I was raised with animals. I had a pet goose when I was a child that
would lay in my lap until he grew up. I never really thought about
having a bird at anytime during my adult life. My son was 11 when I
got
remarried after 16 years of my first marriage. I could not have
anymore
children. My new husband is a saint. I wanted a baby so badly. We
were on a 3 day weekend trip to Branson MO. with my son on Labor day. A
pet store there had 3 parrots that were on a tree stand that caught my
eye. I had never even held a bird but always thought they were
fascinating from a distance. There was a nanday, sun conure and a
quaker. After visiting the store oh a dozen or more times playing with
the birds we had to leave. On our way home I told my husband I want
that bird. We immediately called the store and they had already sold
the sun conure. I had them hold the quaker till we could get back
which
was about 3 weeks.
During those 3 weeks I read and studied anything
and
everything I could regarding quaker parrots. I was so excited when we
picked him up. Of course he was scared but was still sweet. He didn't
want anything to do with me at first but I was a little skiddish myself
kind of like once you have a baby then what?? On the way home I named
him Ruffles because he ruffles his feather all the time. This little
green bird very quickly became my Baby that I couldn't have.
He is so
smart within 2 or 3 weeks he was talking and he was only 6 months old.
He now has a vocabulary of about 60 or so words and phrases. He even
uses the right words at the right times. I have had him for 2 years
now
and when I am home he is either on my shoulder or on his cage in the
same room that I am. If I go out of the room he squawks. He eats with
me. He showers with me. When the weather permits he goes places with
me. He even goes on vacations with us.
One year later I was in Petco
and a little Green Cheek Conure caught my eye. She would roll over and
let you pet her belly. I took her home and gave her to my husband. He
had become a little jealous cause Ruffles is very protective of Momma.
Her name is Jade. She loves my husband most days but is very
unpredictable and some days she only wants me. She rides around in my
husbands shirt with her little head sticking out and hanging on with
her
feet.
About a year after that we adopted a Indian Ringneck named
Melon.
He was 4 months old and had been tortured by a little girl. He is
still afraid of hands and probably always will be but he will step up
and loves to take a shower and give kisses and talks up a storm.
After,
having these 3 birds I decided that I wanted to raise birds. I choose
Quakers because their personalities are the greatest in my opinion. I
now have 6 breeder Quakers that live with us in a spare bedroom. They
are all sweet. So therefore, my wanting a baby turned into 9 babies
total (parrots that is) 3 pets and 6 breeders!! They are my children
and without them I would go nuts. When I am away from home I can't
wait
to get back to see my Ruffles! He is the sweetest creature that I
think
God put on this earth!
This is my story!
By Cathy Tatum
Please send me
your "Parrot Tale!"
I have received so many wonderful Parrot Tales. Rest assured your Parrot Tale will be told in our upcoming ezines.
Please share how your life with parrots got started, and
I'll post it here on my next ezine! Email it to: goldie_web@yahoo.com
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