Parrot: Is mine different?

Question

A self proclaimed "parrot whisperer" moved next door and he tells me all kind of MUSTS... must have a mirror, must have something to tear up, must have a scratchy perch for his scaly 'feet'. I am starting to go nuts. My parrot doesn't like these things. Either the expert is wrong or my parrot is an individual that doesn't care for these things.
What are your thoughts? input?

The neighbor is married with two little ones. And owns 7 parrots of different types, ages, reasons. From bred/raised to rescued.

This is question 2 of 2. please check out my other one also.

Answer 1

To answer your first question, these birds are extremely inquisitive and they're gonna play with whatever they can get their beaks onto...I would suggest maybe putting a thumb tack high up next to the window and maybe wrapping the string around it so its out of her reach!

Secondly about the neighbor dude.
1. I would never buy my bird a mirror only cause they have tendencies to bond with the mirror and become more cage agressive. It really depends on the bird, but I'm not willing to take chances.
2. They do need things to tear up like little pinatas, or paper, phonebooks are a good one, otherwise their need to chew can turn them into feather pluckers. I'm saying this only because it is common, however, my Sun Conure, is not a chewer, I give him paper and he kind pushes it around looks at it, and thats about it. My Senegal on the other hand loves to chew on things, and loves paper, so I understand when you say your bird doesn't like them, since one of mine isn't found of chewing things.
3. You really should have a sandy perch for your bird only cause it helps with their nails, and they can scratch their beaks on it, I personally have never seen a bird that didn't like them so that kinda strikes me as odd, as all of mine hang out mostly on their sandy perches. However if your nosey neighbor is so adimate about you having one, ask him to get you one LOL seriously though I would look into getting one for your Zon, if he really doesn't like it after a month, you're out 12 bucks.

Your bird isn't weird, he just has his preferrences. It's not to say your so called neighbor "expert" doesn't know what he's talkin about, but at the same time, he's just stating common facts! Thats a bummer that he's so nosey though I would have donkey punched him in the throat by now! Good luck!

Answer 2

Smile and say thank-you and then do what you know your parrot likes.

My parrots do not have mirrors. When my Green Cheek has been in front of a full length mirror, he protects his territory from the invader. Very funny to watch for a few minutes but long term? No. Our White-eyed Conure ignores the bird in the mirror. In my opinion, mirrors are of no value even for a Budgie.

My Green Cheek has a "scratch perch" and he doesn't mind it but it is, as someone else pointed out, for his nails not his scaly feet.

There are a lot of self-proclaimed 'experts' in the world and there isn't any harm in listening to them or avoiding them. You know your birds, their likes and dislikes. Read written articles by recognized experts, listen to your gut and follow the advice of your vet.

Answer 3

This guy is giving you tips for keeping a happy budgie or love bird, but larger parrots are more individual in their behaviors and tend to bond with people more completely.
The mirror is no "must" for a parrot. If you socialize with your bird, then your parrot thinks he looks like you and won't recognize "the other bird" in the mirror, anyway.
The scratchy perch is bogus, as well. It's not for feet, it's for the nails. If your parrot's nails get long, have them trimmed. That's all.
The "things to tear up" is also crapola. Some birds need to shred as part of their nesting behavior, and they will shred paper obsessively (whether you give it to them or not). But some birds don't. If your bird starts shredding books or magazines, consider giving him some scrap paper (no ink) to play with. But no biggie.
Basically, neighbor guy is full of it and probably trying to impress you for other reasons. Ignore the bowb.

Answer 4

It depends on the bird really,if you've only got one bird a mirror is good because they like to sit next to it and it stops them getting lonely. My conure even talks to herself sometimes thinking it's another parrot.

If it's a hand tame parrot the sandpaper pearch is good becuse you only have to clip their nails once and the sand paper keeps them short, it's also good for their beak. If your parrots tame you might of noticed the way she diggs her nails into you when you pick her up if she has short nails it doesn't hurt as much. It's not for your parrot to play with, it's just so that she doesn't get overgrown nails and so that she doesnt hurt you.

He recomends toys/things to tear up because if your parrots tame and you let him out around the house. If he has things to play with and tear then he will be less likely to tear your furnitue and chew it. Also parrots can get depressed and bored, so it's good for them to play and entertain themselves when you can't pay attention to them.

If your parrot's don't like these things it doesn't mean your parrots not normal. These are just some of the basic things parrots should have in their cage, you don't have to use them, all the man is doing is reccomending them to you. You can decide what to put in your parrots cage. In my opinion a parrot should atleast have toys to play with, and/or another parrot of her own species or another species to to interact with.

Hope that helps!!

Answer 5

i'm unsure you're a sturdy parrot proprietor. The band on her leg has numbers on it. Write them down. save a record of them. Do you think of the puppy shop is the terrific place for her? I taught my birds to assert ""i'm Bobbie's poultry"". prepare your poultry an figuring out word - once you get abode.

Answer 6

My Parrot likes em' so I don't know.