What is the best bird keeping tip you have learned.

[Dot]

It could be about taking care of them, feeding them, training them, living with them, whatever.

Someone told me to spray the paper before I changed it to keep all the dander from flying everywhere.

Also, Dr. Friedman said, "Every living animal needs to be able to make some decisions about his environment." That is not an exact quote, but it is as close as I can get. I am using that statement with my Scarlet.

[FoxersArtist]

Many have read the quote in my signature line, and though it is obviously advice about how to treat one another, and this was the context that I most frequently use it in, I feel that it can also be used in guiding the care of our feathered ones.

Resolve to be tender with the young - baby birds need such a tender and gentle hand to survive in this world. They are born fragile with no sight, hardly any strength to hold their own tiny bodies up, and can easily become ill with only a tiny mistake on our part. Know that when you assist or encourage a bird to bring life into this world it is you who is ultimately responsible for that precious life. Birds are not born to thrive. They require loads of tender loving care from a parent who understands their needs. They will thrive with the right kind of care, but they will suffer under a misguided hand.

Compassionate with the aged - I cannot help but think of my sweet loretta as a very dignified old granny. And what has she been through in her life? Her battle scars give hint to so many untold stories. These old birds, some that have lived to see more days than you or I from the confines of a tiny cage, deserve every drop of compassion in their old age. They deserve to be looked upon with gentle love and they deserve to be celebrated for all of their goodness as well as all of the struggles they have lived through...the same one should do for our own elderly. Many of us have lost respect for those who have seen each day through and have come out shining on the other side.

Sympathetic with the striving - I cannot tell you how many times it has broken my heart to hear someone say "that bird is just mean." So many of our rescues and rehomed birds fit into this catagory and yet, they are neither mean nor worthless. They are simply striving. Striving to be whatever it is that they were made to be. I think when one is willing to see past the behaviors that are upsetting (like me with that yippy little dog that drove me wild), they will see a creature who is simply trying to "be" and may need a lot of understanding and a little assistance. Be sympathetic and do whatever you can to push that animal toward the path of happiness, even if that path does not include you.

Tolerant of the weak and wrong - I must say, this part seems to apply much more to the keepers of our parrot companions than to the birds themselves as so many do not understand or take responsibility for the care of their animals but who may simply need some patience and gentle guidance. It is also true that we must tolerate and even love our companions even when they misbehave, bite, destroy, scream, or make endless messes that seem to take up all of our time to clean up after. Tolerate these things and know that the reason they are behaving this way is simply because they were created to do so. It's part of what makes them both beautiful and complex. It's part of why we love them.

Finally - because sometime in your life you will have been all of these - take a moment to pause and look inside your parrot. How much are you like him or her? How much is he or she like you? If you can identify with your bird and put yourself in his place, you will find yourself doing everything in your power to give him the very best care possible in every way you can think of. Why? Because if it were you, you would hope and pray that someone would do the same.

Caring for our birds requires many tools. Arm yourselves with knowledge but then, don't be afraid to use what you have been given as well as what you have had all along.

-Anna

[Chrissy and Flock]

Anna you are so wise for one so young ... God bless you girl.

[bonnie]

This relates specifically to Chicken and his screaming:

Humans tend to lump all bird vocalizations into one category, "the scream". We as parronts have to interpret what is needed and how to handle that need. We also need to interpret if it's just an attention cry or an actual need then act accordingly. I think of it this way, new moms have to learn what their babies are 'saying' when they cry. We have to learn what our birdies are saying when they 'scream'. This little piece of advice saved Chicken from being sent on to yet another new home. Thank goodness the guy didn't give up on me ;) lol

[Dot]

This relates specifically to Chicken and his screaming:

Humans tend to lump all bird vocalizations into one category, "the scream". We as parronts have to interpret what is needed and how to handle that need. We also need to interpret if it's just an attention cry or an actual need then act accordingly. I think of it this way, new moms have to learn what their babies are 'saying' when they cry. We have to learn what our birdies are saying when they 'scream'. This little piece of advice saved Chicken from being sent on to yet another new home. Thank goodness the guy didn't give up on me ;) lol

That is a very good one.

[too&me]

As a child I knew that the belief that forcing ones will on another person or animal was wrong. Now I am adult (more or less) I know that is true with birds, it is much better to work with what they offer than what we want.

[birdie]

The best tip? to give no reaction to unwanted behaviors.

and while on the subject, I have to say I love Crystals siggy line...
Don't treat them as if it's your last day on earth; treat them as if it's their's.
my birds only see love and understanding, sometimes frustration but not anger, anytime I have a bird that is misbehaving I step them up and place them in their cage for a few minutes to redirect their activity. A bird doesn't understand punishment as we do so why try? it just hurts your relationship with your bird.

[Patty, Linus and Co.]

I fully agree, Brenda. That style works wonders in this household. If Linus is up to no good, it's often as simple as stepping him up and taking him to the kitchen to help me wash dishes. Or looking in the fridge to decide what's for dinner. He has long since forgotten about his misdeed and neither of us reacted negatively.

[FoxersArtist]

I used to think I could dominate a bird until it gave in and did what I wanted. I tried this with Chrissy over and over again and got bit over and over again until I finally had to learn that it's about discovering what they need and filling that need. Once their needs are being met, they are usually more than willing to cooperate. I am so glad I learned this lesson with a very forgiving Chrissy instead of having to learn with a not so forgiving cockatoo! Pressure a macaw? HaHa, forget it!
-Anna