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[Auggie's Dad]

Yes, handedness is quite common throughout the animal kingdom. In fact it is harder to find animals that don't display some sort of handedness, whether physiologically or behaviorally - often both.

Parrots are most commonly left-handed, so if yours is a righty then she is a minority. But in the picture you're displaying she is using her left foot...

As an aside left handedness seems more common in general in the animal kingdom - to such an extent that some have gone to lengths to explain the dominance of right handedness in humans. Some such efforts are a bit odd and overly speculative but the data is clear about the fact that we are not simply right-hand dominant but rather most humans use their right hand for particular tasks such as throwing and striking ("ballistic" manipulations) and use the left hand for closer intricate manipulative tasks.

 

[Spiritbird]

Hi Auggie's Dad You know what............Rosie's mom made a mistake you most astutely corrected by looking at the photo. She is a left parrot and not a right parrot for holding. I am sure because the band is on the left foot. Anyway, you answered the question with intelligent details. Thanks

 

[Pugsnparrots]

Hi, I'm a newbie. I have a 14 yr. old Goffin Cockatoo and a 15 yr old African Grey. My African Grey is grieving the loss of his best friend, my husband, who died 6 wks ago. Since his death Raider has become agressive toward me. Never bit me before but now it's every chance he gets. Other than lots of attention and handling, how can I help him. He is the sunshine of my day! Any advis?

 

[Auggie's Dad]

Welcome Pugs,

Birds really bond to their chosen human, in fact a good case could be made that they form stronger bonds than we humans do. The best advice: give him time and space. You will each mourn in your own ways, and each of you must be allowed to do so. There is no magic pill to take the pain away - and if there was, would you want it for yourself?

Of course you need practical measures to avoid getting bit, but for this I think just giving him more space for a while. Let him do his own thing - let him out of the cage but do not expect to interact with him - when he is ready to interact with you more he will let you know.

I have no doubt he will warm up to you in his own time, and I suspect any measures to speed up that process could do as much harm as good.

 

[Chuthee]

Thank you for the welcome. I'm so confused on how this site works. It took me a few minutes on how to type this bit. So please bare with me. My name is Chuthee & I have 2 eclectus 1 male, 1 female. I recieved them from my brother(who only had them a few months) who received them from previous owners who just didn't want them anymore. I had them since June. I brought them from Hawaii to Calif. I had to rename them for no one knew their names. I don't even know how old they are. They are not tamed. I did get them to finally take food from me, but I can't touch them. They both bite. The male talks very little but the 2 fight off & on yet I see them kissing & he feeds her with food he regergitate. Please tell me what I am doing wrong? I read & try to practice what I've read but it's not working. Am I expecting too much so soon? I have grown to love them & the male is a character but I'm tired of getting bite,.....it hurts! And I do want them to be Happy. Any & All suggestions will be appreciated.

 

[Auggie's Dad]

Welcome Chuthee,

Let me get right to the point with this one:

Am I expecting too much so soon?

YES!



You have a bonded pair; they've bonded with each other which means they may be less receptive to people in general than other birds would be. Additionally they've been shuffled around through several homes and moved half way across the globe in a very short period of time. It also sounds like they may have not been cared for very well in previous homes.

I did get them to finally take food from me

This is a noteworthy success, these things take time.

Give them time, be patient. Let them see that their new home is actually a HOME not a stop on an endless shuffling between human homes. Offer them food and treats, but do not push them; they will warm up in time.

 

[cathypet]

Hello Parrot Lovers!

I am new to this sight. My name is Cathy and I am the proud owner of a male Congo African Grey parrot. His name is Kona and he is a year old. He is very smart and is quite a talker. He wants to be closer friends but we have only owned him a month. I bought him from a guy who had him just a week. He felt that he didn't enough time to devote to him. Not only that but he lived in a small duplex. Kona was previously owned by a family with children and other birds and dogs. He seems well-adjusted and is really homing-in here.

I am in hopes of bonding with him. He seems like he wants to be a active part of the family; which only consists of my retired hubby and me. We have alot of time for him and just enjoy watching him! He says alot of things.

Looking forward to hearing form other bird lovers....
Cathy (Kona's Mom)

 

[Catch]

Hi, new to this site (or any bird site really) Bought my first bird the 10thof August and he was just five weeks old. I had named him, but it did not suit and now his name is Catch, he loves flying and he does so goes from the kitchen to the living room and any where in between, he went up stairs in the beginning and that was funny as he did not how to get down, I had to go up and collect him, then one day he just let him self drop of the bannister up stairs and flew back to the sitting room onto his perch, he loves being tickeld and drops himself on his back. Loves lying with his feet in the air on my hand. (beeing tickeld) if he had enough he lets me know with a nip (not a bite). He has a super marios little cart toy he love to assault and throw around the place. he gives a kiss when you ask him, and giggels when the t.v is on (even if it is not funny) but when I laugh he laughs out even louder, loves the simpsons as does my huge Labrador Retriever Buzz. Yesterday he said his first two syllabel word Hel-low very softly. that is my long winded introduction as a first time bird owner. (that is very lucky to have a hand reared well treated Green Cheeck conure)

 

[Auggie's Dad]

Welcome Catch, sounds like a great little bird - as are most GCCs. That young and he's already starting to talk - that's great.

 

[parasiteeve9]

I'm new to this site.I own a Hahns macaw named Kiwi and he is 6 years old and my husband has a Red lored Amazon who is 10 years old named Polly and i have 1 pug named Lucky.

 

[MonaRaeHill]

Hi.

We are parrot owners, 2 m 'tiels, 1 f quaker, and 1 f conure......this spring, our quaker became a hen; it was very stressful, as she had 5 eggs. Well, we brought her to the vet, got some good advice, and we all got over it, thank goodness.

Unfortunately, during that process (before we knew what we know now), we attempted to introduce a conure for her to have as a friend. Anyway, the new bird was supposed to be a male and we thought that since he was a conure, she'd bond with him but not have any chicklets. They do say the road to hell is paved with good intentions, right? eesh.

she didn't want much to do with him, her eggs, or our attempts to help her out by having bath time together, although she has adjusted to the presence of him, she hasn't really made friends, exactly.

the really sad part is that Atty is actually another girl, and has started laying eggs, in Sept. no less! Gracious, we do get the oddest critters..........

anyway, anyone know anything about this? is it likely that Atty has been egg-bound for a few months? when we thought she was a he, we were charmed by his/her tendency to crawl into towels (while on our lap), and burrow, sometimes for hours. Had we known he was a she, we would not have encouraged this..........ugh.

what do we do, now? unlike Clover, Atty is brooding the egg, talking to it, and nurturing it, so we hate to take it away..........any thoughts? It is, after all, the WRONG time of year for having eggs.........at least, we think so.......

thanks in advance.

 

[mangobaby]

Hello everyone, my name is theda and i have 1 parrot his name is mango. He is the first bird I have ever owned. He is a Moluccan Cockatoo. I have only had him for 2 months now and he is teaching me a lot about birds. He is very gentle and loves attention.
I also have two horses and two dogs.

 

[zhuzhi]

Hi all,
Well I am a new owner of a budgee and am delighted with him , he is only 7 weeks old and I have had him about a week now and I have him jumping up on my finger when I say up, and have bought him toys but he doesn't seem interested in them.
I want a happy bird and would love some tips to help me out.

 

[Auggie's Dad]

Welcome to the forums. Most bird owners have found that birds rarely like bird toys... but cat toys are great - and CHEAP.

I have never had budgies so I don't know what works for them, I don't imagine they spend as much time shredding paper products as other parrots do but you could try giving him empty toilet paper towel rolls and the like. They're cheep, easy, and for many birds a lot of fun.

 

[Dee]

Hello everyone,

I am currently building an in-home aviary with ventilation, a morning sun window and proper lighting with an air filter. I will be receiving a couple of barraband parrots from Abbotsford on the 24th of this month.

I have much experience with birds (have hand-raised budgies, cockatiels, a crow and even blue and gold macaws from eggs). I previously had a Triton cockatoo that has since passed away. My husband and I have been talking about building an aviary for the last 12 years and have finally done it. All that's left are the cages and that will be dependant on the birds we acquire.
We are very interested in adopting birds (large ones for the most part as they are hardest to place). The size of room they have is 6.5' x 14'.
I previously started a veterinary technology course but was unable to finish as the practicum required was 2 weeks on a farm and I was physically unable to do that at the time.
My current health is great, I have no small children (my only one at home is 16, so he's not usually here) and I work from home, so will be able to spend a lot of time with them. Other than that, we have an older dog (who unfortunately won't be with us much longer), a fish tank and a cat who is strictly indoors.

 

[mlbsquare]

Hi my name is Mary Lou and I have a African Gray, except he doesn't think he's a bird!!! My birds name is Rocco he talks he is a very smart bird except lately he screams and yells and gets very annoying when I leave the room. I try to take the cage to all the rooms that I am in, I am probably doing the wrong thing, please tell what I can do to stop this problem, oh I forgot to mention when gets crazy I cover him and he stops somewhat. Please help me!!!

 

[Auggie's Dad]

Why do you have to bring the cage? Can't you just bring him?

Covering him up is one option, but it is still giving him a reaction. The best thing to do is NOTHING, do not react at all when he is being too loud. Only bring him with you to other rooms when he is being good, never when he is being loud.

Also, rather than just WAITING for him to be goo you could teach him certain sounds or words to ask for attention. Auggie can sure squawk but it will not get him anything - he does know a soft whistle that will get me to give him attention or let him out of his room.

 

[kaeinc1025]

Glad to be HERE

Hey Everyone


Kyle here...


I am from the northeast United States.

I am glad to see there are active members to this site and I cannot wait to meet you all!

I have to say it...


I love parrots!


I even have an online store dedicated just to Parrot apparel and neat Collectibles..

Call me CRAZY haha, but they say do what you love so..


I hope to see you soon at my personal Parrot Heaven

Enjoy


www.parrot-stuff.com


Let me know what You Think



Kyle

 

[Zoroastrid]

Hello Ya'All! I'm a transplanted Tennessean to Michigan. Very homesick! I have shown dogs, Whippets and Borzoi, since 1967. Have also had Frenchies, Brussels, Eng Toy Spaniels and Skye Terriers along the way, plus some "good ol' dogs" that just showed up, or got dumped in the yard. Presently, we raise/show whippets and Italian greyhounds.
On the farm, we showed Maine Anjou cattle, Percheron Horses, Nubian goats and standard Brahma chickens. Also worked through college by collecting venomoids for anti-venom, and did raptor rescue and rehab in Florida. Its safe to say I have never spent a moment of my life without some kind of hair, feathers, slobber and manure on me somewhere.
Currently, I have 4 ringnecks, 2 AG's, 1 macaw, 1 U2, a cherry head and a goffin, who are all spoiled rotten. Also, 3 Turkish Van cats, 2 turtles and 4 koi ponds. And last but not least, a VERY healthy,happy chipmunk community out under the deck and around the ponds, whose members have learned to use the doggy door. Very freely. We have yet to come to terms with this, ROFLMAO!
Other hobbies include an orchid collection, archeology, paleontology, religious history, geneaology.
Thats about it. I'm already off to post a question about winter emergency rations. Look forward to meeting everyone!
Zoe

 

[nee]

hi my name is Nee, I am new to the forum, thanks for letting me join. I have 3 Quakers, 1 ring neck, 1 conure, 1 mustache, 11 lovebirds, 5 parakeets, 7 tills and 5 finches. I love them very much. they sure can give alot of love to anyone if you will just let them. my home is very loud at times but also can be very comical at times when the mustache and the quakers are all talking at the same time.
I have been reading on here for several days and there is so much to learn about birds and I do want to learn so I can give them the best care I can. looking forward to getting to know each of you.
nee