemed particularly interested in Jackie. She would bob her head up and down and Bart would copy her movement and stick his tongue out. Shaba would crawl down to the bottom of her cage asking ‘what ya doing’ while I changed her papers. Fred, scared us the most since he would scold us if we came close to the cage and lunge at us. We stayed for about two hours and just watched and talked to them. When we left we both knew that we could not leave these beautiful creatures to suffer in this hell that they had been living in. We decided that we were going to get these birds and if the only thing we could do was give them a clean cage and a nice view it would be a heck of a lot better than how they were exiting now.
When the owner came back I had a very uncomfortable and honest conversation with him. At the end of the conversation he agreed that the birds would be better in our care .In February 2005 we took possession of our new flock. Jackie started to snoop around for some professional help and as luck would have it we were introduced to Carol Davies who lived very close to us. Carol came over to see the birds and quickly noticed how aggressive they were . Carol was on blood thinners at the time and thought it would be too risky for her to try to help us with the taming of the birds. She told us about a couple named Brett and Nancy Daniels who run the Parrot Adopt Southern Ontario agency and if anyone could help us with the birds it would be them. We contacted Brett and Nancy and within a couple of days they showed up at our door. This was an experience that has changed our lives forever. These birds had not been handled for over twelve years. They were scared and as we were later to find out in poor health.
I thought that Brett and Nancy would come and visit with the birds a few times and cautiously try to put their hands in the cage to gain their trust over several visits. Boy was I wrong. On the day they showed up we met them at the door and the first thing I noticed was a huge gash on Nancy’s hand in the perfect shape of a rather large beak. NOW I’M NERVOUS. I tried to ease my tension by making a joke and saying "a bit of a cooking accident”. She responded by calmly stating "it's a parrot bite, look if you got birds your gonna get bit, it won’t kill you, get used to it, it only hurts for a bit.
We gave them a brief history on the birds and they decided they would concentrate on the two Amazons that night. Within five minutes of them being there the Amazons cage was open and I could not believe what I was seeing. Without batting an eye Brett went over to the cage and stuck his hand in until the one bird Fred had a firm grip on his finger and when she was firmly attached he pulled her out. As soon as he cleared the cage Nancy gashed hand and all was next in line to pull out the remaining bird Chauba. It went the same way, a chomp on the finger and out she came.
I must say it was not what I expected at all, I thought my god these people are nuts, I'm surprised they have any fingers left at all. The fact they just got bit did not faze them at all. Brett said "look these birds have cage rage, you got to get them away from their cage to deal with them. What happened in the next half hour was amazing, I realized, my god these people know birds. Not only were they handling the birds, but the birds felt safe with them. The birds were enjoying being on their hands and being told how beautiful they were. Birds that had not been out of a cage or been handled in twelve years.
I thought this has been a great night, what a success, put them back in the cage and we will pick up where we left off another day. WRONG !! Nancy and Brett had different plans, they said look theses are your birds and you might as well start handling them and get bit while were here. It’s not goanna kill ya. They were right we got bit and it sure didn’t kill us. That night gave us the confidence to start working with the birds on our own. We have had to pick up the phone and call Brett and Nancy on occasion for advice as we still have much to learn. I’m happy to say that we can not walk by the bird cages today without the birds rushing out on their own and sticking their foot out so we can pick them up and carry them around with us. Also our African Grey Bart who had never been handled and was completely plucked when we first got him has regained all his feathers . It took a few bites but he now steps up and loves to play PEEKABOO and has crush on our cat Spencer.
Jackie and I would just like to give a special thanks to Carol, Brett and Nancy for sharing their experience and providing the moral support we needed to get through this past year. It has been difficult for us to attend meetings due to the constant care we are providing for an elderly family member that lives with us. We are hoping in the spring to be able to attend some meetings and bring the birds so they can say thanks to our DAS friends for their new freedom.
To Durham Avicultural Society
Attention Bulletin Editor
I'm submitting this article to be considered for your monthly bulletin news letter. My wife Jackie and I became DAS members through odd circumstances. We have always been dog and cat people and all our animals are rescue cases. In January of 2005, I was asked by a working acquaintance if I would look after his birds while he went on a one week vacation. He told me that the person that normally did this for him was going through some hard times and was unable to help him out.
He asked me because he knew I was a huge animal lover and it wouldn't cost him any money. A couple of days before he left I went to his home to get a briefing on what I was supposed to do for the care of the birds. When I went to his home he took me to where the birds were kept, it was in an unfinished basement with block walls and one small window at ceiling level with plastic hanging from the beams to keep the heat in. There were three birds in two different cages, two Amazons and one African Grey.
When we went down stairs it was apparent the bird hated him and they appeared absolutely viscous. They went crazy at the sight of him. Now he proceeds to tell me that he has had the birds for about twelve years and has never had them out of their cages and I'm going to have to be careful when I change their food and water because they will attack. He told me the amazons can take off the tip of your finger. Holy cats.......what have I gotten myself into here.
I should have left right then and there but something told me to stick it out. He said just come twice a week to change their food and water. I knew when he left I didn’t have to show up for a few days but I could not get those birds out of my mind. I went to the house the first day he left and just stood by the cages, I had a sadness that drew me back to them. I did not know anything about birds but I was smart enough to know that any living being would go crazy under these conditions. I came home and told my wife Jackie about my thoughts, she could tell this was really bothering me, so later that day she had to go and see for herself. When I took her down into the basement her first thought was it looks like the set from the movie Silence of the Lambs - dark, damp and scary. There wasn’t even a chair to sit on to hang out with the birds.
So this was the beginning of our relationship. Despite the fact there was no way we could put our hands in the cages, it was very apparent they wanted a relationship with us. Bart, the African Grey seemed particularly interested in Jackie. She would bob her head up and down and Bart would copy her movement and stick his tongue out. Shaba would crawl down to the bottom of her cage asking ‘what ya doing’ while I changed her papers. Fred, scared us the most since he would scold us if we came close to the cage and lunge at us. We stayed for about two hours and just watched and talked to them. When we left we both knew that we could not leave these beautiful creatures to suffer in this hell that they had been living in. We decided that we were going to get these birds and if the only thing we could do was give them a clean cage and a nice view it would be a heck of a lot better than how they were exiting now.
When the owner came back I had a very uncomfortable and honest conversation with him. At the end of the conversation he agreed that the birds would be better in our care .In February 2005 we took possession of our new flock. Jackie started to snoop around for some professional help and as luck would have it we were introduced to Carol Davies who lived very close to us. Carol came over to see the birds and quickly noticed how aggressive they were . Carol was on blood thinners at the time and thought it would be too risky for her to try to help us with the taming of the birds. She told us about a couple named Brett and Nancy Daniels who run the Parrot Adopt Southern Ontario agency and if anyone could help us with the birds it would be them. We contacted Brett and Nancy and within a couple of days they showed up at our door. This was an experience that has changed our lives forever. These birds had not been handled for over twelve years. They were scared and as we were later to find out in poor health.
I thought that Brett and Nancy would come and visit with the birds a few times and cautiously try to put their hands in the cage to gain their trust over several visits. Boy was I wrong. On the day they showed up we met them at the door and the first thing I noticed was a huge gash on Nancy’s hand in the perfect shape of a rather large beak. NOW I’M NERVOUS. I tried to ease my tension by making a joke and saying "a bit of a cooking accident”. She responded by calmly stating "it's a parrot bite, look if you got birds your gonna get bit, it won’t kill you, get used to it, it only hurts for a bit.
We gave them a brief history on the birds and they decided they would concentrate on the two Amazons that night. Within five minutes of them being there the Amazons cage was open and I could not believe what I was seeing. Without batting an eye Brett went over to the cage and stuck his hand in until the one bird Fred had a firm grip on his finger and when she was firmly attached he pulled her out. As soon as he cleared the cage Nancy gashed hand and all was next in line to pull out the remaining bird Chauba. It went the same way, a chomp on the finger and out she came.
I must say it was not what I expected at all, I thought my god these people are nuts, I'm surprised they have any fingers left at all. The fact they just got bit did not faze them at all. Brett said "look these birds have cage rage, you got to get them away from their cage to deal with them. What happened in the next half hour was amazing, I realized, my god these people know birds. Not only were they handling the birds, but the birds felt safe with them. The birds were enjoying being on their hands and being told how beautiful they were. Birds that had not been out of a cage or been handled in twelve years.
I thought this has been a great night, what a success, put them back in the cage and we will pick up where we left off another day. WRONG !! Nancy and Brett had different plans, they said look theses are your birds and you might as well start handling them and get bit while were here. It’s not goanna kill ya. They were right we got bit and it sure didn’t kill us. That night gave us the confidence to start working with the birds on our own. We have had to pick up the phone and call Brett and Nancy on occasion for advice as we still have much to learn. I’m happy to say that we can not walk by the bird cages today without the birds rushing out on their own and sticking their foot out so we can pick them up and carry them around with us. Also our African Grey Bart who had never been handled and was completely plucked when we first got him has regained all his feathers . It took a few bites but he now steps up and loves to play PEEKABOO and has crush on our cat Spencer.
Jackie and I would just like to give a special thanks to Carol, Brett and Nancy for sharing their experience and providing the moral support we needed to get through this past year. It has been difficult for us to attend meetings due to the constant care we are providing for an elderly family member that lives with us. We are hoping in the spring to be able to attend some meetings and bring the birds so they can say thanks to our DAS friends for their new freedom.
Labels: african grey, amazons, behaviour, bird bites, biting, parrot
Monday, October 1, 2007
Wing Clipping Your Parrot
There is a lot of controversy on this subject and some people adamantly disagree and have their own reasons. You have to decide for yourself which opinion feels more comfortable with you.
Having been involved with 911 Parrot Alert www.911parrotalert.com since its inception has reinforced for me the need to have a birds wings clipped unless exceptional circumstances present themselves. For those that do not know what 911 Parrot Alert is. It is a charity that was started by a woman named Donna from Louisiana who saw an ad about a lost parrot and through online discussions she decided to open 911 Parrot Alert. It is an organization complete run by volunteers who check for lost and found birds in as many locations they can find and then add them to a database in the hopes of reuniting owners with their lost pets. It is also now recognized as the leading place to post your lost parrot. There are mountains of information on how to recover a lots pet as well.
It has now grown into an international organization with volunteers around the world and was critical in helping the birds during the Katrina crisis as Donna lived in New Orleans and gave home to some 600+ displaced birds during the crisis. Now that is a story of its own!
I was astonished to see the shear volume of birds every year in Ontario alone that go missing due to accidental escapes. The numbers are mind boggling! Last summer 8 African Grey’s alone! That is only one species! The number of budgies and cockatiels is in the hundreds not to mention other species including macaws, conures, amazons and much more! Remember I am only speaking of Ontario! Around the world thousands of birds accidentally escape their homes each year!
• Windows accidentally left open
• Visitors or deliveries to the door
• Birds jumping on your back as you walk out the door where you are unaware of them
• Birds seeing you leave and wanting to go with you
• Sudden frights while outside can give some birds enough strength to fly off
• Some people actually do take their flighted birds outside with them without protection!
• Escapes from cages while outside
• Some are let out by small children
• There are even some that can still fly even with a clip!
• Birds that have grown in some of their clipped feathers unnoticed by the owners
I am a firm believer in taking our parrots outside and socializing them and giving them sunlight and fresh air for good health. It is critical to their well being whether that be in a cage or loose or tethered. You will have to determine your birds flying ability to determine which way is safest for him.
It is not only for taking birds outside that a wing clip can benefit. There are many household hazards that flying birds have died for in the past. Boiling pots, toilets, sinks full of dishes, fly strips, ceiling fans and there are many many more that can harm or kill our birds within our own home no matter how careful we think we are!
One of the other benefits of clipping would be for those birds that have a tendency to bite and attack people. If the bird is clipped then YOU have to approach the bird in order to get bit! It can also lessen some of the aggressive tendencies in some birds. I always suggest that aggressive birds be fully clipped at all times.
I mentioned earlier about exceptional circumstances. There is one bird that came to the rescue that was flighted and I did clip him for two reasons. First he wanted to be able to go outside with the other birds and would fly to the front door and when I opened the door he would walk outside. Secondly while I was out one day he ate my brand new dining room set!
Max was a disabled Green Wing Macaw approximately 35 years old. She had been exposed to metal poisoning 15 years before arriving at the rescue and the treatment had atrophied her legs and feet so that she was unable to use them and walked along on her elbows. It was quite sad but Max was a happy bird. She couldn’t perch like most birds so we designed Max a special play stand that had a flat wooden perch that we covered in carpeting to give her a soft place to rest.
Wanting so much for Max to enjoy the out of doors with the rest of the birds I did clip her wings. She was able to come outside with us and loved being out there. However it did make life for her more difficult as she became lazy from losing the ability to fly around and spent more and more time on her play stand and developed soars on her elbows from constantly having to stand on them. She used to climb over to her cage once in a while and was able to perch on the thin bars resting her elbows over the bars which allowed for different postures and a rest off her elbows. Since the clip she no longer did that which resulted in the soars on her elbows. The point I am trying to make here is that I would never clip Max or a bird like Max again. I will look for other ways of getting them outside by a harness instead or in a cage. We all learn by our mistakes. I learned my lesson!
A harness is not my personal choice as I have seen owners struggling with their birds to get a harness on them and the birds fighting back which in itself can be dangerous and certainly not fun for a bird that hasn’t been trained properly to where a harness! It’s a lot of frustration on both bird and people just so they can keep their bird flighted for flying around the home! However the dangers described above are only a few of the household hazards for flighted birds. As well being flighted allows for accidental escapes.
I hope given the information above that you will consider clipping as the best means of keeping your parrot safe
.
Having been involved with 911 Parrot Alert www.911parrotalert.com since its inception has reinforced for me the need to have a birds wings clipped unless exceptional circumstances present themselves. For those that do not know what 911 Parrot Alert is. It is a charity that was started by a woman named Donna from Louisiana who saw an ad about a lost parrot and through online discussions she decided to open 911 Parrot Alert. It is an organization complete run by volunteers who check for lost and found birds in as many locations they can find and then add them to a database in the hopes of reuniting owners with their lost pets. It is also now recognized as the leading place to post your lost parrot. There are mountains of information on how to recover a lots pet as well.
It has now grown into an international organization with volunteers around the world and was critical in helping the birds during the Katrina crisis as Donna lived in New Orleans and gave home to some 600+ displaced birds during the crisis. Now that is a story of its own!
I was astonished to see the shear volume of birds every year in Ontario alone that go missing due to accidental escapes. The numbers are mind boggling! Last summer 8 African Grey’s alone! That is only one species! The number of budgies and cockatiels is in the hundreds not to mention other species including macaws, conures, amazons and much more! Remember I am only speaking of Ontario! Around the world thousands of birds accidentally escape their homes each year!
• Windows accidentally left open
• Visitors or deliveries to the door
• Birds jumping on your back as you walk out the door where you are unaware of them
• Birds seeing you leave and wanting to go with you
• Sudden frights while outside can give some birds enough strength to fly off
• Some people actually do take their flighted birds outside with them without protection!
• Escapes from cages while outside
• Some are let out by small children
• There are even some that can still fly even with a clip!
• Birds that have grown in some of their clipped feathers unnoticed by the owners
I am a firm believer in taking our parrots outside and socializing them and giving them sunlight and fresh air for good health. It is critical to their well being whether that be in a cage or loose or tethered. You will have to determine your birds flying ability to determine which way is safest for him.
It is not only for taking birds outside that a wing clip can benefit. There are many household hazards that flying birds have died for in the past. Boiling pots, toilets, sinks full of dishes, fly strips, ceiling fans and there are many many more that can harm or kill our birds within our own home no matter how careful we think we are!
One of the other benefits of clipping would be for those birds that have a tendency to bite and attack people. If the bird is clipped then YOU have to approach the bird in order to get bit! It can also lessen some of the aggressive tendencies in some birds. I always suggest that aggressive birds be fully clipped at all times.
I mentioned earlier about exceptional circumstances. There is one bird that came to the rescue that was flighted and I did clip him for two reasons. First he wanted to be able to go outside with the other birds and would fly to the front door and when I opened the door he would walk outside. Secondly while I was out one day he ate my brand new dining room set!
Max was a disabled Green Wing Macaw approximately 35 years old. She had been exposed to metal poisoning 15 years before arriving at the rescue and the treatment had atrophied her legs and feet so that she was unable to use them and walked along on her elbows. It was quite sad but Max was a happy bird. She couldn’t perch like most birds so we designed Max a special play stand that had a flat wooden perch that we covered in carpeting to give her a soft place to rest.
Wanting so much for Max to enjoy the out of doors with the rest of the birds I did clip her wings. She was able to come outside with us and loved being out there. However it did make life for her more difficult as she became lazy from losing the ability to fly around and spent more and more time on her play stand and developed soars on her elbows from constantly having to stand on them. She used to climb over to her cage once in a while and was able to perch on the thin bars resting her elbows over the bars which allowed for different postures and a rest off her elbows. Since the clip she no longer did that which resulted in the soars on her elbows. The point I am trying to make here is that I would never clip Max or a bird like Max again. I will look for other ways of getting them outside by a harness instead or in a cage. We all learn by our mistakes. I learned my lesson!
A harness is not my personal choice as I have seen owners struggling with their birds to get a harness on them and the birds fighting back which in itself can be dangerous and certainly not fun for a bird that hasn’t been trained properly to where a harness! It’s a lot of frustration on both bird and people just so they can keep their bird flighted for flying around the home! However the dangers described above are only a few of the household hazards for flighted birds. As well being flighted allows for accidental escapes.
I hope given the information above that you will consider clipping as the best means of keeping your parrot safe
.
Labels: parrot rescue, parrot safety, parrot wing clipping, wing clipping
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