Humans Have Lots of Bird Advice – Don’t Get One, They’re Hard to Raise
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Humans Have Lots of Bird Advice – Don’t Get One, They’re Hard to Raise

The following content is from 3 inquiries we received that we thought would be helpful by sharing.

We have four zebra finches in an outdoor aviary, with three walls being the exterior of our house, and the fourth wall is wire mesh.

We are in San Diego, and our nights can drop down to 40-50 degree. We are planning to add plexiglass panels over the mesh at night, and we are trying to decide on a heat source.

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What Is the Best Parrot for an Apartment?

What is the best parrot for an apartment? The answers thus far have been pretty limited (on Quora).

We (Mitch & Catherine) used to (until 2019 when we migrated to Indiana) live in a three-flat apartment building, erected circa 1885 in the geographical center of the city of Chicago’s Ukrainian Village neighborhood.

It’s 1800 ft.² with 9 1/2 foot ceilings. The all-brick building is quite solid.

We like parrots. We are in the (caged bird) pet supply business. It’s our job to know about them.

For the record, we don’t sell any birds. We simply teach proper care for about 750 captive bird species out of approximately 10,400 species of birds on the planet.

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Incoming Category 2 Hurricane & You’re Chasing a Bird Under Furniture
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Incoming Category 2 Hurricane & You’re Chasing a Bird Under Furniture

Re-posted this on 09/01/2017 with Hurricane Harvey as a stark reminder of mother nature’s dark side.

Parrots and Evacuation Kits are some of my favorite subjects. Nora wrote this post but my introduction is from someone who has been there – us. June 23rd, 2005 Windy City Parrot burned to the ground – long story.

If you have a pet bird or any pet for that matter – what’s your plan in an emergency? Floods, fires, frogs, locusts?

Sure you’re on your game with the latest high-tech smoke and high water sensors in your home but let me quote from some recent headlines.

6/25/15 Boston – New England Record Snow Tracker: Boston Breaks All-Time Seasonal Snow Record in 2014-2015

(What’s your backup heat source?)

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Can Soy Contribute To Bad Parrot Behavior?
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Can Soy Contribute To Bad Parrot Behavior?

Hello! I have a question concerning Indian Ringnecks.

I have 2 males, ages 9 and 11, both rescues, each very unique, due somewhat to their reasons for rescue.

I just read that soy might contribute to hormonal behavior. Agni, full-flighted, gregarious, toy lover, loves soybeans.

Eats them every day with fruit and other veggies. Should I cut him off in Springtime?

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People Underestimate The Complexity Of Keeping Captive Birds Which Leads To Failure

Mitch..thanks so much for the great article on parrot ownership!! I’ve had birds for over 35 years and also volunteered at a parrot rescue. Periodically I would do a TV appearance with a couple of our birds. Like you, I was honest..they are noisy, they bite (the little Severe Macaw I had with me obligingly bit the host right on cue) and they are messy.
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The Complete Guide To Understanding Sleeping Birds
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The Complete Guide To Understanding Sleeping Birds

Mitch,

Have you written about “bird sleep”? I watched an eagle chick go from hatchling to fledgling and during the process, both the chick and parents seemed to sleep only periodically, preening much of the night.

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Lessons Learned From This Successful Captive Blue Front Amazon Pet Bird Keeper
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Lessons Learned From This Successful Captive Blue Front Amazon Pet Bird Keeper

Learn Amazon parrot care from one of Windy City Parrot’s customers – who gets it.

Hello, Mitch

I’ve followed your blog for quite a while and always appreciate your perspectives and insights. I was pretty much gutted when I read your article on Sunday … “Birds in cages suffer all their lives.”

I want my bird to have a happy and healthy a life as possible, but I read and hear so much contradictory information that I’m really not sure if I am providing what she needs— and I do try.

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The Truth Is You Are Not The Only Person Concerned About What Are The Pros And Cons Of Having A Pet Bird?
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The Truth Is You Are Not The Only Person Concerned About What Are The Pros And Cons Of Having A Pet Bird?

What are the pros and cons of having a pet bird? was asked on Quora. This answer motivated me to set the record straight.

Pros

If you do it right, you’re going to have a loving companion animal for the next 60 years.

Cons,

If you do it wrong, you’re going to have a very unhappy bird for the next 60 years.

They can live sixty years or more.

They’re loud (a cockatoo’s scream has been measured at over 100db, compared to 130db for a jet engine at 100 feet).

They throw food.

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What Type of Macaw Makes the Best Pet for a Small Family?
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What Type of Macaw Makes the Best Pet for a Small Family?

Please don’t get discouraged because of one anecdotal story of stupidity. (See other Quora answers below) People die in car crashes every day but most of us still drive.

Here’s a little back story for you. The ancient Greeks kept parakeets. Not necessarily budgies because the Alexandrian parakeet got its name from Alexander the Great.  As the story goes Alexander was gifted one of those around 327 BC

File under more money than brains. We all know how crazy the Romans were but not many people know that they would assign a slave to take care of the family bird which was usually a parrot of some sort.

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