I had a rescue cockatoo that was probably in his 40s or 50s when I got him. He’d had a rough life, possibly a wild capture before he entered the pet trade. Never spoke if I was watching, but if he thought I was gone would babble to himself in English, Spanish, and a third that might have been another language or gibberish, never figured it out. He used to love to try and mate with my girlfriend’s head.
While I agree that parrots shouldn’t be bred to be pets, since that’s an industry that currently isn’t going to get ended any time soon, your love, skill, and dedication would make you an excellent rescuer. There’s a lot of older birds who’ve had shit lives and deserve the remainder of their years living with someone who cares.
I have thought of fostering. But now I have two cats.
But if I’m ever in a long term place with the space, I would definitely consider taking in rescue birds.
Im rather fond of birds. I used to make JoJo toys and play areas. And helped him groom his pin feathers.
I even taught him a few tricks.
But they are very complex animals. And they need room to fly. When I had jo I worked from home and had a huge living room and a long hallway. So he was rarely in his cage and would fly up and down the hallway.
He had play areas by the window. Top of his cage. And one next to my work station.
They need a lot of stimulation. And social interactions.
I really miss Zeke. I converted a walk-in closet into a good sized aviary and only trimmed his flight feathers to the point he couldn’t fully “fly” but could safely enjoy himself in the environment he lived in. But most of the time he had full access to the house and yard. He was a such a big personality. I had three dogs and a cat at the time, and he’d own his own begging at the dinner table for a treat next to all of them and nobody, despite the size difference, ever fucked with him. I loved our mutual grooming, stroking his feathers and him nuzzling through my hair.
I’m stoked that this year I’m in a place where I could get chickens. They’re not parrots but they’re scratching that “I like being around birds” itch. Out of my four gals I have one that wants to be my gal, one who is curious, one who’s maybe, and my little “idk but you feed me”.
I had a rescue cockatoo that was probably in his 40s or 50s when I got him. He’d had a rough life, possibly a wild capture before he entered the pet trade. Never spoke if I was watching, but if he thought I was gone would babble to himself in English, Spanish, and a third that might have been another language or gibberish, never figured it out. He used to love to try and mate with my girlfriend’s head.
While I agree that parrots shouldn’t be bred to be pets, since that’s an industry that currently isn’t going to get ended any time soon, your love, skill, and dedication would make you an excellent rescuer. There’s a lot of older birds who’ve had shit lives and deserve the remainder of their years living with someone who cares.
I have thought of fostering. But now I have two cats.
But if I’m ever in a long term place with the space, I would definitely consider taking in rescue birds.
Im rather fond of birds. I used to make JoJo toys and play areas. And helped him groom his pin feathers.
I even taught him a few tricks.
But they are very complex animals. And they need room to fly. When I had jo I worked from home and had a huge living room and a long hallway. So he was rarely in his cage and would fly up and down the hallway.
He had play areas by the window. Top of his cage. And one next to my work station.
They need a lot of stimulation. And social interactions.
I really miss Zeke. I converted a walk-in closet into a good sized aviary and only trimmed his flight feathers to the point he couldn’t fully “fly” but could safely enjoy himself in the environment he lived in. But most of the time he had full access to the house and yard. He was a such a big personality. I had three dogs and a cat at the time, and he’d own his own begging at the dinner table for a treat next to all of them and nobody, despite the size difference, ever fucked with him. I loved our mutual grooming, stroking his feathers and him nuzzling through my hair.
I’m stoked that this year I’m in a place where I could get chickens. They’re not parrots but they’re scratching that “I like being around birds” itch. Out of my four gals I have one that wants to be my gal, one who is curious, one who’s maybe, and my little “idk but you feed me”.
I told a friend of mine with chickens that parrots love beak rubs. And I would bet chickens do too.
Next time I saw him be told me his buddies were calling him the chicken whisperer cause now all the chickens come up to him for beak rubs.
Give that a try with yours and see if it helps build trust.
Chickens are pretty cool too. Honestly I have a soft spot for most birds.