The 3 things parrots most want in life are really quite simple...

[PlaxMacaws]

When I think about my birds, certain things occur to me, like:

1. They want to feel safe

2. They want to feel loved

3. They want to have fun


Of course, they require much more than just those essentials (such as yummy and nutritious food, an adequate and stimulating living environment, etc.). But I would say that those 3 things should always be at the core of a pet bird's world. And it's surely not a lot to ask.

[Dragonlady2]

A hundred percent agree. I would just add one more…giving them a sense of freedom. I don’t clip my birds wings and so they are able to at least fly in the room they are in. I initially had their wings clipped, but it became clear to me that controlling their mode of movement took away their choice of where they could go. Now they visit with me or have the ability to sit on the different stations in the room.

[PlaxMacaws]

A hundred percent agree. I would just add one more…giving them a sense of freedom. I don’t clip my birds wings and so they are able to at least fly in the room they are in. I initially had their wings clipped, but it became clear to me that controlling their mode of movement took away their choice of where they could go. Now they visit with me or have the ability to sit on the different stations in the room.

I agree with you about freedom and no wing clipping, Helena.

I've never clipped my birds. Unfortunately, Salsa was kept heavily clipped by his original owner, so he never leanrned to fly properly. But he has a huge wingspan and loves to flap while perched on his javatree - which is a great cardio workout for him and, in one regard, allows him to experience a measure of freedom. Now Maynard flew everywhere. His aerobatics were nothing short of amazing! Jack used to fly beautifully as well. Sadly, however, Jack became devastated and lost his will to fly when Maynard rejected him in 2005 once Zaf arrived. As a result, Jack's wing musculature became atrophied. To this day, it's difficult to entice him to even perform flapping motions. And that's especially tragic since he's a wild-caught macaw. This year, he's been with me for 44 years.

Zaf, of course, was a remarkable flyer and few everywhere. He was my last truly flighted bird :,(:heart: