Char

- - - - AN OPEN LETTER TO THE AMAZON PARROT I HAVE BEEN SUPPORTING FOR OVER 15 YEARS WHO STILL TRIES TO BITE ME FOR NO APPARENT REASON. May 19, 2006 Dear Amazon Parrot I Have Been Supporting for Over 15 Years Who Still Tries to Bite Me for No Apparent Reason, I am writing because I have a surprise for you. Ever since you've been living with me (rent-free, I might add), you have led me to believe you can't understand a single word I say. Even a simple command like "Please stop pecking at my eyes" goes unheeded. You've also seemed completely unable to imitate human speech. For an embarrassing number of years, I carefully repeated the same simple words and phrases, always hoping that someday you might repeat them back to me. One morning I would be preparing your usual gigantic breakfast assortment of tropical fruits, whole-grain toast points, and pricey organic cereals, when a wee voice would issue from your little feathered head and you would finally say to me, "You're such a pretty bird! I love you, pretty bird!" That was my dream. Instead, over a decade later, you have apparently learned only three vocalizations: the cackling laugh of an evil hag (a sarcastic parody of my own innocent laughter?); a tuneless steam-whistle sound rising in pitch like an engine about to explode; and your favorite, the sudden, high-decibel bloodcurdling scream. Well, guess what? Recent scientific research has finally exposed your perfidious avian secret: Several parrots have been proven to understand and speak perfect English. As a result, we now know that your species has self-awareness, awareness of the feelings of others, and a heretofore unimagined intelligence. Unimagined by me, anyway, since you never indicated by word (ha-ha!) or deed that you possessed anything more than the simple self-seeking cognition of a lower animal, like, say, a cat. I actually felt sorry for you and your tiny bird brain. But now I know the truth, Amazon Parrot I Have Been Supporting for Over 15 Years Who Still Tries to Bite Me for No Apparent Reason. You have lived a life of deception and mockery at my expense. And I do mean "at my expense." You are a high-maintenance money pit with feathers. Even though I raised you from a baby, and protected you from all harm, you still won't let me touch your precious little feet and razor-sharp beak without attempting to kill me. As a result, I am forced to pay for a visit to the bird vet every time you need a trim. Yes, only a highly paid professional can safely handle your temper tantrums, your rabid biting, and your needlelike claws aimed at her face. And what about the overpriced toys I have lavished upon you, only to see you cringe and act as if I'd left a slavering monster in your cage whenever I present you with the latest carefully designed construction guaranteed to "keep your bird happy and intellectually stimulated"? The cleverly designed spiral exercise ladder I bought for you two weeks ago, which you attacked and demolished in a matter of minutes, cost me over $60. I'm not made of money, you know. Oh, that's right—you do know, because you have been eavesdropping on every conversation I've ever had within your hearing, no doubt filing away any information that could be used to manipulate me in the future. However, O Exalted One, you apparently can't be bothered to actually carry on a conversation with me, even though it is now very clear that you have the ability. Why not? Am I not interesting enough for you, Your Highness? Do you sneer at my lowly human intelligence? Or perhaps you have made a secret rule for yourself that it is beneath your majestic dignity to speak to your groveling servant. Now that I think of it, I'm actually paying for the "privilege" of serving you. My life now revolves around you and your many needs, all because I thought you were cute and helpless and unable to fend for yourself in this complex world. But it isn't complex for you, is it? You simply demand, and it is done for you. Your wordless scream has been carefully calculated to waver around the exact eardrum-shattering pitch that will drive me into frenzied attempts to placate you so that the awful noise will stop. And, all these years, you could have simply asked me politely for whatever you required. But no, you kept your cognitive and language abilities to yourself, forcing me to guess frantically at what you wanted, and shrieked like a nuclear warning siren whenever I couldn't somehow psychically pick up on the exact nature of your request. It is now obvious that you are quite the little intellectual, and that your species isn't afraid to use our human technology for your own ends. Now that I have read about your fellow parrots' ability to operate a computer so it will show only the pictures they prefer (pictures of themselves, of course), I think I have figured out just how my new laptop got infected with a mysterious virus that destroyed the hard drive. Well, the next time you bite into me for no apparent reason, your evil charade will come to an end. I will feel free to demand that you apologize immediately in grammatical, clearly enunciated English. If no such apology is forthcoming, you will find yourself tossed out on the street. Where the hawks and eagles live. Just try playing dumb with them, Amazon Parrot I Have Been Supporting for Over 15 Years Who Still Tries to Bite Me for No Apparent Reason. I'll bet those raptors are just as smart as you. Sincerely, Renee Prince Salem, Oregon

It looks nice but top heavy. Like it would topple over once you put the bird on it. It looks like it needs a bigger base or something to anchor it.

Mine is a spoiled rotten velcro bird too. She wants her head scratched constantly. I swear my arm gets tired. She doesn't just ask for a scratch she DEMANDS it.:laugh:

One of Whisper's favorite things to say right now is "Step up, stepup", "come on, step up", "you wanna step up?" she seems to be obsessed with it right now.<br><br>Post edited by: Char, at: 2009/02/12 21:22

Well my Grey is petite and light colored so I guess she is all mixed up.:lol:

Pchela wrote: That is sooo sad. If something happened to me as far as health and I could no longer take care of Whisper, I would GIVE her to the right person rather than sell her. It would be like selling your children.

I am one of those who cuddle the Cockatoos every time I see them and would love to have one but I know they are probably the most needy bird out there. They are like a 2 yr old having a tantrum when they don't get their way. The screams are deafening. They are even more (if possible) prone to plucking than Greys are.<br><br>Post edited by: Char, at: 2009/02/11 15:00

What an adorable photo. He/she is looking right at the camera.

That is so funny. You better marry that guy.

I am so glad to hear that the vet found the problems and you were able to address them so quickly. Do you cover the cage at night. If not, try that and see if it helps him to settle down.

Oh the poor baby. I don't know what to tell you. If you found the owners they may be able to get him down.

Dave, I agree. Not everyone has the resources, personality or experience to deal with a rescue. Kudos to you for doing so.

Whisper's favorite song seems to be "Blue Christmas". She always gets vocal whenever I play it. She seems to like slow music rather than the fast beats.

It's the truth! If I want to hear Whisper talk all I have to do is turn on something loud in the other room. does not matter what it is. Even a blowdryer.:laugh:

The pet store where I bought my bird willl do nail or wing clipping for only $5. Tempting but I don't want to take my bird in where they are back there with the same equipment and supplies that every Tom, Dick and Harry bird has been exposed to. I discussed this with the store owner and he said "but our birds are tested and vaccinated. I said yeah but all the birds that come through here are not. Besides some of the people working in the store are just teenagers. I don't want them handling my baby.

You should still use the Step Up command so that it becomes second nature. Whisper will step up to anyone who says it even though she does not really want to. You can tell she is uncomfortable but I am proud of her that she does it anyway. There may come a time when your bird will have to step up for someone else.<br><br>Post edited by: Char, at: 2009/02/09 19:49

Hi Kyle. I am sure you will make the right decision. I will throw my story in too just to give you some perspective. I bought my bird as a baby when my husband and I were still together. I travel some for work and leave very early and sometimes don't get home until 7pm. This was okay because my husband got home around 2-3 pm and so the baby was not confined for so long. Well as we know life is ever changing and my husband and I seperated. Needless to say now Whisper does not get as much time out of her cage as she used to. I agonized over whether to keep her but just could not give her up as I love her so much. I do everything I can to make this up to her. It means I have NO social life. I cannot even stop at the store on the way home because I have to get home to her asap. My weekends revolve around her. I repeat, I have NO social life. Once I get home in the evening I spend 2-3 hrs with her most of it ON MY SHOULDER. I am going to be getting a second bird in the spring as company for her during the day. Whisper and I are doing okay with this. We are making it work but I will be honest with you it takes a great deal of effort and sacrifice on my part. I know it is a grey you want but perhaps you should think of starting off with a bird that is not so needy. I agree with the others that most likely the grey will bond with your mother. You will always feel like second fiddle. Good luck with your decision. Char

When I offer my grey something new, she has to see me eat it first. Then it still takes about 3 offers before she will take it. I taste it and make ummmm noises and then offer it to her. Try sweet potatoes. Mine love them and they are so good for them. She likes them best raw and cut in french fry shapes. Also try a little chicken and scrambles eggs. Just about all grey like scrambled eggs. I only give them once a week.

That was great! Thanks for sharing.

Well I am 2 for 2 now. My bird and yours! Maybe I really am psychic.:woohoo:

Hey I'm Char! Char, is your name Charlene also? Boy this going to get confusing.:blink:

I would go easy on the fruit juices too. A little bit a couple of times a week if he is not getting fruits but if he is getting fruit a couple of times a week I would skip the juices. The cream cheese could very well be the problem. I will stay tuned to see how the poop turns out after a few more days on the pellets. Are you leaving off the juices during this time? According to Harrison's. Their diet should consist mostly of the pellets and only about 10% percent other stuff. That other stuff can add up quickly. I give Whisper only her Harrison's pellets in her cage during the day and other stuff in the evening when I get home. The other stuff consists of a veggie,a nut and a couple of other fruity pellets, some chicken or pasta. Junk food like the french fry is only every now and then. Because we all have to indulge them occasionally. I have to sneak around when I am having something that is not good for her.<br><br>Post edited by: Char, at: 2009/02/06 12:04

Whisper will have bubbles after eating something with fat in it like french fries. It will also look funny after eating scrambled eggs. The key for me is if it stays that way. I don't worry because it always goes back to normal. What is your bird eating? I would give the bird nothing but pellets for a few days and see what comes out. Worth a try before you spend $300.

Well you tried to make him love you and now he does.

My CAG is not very active or playful either. She just mainly wants to sit on my shoulder and have her head scratched. I have tried to play games with her but she loses interest after only a few minutes. Mine does not like nuts either. She does not care for a lot of toys that you would think she would. She does not like large toys. She likes smaller things with beads on them. Also she will play with paper if I cut it just right. They are all different and you may just have to experiment to find out what kind of toy he likes. I make most of mine or I will buy large toys and take them apart and use the part to make the kind I know she likes. Are you in Ky. Where? I am in Nicholasville right outside Lexington.<br><br>Post edited by: Char, at: 2009/02/06 02:10