Rio is not a rescue but I am going to tell his story as so many things were wrong and if I had not found this forum the result would have been tragic
Rio was booked online from a local breeder as a gift for my mother in law by her niece. My husband and I were totally against it because we both did not want to see a bird stuck in a cage for its entire life. Because the breeder had a policy of 'items once sold cannot be returned' we had to take in the delivery. The breeder assured us the parrot was cage ready (whatever that means) and its food could be bought at a pet store(he was kind enough to
give me the address) and all the parrot would need was one bowl of the seeds and one bowl of water. And if it was possible guavas and chilles.
I googled local pet stores with parrot cages and bought the largest one I could find (just to feel less guilty). The same store handed me a packet of sunflower seeds. I had to two dogs (GSD and a Indian Pariah Dog) , a pet hen (absoutely tame) so I was aware of the time and effort a pet takes but knew nothing about parrots.
Rio was delivered to us in a card board box with holes punched. The entire family gathered around and when I opened the box instead of a beautiful green alexandrine was a chick with very little feathers and a huge orange beak.It was an absolute shock. I called up the breeder who promptly told me to get a syringe , throw away the needle , make a mash of chickpeas and feed the chick. He what's app me a pic of a baby parrot with full crop after feeding and told me that if I overfeed the parrot will die and then I should not demand a refund.
We requested the breeder to take back the baby parrot , complete the handfeeding and then give it back to us, we did not want a refund and we would pay extra for his effort as we were incapable of taking up this responsibility. He refused and now I was stuck with a baby parrot who meanwhile was sqwaking blue murder.
My mil for whom the gift was meant lost interest and so it was just me and the baby parrot. My husband got some relevant videos on you tube and got the necessary supplies. My daughter named the parrot Rio. I read and googled
the whole night and realised the mess I had got myself into. My husband was extremely supportive and prepared a to do list and parrot safe food list. My day began at 4.30 starting with preparing the formula and handfeeding Rio.
What follwed after that were panic attacks as I was sure Rio was going to die . It was extremely hectic as I couldn't go for holidays , had to run back from office at inhuman speeds . For some months my 6 year old just had peanut butter sandwiches in her lunch box as Rio took up all the time.
Then there came a time when Rio screeched for food but refused to be handfed. Just like a toddler he would take a bit and then run away and some days not eat at all. In desperation I again turned to the internet and found parrot forums. I learnt about weaning , learnt to prepare a more healthy formula and over all learnt to be patient with Rio.
This post is one way of saying a big thank you to all the members to take out time and reply to inexperienced parronts like me . I learnt that Rio does not have to be cage bound, needs to be socialised, bite pressure trained,
is happy to be flighted and is stick trained. I now understand the deep bond a parrot can have with his human flock. I never even knew parrots needed toys. Now I just browse the forums and shamelessly pick up ideas.
Parrots do not make good surprises or gifts. My mil , for whom Rio was bought , had given up on him the day he came home. Not her fault at all, she is a senior citizen and would not have been able to hand feed Rio.
Now she shares parrot friendly food. Rio steps up on command to her, but on a stick.
Handfeeding a baby parrot without any experience or guidance can go downhill quickly. Rio survived handfeeding was sheer luck. I will never handfeed a baby parrot again.
I still remember Birdman666 reply to slap the breeder for him in the very first thread I posted. I regret I have not been able to do so.
Rio will be 2 this march and I have learnt that parrots are noisy , messy, have an opinion about everything around them, and a lot of work. But if you put at effort at doing the right things you have a companion who will love you and be with you for the next 40+ years of his life . Now my day begins with a loud sqwak, lots of kiss sounds and a bright " Good night sweetie" . Neither of my dogs did that.
I still have a lot of learning to do and depend on the forums for the advice and guidance. Thank you once again
Rio was booked online from a local breeder as a gift for my mother in law by her niece. My husband and I were totally against it because we both did not want to see a bird stuck in a cage for its entire life. Because the breeder had a policy of 'items once sold cannot be returned' we had to take in the delivery. The breeder assured us the parrot was cage ready (whatever that means) and its food could be bought at a pet store(he was kind enough to
give me the address) and all the parrot would need was one bowl of the seeds and one bowl of water. And if it was possible guavas and chilles.
I googled local pet stores with parrot cages and bought the largest one I could find (just to feel less guilty). The same store handed me a packet of sunflower seeds. I had to two dogs (GSD and a Indian Pariah Dog) , a pet hen (absoutely tame) so I was aware of the time and effort a pet takes but knew nothing about parrots.
Rio was delivered to us in a card board box with holes punched. The entire family gathered around and when I opened the box instead of a beautiful green alexandrine was a chick with very little feathers and a huge orange beak.It was an absolute shock. I called up the breeder who promptly told me to get a syringe , throw away the needle , make a mash of chickpeas and feed the chick. He what's app me a pic of a baby parrot with full crop after feeding and told me that if I overfeed the parrot will die and then I should not demand a refund.
We requested the breeder to take back the baby parrot , complete the handfeeding and then give it back to us, we did not want a refund and we would pay extra for his effort as we were incapable of taking up this responsibility. He refused and now I was stuck with a baby parrot who meanwhile was sqwaking blue murder.
My mil for whom the gift was meant lost interest and so it was just me and the baby parrot. My husband got some relevant videos on you tube and got the necessary supplies. My daughter named the parrot Rio. I read and googled
the whole night and realised the mess I had got myself into. My husband was extremely supportive and prepared a to do list and parrot safe food list. My day began at 4.30 starting with preparing the formula and handfeeding Rio.
What follwed after that were panic attacks as I was sure Rio was going to die . It was extremely hectic as I couldn't go for holidays , had to run back from office at inhuman speeds . For some months my 6 year old just had peanut butter sandwiches in her lunch box as Rio took up all the time.
Then there came a time when Rio screeched for food but refused to be handfed. Just like a toddler he would take a bit and then run away and some days not eat at all. In desperation I again turned to the internet and found parrot forums. I learnt about weaning , learnt to prepare a more healthy formula and over all learnt to be patient with Rio.
This post is one way of saying a big thank you to all the members to take out time and reply to inexperienced parronts like me . I learnt that Rio does not have to be cage bound, needs to be socialised, bite pressure trained,
is happy to be flighted and is stick trained. I now understand the deep bond a parrot can have with his human flock. I never even knew parrots needed toys. Now I just browse the forums and shamelessly pick up ideas.
Parrots do not make good surprises or gifts. My mil , for whom Rio was bought , had given up on him the day he came home. Not her fault at all, she is a senior citizen and would not have been able to hand feed Rio.
Now she shares parrot friendly food. Rio steps up on command to her, but on a stick.
Handfeeding a baby parrot without any experience or guidance can go downhill quickly. Rio survived handfeeding was sheer luck. I will never handfeed a baby parrot again.
I still remember Birdman666 reply to slap the breeder for him in the very first thread I posted. I regret I have not been able to do so.
Rio will be 2 this march and I have learnt that parrots are noisy , messy, have an opinion about everything around them, and a lot of work. But if you put at effort at doing the right things you have a companion who will love you and be with you for the next 40+ years of his life . Now my day begins with a loud sqwak, lots of kiss sounds and a bright " Good night sweetie" . Neither of my dogs did that.
I still have a lot of learning to do and depend on the forums for the advice and guidance. Thank you once again
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