Parrot

[solarbird]

So for various reasons too uninteresting to relate here, a couple I know from local SF fandom have ended up with a Quaker Parakeet, which is actually a full-sized parrot. They're trying to find a good home for it. Unfortunately, the previous owners neglected it pretty badly - it was caged full-time since they got it (it's 10 years old now), the cage was wedged against a wall between two china cabinets so it's had very little experience with ... anything much, really; they mostly interacted with it when eating. (They'd feed it things - fruit, bread, popcorn - so it has at least had a varied diet.) But it hasn't been to a vet since they bought it, and it's obviously deeply, deeply non-socialised. Also, it's only had one plastic perch the entire time, and it has at least one claw problem that's really obvoius, at least to me.

I'm trying to figure out whether I want to adopt this bird. I like it, I think. I wasn't sure last night, but I played with it for an hour, as well as I could under the circumstances... and it did interact with me a lot, which is a really good sign. On the other hand, it's lungy and bitey, though at least it doesn't seem to do much screaming.

I just don't know. I've always wanted a large bird - I really like them - but I've never dealt with a rehab case. So I'm trying to figure out whether I want to do it. It's nervous-making.

Comments

[firni.livejournal.com]

I think you should give it a try...but that's just me. I like animals more than people.

[kirbyk.livejournal.com]

Well, my friends Joe & Nissa, who live up on Queen Anne Hill in Seattle, have several large birds of a similar nature. Nissa in particular has had them for years, and might have some tips or know the right vets or something like that.

nissa@speakeasy.net and evil@frii.com.

I'm sure they wouldn't mind an email, particularly if it helps out a troubled bird. Pet people are like that.

Good luck!

[smeehrrr.livejournal.com]

I'd say take it. It'll probably be pretty tasty with lemon and garlic.

[amethyst-dancer.livejournal.com]

But you have dealt with a couple of dogs that had been mistreated, namely Kosha and Simba. (Note: "Pounce!" is a really bad idea, and neurotic little Peppi is very glad she never lived with you! :-) )

You can probably handle it. Remember patience, love, lots of attention, and no quick movements.

I just read a book, Hand-Taming Wild Birds at the Feeder by Alfred G. Martin. You might want to read this one. It has a lot of useful suggestions on making friends with wildlife, including the tip to never swallow when you're trying to make friends with a bird. The bird salivates and then swallows when it sees food, so if it sees you swallow when you're looking at it, it gets the wrong idea about your intentions. (Well, except for smeehrrr.)

I've been working on the black-capped chickadees that come to our feeder; they're braver than most birds. Making some progress, too.

This author really understands wildlife, and had been hand-taming birds since he was 10 -- he was retired when he wrote the book. Even for people who have no interest in taming wildlife, the stories he tells are wonderful!

Good luck with the bird!