Monad Studios wrote:
Birds are pigs.

From what I've heard, pigs are pretty sociable and sort of like weird dogs.

Koryn wrote:

From what I've heard, pigs are pretty sociable and sort of like weird dogs.

I just meant that birds make a mess.  I shouldn't have used negative stereotypes about pigs.  Pigs seem like interesting pets.

Birds are pigs.
Pigs are dogs.
And dogs, of course, are people.

GK photo wrote:
i had a congo african grey parrot years ago. loved that bird. they do tend to bond with only one person, or one gender. my bird loved me, but would bite the shit out of my ex, if she ever tried to pet her.

parrots are quite interesting animals. they are very intelligent, and are way more interesting than cats.

that bird could not only speak, but she could imitate voices (to the point of amazement), and sounds that she heard in her day to day life.

you just have to be careful with them. if they establish the higher ground (literally) in the house, they will flaunt their pecking order status. parrots are like tempestuous two year old children. i won't say that i had her potty trained, but you can (just like with puppies) get an idea of when the major dumping will be going on. people who walk around with parrots on their shoulders all day (like long john silver) are going to get crapped on. it just kind of goes with the territory.

the main thing that drives people nuts about parrots is the noise. again, that's something that can be managed, with just a little bit of creative psychology. my bird didn't do a bunch on incessant screeching. macaws do most of that nonsense. she was just a chatterbox. but there was always music playing in the home, and she learned to mimic quite a few songs.

she sang like a drunk at last call, but it was entertaining.

My mother's bird is potty-trained, and says a few words. He mumbles about stuff, and attempts to imitate voices, though he does a bad job at it. He never really learned how to say a lot - though she spent a lot of time trying to teach him to talk. I don't think he's particularly smart, as that type of animal goes. We had smaller types of birds when I was a kid who were
more talkative than the African Gray.

Looknsee Photography wrote:
Birds are different animals, and parrots are particularly troublesome.  Parrots are just smart enough to get bored & resentful if they are not appropriately stimulated.  And they live an exceedingly long life.  They take a lot of special care, and I would guess that the vast majority of parrot owners are not prepared for the commitment they require.  And yes, parrots can become neurotic.

Wotcher mean, eh? Eh? Eh?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parrot#Int … d_learning

Noncho wrote:
I like to observe birds in the nature, I don't like to put them in a cage...

Awesome photograph.

Click Hamilton wrote:
I have had cockatiels. I have one now. They have all been exquisite as companion birds. Each one has their own distinct personality. The birds I have had have been gentle and kind, full of love and loyalty, and they were all strongly bonded with me. They are rarely in their cage, but it's available if we need it for protection or traveling.

Cockatiels are not as messy as larger birds. We need to clean poop, feathers and scattered food, but it's nothing a Dustbuster and bottle of bird-safe spray cleaner won't easily fix.

The more time and attention we give to them, the more complex and rewarding their personalities become. Birds that are neglected or mistreated can easily develop personality problems or bad habits.

Like all relationships, the more we give, the more we get.

They help me work. It's their responsibility to chew my bills around the edges, then poop on them before I seal the envelop and drop it in the mail.

I think you have to have a special personality for birds. I typically do well with most types of animals, including farm animals and bond well with them.

I've never been able to connect well with birds.

My mom had all sorts of birds when I was growing up. I don't know why I never felt "close" to any of them - the way I feel friendly with other types of animals. I just never did.

Click Hamilton wrote:
I have had cockatiels. I have one now. They have all been exquisite as companion birds. Each one has their own distinct personality. The birds I have had have been gentle and kind, full of love and loyalty, and they were all strongly bonded with me. They are rarely in their cage, but it's available if we need it for protection or traveling.

Cockatiels are not as messy as larger birds. We need to clean poop, feathers and scattered food, but it's nothing a Dustbuster and bottle of bird-safe spray cleaner won't easily fix.

The more time and attention we give to them, the more complex and rewarding their personalities become. Birds that are neglected or mistreated can easily develop personality problems or bad habits.

Like all relationships, the more we give, the more we get.

They help me work. It's their responsibility to chew my bills around the edges, then poop on them before I seal the envelop and drop it in the mail.