Random (Exotic) Pet Thread

[Zazzy]

I have a parrot. She's really beautiful, and her species is supposed to be really smart. After living with her for years, I can say with certainty that she is not smart. She is, in fact, retarded. However, she's incredibly sweet and lovey when she's not all hormonal (hormonal female parrots are pretty bitey).

Evidence for parrot retardation:
1.) She falls off her perch at night, even though the vet says that's not possible. EVERY night. Thunk.
2.) She cannot open nuts by herself. Even soft-shelled nuts are a problem.
3.) Despite her species' reputation for being good talkers, she makes exactly 3 noises and never varies them at all despite MUCH talking to.
4.) I put a nut in a paper bag as a foraging treat for her, and she got in the bag and then panicked and couldn't get out. I mean- it's a paper bag. Rip it with your big strong beak. So that whole- "can't think your way out of a paper bag" thing? That's my girl.

BUT she loves to cuddle, and she will rub her head on me and preen my hair, and it's the most soothing thing ever.

[Whateverist]

That is funny. A regular Cocka-hoot.

[Zazzy]

To add to my last post, my birdie was just now trying to open a pistachio (which we made a big crack in to help her). After wrestling with it for about 20 minutes (which is really funny, because the nut keeps shooting out of her claw and hitting her in the stomach and making her angry), she opened it, dropped the shell, freaked out and dropped the nut, climbed down and picked up the shell, and is currently standing RIGHT NEXT to the nutmeat chewing on the shell and looking bereft.

Ah-HAH! She just figured it out. A well deserved pistachio.

[Sheather]

I'm not sure of my birds' genders to be honest, they've never bred but I've had them for only a short while.

[Walking Void]

What kind of interactions do they share?

[Sheather]

None, really. They sleep next to one another, and chirp and stuff, but there's no mutual preening, singing, or nest-building on either of their parts.

[Walking Void]

Sorry to nag on You but I have another question: hold old are they, if You did not already mention that?

[Sheather]

I adopted them really only a month ago. They're both for sure quite young, I imagine 6 months or so. One in fact is just now moulting into adult plumage. So we'll see how things go over time, if they ever reveal their genders.

[Walking Void]

Do they have noticeably contrasting colour schemes? I hear finches can be male or female depending on how... "dull" they are. Males are known to be more colourful than females. If they look all too similar they might just be the same sex.

[Sheather]

The one is brighter but as I say, the other still has some pale juvenile feathers so I can't say for sure. Spice finches are physically identical anyway, and only can be sexed by behavior.