DorianGrey

By JAJEH on Dec 30, 2008 at 2:23 PM

There's a wonderful youtube film on cuteoverload.com in which a cockatoo (they call it a parrot) very gently strokes a kitten. They both enjoy it. They are evidently very good friends!

By DorianGrey on Dec 10, 2008 at 9:38 AM

Sorry to be a poor correspondent - I don't get on the site often enough! Birds are SO different from cats! First, they're prey animals, not predators, so they think very differently! While your cat will sit and watch you, my bird will want to climb onto the keyboard and eat it! Also, while your cat gives back affection etc., birds really sort of just put up with you. They don't have feelings of affection, so much as feelings of possessiveness. They do greet me - but there are rules~ if I don't greet back, I haven't really "entered the flock" and they'll keep greeting me until I do! THEN they start making demands!! And, no, I can't go away for a few days - they must have fresh water and food daily!

By JAJEH on Nov 18, 2008 at 9:54 AM

What I meant was, I am not home enough to take proper care of them. I understand they go nuts if they don't get a lot of attention. Cats are fine for me - I go away for a few days and we have a happy reunion when I get home. They say goodbye to me each morning and greet me at the door at night. Sometimes I pet them and give them a lot of attention, but often they just lay near me while I do my computer thing.

By DorianGrey on Nov 12, 2008 at 11:34 AM

Oh, I don't know if any human is truly suitable to own birds, unless they really like subservience! A bird expert put it quite nicely to me once: dogs have been domesticated for about 10,000 years. They know exactly what's expected of them, and are happy to comply. Cats have been domesticated for about 5000 years - they know what's expected, but don't always care. Birds, being evolved dinosaurs, have been doing what THEY want for over 350 million years. Think they care about what YOU think?

By JAJEH on Nov 9, 2008 at 3:32 PM

I really like parrots but I am unsuitable as an owner. Would love to hear more about them!

By DorianGrey on Nov 9, 2008 at 8:40 AM

No, my birds don't speak to each other in English. Only 1 of my 3 can speak English. I got the other 2 as adults - I rescued them from an abuser, and it took quite close to 20 years to get one of them to warm up to us! The other's still hostile, though sort of handleable now. They just make wild bird noises (quite loudly, too!)

By JAJEH on Nov 5, 2008 at 2:06 PM

Do your birds speak to each other in English?

By JAJEH on Nov 5, 2008 at 8:27 AM

My cats also have that rule about eating! If I eat, I must share! Though once I pretended to eat out of Ben's dish and got a very peculiar look. Do your birds let you share with them? Or is it kind of one way?

By DorianGrey on Nov 4, 2008 at 11:39 AM

Actually, when you hear birds outdoors singing to each other, they're practicing this "where are you - I'm over here" custom. Also, in springtime, when male birds sing those lovely songs, they're really saying, "this is my nesting area, stay OUT if you're not a lady bird!" Another rule - eating is social. If you eat, your birds must share. They'll TELL you about it LOUDLY if you ignore this rule!!

By DorianGrey on Nov 4, 2008 at 11:36 AM

Bird rules - when you enter the flock (ie the room the flock is in), you're acknowledged by one of the birds saying HELLO to you. Nothing else will be said to you until you officially join the flock by answering the HELLO. It's rude not to answer, and you may be screeched at if you ignore this rule. When your mate-bird is not in the immediate room, he may sing half a song phrase, which is actually a request to know where you are. You should identify your location by finishing the song phrase. Those are just 2 of the many rules by which birds live!

By JAJEH on Nov 4, 2008 at 9:03 AM

I'd like to hear some of those rules of etiquette your African Grey has taught you.

By DorianGrey on Nov 4, 2008 at 6:51 AM

Thx 4 yr message!! Yes, my African Grey talks - the issue is actually shutting him up! We raised him from bappy-hood so English is his primary language, tho he does use bird sounds as well. The cool thing is that he uses language appropriately, and has taught US some of the etiquette of the bird world! Yes, they have behavioral rules, which can be stricter than human rules!!