I'm a newbie but would love to here where and how you all met your birds!
Full Version: How Did You Meet Your Heart Birds?
Through a friend that knew I really wanted a bird..(she had an DYH amazon that I had bonded majorly with but was attacked by a stray dog that came into the house)..Had another friend that was looking to rehome her QP that she had had for about 17-18 years..(why the sudden give up i don't know) and since I was recently seperated from my husband at the time I went and met him. it was an instant click for us. all the lady would say is how aggressive he was and this and that (in a negative light) and then asked if i wanted to hold him. I went to get him out of his cage (she kept pushing for me to use gloves but i told her no) the friend that I came with was just laughing at her saying I could take a bite! (the DYH did get me a couple of times) but Skipper gave me no problems and seemed very happy to sit on my lap. I told them I was interested but i had to see where things went with my divorce first. that i was afraid to bring him into my apt without the divorce being finalized. my ex had already given me problems regarding a pet rat that i had brought into the home. my kids got attached and then i had to get rid of her. so i wasn't going to do that again. needless to say it took 18 months for my divorce to be finalized. I contacted my friend and asked if her friend was still looking to rehome her QP. she checked into. yup. they had tried to rehome him several times with no luck. I went and got him and he's been with me since. 
I think we were meant to be togther. He was never any of the bad things she claimed him to be. he's quite, all of my kids and neighbors can handle him. I'm really glad he gets to "retire" here. You could tell he had been "pushed to the side" at his former owners. horrible messy cage, super long nails, poor feather condition and he had some bare spots (1 area that it won't come back in) and she breed dogs so i think the constant noise scared him. *whew* a little long winded but there it is about as summed up as i can get it!! 
I think we were meant to be togther. He was never any of the bad things she claimed him to be. he's quite, all of my kids and neighbors can handle him. I'm really glad he gets to "retire" here. You could tell he had been "pushed to the side" at his former owners. horrible messy cage, super long nails, poor feather condition and he had some bare spots (1 area that it won't come back in) and she breed dogs so i think the constant noise scared him. *whew* a little long winded but there it is about as summed up as i can get it!!
One day I was at a bird fair and saw a pitiful, 7 week old baby Lutino tiel that was in it's last stages of life. I asked the lady what was wrong with him and she said he was the last hatched in the nest, parent raised and that the siblings just hadn't let him eat much...oh come on! I asked what she'd take for him and she said she couldn't sell him, that's he'd be dead by morning.
WHAT???, SHE wasn't willing to feed him??? I knew I had to get him out of there. I asked her if she'd take $10 for him...she took it. I didn't have a lamp for warmth (which has saved many a "dead" bird for me, so I put him inside my shirt and off I went. I got some food and some water and fed him in the truck, first thing. When I got home, I put a lamp near him and in 30 minutes or so, he was chirping and eating like a pig. I've had him 8 years now. He is totally blind, but talks up a storm (will get video) and is a happy camper.
Along came Kiwi (GRRRRRR) A lady I know approached me one day and sais she knew I loved birds and had had them for years...and would I like a small parrot? I had no idea what a QP was, but when she told me she had bought a "BETTER" bird and no longer wanted the QP, I had to choose whether to cry or growl!
I told her YES right then. Poor Kiwi was unwanted and unloved all of a sudden because they got a better bird. What the "L"!!!!!? Glad she didn't have children and see some "better" ones somewhere.
I adore my MEAN little green chicken and she's a HAPPY mean monster! She will only be rehomed after we are both dead or in a nursing home. Otherwise, she is a lifer!
Bo is also a lifer. His home is here with us forever or until death do us part!
He literally flew into my life. I was weeding my flower beds and something orange landed beside me. Before I could see what it was, it had jumped up on my arm and run up to my shoulder. I don't know how he moved that quick and actively, because he was so near death that he rested his beak on me. I took him in and put the magic heat of a lamp on him and sure enough, in a very short while his head was up and he was eating, drinking and doing the "baby shake" for me to feed him or pick him up. He lives in my shirt about 1/4 of the time and all over me about 1/4, plays with his toys and sleeps in his happy hut. He chewed the last one to shreds, but has a new one now and hasn't touched it...just sleeps there.
He never bites and is a good boy (oh, yes, I did everything possible to try to find his owner).
I truly think all my birds are happy and healthy and they give me so much joy and the best entertainment anyone could ask for!
Oh how I love my birds
Great stories!!! I have too many birds to list them all, so I'll go with my Chi Chi/Lo Lee story...
I found Chi Chi (Green Cheek Conure) at a pet store. She wasn't being neglected at all. Great bird, came to me right away and I made the choice to bring her home (after begging my oldest son
).
Less then a month later, the manager of the pet store called me and wanted to know if I was interested in a Maroon Bellied Conure. I said I wasn't really, and then he explained the situation. The MBC came from the same breeder as Chi Chi did. The bird was a failure to thrive chick and almost died several times. She was also Chi Chi's brooder mate. She took a full month longer to wean then all her other clutch mates. The breeder was hesitant about just letting the bird go to any one, but when the pet store manager mentioned me, she was willing to have her go to me. I met the bird, and she stole my heart, and that was the end of that!! It's been three years since I've had them both and Lo Lee is as healthy as ever.
I found Chi Chi (Green Cheek Conure) at a pet store. She wasn't being neglected at all. Great bird, came to me right away and I made the choice to bring her home (after begging my oldest son
). Less then a month later, the manager of the pet store called me and wanted to know if I was interested in a Maroon Bellied Conure. I said I wasn't really, and then he explained the situation. The MBC came from the same breeder as Chi Chi did. The bird was a failure to thrive chick and almost died several times. She was also Chi Chi's brooder mate. She took a full month longer to wean then all her other clutch mates. The breeder was hesitant about just letting the bird go to any one, but when the pet store manager mentioned me, she was willing to have her go to me.
I met the bird, and she stole my heart, and that was the end of that!! It's been three years since I've had them both and Lo Lee is as healthy as ever.
Great stories! Keep 'em coming! I love them!!
Hi, I'm a newbie here . I have a two and a half month old quaker his name is Ramzi. I had two tiels that was given to me last year .I always like to go look at the birds at the flea market. I saw Ramzi there and just couldnt leave him there so I bought him. this is the first time I have posted anything I hope I am doing this right. I have been reading and learning alot about the quakers on here. This place is great
Welcome, both of you!
When Ryan and I lived in the Keys, we went in the local petstore and befriended the owner. Shortly afterward, he got in an African Grey. I was in love. I went in every weekend to see that bird. The owner knew how much I liked the bird and even tried to 'cut me a deal.' But even with the price cut, I still couldn't afford him. But I kept on going in to see him. One Saturday, Ryan and I went in, and as I was beelining for the Gray, the owner stopped me and told me he had something for me. He told me that his Quakers had a clutch and were ready to be sold. He told me to go see them. I went over to where she and another were being kept, in a small clear carrier and a towel to keep them warm. Khirsah's was marked 'very sweet.' So I took her out, was holding her close, and she pooped in my cleavage.
I didn't mind! She looked up at me after she did it, gave me this undescribable look of love, and that was all it took. I took her home that same day. I learned how to hand feed her correctly, how to care for her, and did some quick research ( which is bad I know ). I just knew I'd be able to care for her right. Nothing could stop me. And the owner, seeing how we had already bonded, gave her to me. We've been inseperable since.
My next bird(s) were the lovies. They were in a Petsmart in Miami, and had continuously dirty water. You could tell it hadn't been changed. And no perches in the cage either. They had tail rot from sitting on the water bowl!
I told Ryan that if they were still there the next week, we were going to get them. And sure enough, the next weekend, they were still there, unattended, dirty water, no toys, no perches, nothing. So I had them until we got news we were coming up here. On the way up from the Keys to Alaska, we stopped in St Louis where Joni, Frankie's Mom, adopted them, and has them still. I miss em like the dickens though!
My 3rd was Lillie. By this time, I had convinced Ryan he needed a bird ( but actually was for me ). So I got on the internet and did some research as to what would be a good 'our' bird. I came up with the Sun Conure. So I found a guy out of a small town in New York state that breeds them. He sold her to me and told me she was still handfeeding. She was flown down on Delta to Miami and they actually lost her! She was way overdue for a feeding when we finally got her home. Once she calmed down, she's been the clown of the family since! Cuddly too. She is 'our' bird when Ryan's home, but I'm her person when he's gone.
Shiloh, my first rescue, came from a store where he was kept at a level where kids could and did come up and beat on his cage and scream. He was neglected to an extreme, had maybe one perch in his cage, and no toys. When we got him home, I couldn't take him out of the cage and actually wondered what I had gotten myself into! He bit hard, drew blood, screamed, was a complete hellion. But after that first weekend, things got better, and have continued to get better. He communicates very well now, doesn't scream anymore, unless he's telling the rest of them to 'HUSH UP!!! YOU BOTHER ME!' He likes sitting on my shoulder now, mostly when I'm on the couch. He's a sweetheart, and my telling this story doesn't relate how much I love him. And he's become very protective of me now. He still likes Ryan, but is insanely jealous of the other fids.
Missy, my last, and newest addition, is still a story in the making. I hadn't planned on another bird, but when I heard her story, my heart melted. I knew she had been labeled a 'problem' bird, but just as Shiloh has progressed, I knew she could too. She is a rescue that has trust issues and has never been clipped in her life. She doesn't bite though, which is good. But I'll be able to tell you more in a year!
When Ryan and I lived in the Keys, we went in the local petstore and befriended the owner. Shortly afterward, he got in an African Grey. I was in love. I went in every weekend to see that bird. The owner knew how much I liked the bird and even tried to 'cut me a deal.' But even with the price cut, I still couldn't afford him. But I kept on going in to see him. One Saturday, Ryan and I went in, and as I was beelining for the Gray, the owner stopped me and told me he had something for me. He told me that his Quakers had a clutch and were ready to be sold. He told me to go see them. I went over to where she and another were being kept, in a small clear carrier and a towel to keep them warm. Khirsah's was marked 'very sweet.' So I took her out, was holding her close, and she pooped in my cleavage.
I didn't mind! She looked up at me after she did it, gave me this undescribable look of love, and that was all it took. I took her home that same day. I learned how to hand feed her correctly, how to care for her, and did some quick research ( which is bad I know ). I just knew I'd be able to care for her right. Nothing could stop me. And the owner, seeing how we had already bonded, gave her to me. We've been inseperable since. My next bird(s) were the lovies. They were in a Petsmart in Miami, and had continuously dirty water. You could tell it hadn't been changed. And no perches in the cage either. They had tail rot from sitting on the water bowl!
I told Ryan that if they were still there the next week, we were going to get them. And sure enough, the next weekend, they were still there, unattended, dirty water, no toys, no perches, nothing. So I had them until we got news we were coming up here. On the way up from the Keys to Alaska, we stopped in St Louis where Joni, Frankie's Mom, adopted them, and has them still. I miss em like the dickens though!My 3rd was Lillie. By this time, I had convinced Ryan he needed a bird ( but actually was for me
). So I got on the internet and did some research as to what would be a good 'our' bird. I came up with the Sun Conure. So I found a guy out of a small town in New York state that breeds them. He sold her to me and told me she was still handfeeding. She was flown down on Delta to Miami and they actually lost her! She was way overdue for a feeding when we finally got her home. Once she calmed down, she's been the clown of the family since! Cuddly too. She is 'our' bird when Ryan's home, but I'm her person when he's gone. Shiloh, my first rescue, came from a store where he was kept at a level where kids could and did come up and beat on his cage and scream. He was neglected to an extreme, had maybe one perch in his cage, and no toys.
When we got him home, I couldn't take him out of the cage and actually wondered what I had gotten myself into! He bit hard, drew blood, screamed, was a complete hellion. But after that first weekend, things got better, and have continued to get better. He communicates very well now, doesn't scream anymore, unless he's telling the rest of them to 'HUSH UP!!! YOU BOTHER ME!' He likes sitting on my shoulder now, mostly when I'm on the couch. He's a sweetheart, and my telling this story doesn't relate how much I love him. And he's become very protective of me now. He still likes Ryan, but is insanely jealous of the other fids. Missy, my last, and newest addition, is still a story in the making. I hadn't planned on another bird, but when I heard her story, my heart melted. I knew she had been labeled a 'problem' bird, but just as Shiloh has progressed, I knew she could too. She is a rescue that has trust issues and has never been clipped in her life. She doesn't bite though, which is good. But I'll be able to tell you more in a year!
Wow! I just love all of your stories. I can see keeping Quakers are addictive, and also Quakers sound like a gateway bird (One that leads to adopting others)...lol.
I will say my quaker Bubba was definatly a gateway bird! I had one cockateil that someone gave me a few years ago but he was badly mistreated plucked all most all his feathers out and wouldn't let anyone touch him, now he has almost all his feathers back and I can pick him up even though he dosen't like it too much!
I have a friend who owns a small pet store in our local mall, Last year my husband was looking for a Macaw so I went to see her to see if she could possibly get us one and as soon as I walked in I saw this little green guy and when I walked over to him he jumped right on me! I was shocked so I called hubby and said I can't leave him here cause he wouldn't get off me! so we brought him home and he loves everyone except Megan my oldest daughter for some reason he only bites her!,
Thats how I ended up with the two conures we have I was looking for Megan a blue quaker and found these guys on craigs list and they really needed a home so we drove a ways to get them but they love Megan so she is happy now but still wants a blue qp!
My last addition is a big little Blue and Gold Macaw who is just a sweetheart, he dosen't quite have a name yet it is either Champ or Max!, but even after all these fids Bubba is still my heart bird!
I have a friend who owns a small pet store in our local mall, Last year my husband was looking for a Macaw so I went to see her to see if she could possibly get us one and as soon as I walked in I saw this little green guy and when I walked over to him he jumped right on me! I was shocked so I called hubby and said I can't leave him here cause he wouldn't get off me! so we brought him home and he loves everyone except Megan my oldest daughter for some reason he only bites her!,
Thats how I ended up with the two conures we have I was looking for Megan a blue quaker and found these guys on craigs list and they really needed a home so we drove a ways to get them but they love Megan so she is happy now but still wants a blue qp!
My last addition is a big little Blue and Gold Macaw who is just a sweetheart, he dosen't quite have a name yet it is either Champ or Max!, but even after all these fids Bubba is still my heart bird!
Boris came to us when I called an add in the paper for a very nice bird cage for $50.00 Id seen the cage in the stores for almost $300 and had a baby fid that I was waiting on, it was not completely weaned. When I called about the cage they asked if I wanted a bird too. The husband had had a mexican clique that had unexpectedly passed away and his wife got Boris as a rescue to replace her husbands lost love however Boris didnt take up with him he loved her and she worked all the time. We went right over and met Boris and he immediately took to my 4yr old daughter and climbed right up her shoulder. He was somewhat nervous but did wonderful. We took him home right away with the understanding with the owners that if it wasnt a good match just bring him back to them. He has been doing great ever since. He is a bit of a stuffed shirt personality he doesnt like toys prefers to just sit on his perch and listen to going ons of the house and doesnt like to act silly but is silly in his own way. He is out of his cage about 8-10 hours a day. He has started talking but doesnt say alot all he said when we got him was "no bite" now he says "give it back", Goodboy, loves to whistle, says up and step up, OOOUuuuucccchhhhh and a few other little things. I have an daughter that is 8 with extreme ADHD and he is the best thing that has ever happened to her. They play in her room for hours and she is so calm when she has him with her, its amazing! The most amazing thing is my husband is NOT an animal lover but worships this little man. Miracles do happen my husband has come from the mention of animals growling that now he is always on craigslist looking to see if there is a bird in need of him HA HA HA ....music to my ears
I'm so happy he worked out for you and your daughter! That is wonderful.
Now that's great! My hubby has also already fallen in love with my new QP baby Harley,
(he was unsure at the start)... and we just got him today!!
Now that's great! My hubby has also already fallen in love with my new QP baby Harley,
(he was unsure at the start)... and we just got him today!!
I'm just going to pick one of my babies, since I've got a houseful. In fact, I'll go with Georgia, that little bird that started this addiction of mine!
I was 21 and just about to move into my first apartment (well, six months away). I had wanted a parrot FOREVER but my parents were resolute. I had a job, money, but they insisted "no." I'm a ridiculously great daughter (LOL, at least in terms of never giving them anything to worry about) and so I listened.
Of course, I also couldn't help but look at birds everywhere I saw them. I had been doing this for almost two years, and I had never come home with a bird, even though I was often tempted. But that January afternoon, something was different. I asked to hold a quaker (they had two). She asked which one, noting that the one in the bottom cage was "meaner." Well, I don't know WHY, but I said "the one in the bottom." She flew away to avoid me, she bit me, she did NOT like me "bothering" her. But I was smitten. My heart was completely stolen. I'm such a weirdo!
But I took her home. Despite knowing I would get into trouble. And I did. I got yelled at majorly, and almost promised to take her back. But I held out, and lo and behold... after yelling at me, slamming doors, having a fit, my dad was fine. Didn't care anymore. Hoped she wasn't "too" loud, and by the end of week was begging to hold her.
Seriously, I would NEVER recommend someone get a parrot when their parents, who allow them to live in THEIR home, forbid it. And I NEVER ignore my parents like that or stick to my guns against them (at least not then... now I'm all grown up and out of the house so we're a little more "equal"). And I would never encourage a bird novice to go with the "mean" bird that bites them... but for me and Georgia, it was the start of a really beautiful friendship. My little green chicken took about a month to warm up to me, and I almost got frustrated and gave up in that time, but one morning she woke up and decided she adored me. The feeling is mutual.
Awww, thinking of all this.... I'm gonna go cuddle her now
I was 21 and just about to move into my first apartment (well, six months away). I had wanted a parrot FOREVER but my parents were resolute. I had a job, money, but they insisted "no." I'm a ridiculously great daughter (LOL, at least in terms of never giving them anything to worry about) and so I listened.
Of course, I also couldn't help but look at birds everywhere I saw them. I had been doing this for almost two years, and I had never come home with a bird, even though I was often tempted. But that January afternoon, something was different. I asked to hold a quaker (they had two). She asked which one, noting that the one in the bottom cage was "meaner." Well, I don't know WHY, but I said "the one in the bottom." She flew away to avoid me, she bit me, she did NOT like me "bothering" her. But I was smitten. My heart was completely stolen. I'm such a weirdo!
But I took her home. Despite knowing I would get into trouble. And I did. I got yelled at majorly, and almost promised to take her back. But I held out, and lo and behold... after yelling at me, slamming doors, having a fit, my dad was fine. Didn't care anymore. Hoped she wasn't "too" loud, and by the end of week was begging to hold her.
Seriously, I would NEVER recommend someone get a parrot when their parents, who allow them to live in THEIR home, forbid it. And I NEVER ignore my parents like that or stick to my guns against them (at least not then... now I'm all grown up and out of the house so we're a little more "equal"). And I would never encourage a bird novice to go with the "mean" bird that bites them... but for me and Georgia, it was the start of a really beautiful friendship. My little green chicken took about a month to warm up to me, and I almost got frustrated and gave up in that time, but one morning she woke up and decided she adored me. The feeling is mutual.
Awww, thinking of all this.... I'm gonna go cuddle her now
I was always in trouble for all the stray animals i brought home, like frogs, snakes, rats, mice, all kinds of birds, every stray dog i ever saw, so i know what you mean about all the yelling and stuff.
When i was about 14, my grandmother called me and asked me if i wanted a bird. i was estatic! we drove to her house, and she gave me a box, taped up, telling me the bird flew into her window and was super mean. All i could think was, the bird is so mean you have to tape the box? Well, we got home, i didnt even have a cage. and the only birds i had ever had were the ones i was able to catch outside.
I opened up teh box, and this bird was tore up. Looked like another animal had chewed it up or something. I ended up naming it Randy, the bird was a Cockatoo. im not sure exactly what kind, but he was all white, well, what was left of his feathers, and he had yellow feathers on his head that stood up like a mohawk when he got excited. Randy had a big crack in his beak, and his toe was crooked. The yellow feathers on top looked like they had been cut or something.
At first i tried to get him to live on my dresser, but you couldnt even feed him without bleeding for sure! His beak was big and black, and terrible! My mom wanted him gone the first night. But i complained, and told her i could help him. I also got two budgies around this time.
Well, unfortunatly i was only with Randy for about 8 months, but it was a crash course in bird rehab! Eventually all his feathers grew back, and he quit biting when he was fed. I got him to sit on my shoulder, get along with the other birds, and he even whitsled with me.
Randy was my gateway bird, lol, but when i was 19 i got a Quaker from a pet shop, i had to wait for him to be born and weaned, and i love him! Quite the contrast of Randy, Midori is a picture perfect bird! NEVER, EVER bites anyone, loves kids and babies, goes with me everywhere, speaks, yet only to me when we are alone, and i can turn him on his back, extend his wings, pick up his feet, anything. and Midori is a super quiet bird, very rarely even squaks, unless hes talking to me. The only thing close to an issue, is Midori screams, not screeches but screams, if i leave the room without him.
whoo, sorry if that was long winded!
When i was about 14, my grandmother called me and asked me if i wanted a bird. i was estatic! we drove to her house, and she gave me a box, taped up, telling me the bird flew into her window and was super mean. All i could think was, the bird is so mean you have to tape the box? Well, we got home, i didnt even have a cage. and the only birds i had ever had were the ones i was able to catch outside.
I opened up teh box, and this bird was tore up. Looked like another animal had chewed it up or something. I ended up naming it Randy, the bird was a Cockatoo. im not sure exactly what kind, but he was all white, well, what was left of his feathers, and he had yellow feathers on his head that stood up like a mohawk when he got excited. Randy had a big crack in his beak, and his toe was crooked. The yellow feathers on top looked like they had been cut or something.
At first i tried to get him to live on my dresser, but you couldnt even feed him without bleeding for sure! His beak was big and black, and terrible! My mom wanted him gone the first night. But i complained, and told her i could help him. I also got two budgies around this time.
Well, unfortunatly i was only with Randy for about 8 months, but it was a crash course in bird rehab! Eventually all his feathers grew back, and he quit biting when he was fed. I got him to sit on my shoulder, get along with the other birds, and he even whitsled with me.
Randy was my gateway bird, lol, but when i was 19 i got a Quaker from a pet shop, i had to wait for him to be born and weaned, and i love him! Quite the contrast of Randy, Midori is a picture perfect bird! NEVER, EVER bites anyone, loves kids and babies, goes with me everywhere, speaks, yet only to me when we are alone, and i can turn him on his back, extend his wings, pick up his feet, anything. and Midori is a super quiet bird, very rarely even squaks, unless hes talking to me. The only thing close to an issue, is Midori screams, not screeches but screams, if i leave the room without him.
whoo, sorry if that was long winded!
My son wanted a tiel really bad and I was terrified of birds but gave in. Larry ended up being the coolest bird and I fell in love. I begged my son to give him to me but he wouldn't so I decided I would get my own bird. I had decided on a tiel and set out for Fargo to see what they had there. (There was a quaker at my Petco and at first I thought it was funny looking. The more I saw it the more I started to like it but it had just been adopted.) So there were several tiels in a cage and one almost three month old baby quaker. They had named him Spike. He looked afraid and lonely and I was in love. He had the sweetest little face which I have since learned is to suck you in before you find out that they can be little turds... His name is Kiwi now and he is a year and two months old. I can't imagine what I would do without his little feathered butt.
Awww... I am still new to birds! I just got my Quaker in June - he is the first bird I have had, other than the parakeets that my mom had when I was very small.
I took a job at a Petsmart in NJ just as a very brief "till I find a better job" kind of thing. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed working around animals. I stayed. When I decided to move back to VA, and just transferred to the store closest to where I live now. The VA store had a little green bird in the biggest cage in the habitat. I remember asking the manager "What kind of bird is that?" She told me "It's a Quaker Parakeet. We aren't going to sell him to just anybody." I thought he was a little odd looking, but really cute. That was during the time where all the birds from Petsmart were quarantined and not for sale. As the weeks went by I became more and more attached to him. It surprised me because one of my friends has a Sun Conure whose scream can melt my brains! The last thing I thought I would ever want as a pet was a bird! I became more and more attached to SweetPea and started to mention to my husband that I would like to bring home the bird. He was not amused. Took a couple of weeks to wear him down. When he went from "no" to "maybe" I found a nice cage on eBay and brought it home by strapping it to the trunk of my car with bungee cords. (my car is a teeny 2 seater) When he saw the cage, he threw up his hands and said... "Oh, alright.. You can have him for your birthday." Yay! Of course, PetSmart was still quarantining the birds, so I had to wait for them to be out of quarantine. Essentially, if the birds were OK'd to be put up for sale, and someone else beat me to it, SweetPea would be sold to the first person who came in and wanted him. I was not amused. I did get a phone call from a coworker telling me that she had heard that the birds would be up for sale the next morning. I went in and paid for SweetPea as soon as the register opened. I brought him home in June and he has won over just about everyone but the cat. The cat is still not amused.
Here is my current favorite pic.
I took a job at a Petsmart in NJ just as a very brief "till I find a better job" kind of thing. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed working around animals. I stayed. When I decided to move back to VA, and just transferred to the store closest to where I live now. The VA store had a little green bird in the biggest cage in the habitat. I remember asking the manager "What kind of bird is that?" She told me "It's a Quaker Parakeet. We aren't going to sell him to just anybody." I thought he was a little odd looking, but really cute. That was during the time where all the birds from Petsmart were quarantined and not for sale. As the weeks went by I became more and more attached to him. It surprised me because one of my friends has a Sun Conure whose scream can melt my brains! The last thing I thought I would ever want as a pet was a bird! I became more and more attached to SweetPea and started to mention to my husband that I would like to bring home the bird. He was not amused. Took a couple of weeks to wear him down. When he went from "no" to "maybe" I found a nice cage on eBay and brought it home by strapping it to the trunk of my car with bungee cords. (my car is a teeny 2 seater) When he saw the cage, he threw up his hands and said... "Oh, alright.. You can have him for your birthday." Yay! Of course, PetSmart was still quarantining the birds, so I had to wait for them to be out of quarantine. Essentially, if the birds were OK'd to be put up for sale, and someone else beat me to it, SweetPea would be sold to the first person who came in and wanted him. I was not amused. I did get a phone call from a coworker telling me that she had heard that the birds would be up for sale the next morning. I went in and paid for SweetPea as soon as the register opened. I brought him home in June and he has won over just about everyone but the cat. The cat is still not amused.
Here is my current favorite pic.
Oh...I absolutely LOVE all of these stories! I do not have a bird yet. 
However, I am talking to Joni (Franki's Mom) about the possibility of adopting a little female QP. I'm so excited about this possibility and hope it works out.
In the meantime, I had to go to a pet store the other day to get dog food. I hate patronizing pet stores that sell dogs, cats, etc. but this is the only store near me that sells the type of food I need. I went in on Saturday and there was a Quaker in a cage on their counter. His cage is next to a cute conure's cage and a love bird's cage. They told me they keep the parrots up front so they can get more interaction from people.
The Quaker is adorable! He was hatched in later April and poor little guy has pin feathers sticking out all over his head and I hope he gets sprayed down or gets some relief for them. Anyhow, I like to think we have bonded. I started talking to him and he sidled right over to me on his perch. He opens his mouth wide and moves his tongue and then makes a little squeek. I sang to him--"Momma's little baby loves shortin shortin, Mommma's little baby loves shortin bread." He seems to love the song and will bob his head.
I went back in 3 days later just to see if he was there. Yes, he was! I said hello and this time he opened his mouth wide and squeeked again and then I heard "hello" I was thrilled. He kept trying to get closer to me but seemed nervous of the bars of his cage which he was afraid of slipping on (vertical). I sang the song to him again and he bobbed his head and kept coming closer. I am in love with this little guy! (or girl). I can tell he wants me to touch him--wants to get out of the cage and be closer to me. I may go in today and if he is there, I will ask the employees if they can get him out for me. He just looks like he needs a good sritch or two. I can't stop thinking about him.
However, I am talking to Joni (Franki's Mom) about the possibility of adopting a little female QP. I'm so excited about this possibility and hope it works out.In the meantime, I had to go to a pet store the other day to get dog food. I hate patronizing pet stores that sell dogs, cats, etc. but this is the only store near me that sells the type of food I need. I went in on Saturday and there was a Quaker in a cage on their counter. His cage is next to a cute conure's cage and a love bird's cage. They told me they keep the parrots up front so they can get more interaction from people.
The Quaker is adorable! He was hatched in later April and poor little guy has pin feathers sticking out all over his head and I hope he gets sprayed down or gets some relief for them. Anyhow, I like to think we have bonded.
I started talking to him and he sidled right over to me on his perch. He opens his mouth wide and moves his tongue and then makes a little squeek. I sang to him--"Momma's little baby loves shortin shortin, Mommma's little baby loves shortin bread." He seems to love the song and will bob his head. I went back in 3 days later just to see if he was there. Yes, he was! I said hello and this time he opened his mouth wide and squeeked again and then I heard "hello" I was thrilled. He kept trying to get closer to me but seemed nervous of the bars of his cage which he was afraid of slipping on (vertical). I sang the song to him again and he bobbed his head and kept coming closer. I am in love with this little guy! (or girl). I can tell he wants me to touch him--wants to get out of the cage and be closer to me. I may go in today and if he is there, I will ask the employees if they can get him out for me. He just looks like he needs a good sritch or two. I can't stop thinking about him.
Claudia, maybe just maybe that lil bird has chosen you! I swear that we need to follow our gut on these things!
QUOTE (mommy4syd @ Aug 8 2008, 09:36 AM) 
Claudia, maybe just maybe that lil bird has chosen you! I swear that we need to follow our gut on these things!
I keep wondering about that myself. *sigh* I might go visit him again today.
I became interested in becoming a parront after meeting and falling in love with parrots who owned my boss, who is also a good friend.
I started looking around the internet, and came across this site lol.
To say I fell in love with quakers was an understatement. I wanted one so bad, even though I'd read (everywhere but here) how bad an idea it was to get a quaker as a "starter" bird.
So off I went in search of a "gentler" bird, and found RayRay.
I found a woman online who was looking to sell a male cockatiel baby, and sped over to her house as fast as possible. I was so afraid he'd be sold before I got there lol.
Well when I got there, it turned out she had 3 or 4 tiels for sale.
I was a little shocked when she came to the door, because there were tiels on her shoulders that were obviously flighted, and she was standing in the open door chattering away.
We finally went inside, and I was horribly shocked when we went up to the main floor of the house. In the room with the cages (her livingroom), she had an ashtray full of cigarette butts, and a cigarette going
Then I see this little tiel in the corner on a playstand. He's got no flight feathers, but wings look like they've been through a blender <sigh>. I picked him up, and just about choked.. he had no tail to speak of. The tail feathers were all busted up, and she's saying to me " he keeps breaking them, and I don't know how"..
HELLO!!!!! if the poor guys wings weren't so butchered, he'd probably have a tail!
I look down at his little toes, and even with my poor eyesight, I can see there is something wrapped around his toes grrrrrrrr.
Right then and there I knew I had to buy him, if for no other reason than to make sure the poor guy didn't have to continue living there.
Took him to my boss/friend, who I might add was visibly shocked when she saw the bird I'd actually put out $125.00 for lol.
She cut away the satiny christmas ball type thread from his toes. Then she weighed him, and told me I was going to have to fatten him up. When I told her about the smoking she was furious.
His breathing was pretty shallow and breathy sounding when I first got him, and after his vet checkup (was told to keep a close eye on his breathing).. well he's flourished since being with us. He's still a lightweight, but isn't undernourished anymore, and his breathing is normal now. Although he does have a nasaly sounding voice lol. Must be from all the smoking he did in his previous home.
He's quite the talker, and loves my husband dearly if he has food <grin>.
He does certain sounds for certain people, and only for those people. It's kind of cute really. He's a lovely little guy.
Yogi I finally got just because I decided that all the members on here couldn't be wrong about how loving quakers are (thank you for being the wonderful quaker ambassadors to the world).
Got him from a breeder in the area, and haven't had a single regret.
He brings so much joy into my life, and is constantly surprising me with how smart and sweet he is.
He talks a little in front of people, but is still a big closet talker lol. He surprised me again today when I set up the "totally hidden mommy cam" to see what he's been learning without letting on
here's the new stuff he's keeping secret for now lol.
- He says "hullo baby bird" which is what I say to him every time I walk in the room.
- yer so cute
- peekaboo ( only ever says peeka when someone is around lol)
- it's okay
- whats up yogyog
- do do do do do (to the tune of la cucarocha.. which he dances to, and I've been trying to teach the tiel to whistle for over a year rofl)
Then there is Flirt.. she's my little green female quaker. I got her from a friend who's developed severe breathing problems from her fiddo's, and has had to rehome all but one.
I wasn't planning on any more fids after having to let Petey the Meyers go back to the rescue I was fostering for. He's found a home with an experienced poi owner, and last time I was talking to her, he was doing great Yay!!!!!
However, Flirt and Yogi have been buddies since my friend got her, and I just couldn't let the little sweetie go to a stranger.
Within moments of the cages being in the same room, those two were back to being best buddies
It's priceless when you play the up and down game with them. They both know the game, and it's so cute to see both of them bobbing up, and saying "up", then crouching down and saying "down" together
So that's how I came to be parronts to all my "heart" fiddo's.
I've packed away my MBS hopefully forever lol.. um.. well for now at any rate
Debbie
I started looking around the internet, and came across this site lol.
To say I fell in love with quakers was an understatement. I wanted one so bad, even though I'd read (everywhere but here) how bad an idea it was to get a quaker as a "starter" bird.
So off I went in search of a "gentler" bird, and found RayRay.
I found a woman online who was looking to sell a male cockatiel baby, and sped over to her house as fast as possible. I was so afraid he'd be sold before I got there lol.
Well when I got there, it turned out she had 3 or 4 tiels for sale.
I was a little shocked when she came to the door, because there were tiels on her shoulders that were obviously flighted, and she was standing in the open door chattering away.
We finally went inside, and I was horribly shocked when we went up to the main floor of the house. In the room with the cages (her livingroom), she had an ashtray full of cigarette butts, and a cigarette going
Then I see this little tiel in the corner on a playstand. He's got no flight feathers, but wings look like they've been through a blender <sigh>. I picked him up, and just about choked.. he had no tail to speak of. The tail feathers were all busted up, and she's saying to me " he keeps breaking them, and I don't know how"..
HELLO!!!!! if the poor guys wings weren't so butchered, he'd probably have a tail!
I look down at his little toes, and even with my poor eyesight, I can see there is something wrapped around his toes grrrrrrrr.
Right then and there I knew I had to buy him, if for no other reason than to make sure the poor guy didn't have to continue living there.
Took him to my boss/friend, who I might add was visibly shocked when she saw the bird I'd actually put out $125.00 for lol.
She cut away the satiny christmas ball type thread from his toes. Then she weighed him, and told me I was going to have to fatten him up. When I told her about the smoking she was furious.
His breathing was pretty shallow and breathy sounding when I first got him, and after his vet checkup (was told to keep a close eye on his breathing).. well he's flourished since being with us. He's still a lightweight, but isn't undernourished anymore, and his breathing is normal now. Although he does have a nasaly sounding voice lol. Must be from all the smoking he did in his previous home.
He's quite the talker, and loves my husband dearly if he has food <grin>.
He does certain sounds for certain people, and only for those people. It's kind of cute really. He's a lovely little guy.
Yogi I finally got just because I decided that all the members on here couldn't be wrong about how loving quakers are (thank you for being the wonderful quaker ambassadors to the world).
Got him from a breeder in the area, and haven't had a single regret.
He brings so much joy into my life, and is constantly surprising me with how smart and sweet he is.
He talks a little in front of people, but is still a big closet talker lol. He surprised me again today when I set up the "totally hidden mommy cam" to see what he's been learning without letting on
here's the new stuff he's keeping secret for now lol.
- He says "hullo baby bird" which is what I say to him every time I walk in the room.
- yer so cute
- peekaboo ( only ever says peeka when someone is around lol)
- it's okay
- whats up yogyog
- do do do do do (to the tune of la cucarocha.. which he dances to, and I've been trying to teach the tiel to whistle for over a year rofl)
Then there is Flirt.. she's my little green female quaker. I got her from a friend who's developed severe breathing problems from her fiddo's, and has had to rehome all but one.
I wasn't planning on any more fids after having to let Petey the Meyers go back to the rescue I was fostering for. He's found a home with an experienced poi owner, and last time I was talking to her, he was doing great Yay!!!!!
However, Flirt and Yogi have been buddies since my friend got her, and I just couldn't let the little sweetie go to a stranger.
Within moments of the cages being in the same room, those two were back to being best buddies
It's priceless when you play the up and down game with them. They both know the game, and it's so cute to see both of them bobbing up, and saying "up", then crouching down and saying "down" together
So that's how I came to be parronts to all my "heart" fiddo's.
I've packed away my MBS hopefully forever lol.. um.. well for now at any rate
Debbie
well i was walking in the store and i saw the aviary section, and my eyes were drawn directly to oscar and i put him on hold, because i saw some one else looking at him
We were remodeling our bathroom and the place was an absolute mess, so I had left my husband and his buddy to rip and tear and escaped to my parents' house for the day. Hubby called me and said his buddy had insisted he'd seen a parrot on our bird feeder outside, and he'd thought his friend had lost his mind -- no wild parrots around here! -- then he realized his buddy was right, and this parrot had flown onto the roof of our house and was walking back and forth trying to get somebody's attention. He told me to come home and get him, because I'm the Dr. Doolittle of the family. So I came home and by then the bird had given up and flown out to a tree in the back of our yard. I went back there and talked to him, and he started scooting down the branch toward me, but when I held up my hand for him to climb onto, he got scared and scooted away. We went back and forth like this for about 15 minutes until it occurred to me that he must be afraid of hands for some reason. I guess I'm a little slow on the uptake. So I said to him that we had to find a branch that was low enough he could reach my shoulder, and I think he understood. He started climbing around and between us, we found one that came down where I could tiptoe and the branch was low enough that he could step onto my shoulder from there, and he hopped right on and started telling me his life story immediately. I walked back to the deck, and by then, he'd climbed onto the top of my head.
We didn't know how the dogs would react, so Hubby got them outdoors while I went around to the front door and took him inside. Then Hubby came in and took over bird-sitting while I ran to Petsmart for a cage and food and such, because we had to have somewhere to stash him at least temporarily. We tried to find his people, assuming that he'd gotten out accidentally, but no one ever claimed him in spite of our efforts, and by then we were in love with him anyway, so here he is and here he's staying. That was several months ago and I can't remember what it was like NOT to have him.
He must have been out on his own quite a while, because that whole first day he ate a while, slept a while, ate a while, slept a while, all day long. I didn't know what kind of bird he was and spent weeks searching the Internet before I found this place and realized he's a Quaker. So I don't know his age and I don't know that he's a boy, we just arbitrarily decided on that because he flirts with me, and my husband insists that means he's a boy. The dogs have resigned themselves. And with patience, he's gotten over his fear of hands and steps up quite readily now, though odd things still scare him. We still haven't figured out all the things he's afraid of, poor baby. Goodness knows what he went through while he was out on his own, and possibly before that. The being afraid of hands worries me that he might have been abused before.
We got our Lab the same way -- one day she just turned up and was skinny and terrified and fly-bitten and we took her in. I think we have a hobo mark on the property somewhere and lost critters just find us. One of these days I expect to find a pony in the yard.
So I said to him that we had to find a branch that was low enough he could reach my shoulder, and I think he understood. He started climbing around and between us, we found one that came down where I could tiptoe and the branch was low enough that he could step onto my shoulder from there, and he hopped right on and started telling me his life story immediately. I walked back to the deck, and by then, he'd climbed onto the top of my head.We didn't know how the dogs would react, so Hubby got them outdoors while I went around to the front door and took him inside. Then Hubby came in and took over bird-sitting while I ran to Petsmart for a cage and food and such, because we had to have somewhere to stash him at least temporarily. We tried to find his people, assuming that he'd gotten out accidentally, but no one ever claimed him in spite of our efforts, and by then we were in love with him anyway, so here he is and here he's staying.
That was several months ago and I can't remember what it was like NOT to have him. He must have been out on his own quite a while, because that whole first day he ate a while, slept a while, ate a while, slept a while, all day long. I didn't know what kind of bird he was and spent weeks searching the Internet before I found this place and realized he's a Quaker. So I don't know his age and I don't know that he's a boy, we just arbitrarily decided on that because he flirts with me, and my husband insists that means he's a boy.
The dogs have resigned themselves. And with patience, he's gotten over his fear of hands and steps up quite readily now, though odd things still scare him. We still haven't figured out all the things he's afraid of, poor baby. Goodness knows what he went through while he was out on his own, and possibly before that. The being afraid of hands worries me that he might have been abused before. We got our Lab the same way -- one day she just turned up and was skinny and terrified and fly-bitten and we took her in. I think we have a hobo mark on the property somewhere and lost critters just find us. One of these days I expect to find a pony in the yard.
~ Tattle ~
My VERY first birds were budgies and honestly...I HATED them! They were so frightened of me no matter how long i spent with them or how i spoiled them. As I got older my bad experiance with pet budgies made me dislike birds and never even think of wanting one as a pet, i assumed if little bird beaks hurt when they bite...bigger beaks would be awful! This devloped into a fear of birds and i steered clear untill i was about 16, my cousin bought a Quaker parrot and eased me into holding him. It was amazing how fast my fear melted away! I loved everything about her bird... the smell..the color... the cute little sounds it made! It only took about 2 days of working on my mom before she agreed to let me have a Quaker for my sweet 16 birthday (( she had always loved birds. )) I found a birds store near my home, it was big and bright and clean, even then when i knew little about bird care i could tell this place was where i wanted my Quaker from. I had decided that I wanted a baby Quaker RIGHT after it was weaned so it wouldnt have to spend one second alone in a cage, the bird store owner said that was alright. It took about 1 week of me coming to the store EVERY day...sometimes twice and holding my baby before the Owner broke down and took me in the back room to learn how to handfeed. When she was sure i knew what i was doing she set me up and let me take my baby home a few weeks early (( making no mistake to tell me that if the baby bird died there would be no refund. )) Tattle was my love, i tought her tricks as soon as she was weaned and could be tempted by seeds. Step-up, turn around/spin/, shake hands, kiss, peek-a-boo, wave, bow, she learned them all before she was 6 months! She also loved to talk, hello, c'mere, i love you, kiss kiss, hahaha, nighty night!, good morning! Her favorite thing to do was call my boyfriend over to her cage by saying c'mere c'mere you! When he came over and reached out she would bite the crap out of him and laugh in my voice, she hated him for taking my time away. Sadly I learned a hard lesson about always putting your bird away and NEVER leaving it on its cage alone in the room with another animal. It took less than 20 minutes for me and my boyfriend to run out to grab some fast food but when we got back my Tattle was no where to be found. We searched the house up and down and finally found her ruffled little form under the couch cushion, my boyfriends ferret had killed her and hidden her there. =*(*
~ Yoshi ~
I picked Yoshi up at the same bird store I got Tattle from, its been 6 years since I had a Quaker. I visited him every day for about 4 days (( had to make payments )) and finally took him home. It was heartbreaking at first because I kept calling him Tattle by mistake, but once he opened up it was easy to see he was a totally diffrent baby. Hes been weaned for some time now yet when he knows your looking he stays fluffed up like a baby and flaps his wings and bobs for food. Ive started socilizing him early with my new man/hubby and Yoshi hasnt shown any aggression yet, though its obvious he is a bit more attached to me. Hes a quick talker and can already say hello, good boy yoshi!, kisses, quack quack, im a fluffy chicken.
~ Lovebirds- Pearl + Duke and Goldberry + Blueboy ~
Now my lovies arnt actully pets, they are breeder pairs, but because i treat all my breeders just as good as pets (( less holding of course because they hate it and are very aggressive )) but loved the same none the less. I had never had lovebirds before and when my mother showed up at my door with two cages with breeder lovies in them i was dumbstruck," But you breed Quakers," she chirped. I suppose she thought birds were birds and i would like the present. Luckily for me the lovies were VERY well cared for in their last home and well adjusted, three seconds in the door and they were out of the nesting box's and tossing little jingle bell balls around thier cages having a great time. I had to do some quick online reading (( about 2 days worth to feel calm and in control )) about lovebirds but most of the basics were the same and ive been picking up more every day. Im talking about my breeders because i have honestly fallen in love with them, they chirp and sing, they swing like acrobats around the cage, and when they play with the little cat toy type balls on the floor of the cage i cant stop laughing. Ive since told my mother not to gift me with any bird or animal for that matter without talking with me about it first, i hate to think what mistakes i could have made without the good ole internet to tell me some of the basics.
My VERY first birds were budgies and honestly...I HATED them! They were so frightened of me no matter how long i spent with them or how i spoiled them. As I got older my bad experiance with pet budgies made me dislike birds and never even think of wanting one as a pet, i assumed if little bird beaks hurt when they bite...bigger beaks would be awful! This devloped into a fear of birds and i steered clear untill i was about 16, my cousin bought a Quaker parrot and eased me into holding him. It was amazing how fast my fear melted away! I loved everything about her bird... the smell..the color... the cute little sounds it made! It only took about 2 days of working on my mom before she agreed to let me have a Quaker for my sweet 16 birthday (( she had always loved birds. )) I found a birds store near my home, it was big and bright and clean, even then when i knew little about bird care i could tell this place was where i wanted my Quaker from. I had decided that I wanted a baby Quaker RIGHT after it was weaned so it wouldnt have to spend one second alone in a cage, the bird store owner said that was alright. It took about 1 week of me coming to the store EVERY day...sometimes twice and holding my baby before the Owner broke down and took me in the back room to learn how to handfeed. When she was sure i knew what i was doing she set me up and let me take my baby home a few weeks early (( making no mistake to tell me that if the baby bird died there would be no refund. )) Tattle was my love, i tought her tricks as soon as she was weaned and could be tempted by seeds. Step-up, turn around/spin/, shake hands, kiss, peek-a-boo, wave, bow, she learned them all before she was 6 months! She also loved to talk, hello, c'mere, i love you, kiss kiss, hahaha, nighty night!, good morning! Her favorite thing to do was call my boyfriend over to her cage by saying c'mere c'mere you! When he came over and reached out she would bite the crap out of him and laugh in my voice, she hated him for taking my time away. Sadly I learned a hard lesson about always putting your bird away and NEVER leaving it on its cage alone in the room with another animal. It took less than 20 minutes for me and my boyfriend to run out to grab some fast food but when we got back my Tattle was no where to be found. We searched the house up and down and finally found her ruffled little form under the couch cushion, my boyfriends ferret had killed her and hidden her there. =*(*
~ Yoshi ~
I picked Yoshi up at the same bird store I got Tattle from, its been 6 years since I had a Quaker. I visited him every day for about 4 days (( had to make payments )) and finally took him home. It was heartbreaking at first because I kept calling him Tattle by mistake, but once he opened up it was easy to see he was a totally diffrent baby. Hes been weaned for some time now yet when he knows your looking he stays fluffed up like a baby and flaps his wings and bobs for food. Ive started socilizing him early with my new man/hubby and Yoshi hasnt shown any aggression yet, though its obvious he is a bit more attached to me. Hes a quick talker and can already say hello, good boy yoshi!, kisses, quack quack, im a fluffy chicken.
~ Lovebirds- Pearl + Duke and Goldberry + Blueboy ~
Now my lovies arnt actully pets, they are breeder pairs, but because i treat all my breeders just as good as pets (( less holding of course because they hate it and are very aggressive )) but loved the same none the less. I had never had lovebirds before and when my mother showed up at my door with two cages with breeder lovies in them i was dumbstruck," But you breed Quakers," she chirped. I suppose she thought birds were birds and i would like the present. Luckily for me the lovies were VERY well cared for in their last home and well adjusted, three seconds in the door and they were out of the nesting box's and tossing little jingle bell balls around thier cages having a great time. I had to do some quick online reading (( about 2 days worth to feel calm and in control )) about lovebirds but most of the basics were the same and ive been picking up more every day. Im talking about my breeders because i have honestly fallen in love with them, they chirp and sing, they swing like acrobats around the cage, and when they play with the little cat toy type balls on the floor of the cage i cant stop laughing. Ive since told my mother not to gift me with any bird or animal for that matter without talking with me about it first, i hate to think what mistakes i could have made without the good ole internet to tell me some of the basics.
birds freaked me out - their feet mostly, and all the flapping lol. we went on vacation last august and ian's auntie was birdsitting Bird, a CAG. she had no tail because she plucked all her beautiful red feathers out. she was in her travel cage, didn't come out the whole time we were there. but she stole my heart. she was so funny, would dance, she would wave if you said "hi bird!" she even waved goodbye to me when we left. it was then that we decided we would like a grey.
i came home and instantly got online to research greys. we decided maybe a grey wasn't for us due to our work schedules and their reputation for being pluckers. so i searched around online and found quakers. i read a lot about them, and the potential for talking lured me in. i know, so not a reason to get a bird. i looked at petfinder and found captain louie at a cat rescue about 2 hours from home. i made the trek up there to meet him. i can't say that he chose me lol, as he would not come out. he was in a huge cage that was placed in the free roaming cat room. i decided i wanted to bring him home, but the owner was making it difficult for me. she claimed she didn't do a "first come, first served" adoption process, because she wanted to make sure the animals go to the "right" person. but she wouldn't make herself available when i came up (even tho she KNEW i was coming up from 2 hours south), wouldn't answer her phone, wouldn't respond to my emails. when we finally spoke, it was her answering my email telling her she wasn't very professional. she was borderline rude, but at that point bringing him home was more a priority than ever. even when i had made plans to come pick him up, she was almost trying to discourage me by telling me how loud they are. after he got settled in a bit, i emailed her with an update and some pics of him playing. i never heard a word back from her.
i brought my little lulu home almost one year ago and i believe that he was really meant to be ours. in the car, louie louie came on the radio. that first night i wondered wth i got into lol. i had NO experience with birds, only what i had read. but he is the light of my life now. he is definitely top of my totem pole, the king if you will.
3 months after getting louie, i found an ad on craigslist for a grey. we called and talked with the parronts, and i agonized over the decision. their bird just would not fit with our family schedule, so i called her and, with tears in my eyes, told her it wouldn't work. a week or so later, i found another ad. we talked to the parronts on the phone, then 2 days later goofy joined our family. i guess we were meant to have a grey after all because his previous family schedule matched ours almost perfectly. he is a wonderful bird, very entertaining, likes to be scritched. we call him ian's bird, but really, all the animals are mine lol.
like others on here, i honestly can't remember life before my birds. and i can't see life without them ever. they bring such joy, even when they are naughty. such little clowns they are. i credit them for my being stable today lol. i had a lot of stressors last year, but even the worst day melted away with one little quaker kiss when i got home.
kris
i came home and instantly got online to research greys. we decided maybe a grey wasn't for us due to our work schedules and their reputation for being pluckers. so i searched around online and found quakers. i read a lot about them, and the potential for talking lured me in. i know, so not a reason to get a bird. i looked at petfinder and found captain louie at a cat rescue about 2 hours from home. i made the trek up there to meet him. i can't say that he chose me lol, as he would not come out. he was in a huge cage that was placed in the free roaming cat room. i decided i wanted to bring him home, but the owner was making it difficult for me. she claimed she didn't do a "first come, first served" adoption process, because she wanted to make sure the animals go to the "right" person. but she wouldn't make herself available when i came up (even tho she KNEW i was coming up from 2 hours south), wouldn't answer her phone, wouldn't respond to my emails. when we finally spoke, it was her answering my email telling her she wasn't very professional. she was borderline rude, but at that point bringing him home was more a priority than ever. even when i had made plans to come pick him up, she was almost trying to discourage me by telling me how loud they are. after he got settled in a bit, i emailed her with an update and some pics of him playing. i never heard a word back from her.
i brought my little lulu home almost one year ago and i believe that he was really meant to be ours. in the car, louie louie came on the radio. that first night i wondered wth i got into lol. i had NO experience with birds, only what i had read. but he is the light of my life now. he is definitely top of my totem pole, the king if you will.
3 months after getting louie, i found an ad on craigslist for a grey. we called and talked with the parronts, and i agonized over the decision. their bird just would not fit with our family schedule, so i called her and, with tears in my eyes, told her it wouldn't work. a week or so later, i found another ad. we talked to the parronts on the phone, then 2 days later goofy joined our family. i guess we were meant to have a grey after all because his previous family schedule matched ours almost perfectly. he is a wonderful bird, very entertaining, likes to be scritched. we call him ian's bird, but really, all the animals are mine lol.
like others on here, i honestly can't remember life before my birds. and i can't see life without them ever. they bring such joy, even when they are naughty. such little clowns they are. i credit them for my being stable today lol. i had a lot of stressors last year, but even the worst day melted away with one little quaker kiss when i got home.
kris
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