Something a Little Different: 

The Food: 

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Living with a parrot is equal parts fun and equal parts fuss. From the very early morning (around 6 in Summer and 7 in Winter), he squeaks and squawks. Our parrot is great and he's a mischievous roommate but it's a lot of work to keep up with. For a healthy bird, he needs pellets (yes, like a cat or dog) that are particularly designed to meet their nutritional needs, and I also have to make "chop." 

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This chop is a mixture of safe vegetables (there is a long list of unsafe foods he can't eat), brown and wild rice, and lentils. I also have to make a different one each month so he doesn't get tired of the same food and stop eating his healthy greens altogether. I designate a "chop" weekend and start on Friday where I wash the vegetables (fruit comes later) and set them in the crockpot or roasting dish, whichever method I didn't do the previous month. 

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Once the vegetables have been washed and the rice and legumes have been portioned, I put the raw vegetables in the freezer to keep until the morning where I start making the chop. Since everything is already prepared (washed and hard stems cut off, I don't need to peel any of the vegetables), I start roasting them or I use the crock pot. In the crockpot, it takes about eight hours for everything to cook and if I use the oven, it takes about three hours on the roast setting. Then comes that actual work.

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Once everything is cooked, I portion the chop into freezer bags with two-three days' worth of chop inside—usually three tablespoons depending on how much I fill them—and lay them flat in the freezer to freeze while still warm. I made the mistake of letting the chop cool before I portioned them a few months ago, that was a mistake. I lost about two months worth because it was sour by the time I used the portions. Won't be making that mistake again!

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For his treats (when he does something we've trained him to do or he has an opportunity to bite us but he doesn't), I use a mixture of dried mealworms from the pet store and dried fruit that I make myself. I have to make it myself because most stores add sugar to their dried fruit afterwards. I cut the fruit pieces up into small pieces (he doesn't like big pieces of vegetables or fruit, he drops them onto the floor never to be looked at again) and spread them out on a shallow roasting pan.​

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We don't have a dehydrator so I use the oven as a dehydrator by setting the thermostat to 110°C/ 230°F and leaving the oven door open about 6-7 inches. This takes the whole day and after stirring the fruit pieces to ensure they all dry evenly, I leave them to do their thing for the whole day. It takes about 10-12 hours for the drying process to complete. Once that's done, I gather the pieces and put them in a freezer-safe container and put them away until our parrot deserves a treat (quite often because he's a good boy).

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Apart from the homemade food, there are pellets (discussed before) and a soft breakfast food for birds that we give him. These ingredients include dehydrated corn and peas and a mixture of grains that have been ground to turn into a paste when water is added. 

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The Mess:

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Still cleaning! Will get back to this page ASAP! ​​​​​​​​

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Finding Your Feathered Family Member: A Guide to Lost Birds

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As a bird owner, our parrot flying away is my greatest fear. I would rather take on 100 spiders in the dark or wrestle a large boa in the Congo jungle than watch his beautiful feathers fly up and above me, too far to reach him and bring him to safety. On social media, I see countless posts of "Lost Bird" or "Lost Feathered Friend" and I can't tell you how that makes me feel. I give our parrot extra scritches when I put my phone down after I see those posts and check all the doors and windows (again). 

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There are a lot of people who say "If your bird flies away, that means you are a bad bird owner." I disagree. I understand there are irresponsible bird owners who don't care, and these people generally have the mindset of "It's ok, we can just get another one," but for the rest of us, losing our bird to flight is painful and scary. We all know the statistics of how many birds come home after flying away. ​Accidents happen, and although we try our best to mitigate these, they are called accidents for a reason. If you didn't know something was going to happen, you can't protect you bird from the consequences.

 

For example, we have an issue with our front door. The wood started swelling a few months ago and this means when there is a lot of wind, the door swings open because the wood pops out of the frame (because of the tight space). We didn't know this could happen so we didn't know to lock the door when its closes, even if we are home. ​I was outside for a while, maybe 20 minutes, and when I got back, the front door was wide open. Our parrot was on his perch above the door to his cage, and very confused because he is always inside his cage when we have the door open for long periods (bringing groceries in, when we have friends over and use the door a lot, etc.). I walked in and closed the door immediately and gave him a treat for staying put, but if the door opening had scared him, he would have flown out the door as an instinct. Birds can't always control when they fly: They fly by instinct to protect themselves and no amount of training can train this out of them. 

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Does the door opening while I was out make me a bad parrot mom? I don't think so. Up until that point, the door remained closed when unlocked regardless of the weather or circumstances. If our parrot had flown out the door, it would have been an accident, regardless of the fact that he rules the house from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. We would have looked for him for weeks, months, or years, if necessary, but accidents happen and we can't always control our environment. 

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I will give a list of resources you can use if your bird flies away at the bottom of this page, but in the meantime, here are a few tips to help prevent escape and what to do immediately after your bird flies away. Your bird can't be trained not to fly away. They might trust you and feel a connection to you but when startled, they fly out of instinct and will fly away, even if they have a good home. 

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On wing clipping:

Wing clipping is a contentious issue, but I believe it's up to the bird owner to decide what the best option for the bird and their lifestyle is. We personally don't clip our parrot's wings but if there comes a time where wing clipping becomes necessary from a medical perspective, we will do the best for our parrot, regardless of our personal opinion around wing clipping. Clipping birds' wings outside medical necessity is illegal in certain countries and areas, including many countries in the European Union, a few African countries, and some parts of Australia, and should always be done by a registered Avian veterinarian if you choose to clip their wings (where it's allowed).

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Clipped birds can still fly, although not as well as their flighted friends, which means they will be less likely to escape from danger (like another house pet or a basin/sink full of water). If they are outside and unprotected because "my bird can't fly" and a gust of wind catches them at the right angle and time, they can and will fly away, even if they don't realize what they are doing. Birds can also climb quite well (particularly parrots that come from the jungle like Congo and Timneh African Grey), and these birds could use their feet and claws to climb to a vantage point to take flight. It happens in seconds, birds are a lot faster than we give them credit for!

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How to prevent escapes: 

• Be vigilant and don't leave anything to chance—If your bird is flighted, make sure doors and windows are closed at all times if they spend time outside their cage. 

• If possible, use a harness when your bird is outdoors and in between the car and house/aviary etc. Harness training may take some time so this method may not be plausible for everyone. 

• If you have an outdoor aviary, you could install a double door system—One door leading out of the actual aviary where your bird/s are held, and a second door at a comfortable distance leading to the outdoors once the aviary door is closed and your bird/s are safely inside. 

• Keep windows and doors closed when the bird is out of its cage—Birds have been lost when the owner has forgotten the bird is out of its cage.

• Use bird-safe cages when transporting your bird—From your home to the car and vice versa, from your home to an outdoor aviary and vice versa, or from one cage to another if the cages are outside, even if the trip will only take a minute. Birds can spread their wings and fly in seconds so it's safer not to give them the opportunity. 

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What to do immediately after they fly away (within the first 1-2 hours):​

• Birds often stay quite close but get disoriented so it's a good idea to put something they can recognise outside their cage— if this is possible—and call them.

• Don't panic—I know this is easier said than done, but any sudden movements like shaking or throwing your arms into the air (as a natural response to a stressor) could frighten your bird and they could fly away in response, even if they were close by when they escaped. 

• Leave their favorite food and travel cage (or normal cage if possible) out in visible places so they can find their way back if they are close by.

• Repeat their name and favorite phrases or food items, like "Who's a pretty bird?" or "I have some banana/apple, etc. Do you want any?" 

• Search in locations your bird/s will most likely go based on factors like security, proximity, and natural instincts. These locations include:

1. Backyards with water features or bird baths

2. Balconies, railings, or awnings

3. Barns or garages (if open)

4. Bird feeders or fruit trees

5. Fences or garden walls

6. Nearby trees or tall bushes

7. Neighbors’ patios or balconies

8. Places they’ve seen through windows

9. Places where they’ve been outside before (e.g., patios, harness walks)

10. Porch roofs or under eaves

11. Power lines or telephone poles

12. Rooftops, gutters, or chimneys

13. Sheds or carports

14. Tree canopies or thick hedges

• Secure any other pets like cats or dogs if you can still see your bird. Your bird might want to fly back to their cage/your home but could be scared of the other animals. Cats are natural predators of birds and they might pounce onto your bird before they have a chance to fly back to their cage or to fly to safety. 

 

What to do after a few hours have passed:

Keep doing what you were doing from above with a few additional points:

• Alert the neighbours and local vets, pet shops, local TV and radio if possible.​ There is usually a lost bird hotline number to phone—this varies depending on where you live. If your bird has a chip in them, a local vet could create an alert based on the chip number if they are brought into any vet in the area or county/province which will help you find them. 

• Create "Lost Bird" or "Lost Feathered Friend" posters and distribute them in as many locations as possible. Check with local stores (including vets) and ask for permission to post in their windows or to leave the flyers on counters.  

• Expand your search area—Pet birds (even large ones) prefer to fly in bursts instead of long distances at a time. In general, your bird will fly within 100-300 ft./30-90 meters before stopping which gives you a search area to focus on in the beginning. If you don't find your bird within the first 100-300 ft/30-90 meters, you should expand the area and focus on large areas with trees. 

• Set out a nightlight or dim lamp near their cage if you think they'll return at dusk or dawn.

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What to do when your bird is found:

 

• Approach them slowly and calmly—Your bird may be startled by sudden movements and take off again. Be careful not to startle them by moving and speaking softly.

• Make use of known cues— Use your bird's name or well-known phrases when calling them. and play recordings of their favorite noises or your voice if you can.

• Never chase your bird and if you have small children, it may be best if they are left with a loved one on your search. Small children can't always control their actions and they could run towards your bird out of excitement. 

• Your bird could be reassured and drawn in by certain cues—Offer their favorite toys or treats and to tempt them to your hands, hold out their favorite treat or toy. 

• Use their cage—Bring their cage to the site if at all possible. Keep the door open and put your bird's favorite snacks inside with a fresh water bowl. They could be drawn in by treats and water. ​​​

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Once your bird has been found:

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• Check for any injuries or broken feathers—particularly if they broke off close to the body—and if any injuries are seen, take your bird to a registered avian veterinarian as soon as they are in their travel cage. 

• Make sure your bird stays warm on the ride to the vet (this is necessary, even if your bird was out for less than a day so they can perform tests and check for cat scratches) and when they get home. 

• Offer them fresh water from a bowl or a bird spoon if they are comfortable with that. 

• If you live in a cold climate and your bird escaped with freezing or very cold temperatures outside, lightly wrap them in a blanket, but don't put too much pressure on their chest and crop. If you live in a cold climate, a vet visit is necessary to get your bird warmed up quickly in a safe environment.

• Spend time with your bird in silence if necessary. They will most likely be in shock and they might need time to calm down and be with their person.

• When you get home, make sure all the windows and doors are closed to try to find where they escaped from. 

• Your bird may be very hungry or they might not have a large appetite, this will depend on the bird. You should offer them food and water when they get home and monitor what/how much they eat and drink. If they refuse to eat or drink after a few hours, you should take them back to the vet (or call them) and ask what the best course of action is. If they are extremely hungry, let them eat but take the food away at night. 

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While looking for your bird, please be aware of scams. There are people out there who will post that they found your bird to collect the reward or just to be cruel, and they aren't on your side. If someone calls or emails to claim that they have your bird, you can ask them to take a photo of your bird in the possession of whoever found them, and you could ask the finder to read out the ring number on your bird's leg. If they can't do these things, they are most likely trying to scam you. 

 

Below is a printable PDF to help create a Lost Bird poster or alert to print or send to the necessary people.

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If you have a lost bird, please contact me via the appropriate email link above and I will post the Lost Bird poster on this page (under this section). You can send me the poster via the email link if you have one or, alternatively, you can send the necessary information (information requested in the PDF like name of bird, species, location, last seen, etc.) via the appropriate email link above and I will create the Post Bird poster for you and upload it to this page. If you use this option, please attach two recent photos of your bird so I can add them to the poster. 

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Resources to use if your bird has escaped:

(The green underlined names are direct links to the appropriate websites)

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Australia

• Facebook Groups – e.g., Lost & Found Birds Australia

• Lost Pet Finders

• ParrotAlert (Australia) 

• PetSearch

Belgium

• Animaux Perdus 

• Facebook Groups – e.g., Lost Birds Belgium

Canada

• Facebook Groups – e.g., Lost Birds Canada, Lost Pets–province name.

• Helping Lost Pets (HeLP)

• ParrotAlert (Canada)

• PetLynx

France

• Chat Perdu

• Facebook Groups – e.g., Lost & Found Birds France

• Pet Alert France

Germany

• Facebook Groups – e.g., Lost & Found Birds Germany

• Pet Alert Germany (via Facebook)

• Tiermeldezentrale

India

• Animal Welfare Board of India 

• Blue Cross of India 

• Facebook Groups – e.g., Lost & Found Pets India, Parrot Rescue India

• ParrotAlert (India) 

Netherlands

• Amivedi 

• Facebook Groups – e.g., Lost & Found Birds Netherlands

New Zealand

• Facebook Groups – e.g., Lost & Found Birds New Zealand

• LostPet.co.nz 

• ParrotAlert (New Zealand) 

• SPCA NZ 

South Africa​

• Facebook Groups – e.g., Lost and Found Birds South Africa

• NSPCA 

• ParrotAlert (South Africa) 

United Kingdom

• Animal Search UK

• Facebook Groups – e.g., Lost & Found Birds New UK

• National Pet Register

• ParrotAlert (UK)

• Pets Located

• Pets Reunited

United States

• 911 Parrot Alert (Facebook)

• Craigslist (Lost & Found section) 

• Facebook Groups – e.g., Lost & Found Birds–state name.

• Nextdoor 

• ParrotAlert (USA)

• Local Animal Control or Humane Societies–varies by region

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For any country not listed here:

• Some universities/colleges may allow you to distribute flyers on the campus based on the location and focus of the university (they may have a large focus on animal welfare or veterinary science so they could be more open to these flyers).

• You could contact local vets and municipalities in your area and ask them if you can distribute fliers in the practice (for vets) and distribute flyers on lamp posts or traffic lights.

• You could focus on Reddit and other social media communities with a Lost Pet poster/information on Instagram or specific Reddit communities like r/lostpets or r/parrots, etc.

• You could use Facebook and search for Facebook Groups from your region, e.g., Lost & Found Birds Brazil/Spain/Sweden/Thailand, etc.

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If your country isn't listed above and you know of a Lost & Found bird alert institution, please contact me with the website or name of the institution or company and I will add it to this list to expand the resources fellow bird lovers and owners can use to find their feathered family member.​   ​​​