Finding the right bird to share your life with is a complex process. One crucial step that is often overlooked is finding the right seller. Finding the right person to buy from will help insure that the bird you bring home is healthy and that you have a support system in place to facilitate a...
Sometimes life takes an unexpected turn and tragically brings about the need to rehome a pet. The best thing in this case is to take as long as necessary to find the best possible home. Unfortunately time is not always available to do so, and pets are put in the dangerous position of being rehomed...
We all know that we shouldn’t meet strangers off Craigslist alone, and that is why I accompanied my friend on her errand that day. She was responding to an ad for baby budgies, and honestly I was interested in seeing what mutations the man had available. When we arrived I noticed some concerning things even...
Sometimes when working with parrots we experience things that make us sick, and sometimes we are blessed to be able to step in and do something to help. Last year I went with some club members to a property where several macaws were being kept. The owner had died, and the caretaker was looking to...
Recessive Genes Recessive genes require one copy of the gene to be passed down from each parent to the offspring so the offspring has two copies. A bird with only one copy is “split” to that mutation, and will pass down that gene to 50% of his or her offspring but will not appear to...
One of the most common things we hear from prospective parrot owners is that they have narrowed down their choice of companion down to “A ringneck or a conure.” I always respond by saying “Then you really haven’t narrowed it down at all; those are extremely different birds.” Then I struggle to quantify exactly HOW...
Lots of people contact me wanting one of my babies. My aviary is quite small and I produce a limited number of babies so about 70% of the time I end up referring them elsewhere, specifically to local parrot clubs and other groups through which they might find a companion. I usually hear some version...
We see it all the time; rehoming posts listing “I don’t have time to give him the attention he deserves” and variations of this as the reason the poor pet is being let go. My first reaction is to scream “WHY DID YOU GET HIM THEN??? DIDNT YOU GOOGLE EVEN FOR A LITTLE WHILE???” And...
The object of the game is to train yourself and your family to have an eye out for everyday hazards. The reason I love this game is it gives rewards for having a careful eye, and “punishment” for being careless, but all in a fun and playful way that avoids yelling and guilt. It is...
“Unwanted Parrots;” a sad, ugly topic that many breeders shy away from and rescue organizations loudly discuss. “Adopt, don’t shop!” we are told, and how could we disagree as we see the overflowing bird rescues and see the numerous Craigslist ads for birds that we know are unwanted? Unwanted parrots pose a huge ethical issue...
