My opinion (old man ramblings)

[Tman]

People say parrots are a lot of work.
I disagree parrots are a joy. Parrots are loud, and some are so loud the neighbors complain. To me they're not loud it's parrots being parrots. Parrots are messy. Most definitely they are. And sometimes you wonder how did that peice of crap get all the way over on this wall?
What does I do I laugh and clean it up.
To me everything about having parrots in my life is a joy. From making up their chop, to sprouting the sprouts. I enjoy everything that has to do with taking care of them playing with them. Training them seeing how far they have come. When I have to clean out Axel's cage I do it because I know it makes him feel better which makes me feel better. Even crawling inside his cage to clean the inside, to moving toys and perches around., I just feel good.
I know people work, and they may have more in their life than I do. But just maybe if you change your attitude about picking up the mess, cleaning out the cage. It just might make it a lot more enjoyable to have your parrot. By changing your attitude about the extra noise the mess, the cage cleaning, your body language just might tell your parrot how much you really love them.
So many times we stress over little things when its all part of being owned by a parrot.
I put this out there just to give the forum something to think about. No disrespect to anyone.

 

[chris-md]

I can’t really disagree, you’ve written a sweet love letter to parrots.

But as a counter to the “they’re difficult” argument, I think it almost misses the point of why people complain: they’re caught off guard by how messy, how noisy, how challenging and intrusive they are in ones life. Potential owners substantially underestimate what’s involved, and when viewed from that perspective many simply are unable to change their level of tolerance for noise and mess, understandably so.

Understand also that the term “difficult” can be defined differently depending on who is using it. For some, it’s the level of skill and attention to detail required especially addressing challenging behaviors, for others it means sheer volume of work parrot come with even if they are capable, and others define it by how obtrusive they are - and they are obtrusive, make no mistake. Some don’t want all that work in their life especially as they weren’t expecting it.

I know I owned a conure before, but for a year or two I struggled with just how much WORK came with a larger bird, and one with special needs like eclectus, as well as the tension they create with unwilling partners, I *almost* caved. Glad I didn’t, but I came close and even posted here about how close I was to rehoming my boy until I learned a slightly different approach to his more challenging behavior.

They buy into a romantic fantasy, and end up with one big nightmare. You know what you are doing, making this perspective on “difficult” very different from the perspective of new owners. You have a bit of an experience bias you aren’t quite acknowledging. It easy to just say “change your mindset”, not as easy to do for a lot of people.

 

[wrench13]

B*tch, b*tch, b*tch, now you sound like Salty. Just tell Axel to suck it up. And enjoy the attention and love your wild animal shows you, same as the rest of us! All kidding aside, I always told my kids you have no right to complain, unless you do the job. Then you got the right to moan and complain.

 

[Scott]

People say parrots are a lot of work.
I disagree parrots are a joy. Parrots are loud, and some are so loud the neighbors complain. To me they're not loud it's parrots being parrots. Parrots are messy. Most definitely they are. And sometimes you wonder how did that peice of crap get all the way over on this wall?
What does I do I laugh and clean it up.
To me everything about having parrots in my life is a joy. From making up their chop, to sprouting the sprouts. I enjoy everything that has to do with taking care of them playing with them. Training them seeing how far they have come. When I have to clean out Axel's cage I do it because I know it makes him feel better which makes me feel better. Even crawling inside his cage to clean the inside, to moving toys and perches around., I just feel good.
I know people work, and they may have more in their life than I do. But just maybe if you change your attitude about picking up the mess, cleaning out the cage. It just might make it a lot more enjoyable to have your parrot. By changing your attitude about the extra noise the mess, the cage cleaning, your body language just might tell your parrot how much you really love them.
So many times we stress over little things when its all part of being owned by a parrot.
I put this out there just to give the forum something to think about. No disrespect to anyone.

Love your attitude! The power of positive attitude transforms the most mundane and repetitive chores into the joy of supporting your feathered children. Most admirable!!

 

[Laurasea]

That is the attitude I'm always try to get people who are being bitten by their parrots to take.

Instead of all the drama, the hyper reactivity. The OMG my parrot is awful, hates me, is mean, bites fir no reason at all .

If tyey could change their reaction, and how they think about bites. Read body language. And after a bite is done, get over it. Parrots live in the moment ( mostly) . Mine squabble with each other then they are over it and go on.

If they could bring humor to the situation. To relax and nit take it so personally!

But some of that comes with age. Not everyone gets wiser....but we have had more practice seeing the long picture.


Your attitude is what should be strive for, when dealing with parrot mess, or life mess.

But we do have to educate those without a clue. Some cannot tolerate the mess and noise. Even if it is balanced with love and joy.

 

[saxguy64]

I love this! We understand how many people out there don't get it, why crazy bird people do what we do, but that's okay. We do our best to educate, before they run out and buy on impulse, and help them gain perspective when they find themselves overwhelmed. It makes my day to be able to help a new parront with a problem, or just lend support as they work through it. The beauty of this forum is that people who don't know have a place to turn with questions, and find that support, knowing they're among like minded friends.

It makes my heart sing when my birds are at their destructive, messy, noisy "worst." They're happy, and busy, and doing what parrots do. It's a beautiful thing. My kids get a little frustrated when the birds start flock calling for attention during a phone call or zoom meeting for school. Yep, it makes it hard to hear, so we just relocate them to a different room with a closed door. (The kids, not the birds lol!)

 

[Laurasea]

ROFLMAO
" Yep, it makes it hard to hear, so we just relocate them to a different room with a closed door. (The kids, not the birds lol!)"

 

[Tman]

Axel calls out just because I'm paying attention to someone else. If someone stops by we talk for about 2 minutes with a parrot calling out. Then he settles in and we can talk. If I am on the phone I have to go to my room to talk.

 

[SailBoat]

From the: I Love Amazons -- Thread in the Amazon Subforum.

I Love Amazons! (PARROTS!!!)

Over the years, I have enjoyed the company of the full cross-section of large parrots, nearly all well loved by their owners. I am often asked; which is my favorite and without hesitation, I state that my favorite is that raucous group of parrots known as Amazons. The common second question is: WHY Amazons? They are so difficult!

Difficult? What is so difficult about Amazons! At this point, the questioner commonly tells any number of stories of the much-fabled Flaming Hot Three, The Hormonal Maniacs, The Screaming Monsters, The Flesh Devouring Vampires, The Territorial Hoarders, and The Cruel Divider of Families. Stories, Stories and more Stories of that fabled New World Green Killer!

Then I begin asking questions — commonly the bird or birds in question had been purchased on the quick and far more commonly, the cheap. The new owner was provided little or no information, let alone what constitutes a healthy meal or proper living quarters, then surprise, surprise the little green bundle turns into a Mass Murderer! It would be truly humorous, if not for the part where they dump the bird!

It must be a new fault in the Human personality or a recent failure in our rearing of Humans, which has resulted in the growing number of Humans that believe that life requires nothing more then simply wanting something for it to magically be that way. Possibly, it’s the affect of the wonders of modern technology - that fresh from the box - instance gratification of extremely complicated technology that by simply adding batteries, plugging it in, or connection to the net and ‘It Works’! Gratifying our momentary want, before we whisk onto our next want. Whatever happened to actually having to work for something? Reality Check: Living Things do not function that way. Surprise, you have to work at having a ‘Successful Relationship’ with Living Things!

Amazons Are Simple! All you have to do is pay attention and they will clearly tell you what is working and what is not. Amazon’s tell you like it is, no rouse, no guessing, no game playing, just to the point, the way it is! All we Humans have to do is to use only a small percentage of our enormous brains and simply be observant. How hard is that? You would think that we are asking a Human to cut-off their arms and legs!

That same Amazon, now having lived though the passing from one dead-end relationship after another, with stops between in those wonderful places called “House of Horrors” or more commonly referred to as Pet Stores, can by luck or divine intervention find its way into a true home. You know, one of those seemly rare places in which individuals value each other and contribute to their abilities. There, that Green Mass Murderer, by great transformation, becomes the love of that family’s life. How can this be? A Vampire to a Lover, what Storybook can this be from?

There is no storybook - it is simply why I love Amazons. Through all the past miss-treatment with a little bit of love, understanding and observation they are the “Come Back Kid’s” of the Avian World. It can even occur in the same home that had defined that Amazon as the New World Green Killer. Is this possible? And, in the same home? Yes, a simple change on the part of the Humans and its time for the Lover to come forth!

Anyone that has known me for even a short period of time, know that I have a Love for Amazons. I Love the Feather, Flesh, that Amazon Scent, that heartwarming Blood of the Living Amazon, which does not require batteries and is not simply de-activated by pulling the plug or pushing the OFF button. I Love In Your Face Amazons! A Warm Blooded, Living, Reality Check, Everyday!

Put that latest greatest electrical gratification toys away, engage a living creature. You may just find that there is far more to life than that momentary gratification techno toy. Without engaging that living creature, such a statement would never be possible.

Amazons are not toys! And Fools are justly rewarded for their self-centered stupidity. Let the Fools write their stores, with hope it will keep other Fools from thinking that their next toy should be an Amazon!

Amazons’ Have More Fun! And, the brighter, more open, Loving Humans quickly find that to be true! Individuals who are successfully Owned by an Amazon are the kind of People that I have always found to be a True Joy being around!

There is no question in my mind that: Amazon’s Rule!

2021 - And That is so True for All Parrots!!!