I used to work at a pet store and someone dropped off 2 parrotlets. Another employee took them home and had them for about 6 months. Recently, the female passed away and ever since the male has started plucking his entire body. She figured he needed more attention and a mutual friend of ours has a daughter that has been wanting a bird so my firends gave them the parrotlet as a trial to see if the girl was responsible enough for him and in hopes the extra attention would keep the bird from plucking.
They have had him for 5 days now and their dog has already had ahold of the bird once. The bird plucked his entire chest whichw as growing back since he's been there. They are handling him daily but the girl is too afraid of getting bit so she uses a glove to get him out of his cage and to hold him.
My husband and I were visiting them last night and my husband calmly got the parrotlet out of the cage without a glove. it took a few minutes for him to trust him but he did well. He got him to step up from finger to finger and the bird only used his beak to climb. Thats not to say the bird won't bite, he does bite but only when you arent calm and patient around him.
My dilemma is this. We were thinking since the girl wanted a parakeet in the first place, that maybe uf she let us take the parrotlet and try to work with him we could get her a parakeet instead that doesn't already have issues. I have a sun conure and a parakeet that can help keep the parrotlet company also since he lived his whole life with a mate, maybe that could help. I don't want to push that idea on them or try to take their bird away, but I am worried about the little guy. Also, he hasn't been with another bird for a good couple months and besides the plucking has been healthy living with my friend for atleast 6 months but if I were to be able to bring him home, how long would I still have to quarentine him?
They have had him for 5 days now and their dog has already had ahold of the bird once. The bird plucked his entire chest whichw as growing back since he's been there. They are handling him daily but the girl is too afraid of getting bit so she uses a glove to get him out of his cage and to hold him.
My husband and I were visiting them last night and my husband calmly got the parrotlet out of the cage without a glove. it took a few minutes for him to trust him but he did well. He got him to step up from finger to finger and the bird only used his beak to climb. Thats not to say the bird won't bite, he does bite but only when you arent calm and patient around him.
My dilemma is this. We were thinking since the girl wanted a parakeet in the first place, that maybe uf she let us take the parrotlet and try to work with him we could get her a parakeet instead that doesn't already have issues. I have a sun conure and a parakeet that can help keep the parrotlet company also since he lived his whole life with a mate, maybe that could help. I don't want to push that idea on them or try to take their bird away, but I am worried about the little guy. Also, he hasn't been with another bird for a good couple months and besides the plucking has been healthy living with my friend for atleast 6 months but if I were to be able to bring him home, how long would I still have to quarentine him?
