The tale of "not a bird person"

[gnatnlucy]

Hi! My name is Natalie and I was not a "bird person". I am an animal lover and care for many different species in my home. We currently have 4 bearded dragons, 2 argentine tegus (a red and a black and white ) a ball python, 4 virginia opossums (and the permit to go with them) 4 cats, a dog and recently an Umbrella Cockatoo. I have always been "that friend" you know the type ... knows way to much random stuff about random creatures and when anyone has to "rehome" their animal I am the first one they call ... why you ask? Cause I am a sucker. So a few months ago a friend called and told me of a quaker parrot in her office... so I loaded my 3 year old (at the time) in the car and out we went with a box, a snake hook (which is surprisingy useful for many different things like getting a bird to step onto it or wrangling a grumpy opossum) and a towel (always useful). The little guy was super dehydrated and starving and had lost most of his toes and the ones he had were twisted nd broken. So I caught him... which was way easier than I had anticipated.... and viola I was a bird keeper. I cared for him got him healthy and when he began feeling better he also began hating my face. He loved my husfriend though (coincidentally he was not a fan of the quaker) so I rehomed him to a guy for his grandfather as the bird really only seemed to favor men. Another friend had Lucy.... she got lucy from a lady she knew who couldn't keep her anymore for one reason or another so she took her and then in the midst of some personal issues decided to rehome her. Of course I was the first one she called. Of course I said yes. Lucy came to my home with all her housing and toys and food. The first day she was here she decided that I made for a great perch. I had no clue how to get her off of me without getting bit so she rode on my shoulder to the school to get the kids and then home. Ever since she has been my lovey girl. Lucy is 6 years old , does not pluck but she over grooms a bit. She has been dna tested and is a lady for sure. She says HI! and makes a noise similar to a child saying pew pew and does her head like she is being shot. She also imitates phone conversations, gives kisses and sings (way out of key lol). She is very bonded to me even after only a few months. This is part of the reason I came to this forum. She has a few issues I am hoping to resolve so our home could be slightly more peaceful. Sorry about the long story! I am very glad to have her in my world she is my luceskadoosh or my lovey bird!

 

[weco]

Welcome to the forums Natalie.....there's probably a member or two around here who has one or two of your non-bird friends too.....

 

[Kiwibird]

Welcome to the forum and congrats on Lucy!

 

[4dugnlee]

Hi and welcome! I am also a U2 parront but I have only had Peanut for a couple months so I am still learning. They are beautiful intelligent birds. I read everything I could find on toos as they are so different from other parrots. Peanut came from a bad situation so, although she is very sweet, she won't step up yet...usually. But we love her dearly! There is a wealth of information here on the forum. Oh, and we love to see pics....

 

[veimar]

Aww, I love your attitude! I became a bird person overnight when we saw a very dirty miserable conure at the local Petsmart, and at 2am my hubby told me that we should get the poor thing! Which we did next morning. Since then I'm crazy for parrots - I got infected with that bug so bad!
It's so nice of you to take a U2 - I was offered 3 of them as well in past few months, but I was too afraid to commit and just helped to rehome. Keep us posted about her!

 

[gnatnlucy]

Honestly I read a bit about them before I got Lucy...like the night before. The quaker made me interested in birds and I had decided I love the male eclectus and was intent on saving to get one. Then my friend called and her situation was declining quickly so I said OK. Its just a bird right? Ha ha ha no! Lol however difficult she has been at times and despite a few learned lessons I love her and she has become my kid. We are still learning each other as I haven't had her long but I am not one to give up easily. She has bitten me once fairly bad could have been worse and I still love her. So she is here to stay! Thanks for the welcome! I am reading ALL the cockatoo info I can find! This forum is full of stuff that I am like OH! Lucy does that and that and that and oh OK....I need to do this...I am stoked I found this site!