February 20, 2012 11:16 PM PST
I've always loved the birds. But I can't stand the noise or the mess. I had two parrots, Cheech & Chong. Shows ya what I was into at the time, and they kept us in stitches. For a while. When the smoke cleared, as well as the mind, there I was with two birds. And they never STFU...lol. What was hilarious before, now became the bane of my existence. Which was shocking to me, as I am an avid animal lover. And I was "attached" to them. I used to open the cage door, and let them have run of the sun room on nice days. Which was fine, until one day, I got an emergency call about a family member, and without thinkin'...I ran out the door, leaving it open.
I was at the hospital for almost two days, and by the time I got home, and suddenly remembered that the birds
were "free", it was too late. Not only was the porch wet and full of leaves, but Cheech & Chong had "flown the coop". I called to them for days and days. But there had been a hard, cold rain, that first nite at the hospital,
and I don't know that they could've survived it.
After that, I swore I'd never again own another bird. But, every time I visit a pet store, the bird cages are always
my first stop. Huh. Maybe I could own one again...
Ride Free
Tweek
February 22, 2012 10:59 AM PST
If I ever get rich & can hire somebody to tend them, in a separate building, will definitely get a couple of African gray parrots. - Have seen them do some amazing things in controlled tests, no doubt in my mind that they were using abstract reasoning.
Local machine shop keeps (3) macaws. - Had to go out on the floor to consult on a setup & one of them decided to light on my shoulder and talk to me - no big deal, like animals - then he decided that I had too many pens, notebooks, pencils, scales, pen-lights . . . in my shirt pocket & commenced tossing them around the shop.
I start to get a little smoked & was preparing to take action (hear they are delicious) when I really look at him - talons the size of an eagle's and a beak bigger & more substantial than an eagle's.
Decided nice birdey, I'll come back and pick them up when you get bored & fly off.