john hines

Take it up with the quoted vet, whose show I saw it on.

I still stand by my assertion that a cockatoo isn't for a person with
allergies. (due to that dust, for what ever reason it exists).

wheeler

Dora, just wondering, where did you hear that Parrotlets demand lots of
attention or else they will die?

Bob W
who has now 20 breeding pairs and is handfeeding 14 parrotlets 4 times daily
for 3-4 more long long weeks :0)

--
Check out our web site,
A few new features and new pictures.
http://www.onemorebird.com/

wheeler

So NaDeana, what ever happened to the little parrotlet you rescued for ever
and ever?

Bob W

--
Check out our web site,
A few new features and new pictures.
http://www.onemorebird.com/

tish

how about a parrotlet...they are small lively , playful and very intelligent
i have a number of allergies and asthma...and i do not heavea problem with
her...

of course, YMMV

tish

nadeana

Yes, you are right about the dust, but wrong about dust glands. Look it up
yourself. One of my closest friends is a vet and she had a grand chuckle. I
am a biologist, and I can assure you, dust glands do not exist. The dust is
from the down feathers.

nadeana

I gave him to my dear friend who had a little girl for him to play with. He
just adores my friend! He started talking up a storm when she got him. He
says 'good, good' every time he has his supper. He says 'itchy' when he
wants to be scritched. I could never have given him the life he deserved. I
am not afraid to admit defeat, I am a cockatiel person. So, I did rescue him
forever and ever, he is loved so much it is just gross!

wheeler

So he was not a problem after all, he just needed the right human?

Bob W

--
Check out our web site,
A few new features and new pictures.
http://www.onemorebird.com/

pianoharp

On Sun, 07 Mar 2004 09:01:45 GMT, Dora Smith <villandra@austin.rr.com> wrote:


Did you know that some parrots can 'shed' extreme amounts of feather
dander/dust which might not be good for your asthma and allergies? Do some
googling on "parrot cockatiel asthma".


Any bird has the potential to be loud. If noise will be a problem with the
housemates, I'd rule out getting a parrot.

Very true.

Cockatiels are not THAT loud. But they can be loud and quite annoying with their sqwaking.


Parrots don't scream at night unless they're spooked by something.
All parrots make noise, all parrots 'squawk'... it's what they do, it is
how they communicate. If noise and screaming is an issue, do not get a parrot.

They are. I


Not true.


Ideally... but I'm getting the image of your housemates (at best) yelling
at the bird to be quiet while you're not home.


YOu should have a playgym for any parrot.


Search harder... there are good size cages out there.


Tough shit (literally!)... birds will poop. In your carpet, bed linens, in
your hair, food, coffe table, on the sunday newspaper wherever they feel
and need to poop.


There's nothing you can do about it.... unless you cover all surfaces in
your house with plastic sheeting. Some people have had some succes 'potty
training' their parrot. Actually, it's more like they've learn and notice
when the bird is ready to go and move the bird to the appropriate place.

www.birdsnways.com
www.upatsix.com
www.mytoos.com
www.cockatiels.org

Plus... here are a few more things to remember BEFORE getting a parrot:

-A parrot is a parrot is a parrot: they are wild animals and behave as
such. They are not dogs or cats. It is usually the owner who has to change
to accomodate the bird's need, not the other way around. If you can accept
the bird for what it is, you have half the battle won.

-Parrots are Noisy: Parrots communicate by screeching & screaming. They do
not know how to write or read. So they communicate with
their flock (YOU) thru screeches, screams, whistles, and all sorts of
godforsaken noises. Some have sweet twitters, others will scream and make
your ears bleed.

-Parrots are Messy: "And a poopy here and a poopy there, here poop, there
poop, everywhere poop poop!" (replace 'poop' with 'food','veggies',
'seeds','water' and sing each about 300 times a day and that's about the
parrot keeper routine). In addition, they have a tendency to chew and
destroy everything they can get their sharp beak into.

-Parrots are Expensive: Add in cost of bird, cage, toys (which can be
outrageously expensive... and you'll go thru a LOT!), special foods,
regular vet visits, emergency vet visits/surgery/etc (which could be in
the hundreds of dollars), t-shirts saying "My Parrot can Bite your Honor
Student", magazines, videos, etc. etc. etc.

-Parrots are Demanding: Cleaning, cooking for and looking after your bird
is time consuming. TIME!!! They will need a hefty chunk of your time...
and they don't care if you're busy or have to work. Forget about sleeping
in!: if the sun's up, it's time to get up. They demand your understanding,
love and attention.

In short, parrots can be a pain in the ass, but they can also be wonderful
companions who will bond with you.

Dora, in your case, given that you live with other people who do not want
a parrot as a pet, I'd say, don't get one... when the bird starts yelling
and screaming and making a mess, the problems with the roomies will start.

--
=-Marco-=
Parrots are Loud
Parrots are Messy
Parrots are Expensive
Parrots are Needy
Parrots are Wild Animals
*************
Parrots are NOT toys
Parrots are NOT decorations
Parrots are NOT easy to keep
Parrots can be a pain in the ass!
Perhaps you ought to consider a pair of finches or something. The cage you
have might be a nice size, provided the bars are close enough together. A
solitary male canary is also a *relatively* quiet bird, but they can start
whistling at birds or other things out the window as well. I've never
hand-tamed one, but to build a nice environment, talk to them, whistle, etc.
is very rewarding. Mine whistles when he wants me to, then I do something,
he sings something, kind of like "trading fours" if you're familiar with
Jazz. Small birds need a lot of attention and TLC but it's different.

When you're gone, always leave some music on. Feeding is much more than
just giving them food from a bag; you need to make salads and other dishes
for them, as in the wild, birds eat a lot of different foods every day.

nadeana

Exactly! I loved him, he just didn't feel the same about me. Now he is in a
loving home, I talk to him on the phone all the time.

mean guy

Hello
Loose birds are prone to Shitting all over.
Chewing on house plants, (poisionous or not)
Paperwork is shredded with a quickness.
That is with the smaller birds
Larger Birds can chew furniture, Electrical cords ect.
So while it sounds romantic to have a wild animal flying around its really
not,
My opinions are just that, (opinions)