Feathered Family Inc.

Living with a Parrot, from a kids perspective.

This is a piece about what it is like living with large Parrots from a 13-year-olds perspective. My perspective to be exact. First off, I would like to say that Ceebee, my personal favorite of all our birds seems to love to snuggle me. Unless shes in super duper play mode, whenever I grab her she snuggles me.

 When she or any of our other parrots eats with us they always end up eating more of it than we do, or in Ceebees case throwing more around than we get to eat. The birds even get their own special dinners! My friends like my birds, and when they come over they try to teach them and play with them just like we do. None of my friends are afraid of my parrots, except Mazzie, but everyone other than Mom and me is afraid of Mazzie.

Cody, our African Grey, tends to kiss me once then bite me until I go away. I still don't listen until he kisses me again. Cody has more special needs than most birds, such as the fact that he has to have attention sixteen hours a day, or he will pluck at himself. Also if you don't respond when he talks it can discourage him from talking at all. Another thing he needs different from most of our birds is that you have to keep him away from all the other animals, because he is aggressive, a problem were working on.

Now well discuss the bad parts of living with birds, well the not fun parts. One is the fact that I have to empty Ceebees tray all of the time. The worst of it all is the yelling, oh the yelling! Especially when theyre right by your ear and then SQWUAK SQWUAK SQWUAK! Then you hear ringing in your ears for an hour. Another bad thing is "When Birds attack!" I mean who likes, even if done playfully, to be bit? For one thing IT HURTS! And another it gets really annoying. Like when one lets you pet them, then they reach back and CHOMP!

Now the things that you think are bad, but when you think about it you really don't mind. One such thing is the poop, unless you step under their perches, because you just sort of get used to it and if it’s a high poop area you wear shoes. Another thing is the feather down that turns your blackest shirts whiter than white. Sure it can be annoying, but who cares?! Its not like you cant change! Also its annoying when they chew up stuff even when you say no!

To sum it all up, its not so bad living with parrots. Though you might have your own opinion, I think birds always, always have good intentions!

Written by:

Aksel

P.S. I understand that some of the birds can live to be older than my parents will and that I will have to carry on the responsibilities of taking care of them. Even though it might seem to interrupt my life then I know I will thank myself for doing it for years to come. My birds are my family, and I'll always love them.

(Editors note: In this case, the Editor is Mom. Aksel has been living with some form of parrot since he was very young, and lots of other animals too. He has a very deep appreciation of animals and is far more dedicated to their care and well being than most children his age would be capable of. I feel pride every day watching him interact with the animals in our home, he is a truly amazing young man. )