What birdie rules do you break, or what "shortcomings" do you feel that you have as a parront? Anything you need to do better on, or do differently?

My shortcomings:
1. I don't buy organic veggies, I just can't afford it being a student. Ollie also doesn't eat as many fresh veggies as she should. Mostly because its really hard for me to spend my dwindling money supply on food that she is just going to turn her beak up at.

2. Sometimes 2 weeks will go before I get Ollie bathed. I like to get her bathed before noon, especially when its cold out so she has plenty of time to dry without being cold. I have all my classes in the morning so I'm really busy, and it seems every evening I remember that I didn't get her bathed, yet again!

3. I don't clean her cage like I should. I wipe down the bars every single day, and I change papers every single day, but I don't clean with GSE but every 2-3 weeks or so. I feel like I should be doing that every weekend. She's out of her cage so much that it just doesn't ever seem that dirty!

Rules I break:
1. I use Spot Shot in an aerosol can to clean carpet stains. All I use it for are little birdie poo spots, so it doesn't take much.

2. I use aerosol hair spray, but only in the bathroom 2 doors away from Ollie and with the vent on.

3. Dakota lives with my parents, and a lot of rules get broken there. Rules that have been broken since he's been living with us (about 10 years) when we didn't know any better. Teflon is used, smelly good sprays are used, aerosol hair spray, aerosol carpet cleaners....its hard to convince my parents to change what they're doing since Dakota has been around it for 10 years and is perfectly healthy. They don't ever burn candles, although I used to constantly when I was still living at home. He lived in my bedroom where I would burn candles and incense constantly with my door closed. It's really a miracle that he's still alive!

So, how about you? I know you have some!!

well, we can't be all perfect, right?

my shortcomings:
1) i sometimes get stuck at work, and then i spend less time with the little one than he deserves - he still gets his 4hrs daily out of the cage, but sometimes with a very tired mommy
2) if i have to work, his time out of the cage will be predominantly spent on his play areas or my shoulder but with less interaction that normally

broken rules:
1) well, i have to admit that i can't always follow the suggestion not to react to a nip - valo sure is a GCC, which means i get my nips... and when he catches me on surprise i sometimes do react with an "AAAUUU - bad bird"
2) i sometimes wear perfume around him which i try not to (that's why it's in my bag)

My shortcomings:

I don't clean the perches as often as I should, but they are in an aviary not a cage and they do get fresh tree branches weekly.

I just buy normal veggies too, I don't even know if we have organic ones. Sometimes I use frozen corn which they love!

Broken rules:

I have mixed species. The 11 Aussie species are known for getting along. But I put a Quaker in there and it seems to be working out. She sometimes hangs out with Manikay but he would rather be with Tjinimin. I really need another South American in there.

I wear perfume though I don't spray it in the same room where the birds are.

I kiss my birds on the beak. I know you aren't supposed to do that, but I've done it from day one! In fact, when I got Jello at around 6 months of age, I took her for a well-bird visit to my avian vet and discovered that she had a minor infection in her throat! I had to treat her with Baytril for awhile until it cleared up. The vet told me he thought the infection was likely due to workers and customers kissing her when interacting with her in the pet shop where I got her. He told me this was quite common in baby birds sold in pet shops. Nevertheless, I continue to kiss all of my birds -- from the little caiques all the way to the mammoth beak of my macaw. I just can't seem to help myself!!

I also let the ones I trust sit on my shoulder -- another famous rule routinely broken by me!!

I also kiss and shoulder as well. I just kiss her beaks though, no saliva involved. I've never had any problems with either of them being on my shoulder. I can wear the fanciest of fancy dangling earrings around Ollie and she won't even touch them. She knows the rules and is very good about following them! Dakota I can't wear earrings around.

at the moment I would have to say the biggest birdie rule I have broken is not spending as much time with the fids as I would like (and would usually do). They are out all day though so at least they aren't locked inside their cages for hours on end

My Shortcomings:

1. I don't provide as varied diet as I would like. We do buy organic, but it is so expensive, it is very hard. I buy frozen for the super expensive foods, even though I would much rather buy fresh.

2. Toys: I simply cannot afford all the new huge macaw toys for Harley. They are so expensive! I make most of her toys, which I know os ok, but I would like to buy big orders of toys sometimes when I feel like she does not have the toys I cannot make.

3. Full Spectrul Lighting: I am working on this... I did not know until recently that birds needed this. I feel terrible for not providing it, but I am working on it.

My Mistakes:

1. Beak Kissing: Bad, I know, but I have done it forever. I know it isn't good, and I feel so bad for doing it.

2. I carpet clean a lot. We have 2 toy poodles, who are not quite housebroken. I like the Nature's Mirical, but I am sure I shouldn't use it.

3. I overreact. I try not to get emotional in front of my birds, but I get upset fairly easily. Again, something I am trying to break.

Oops, I forgot that, I am also guilty of both. I even let the Princesses sit on my head. Not that I get a choice......................

Yea, Echo's favorite place is on top of my head. Not like I have a choice, he loves it there!

I've broken the shoulder rule and it's worse for Bella to not resist to ride in the hood of a hoodie sweat shirt. It's as if it was made for a parrot to hang out in but she knows the rules no nibbling on the glasses or ears...then it's a step-up.

I also give dry beak kisses. :E

And frozen veggies are good for the busy work person. And even if you prep her food at dinner....Sharing of your food is a requirement so long as it's safe.