Dino-Squakers! Amazon VS Macaw 🦜

Dino-Squakers! Amazon VS Macaw

This is an interesting video – 2 out of the 3 largest squawkers!

How do I compare?

My Mac’Girls

(Catalina Macaw and Harlequin Macaw)
They can be hear at the end of the block. Sometimes my neighbors ask if that’s one of my parrots they hear… I smile, take comfort in the fact that we bring them back inside if they are being too loud or obnoxious, and say, “Yes,” in a sweet voice. Fortunately, my neighbors usually then say, “We hear them and call back,” or “My grandson loves to hear them!” And I’m relieved!

The Macaws are loud, for sure, but they tend to call and then be done. Sometimes they go on for several minutes, as I watch with a bated breath, and then stop. Otherwise, in they come.

They can also be loud indoors, of course. They spend most of their day out back, but they like to come in mid-day to rest in their cage and eat. They are obviously more comfortable resting in their ‘bedroom’ than outside. Indoors they can get loud, especially after they have rested and they are ready for round two. They start to play-fight, which has never been a problem or caused an injury, but it does get loud with screams.

It too doesn’t last too, too long…

 

Then There’s my Zons, or Amazons 

At about 1/3 the size, my Amazon parrots are worse. Believe it or not!

There are two reasons for this, their call and consistency. My youngest Amazon, (Amazona viridigenalis) called a Red-crowned parrot, Green-cheeked Amazon or Mexican Red-headed parrot, is the worst. On a regular basis, he screams, usually twice a day. 

The Amazon scream is cacophonous, though not as bad as the Cockatoo family can sound in my opinion. When Ursulus starts, it’s hard to get him to stop. Same goes for his buddy, Tiko.

The upside to the Amazons is that they talk, and are known to be better talkers than the Macaws. They can also sing too, and Tiko will whistle/sing sometimes. They talk and sing most when they are spoken to or sung to, and I’m not a singer!

The Amazons also tend to practice their repertoire of words, so the more they learn to say or sing, the less likely they MAY be to not scream. 

While our Macaws are also picking up words, and one of our Mac’Girls uses “Bye-bye” in context, they aren’t known for being able to learn to talk as much or as well as an Amazon.

Which Would I Choose?

If you are trying to decide between an Amazon and a Macaw parrot, consider two things:

1 – Space
Macaws are BIG birds. They need a lot of space to fly around in and plenty of wood to chew. No wood equals stress. Yes, Macaws actually need wood to chew on for their well-being. When they don’t have the flying space or the wood to chew, they resort to your furniture, be it plastic or wood! Those huge beaks can be very destructive, so it’s something to consider.

While Amazons also need space to fly and wood to chew, their needs are not as vast. They can fly around a home easily and ours don’t EAT the house. However, you would do best to not have neighbors close by so that you can put your Amazons (or Macaws) outside. They require UV and UB light (not provided by our lightbulbs, unless you get specialty ones, and these rays don’t come through most windows) and fresh air is pure health for parrots, but it would also give you some quiet time, when needed.

Mind you, neither screams all day.  A parrot that does so is ill or deeply stressed out and something needs to take place quickly to address his or her issue.

2- Amazons Only Like You

Amazons are typically one-person birds. This means that they don’t like more than one person and can be mean, aggressive and will attack other household members. They choose their ‘pair’ and the rest of the world needs to stay away, according to them.

Both of these species is a lifestyle change, especially if you haven’t had a large parrot before. Taking care of them takes time and attention: preparing fresh vegetables, sweeping/cleaning the mess they make on the floor (several times per day) and keeping their cage clean. Then there is the time that should be spent with them. These are highly social animals that are built to be together all day. This is why we have 2 of each species. The ‘flock’ is human and parrot and it gives them more of the social structure that they are made for. Not perfect, but it clearly goes a much longer way than keeping one parrot alone.

While keeping one alone can be problem-free, when parrots are together they relate to each other in ways that we humans can’t. They feed, preen and approach each other, again, in ways that we aren’t built for (we’re too big and I’m unwilling to preen feathers with my teeth! LOL)


Have a questions about parrots?
As the author of “The Parrot Bliss Bond,” I love and welcome questions about having a parrot and creating one of the best experiences of your life!
Comment below, in my site (link below) or on the FB/Instagram messenger.

BOOK
Get my book Parrot Bliss Bond at https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0998010065?ref=ppx_pt2_dt_b_prod_image

TINK’S (CBD) OIL
CBD oil for parrots! Help de-stress your parrot’s plucking, anxiety or pain and support a healthy immune system at ParrotBliss.com which takes you to https://shop.petlife.zone/product/tinks-parrot-relief/

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Lorenza, (Amazon Parrot), Don’t Eat Seeds! They Will Kill You! Ahhh!

Ok, I caught Lorenza, my #Amazon_Parrot, red-beaked! I can’t believe my parrot was eating seeds! I can’t believe they were on the counter, how did they get there?

It’s not easy having Amazon parrots living among nut-eatting parrots. Actually, I think a great way to have selected my flock would have been to choose the same kind of eaters. For example, most parrots should not have fruit on their diet. This is because parrots prefer and choose bitter fruit that is unripe and unready to eat, for you and I. They are so accustomed to bitter fruit that they will bypass a ripe fruit on the branch they are on and reach or go further to an unripe fruit in the wild!

So, if you have Eckies (Eclectus parrots) and Lorikeets, then you can dish fruit up for all – ripe fruits.

On the other hand, if you have Macaws and Cape parrots, instead of fruits, you’ll be buying nuts.

It’s just easier to feed everyone the same thing, especially because parrots strongly subscribe to the belief that the food in their neighbor’s bowl is greener…

Amazon parrots, along with Cockatoos and Quakers, are known for gaining weight, which damages their health. These are parrots that need to have a low-fat diet on a regular basis, lest they get fat, weaken their bones — because seeds prevent the absorption of calcium — and their veins collect the fat. Not the picture of health at all!

Lorenza had been that fatty parrot described above. As a part of bringing her health back in check, which I think I got lucky with, she is on a strict no-seed diet. I don’t use seeds as rewards or in any other way with her, they simply are not for her.

So, when she happened to have seeds within her reach… she went for them, knowing that I don’t approve. It’s pretty comical to see her sneaking the seeds and then have her run to her box and bag afterwards!

Have a questions about parrots?

As the author of “The Parrot Bliss Bond,” I love and welcome questions about having a parrot and creating one of the best experiences of your life!

Comment below, in my site (link below) or on the FB/Instagram messenger.

BOOK

Get my book Parrot Bliss Bond at https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0998010065?ref=ppx_pt2_dt_b_prod_image

TINK’S (CBD) OIL

CBD oil for parrots! Help de-stress your parrot’s plucking, anxiety or pain and support a healthy immune system at ParrotBliss.com which takes you to https://shop.petlife.zone/product/tinks-parrot-relief/

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The Parrot Bliss Love Triangle

The first time Tiko, my #Amazon-parrot, saw Binx, my #Golden_Conure, he kept greeting him with, “Hello!, Hello! Hello!” over and over.

Tiko was a rescue. Don’t know much about him. He didn’t really want to be affectionate or bond, but if he was left alone, he didn’t bother any person or parrot. He let other birds, like LunaLove, #Cockatiel, hang out and feel protected (because other parrots weren’t going to bother her when she was close to Tiko and he never did anything to make them uncomfortable.

So, Tiko was fine. Life was fine. Nothing to exciting, nothing too worrysome.

And then Binx joined the flock. Even though they are both DNA’d males and even though I’m guessing Tiko is in his 20’s or 30’s and Binx isn’t a year old, Tiko took to Binx. It was love at first sight.

All of a sudden Tiko became excited and animated. He sought Binx out, fed him, groomed him — and no one else (bird or human) was allowed near Binx!

What a pair!

It wasn’t long before I felt comfortable housing Tiko and Binx together. It was clear that Tiko was not going to hurt Binx; instead, he was going to take care of him.

Lately Binx hasn’t been feeling well, so he went to the vet. He got meds and we’re waiting on test results. He seems to be doing better- the wonderful thing is that I see Tiko taking care of Binx. He comforts him. Binx hasn’t been alone, he’s been loved by either of us, mostly Tiko. Tiko has fed him, groomed him and obviously made him feel loved and needed.

Better still, Tiko now understands that I trust him and I trust them being together. This means that Tiko is letting me pick him up and take him back into their cage or bring them out into the family room. In the past Tiko has only let me pick him up when he was in ‘trouble,’ meaning that he flew somewhere and couldn’t get back, like upstairs.

What an interesting bond we are creating, the flock and I. My flock knows that I seek to take care of their needs, including the need to be a flock bird with other birds -usually of their own species. They know I care for them and that I want to bond with them too, and we do. 

However, I can’t be around all the time, so when I’m not, they still have flock members to help provide a place where they belong, where they are looked out for and cared for, especially Binx.

Have a questions about parrots?

As the author of “The Parrot Bliss Bond,” I love and welcome questions about having a parrot and creating one of the best experiences of your life!

Comment below, in my site (link below) or on the FB/Instagram messager.

BOOK

Get my book Parrot Bliss Bond at https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0998010065?ref=ppx_pt2_dt_b_prod_image

TINK’S (CBD) OIL

CBD oil for parrots! Help de-stress your parrot’s plucking, anxiety or pain and support a healthy immune system at ParrotBliss.com which takes you to https://shop.petlife.zone/product/tinks-parrot-relief/

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You MUST Have These 3 Items To Enhance Your Parrot’s Cage!

Three items that I MUST have for my parrot’s cages?

It doesn’t matter whether the parrot enjoys an open-door policy (which I try to give them all) or not, here are 3 things that I have available for them all!

1) No Mess Feeder
I quickly got tired of worrying that my parrots running out of food because they had either soiled it (yuck!) or kicked it all out, spreading it all over the floor while they went hungry that afternoon.

I was thrilled when I discovered the no-mess feeders. They allow me to have more food on-hand so that my parrots can choose to eat more, if they please, and their food stays 99% cleaner. They can also kick it around, if they like, although they no longer do. I guess the fun of scratching or digging is gone, since their food doesn’t go flying.

So these little boxes help me keep my parrots food handy for them, clean and available.

2) Zip Ties
Who knew zip ties were so handy? I can’t believe how quickly I go though them! Some of my parrots learn to open their access doors… sometimes I need to tie an access door open so that they can access their no-mess feeder to eat. Other times I want to zip tie a natural wooden perch to their cage.

No matter what I need them for, the zip ties are convenient. When I no longer need them I easily cut them with no harm done to the cage or my parrot.

I’ve never had a problem with my parrots and the zip ties; no getting tangled or hurt. On the contrary, sometimes my smaller parrots even like to perch on them! Of course, my ties don’t last around my larger parrots, like my Macaws or Capes. These guys are quicker at snipping them than scissors are!

3) Natural Rope
One of my favorite perches for my parrots is rope. It is easier on your parrot’s feet than the metal bars or plastic perches. Similar to a wooden perch, a thick natural rope perch gives my parrots something the love to bite, swing on and perch on. These seem to be a favorite with all my parrots. I also use natural rope to cover the metal perches on their cage play tops. It is obviously easier on their feet (prevents their pads from wearing) and gives their feet a cushion.

These are three things I always have available for parrot’s cages, always!

Have a questions about parrots?
As the author of “The Parrot Bliss Bond,” I love and welcome questions about having a parrot and creating one of the best experiences of your life!
Comment below, in my site (link below) or on the FB/Instagram messager.

BOOK
Get my book Parrot Bliss Bond at https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0998010065?ref=ppx_pt2_dt_b_prod_image

TINK’S (CBD) OIL
CBD oil for parrots! Help de-stress your parrot’s plucking, anxiety or pain and support a healthy immune system at ParrotBliss.com which takes you to https://shop.petlife.zone/product/tinks-parrot-relief/

FACEBOOK
Join Parrot Bliss on FB at https://www.facebook.com/ParrotBliss
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YOUTUBE
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What I ❤️ LOVE About My Parrotlet 🐤 Aviary!

An Aviary? It rocks – and who said it has to be outside?

My 3 Favorite Things About My Parrotlet Aviary:

1) My Parrotlets have room to FLY!
Unlike most cages that don’t allow much room for flight, the aviary allows my Parrotlets to fly for a couple feet! They can get their exercise in here!

2) Territories!
There is enough room in here for several of my Parrotlets to have their own space. Yes, they claim a corner or a space with their BFF (best feathered friend).

3) Room For Their Things
The space also allows me to have several toys, several perches and several feeding stations. No fighting over a perch, a food bowl…
I can give them rope perches, small sticks, large sticks or a swing. The variety is great.

I feel like my Parrotlets are happy and have the room they need to enjoy themselves and have fun.

Have a questions about parrots?
As the author of “The Parrot Bliss Bond,” I love and welcome questions about having a parrot and creating one of the best experiences of your life!
Comment below, in my site (link below) or on the FB/Instagram messanger.

BOOK
Get my book Parrot Bliss Bond at https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0998010065?ref=ppx_pt2_dt_b_prod_image

TINK’S (CBD) OIL
CBD oil for parrots! Help de-stress your parrot’s plucking, anxiety or pain and support a healthy immune system at ParrotBliss.com which takes you to https://shop.petlife.zone/product/tinks-parrot-relief/

FACEBOOK
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3 IMPORTANT Things You Should Know About Parrotlets

Do you have a Parrotlet?

If so, there are three significant things you should know that will affect how you take care of them.

1 Temperature

Parrotlets parrots are actually very sensitive to temperature. Although most parrots do well and can adjust to different climates, the same does not hold true with the Parrotlet. While they can be outdoors, in temperatures that are cool or temperatures that are too warm, they should really be indoors.

2 The Not-so Good Food

In the wild, most Parrotlets eat unripe, green and bitter fruits. This is because monkeys and larger birds do not allow smaller birds to access the sweet fruits. If your Parrotlet is too hyper or too aggressive, you may want to consider reducing their fructose, or ripe fruit foods.

3 Space To Fly

Even though Parrotlets are very small, the second two smallest in the pcittacine family, they are very active and generally require a lot of space. In addition to letting your Parrotlet let out often, consider the largest cage you can get for them. You will find that they fly all over the cage and all over your house!

BONUS: Two

Have two Parrotlets, or P’lets as they are also affectionately called. Two are twice the fun for you. For them, they keep each other company, they preen each other and, being flock animals, they keep each other happier and healthier because they feel more safe and at home with their human and P’let flock.

___
Have a questions about parrots?
As the author of “The Parrot Bliss Bond,” I love and welcome questions about having a parrot and creating one of the best experiences of your life!

BOOK
Get my book Parrot Bliss Bond at https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0998010065?ref=ppx_pt2_dt_b_prod_image

FACEBOOK
Join Parrot Bliss on FB at https://www.facebook.com/ParrotBliss
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WEBSITE
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YOUTUBE
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Like Romeo & Juliet: 3 Rules To Mixing 🦜Parrot Species

I’ve had several requests for information on how to -if you can – put different parrot species together and have them be housemates-

So, here’s 3 basic rules to live by:

1 Same Species Tend To Get Along

Two of the same species tends to be safe. Two Green-cheeked Conures or Parrotlets want to be in a flock and the best flock is their own species. So getting a second parrot of the same species usually works and makes them happy.

2 Depends on the species

Some species have characteristics that tend to make them better or worse at getting along with others. For example, I find that Caiques don’t play well with other species! Neither do Indian Ringnecks – for the most part. In my flock, that tends to spell trouble.

Golden Conures, on the other hand, or Hanh’s Macaws tend to get along with other parrots — or at least not create conflict. They are friendly and do well around other parrots whether they befriend them or just co-exist around them.

3 It Depends On Each Individual Parrot’s Personality

Then you have the fact that every parrot is different. Green-cheeked Conures (GCC) seem to be great examples of this: it seems common to have a GCC that is aggressive, they often think they are larger than they are. It also seems common to have one that defers and is more of a ‘team player’ than a one-bird force to be ‘reccond with! In either case, GCC are very social and create deep bonds. Sometimes it can be with a parrot of another species but other times their instinct seems to be to hurt the other species.

It just depends on the individual parrot’s personality.

Predicting how your parrot will get along with a potential new parrot is a gamble. The odds are more so in your favor when you get the same species of parrot. Sometimes it doesn’t matter, parrots can form deep bonds with another species as well when they, like Romeo & Juliet, fall in love.

A Romeo & Juliet bond can be immediate and pronounced, whether the parrots are of the same species or not. Similarly, a dangerous and perilous relationship can also form with parrots of the same species or not. The most important thing to do is watch your parrots carefully and closely to ensure their safety, security and happiness as much as possible.

Have a questions about parrots?
As the author of “The Parrot Bliss Bond,” I love and welcome questions about having a parrot and creating one of the best experiences of your life!
Comment below, in my site (link below) or on the FB/Instagram messager.

BOOK
Get my book Parrot Bliss Bond at https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0998010065?ref=ppx_pt2_dt_b_prod_image

TINK’S (CBD) OIL
CBD oil for parrots! Help de-stress your parrot’s plucking, anxiety or pain and support a healthy immune system at ParrotBliss.com which takes you to https://shop.petlife.zone/product/tinks-parrot-relief/

FACEBOOK
Join Parrot Bliss on FB at https://www.facebook.com/ParrotBliss
Join the flock on FB! https://www.facebook.com/groups/pbflock/

WEBSITE
Visit my site at https://parrotbliss.com/

YOUTUBE
https://www.youtube.com/parrotbliss

Taming Azure, Indian Ringneck, WITHOUT Clipping Or Upsetting Her

I’m trying to be quiet in this video to not throw Azure, our new Indian Ringneck (IRN) off…

 

Got her for my IRN. Well, pluck me!

I wanted Azure to be a “he” and he aint!

And I wanted my IRN to have a companion, but so far, she isn’t having it!

Anyway… I’m working on taming Azure. Ah, parrots! You never know with them… So, to tame Azure, I brought her into a “safe” room – no other parrots. A room for her to hang out in as I work on my computer. She was doing fine and hanging out on a perch, but she jumped off. I approached her and she jumped onto my shoulder. Pretty sure she didn’t mean to come to me! I took advantage though, and let her hang out on me and discover that I’m not THAT bad! LOL

Azure has a damaged wing. The avian vet did an x-ray and said that she may be able to fly some, but the injury isn’t new and scar tissue has formed. Nothing we can do now.

It’s a shame, but Azure need not worry. She doesn’t have to be able to fly and she can fly a little. I have seeds for her to try to give her a wonderful experience she’ll want to repeat, and we’re giving her lots of time. Taming this way requires patience on our part because it’ll take days of several hours stretches to break her current fear-based perception.

She’s already relaxing some. I’m pleased that she hasn’t tried to bite me, while sitting on my shoulder– not that I’m offering my finger or doing anything to surprise, agitate or push her. Instead, I’m letting her relax into a new experience and begin to bridge a connection to people.


Have a questions about parrots?
As the author of “The Parrot Bliss Bond,” I love and welcome questions about having a parrot and creating one of the best experiences of your life!
Comment below, in my site (link below) or on the FB/Instagram messager.

BOOK
Get my book Parrot Bliss Bond at https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0998010065?ref=ppx_pt2_dt_b_prod_image

TINK’S (CBD) OIL
CBD oil for parrots! Help de-stress your parrot’s plucking, anxiety or pain and support a healthy immune system at ParrotBliss.com which takes you to https://shop.petlife.zone/product/tinks-parrot-relief/

FACEBOOK
Join Parrot Bliss on FB at https://www.facebook.com/ParrotBliss
Join the flock on FB!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/pbflock/

WEBSITE
Visit my site at https://parrotbliss.com/

YOUTUBE
https://www.youtube.com/parrotbliss

Is Millet Beneficial Or Is It ‘Junk Food’ For Your Parrot?

Millet: A Natural Food
And it is eaten the world-over, but should your parrot have it?

Researching today is interesting because the internet makes it easy and fast. Only problem is that it also makes it easy and fast to find contradictory information.

Is millet good for your parrot or is it ‘junk food?’ Because online, I’ve read that it is both. Could that be possible? Yes, depending on your parrot’s health.

You can check to see if your parrot is over or underweight in this video:

If your parrot is overweight, or if you have a parrot that should have a diet that is low in fat, like an Amazon, a Quaker or a Cockatoo, then millet can be a healthy part of your parrot’s diet — though not the core of their diet. It can be a great treat for a parrot like this, in moderation.

On the other hand, if you have a parrot that requires nut fat in their diet, like an African Grey, a Golden Conure or a Macaw, then millet is too low in fat and may not be a healthy addition to their diet.

Contact your avian veterinarian so that they can help you determine if millet can be used to help your parrot reduce the fat in their diet, or lose weight, if it is appropriate; they can tell you if it should only be used as an occasional treat or how much millet should be given, based on your parrot’s species and weight.

Do I Use Water Bottles For My Parrots?

Parrot Water Bottle?

 

If you have parrots, you know one challenge is keeping their water clean- parrots put their food in their water and accidentally poop in it – so providing clean drinking water can be challenging.

One way to keep their water clean is to use water bottles. They need to be taught to use the bottles so that they move the ball that keeps the water from dripping out, but are these the best way to provide water? Do I still use these?

Water Bowls?

The problem I encounter is that my parrots still need water in their cage in case they want to bathe. So I found that the water bottle was problematic for me. While they generally do provide clean drinking water, they didn’t meet the requirements my parrots have. I didn’t feel there was any point in giving my parrots a water dish for them to bathe in and give them a water bottle. Actually, it gave me twice the work!

I like to make sure they have a large enough water bowl, and then I have to make sure to change it during the day to avoid dirty water.