Parrot Adopt Southern Ontario Blog

Parrots and Plucking

2008-02-20T08:13:00.000-08:00

I get emails regularly from people having issues with their birds that have started plucking their feathers out. We have also recieved many parrots here are PASO that come in varying degrees of plucking.

It is a very common problem with birds and probably as many causes as there are pluckers!

There are some known issues that can cause plucking and some birds can be helped. However there are those that continue to pluck although everything has been tried. I am going to try and cover as much information as I can here to help those that can be help as well as my own personal thoughts on those that can't be helped.

If your bird recently started to pluck, the first thing to do is have the bird vet checked to determine if any health issues are causing the plucking. Sometimes treatment alone can help.

The next step would be to determine to the best of your ability the whens, hows, wheres and whys the plucking may have started in the first place. If you can determine this then changes in that environment may help.

Some reasons birds plucks (this is only a partial list):

Diet Lack of Toys
Allergies Too Small of a cage
Illness Change in environment
Boredom Something added to the area that may appear
Stress scary to the bird
New Baby/person in home Vitamin Deficiency
Change in routine New furniture/changes in the environment
New Bird in the home Someone in the home teasing the bird
Loss of mate/favorte person Lack of Sleep
Extended alone time One bird plucking another (usually breeders)
Hormones Parasites
Thyroid Lack of Bathing

As you can see the list is large and still incomplete but these things should be looked at and considered when trying to determine the reason your bird may be plucking.

The best way to work with this list is to determine if any of these things have happened or are happening and then make any appropriate changes where possible. If the bird continues to pluck, move on to something else until all options have been exhausted.

Once a bird does pluck, it can very easily turn into a habit. Habits are difficult to break but not impossible. Some times a change in environment is enough to stop the plucking. Providing preening toys can also help. Preening toys are a toy that can simulate a feather or simulate the feeling they would get by plucking their feathers. Toys made of string, straws, newspaper etc. make good preening toys and the birds can pull, snip and shred them which should help to preoccupy them and keep them away from their own feathers.

I should also point out here that there are a couple different types of plucking:

Snipping/Barbering - is where the bird would chew or remove pieces of the feather. In my experience I see this as more common in hormonal plucking but can be anything else also. You can tell a snipper as the feather ends would be v-shaped where the bird has bitten off the piece of feather. Some birds snip until all the feather is removed. Some only snip the ends of the feathers.

Plucking - Some birds will suddenly become totally bald at a moments notice. Some pluck certain areas only ie neck, back, legs, breast or under the wing. Some only pluck to the down leaving the downy feathers. Some pluck to total baldness.

Mutilating - This is the extreme end of plucking when the bird actually chews at their skin causing lesions and bleeding. It should not be confused with chewing a blood feather where a sign of blood can be seen.

Before we go on to how to stop feather plucking I feel that I would like to add my own personal two cents here as I do not believe in treating birds in the manners listed below for several reasons (with the exception of mutilating). First what I feel is more important is to find the cause. In the event that all options are exhausted and no cause can be found, I feel it is more important to make sure the bird is happy, healthy, eating well and is well adjusted. I personally feel that as long as those issues are met the feathers may return on their own. If not as long as the birds is happy and healthy and birds physical appearance is very far down on my list of important issues.

Some people just can't deal with having a bird that does not look perfect. I would like to say that a bird can be both happy and bald!

Care for pluckers

There are several options that can be used for plucking birds but each does come with their own set of dangers. The trauma experienced by wearing these appliances can be even more detrimental than having a plucking bird.

Collars

Collars are sometimes used to treat feather pluckers by placing the collar around the birds neck which stops them from reaching the feathers thus stopping the plucking. However birds do tend to become depressed while in their collars. Some have been known to get high fevers as well. Another thing that should be watched for are ingrown feathers. If the collars are not removed for periods of time the feathers can become ingrown causing pain and infections. Birds in collars must be watched carefully to ensure they are eating and can still move around without difficulty.

Another form of collar would be a sock with the toes cut out that would be placed around the neck. This would be much easier on the bird but also has its concerns. Watch that the sock is always loose around the neck and that any loose threads are removed. Socks that get wet tend to tighten so care must be taken to ensure that it is always loose. Some of the pulled threads can also tighen the sock around the neck so great care should be taken to ensure this does not happen. Ingrown hairs are another concern as is making sure the bird does not get caught on something that could cause strangulation

Vests/Flight Suites - Bird vests/flight suits are something that have also been tried. The problem with manufactured vests are the birds inability to defecate. The excrement is caught in the suit requiring regular cleaning and then cleaning of the birds vent. Again concerns of ingrown hairs unless the flight suit removed regularly.

Pluck No More - is a product by King's Cages. We have not had any success with this product but have heard of others that have. One word of advice, make sure to follow the instructions exactly as the bottle asks including the use of distilled water.

The stress level of the bird wearing any of the above items will be much greater as it is not natural for them to wear anything over their feathers or be restricted.

We have had about a 70% success rate in helping pluckers over come their problems just by changes in their environment, ensure proper dietary care and lots of out of cage time.

News

2007-12-12T21:30:00.000-08:00

I have again been elected to the Board of Directors for the Durham Avicultural Society and am proud to say I am the editor of the monthly bulletin.

I will have regular monthly articles as well as I am looking for additional articles to keep the bulletin full of new information.

If you have any articles or a topic you would like covered, please feel free to email me at nancy@parrotadoptontario.com and we will try our best to include it.

Nancy

Foot Care and Parrots

2007-12-06T06:59:00.000-08:00

We see many parrots arrive at the rescue with feet in poor condition. Some worse that others. However most of it is preventable.

Arthitis in the Feet

Cause - bird sits on same perch day in and day out with little or no movement making walking painful and perching difficult. This makes gripping difficult and painful.

Spiraled/Sharp Nails

Cause - Lack of grooming makes walking and perching difficult. Nails can also grow in a manner that they grow into another part of the foot cause great discomfort for the bird. Spiralled nails forces the bird to have to wrap the spiral around the perch before they can grip it. The nails can get caught in the carpeting and in some instances break off and bleed.

Sharp nails can be painful for both the parrots and ourselves as they love to sit on our arms. Sharp nails also tend to get caught in things. By regular filing of the nails we help prevent overgrowth as well as remove the pain associated with sharp nails.

Sores and Callus

Cause - lack of various perching materials and little or no movement from the bird in or outside of the cage.

Splayed Leg

Cause - not enough bedding materials in the nest box.

PREVENTION

Most of these can be prevented by taking some very simple steps. Even those with these conditions already will benefit from the use of the following and most times a reversal in the symptoms can occur.

Grooming

Regular grooming of the nails can help prevent spiraled nails and will bring attention to any other issues that may have taken place. Nails should be groomed at least once every six months. The foot should also be inspected for callus, sores or any irregularities.

Perches

Perches of various sizes and shapes will help your parrot exercise his feet as the movement from different size perches will help him grip better and keep the feet limber. Small as well as large perches should be offered as the parrot will be excercising his feet by moving from one perch to the other.

Perches of various materials will also help with the parrots grip and will help prevent callusing from forming as well as sores developing. The variety of perches helps them from getting too much wear on their feet from one perch type, Cement, sand or calcium perches help to also keep the nails dull making holding the bird less painful from the sharp claws. Rope perches are soft on the feet and are good for birds having a hard time gripping to other smoother materials.

Washing

Birds feet should be cleaned regularly as it is easy for them to step in feces within their own cages. The feces tends to stick to the feet which can result in infection.

Foot Toys

Toys that the parrot can hold in his foot should also be offered. These will give him hours of enjoyment as well as excerise by holding and playing with the items offered.

Splay Leg

Although we do not breed we have recieved birds at the rescue with splayed legs. It's quite upsetting to see a bird that can not use it's legs due to something so preventable. When the babies are first born we need to ensure that there is enough bedding in the cage so that the babies can place their legs down straight. If splay does develop the two legs can be tied together for a few days which can solve the problem. It would be well worth the time to investigate splay leg and cures on the internet as it is quite preventable with the birds are young but results in expensive surgeries as the birds age.

Parrots and Noise

2007-10-23T16:34:00.000-07:00

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.

Metal Poisoning and Pets

2007-10-15T05:46:00.000-07:00

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.

Deadly Fumes

2007-10-15T05:43:00.001-07:00

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

Parrots and Toys

2007-10-12T07:00:00.000-07:00

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!

What to look for in a rescue or sanctuary

2007-10-06T20:00:00.000-07:00

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.

2007-10-04T07:34:00.000-07:00

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.

Wing Clipping Your Parrot

2007-10-01T05:50:00.000-07:00

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
.

Body Language - Parrots Speak Louder Than Words!

2007-09-28T17:14:00.000-07:00

Some parrots have wonderful speaking abilities for the most part. Some can even converse in context! More is being discovered about the parrot brain by the likes of Dr. Pepperberg and a few others. Many go beyond just the ability to mimic.

I have found in my own home and through running the parrot rescue that bird’s can and do ask for many things they want by using words. I have over and over been asked for things by some of the parrots here at the rescue. Some can say "want a drink" or "water". With some of the others, it can be a little more subtle and they will make the sound of water. I hear many others say "want a peanut", "want a apple", “wanna go outside” or many variations and have learned that they can see the item or feel thirsty and make a request for the item or ideas. I have taught several parrots how to differentiate colors and one of them knows 5 colors and would pick a particular color by random choice.

There intelligence can be astounding for those that take the time to find out what abilities their own parrot might have.

What I find just as intriguing is there body language. Parrots can and do communicate through the use of body language even more than they do with words!

Body Language

Parrots can show joy and fear and happiness without having to say a word! The use of body language plays an even more important part in understanding our parrots need then the use of words. They communicate using their bodies much more frequently than they do with words. Also for those parrots that do only speak to mimic or who have not “found their voice” they continue to communicate with us through their bodies.

I watch Oliver at Tim Horton’s if you happened to read that story on my Blog about my Blue Front Amazon that has his own addiction to Tim Horton’s. He runs to the window and his wings flap and his head leans forward in a begging motion. He is showing both excitement and begging for his food!

If we start paying attention to our birds body and learn to understand its little idiosyncrasies we will learn that they really ARE communicating with us.

I can walk up to almost any bird and determine if I am going to be able to step up the bird or get bit long before I reach my hand in the cage! Some will come running to the front seeking me out and some will cower to the back in fear. Some will also just sit there and observe for themselves. Mind you I don’t stop although I know I am going to get bit. Taking a parrot bite is part of the process and will teach the bird that I am not afraid of it. I do not show fear to the parrots as I am certain they read our body language too!

Anyone can learn to read their parrot’s body language by observing their parrot during the course of daily events. Parrots know when food is coming, you will see when they are hungry by a little flutter of their wings showing excitement that a treat is on the way. They will lean towards something they want and in some cases if we aren’t aware they will walk over and help themselves!

They show excitement not jus t with food but with excursions, baths, toys and play as well. Depending on whether they enjoy their bath or not you should be able to tell just by their stance. Some will try and run away even at the look of your spraying device, others show indifference by sitting there and not moving and some will flap around with joy and spread their feathers for the water to seep into every crevice of their bodies!

It is those times we know for certain when our parrots are either enjoying themselves or are not crazy for bath time.

There are still move subtle body language movements that can teach us to communicate with our parrots even more effectively.

Much can be discovered through play. You should observe your parrot during moments o f playtime and watch how they react to their toys. You can see a bird that is fearful of something as their body automatically moves away from it. Their feet may remain still but they lean away from the object. This tells us there is at least a sense that they are aware of this new thing but that they are leery of it.
At this time we should go a bit slower at introducing the item to give the parrot time to adjust to the new item. Let them touch it if they are comfortable and show it to them with your hands so they can see it doesn’t hurt you. Let’s use a toy as an example. You just picked up a little ball. You bring it to the parrot he backs away or leans back away from the ball. He is showing us that he is at least a little nervous of the new ball.

Take the ball and show him up close so he can see it. Roll it in your hand and make some happy sounds like you are enjoying playing with the ball. See if you can touch his beak with it. More than likely this small introduction to his new toy will change the stance of the body to curiosity and they eventual play!

Not all birds will communicate the same way using their bodies. It does take an observant eye to watch and learn what your bird is communicating to you through their body but you and he will be the better for it as it will open up an area of communication you didn’t know existed!

You relationship will improve as your parrot learns that you understand him and he will develop trust towards you and others. He will understand that new toys are not something to fear but to enjoy. I have found that once we communicate through body language and through context that biting also lessens. The parrot will be more relaxed and not so fearful of things he doesn’t know

The Importance of Socialization

2007-09-27T07:16:00.000-07:00

One of the most common problems we run across in a household is a parrot that is unsocialized. The fact that a bird can not be handled by more than one person, or in some cases, not at all, is detrimental to a bird's behaviors. I hear people say "Oh I wouldn't touch him if I were you, he only likes so and so", as the bird lunges at you in an attempt to remove some appendage or another. In other instances, a bird owner will tell you not to approach the animal, or it will crawl to the back of the cage and remain there, shaking and afraid.

One of the best things we can do for our pets is to socialize them. It will help them during times of stress or later in an emergency. There are many ways of doing this and the benefits are tremendous!

We see, and all too often, birds that will only go to one person and are terrified of others, which includes other family members, and strangers alike!

What will happen on that sad day when you are no longer able to keep your pet or God forbid something happens to you!

The bird suffers.......

The Art of Socialization

You new arrival

From the beginning of your pet arriving or even NOW after a number of years! It is never too late to start this process and your bird will thank you in the long run!

Make sure that when your pet first arrives that all family members spend time with your pet. Even small children can participate under the supervision of an adult. It can start with giving the new arrival small treats such as sun flower seeds or almonds. Try to find his absolute favorite food and save it as a treat! Make sure that everyone spends time with your parrot and once the parrot is comfortable with you try to pet him on the head. Not all parrots like to be petted so don't feel too discouraged if this is the case. Hopefully he has already been taught the basic step up command. Let everyone in the home take turns stepping up the parrot.

If you find that he is becoming too attached to one individual, have that individual back off for a while and let the other family members warm up to him. That may mean you should leave the room as even the sight of the favorite person could get them excited enough that they won't respond as well to the others.

Ouside influences

Take them out with you. Get them used to being in a carrier, in a car and handled by strangers.

You can walk around the block or down to the corner store. The more exposure to outside influences the less and less traumatic the experience will be!

It will make trips to the vet less traumatic. Have people come to your home and spend time with you bird.

Try trading with a bird friend for weekends with their birds. Over nighters are a good way to get your bird used to others and he will only benefit from it in the long run.

This will help later down the road for any traumatic events that might take place. In the event something did happen or you need to utilize a bird sitter for a vacation.

A bird sitter is another source for socialization. They work with many birds and can spend time with your bird. Without his comfort zone birds tend to respond well within a day or two.

The more we can help our birds adjust to a changing environment the easier it will be for them to adjust during times of emergency!

Join a bird club, and bring you bird with you. Others at the club are experienced and more than willing to lend a helping hand in holding your bird which will help the socialization process.

Just taking him out in the back yard or front yard will attract neighbours and can be a benefit as well. Exposing him to different environments and people will teach him to feel more comfortable with others. Just make sure they are respectful of your bird and go slow! Make sure there is only one or two people at a time.

I should also point out that it is always best to have people that are willing to work with your bird as not everyone is comfortable. I am giving many examples of places that could benefit you by their experience as well as inexperienced ways. Use what ever you have available to you. My best suggestion though it to join a bird club as these people do have the experience of working with birds and do not

**Most importantly that his wings are clipped! NEVER TAKE A BIRD OUTSIDE WITHOUT A WING CLIP! Remember some can still fly with a clip. You need to know your bird and his capabilities.

The Benefits

You parrot will start to feel comfortable around other people and will probably start to enjoy the company of others!

He will enjoy getting in the carrier for your next exciting adventure!

Trips to the vet or the bird sitter will be less traumatic and he will adjust much quicker upon returning home!

If there ever comes a day when you are no longer able to keep your parrot he will adjust that much easier to a new environment.

Having worked with many birds over the years I see the benefits of socialization regularly and how well the birds respond to it.

They are calmer, happier and well adjusted.

Bird Clubs - Great Places and Great People

2007-09-26T07:02:00.000-07:00

I would like to discuss, in this article, the importance of 'bird clubs' and why it is a good idea to join your local club.

There are many aspects to bird clubs: they provide several resources to the avian community, through education, breeding, research, shows, and aviculture in general.

Education:

Most bird clubs, over the course of the year, put on educational events similar to ours.

The purpose is to bring awareness of the joys of parrot ownership and give people the opportunity to see, first hand, how wonderful avian companionship can be. They can meet parrots and possibly hold them, ask questions and take pictures!

It also informs the community, and parrot owners, that there is a club that can offer other owners help, guidance and support for them.

Meetings:

Typically there are monthly meetings which bring in new and unique guest speakers on a range of avian related topics. It may involve breeding, pet ownership, behaviour help, what's new in the avian world and a host of other topics. It is also a wonderful social time to meet others of 'like mind' who are often more than willing to answer questions, give advice, socialize your parrot or allow you to brag about your wonderful avian companion!

It is a wonderful social evening with friends and usually there are raffles, snacks and a library of information to help everyone.

Breeding:

Although not my area of expertise, breeding is the main focal point for most bird clubs. It is a place for networking with other breeders, assisting in difficulties one may experience with some very knowledgeable help from some of the top professionals in the avian field. You may also find your next 'pet' through a club member. Some heavy discussions can be overheard on disease prevention, difficulties on breeding captive birds and almost any other topic related to breeding captive bred birds.

The Show:

The entire year is focused on this big event. This is the time when breeders and parrot owners alike can bring their best and show their birds in front of a panel of judges and their peers. Awards are given to the best in class. It is a wondrous time seeing birds that are rare and meeting some of the top in their field who are always willing to help and answer questions and possibly sell one of their prize winning birds!

All in all, it is a great place to meet new friends, gather information that you won't find in books! Socialize your bird and learn new things.

Join your local bird club today!

The DAS Annual Cage Bird Show

2007-09-23T15:18:00.000-07:00

Wow what a turn out for the show today! We ran in to many old friends and a few new friends and probably made some new friends today also!

It was great to see everyone and many of the birds that we have rehomed were there also!

It was so nice to see all those birds under one roof! 4 PASO Alumni won ribbons and trophies in some of the categories and at least 2 of those came in first place!

Congratulations to all the winners!

Nancy and Brett

Our Own Tim Horton's Story

2007-09-14T16:03:00.000-07:00

I visit Timmy's regularly when in town. Actually it's hard to pass a Timmy's as I think there is some sort of magnetic attraction that forces my car into their drive thru as it just can't seem to drive past a Timmy's without making it's way through the drive thru.

I also have a regular companion with me in my best bud Oliver. Well obviously Timmy's has attractions on more than people and cars. This became apparent to me one day while being pulled through the drive thru by their invisible force. Oliver ran over to my shoulder as soon as I reached the speaker and placed his own incoherent order by sqwaking into the speak in this horrible, loud, annoying squawk he does when he really REALLY wants something!

I could here the laughter through the speaker as I am sure all the employees thought I was nuts screaming into their ears with this horrible sound. I did manage through the squawks to get my order placed. When we arrived at the window Oliver jumped on the door and begged for a timbit!

I was amazed that he has realized on his own that if you speak into the speaker box that food will come out the window!

I didn't know if this was a once in a life time event or something he figured out until the next trip to the drive thru and sure enough he did the same routine again. You can actually see him flutter knowing when we are in the drivethru line up and he will wait patiently until we are at the speak before he runs over to my shoulder to place his order!

These parrots even after 30 years of working with them still amaze me every day!

What Size Cage is Suitable For My Parrot?

2007-09-14T05:58:00.001-07:00

There are as many bird cages on the market today as their are birds!

There are many things that must be taken into consideration before you purchase a cage. Bigger is not always better!

Bar Spacing is of critical importance, the space between the bars must be the appropriate width to avoid choking, strangulation, feet and toes getting caught as well as escape!

Typically the smaller the cage the small the bar spacing. However as you get into the midsize cages the bar spacing varies for the different species of birds.

The other consideration is size. We do this NOT BY what will fit in the room but WHAT WILL make the bird happy and comfortable as this will be his home for the next 30 or more years!

I have written the following guidelines to help you in your purchase. The Bar spacing should be adhered to exactly but please remember that the Cage sizes are the bare minimum that should be the home of your new bird! In this case Bigger is ALWAYS better!

Species .................................. Minimum CageSize.......... Bar Spacing

Finches ..................................18"x30"x18" .....................1/4" to 1/2"

Canaries ................................18"x24" x18" .....................1/4" to 1/2"

Budgies .................................18"x18"x24" .......................1/2"

Cockatiels .............................20"x20"x24" ......................1/2" to 5/8"

LovebirdsParrotlets ...........24"x24"x24 ........................1/2"

Ringneck Parakeets ...........24"x24"x36" .......................1/2" to 5/8"

Small Conures, Hahns
Macaws ...............................24"x24"x24" .......................5/8" to 3/4"

Large Conures, Caiques,
Pionus, Jardine's ,
Rosella's ..............................24"x24"x36" .......................5/8" to 3/4"

Amazons
Small Macaws
Goffin's Cockatoos
African Greys ....................24"x36"x48" ......................3/4" to 1"

Large Cockatoos ...............36"x48"x48" .......................1" to 1.5"

Large Macaws ..................36"x48"x60" .......................1" to 1.5"

Stanley and Prisilla

2007-09-13T06:59:00.000-07:00

We had completed a shed in the spring to store some of our bird cages however the cages got kicked out as we ended up rescuing a peacock out of Milbrook! We recieved a call from a family who said that one was living in their back yard and another was living in the fair grounds. They were dumped there in the middle of town and the town folk were feeding them but were very worried as they were quite close to the highway.

We managed to capture the male but the female is still on the loose. We are hoping to have her by the end of month with the help of some of the people in Milbrook. We have a possible home for them once we get them both together. As for now he is temporarily residing in the shed until we can capture the female and then work on getting them to their new home!

I should tell you his name is Stanley as he was affectionately named by the people in Milbrook and Prisilla is the female. Stanley loves blueberries but really hasn't turned down anything we have fed him to date. Now we can't be sure but it certainly sounds to us like Stanley is saying hello! My husband has been talking regularly to him and swears as do the kids that Stanley is saying hello back to them. I have not personally heard it myself but have been doing some research on whether Peacocks can talk and the only answer I have recieved is that "I wouldn't be surprised!" So if anyone knows whether Peacocks can or can not talk I would love to hear from you!

Wish us luck on reuniting Prisilla and Stanley!

Nancy

Otis and Ophelia

2007-09-08T07:35:00.000-07:00

Otis is a male eclectus and came in with his best friend a male quaker named Ophelia. Yes we do on occassion have gender issues here! It's funny to hear Ophelia say Good Boy Ophelia!

Otis came to us with metal poisoning from eating the little ringy thing inside of a bell. I am sure that little thing has a name I just don't know what it is! He has a clean bill of health now but still plucks some of his feathers on occassion.

Ophelia is one of the smartest quakers I have ever met. He has one of the greatest vocabularies of any bird that has come through the rescue and we have had alot of birds!

I was watching the two of them play the other day and I was hearing Peek a boo coming from the top of the cage.

I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Ophelia was running behind Otis and then would jump out in front of him and yell PEEK A BOO!

Not only was she saying the words she was actually playing the game!

These birds astonish me all the time! I have seen them make tools to scratch their heads and open things they should be able to open but to watch these two actually playing Peek A Boo just about blew me away!

Onyx - Black Lory

2007-09-08T07:31:00.000-07:00

Well I think I am going to start sharing some antidotes of the parrots here at the rescue.

Today I gave Onyx the Lory some Juice since they are nectar eaters. Well he decided that he was going to have a bath in it!

He is splashing away on my kitchen table and spraying juice within a 10 foot radius!

I ran to the sink to get him a bowl of water so he could splash in that instead but he wanted nothing to do with it!

Now my entire kitchen is covered in sticky juice and Onyx is as proud as punch and smells like Mango! He sure can make a big mess in a small amount of time!

Large or Small Parrot - The decisions are never easy

2007-08-22T08:12:00.000-07:00

Many people come to us assuming that only the larger parrots are infact parrots (ie. cockatoos, macaws and african greys) and never consider some of the smaller species.

There are some very underrated birds out there that are just as fun and playful and even more talkative then their larger cousins.

Quaker Parrots (Monk Parrakeets) are one of the smartest parrots I have come across. They are highly intelligent and can rival an african grey for their speaking abilities.

Cockatiels are a very underrated bird. They are extremely social and love to cuddle with their owners. They can also be taught to talk and love to learn tricks!

Most of our requests are for african grey parrots. We get many applications requesting an African Grey. Their talking ability is incredible however they do have their draw backs. It has been my experience that the Congo African Greys and Timneh African Greys do tend to some minor and in some cases major phobia's. They tend to be afraid of new things such as toys, brooms, people etc. Making them a little more difficult as a pet. They require someone with great amounts of patience and hopefully previous bird experience. I have met a couple Congo African Greys without phobia's but they have been few and far between.

It is not always necessary or practical to opt for the larger birds when their are so many smaller parrot species out there that can give you the love, affection and talking abilities that you are looking for.

The Pirate Festival

2007-08-20T19:37:00.000-07:00

Well our first weekend at the Pirate Festival with all the rescue birds was a huge success! Everyone enjoyed themselves and the parrots had a ball! We have already been asked to come again next year!

We talked about rescued parrots and our adoption program and how easy a bird can become injured if we aren't careful with our flighted friends. We discussed our behaviour programs and the care and keeping of parrots as pets as well as many people for their very first time were able to hold and play with a macaw, a moluccan cockatoo and several amazons as well as as eclectus and a quaker!

It was great seeing everyone dressed in Pirate garb and the birds didn't seem to mind a bit! It was fun watching all the kids in their pirate hats

We have two weekends left and we will be there Saturday and Sunday from 9:30 to 5:00p.m. and Monday of Labor Day Weekend as well.

There was lots of entertainment for kids and adults alike. Comedians, dramatic representations, games, face painting and a sing a long of pirate songs.

Definitely worth the drive to Old Fort York! It feels great to help such a worth while cause and learn a bit of our history in the process.

Parrot Adopt Southern Ontario

2007-08-20T18:43:00.000-07:00

Well this is our blog page. As this is new to me I will be adding all kinds of information and updates about what is happening about PASO. For those that don't know we are a parrot rescue taking in abused, displaced and parrots that can no longer stay with the families.

We rescue parrots from all across Ontario and offer behaviour assistance to parrot owners to help them keep their parrots before they come to the rescue if it is the wish of the owners.

We have some permanent residents mostly those with disabilities and a few others with severe behaviour issues.

We do try to place as many birds into forever homes as possible.

As I said this is our blog and here you will find updates and information about us. Our website is www.parrotadoptontario.com

P.A.S.O. is blogging!

2007-08-20T17:42:00.000-07:00

We are now in the blogging world! Here you will get a little more then what you would in the news portion of our website.