When and where did your bird learn the difference between right and wrong?
How does your macaw know the difference between a $6000 Bubinga wood armoire and a $300 wooden bird play stand you bought from Windy City Parrot?
What have you done to teach your bird chewing on the stand is right, chewing on the furniture is wrong?
To start with, begin understanding the scope for your choice of pet birds. Here is a list of more than 500 species you can choose from each having its own nuances.
I stress making this distinction because so many people talk about things like “make sure you don’t get a bird larger than a conure or a parakeet”.
If you break down that statement it’s really nonsensical because conures range from 64 grams (green cheeks) to 280 g (Patagonians) the size of a Timneh African Grey.
Dawn C. asks,
My conures cage at night it is in our lounge where we watch tv hence there is some light from the tv etc.
Also, he has become quite hormonal and aggressive towards me over the last 2 months whereas he was quite the opposite before spending lots of time with me now I am very wary of him and at times fearful of him attacking me.
What can I do to get back the loving funny bird he used to be. Btw he is very gentle with my husband.
Cecelia B. writes,
Hi, Mitch and Catherine,
I’ve been living with conures for thirty-five years and am seeing behavior that is new to me.
I have two male Sun conures who are brothers.
They are about fifteen years old.
Until a few weeks ago, they were a very happy bonded couple, mating frequently, grooming and feeding each other, sharing a cage, and getting along just fine.
One of them, Max, recently started pulling Min’s head feathers out, pecking Min’s head and leaving bloody spots.
Just as the name implies, this is a series of quick and easy ways to help your birds stay happy and healthy around the clock.
This is a series of short but incisive ideas you can apply today bringing you closer to bird care nirvana.
The number of things necessary to provide foraging enrichment for your birds can be found in a series of quick and simple ideas.
Michael G. relates,
Y’all have approved of my feeding practices but I have a question.
After trial and error, I have gotten the size pellet the grey’s need.
I am using Roudybush medium Daily Maintenance.
I am always in search of treats and supplements to make them “happy” as they seem to be.
I am wondering about using the California blend.
Donna L. asks:
What should I do for a hormonal male caique, 17 years old?
Screaming while holding a toy with his beak on the cage bottom or screaming while hanging on the cage bars, screaming at 2:30 AM.
Losing weight, killing any toy he can find, and just starting to pick at his chest and bottom of his foot.
Editor’s note: I suggest a magnified visual of both feet bottoms seeking any sores or irritations. Endnote
Stopped eating his pellets (Harrisons), I have combined them with other pellets, not interested. Will eat them if I soak them in water and mix them with cooked bird rice and spaghetti.
Karen S. relates,
Mitch, I have had birds for the last 35 years all have lived a wonderful life and went to the rainbow bridge before I wanted them to.
I am now 72 years old and I do not want to place her where she will be adopted out.
She is 26 years old, a rescue, and needs a special bird person.
I live outside Annapolis, MD, and have found places that do the rescues and adopt them out or sell them.
Donna L. asks,
Good Morning Mitch and Catherine,
I was wondering if you have heard from any other bird owners or have maybe experienced yourselves that my Bird (a Dusky Conure named Terry) seems to shall we say “ Go Off “ whenever we are talking on our cell phone.
He becomes very agitated and LOUD and well basically obnoxious to where you have to leave the room if you want to have a conversation with someone.
Is there something about the sound waves that come through a cell phone perhaps?
Because he is perfectly fine when we are just speaking to one another but as soon as you add the cell phone factor in he KNOWS the difference.
I appreciate any feedback you have to offer.
Lisa N. writes:
Hi Catherine,
We are having a really difficult time with our Pineapple Conure.
We know he’s going through puberty but he has always been good with my husband now he bites all the time and won’t go in his cage.
When we try he just flies away and he has his times where he can be sweet but most of the time he’s a little hellion.
