• Welcome to Avian Avenue! To view our forum with less advertisments please register with us.
    Memberships are free and it will just take a moment. Click here

Red Belly Stories.

iamwhoiam

Ripping up the road
Avenue Veteran
Celebirdy of the Month
Mayor of the Avenue
Avenue Spotlight Award
Joined
4/16/12
Messages
28,269
Location
the zoo
Welcome to the wonderful world of red-bellied parrots. Tell us about the one you are considering adopting.
Red-bellies are very intelligent but can also be very temperamental & sensitive. When they are scared or upset some of them will do what I describe as the red-bellied freeze and then just stare intensely. They will remain motionless until they feel comfortable again. This is what they would do in the wild to protect themselves against predators.
They can be very clownish and can develop large vocabularies, depends on the individual bird.

I have a few and they each have their own unique personalities and "quirks".
 

FlyMeToTheMoon

Meeting neighbors
Joined
1/1/17
Messages
34
I haven't gotten much information yet, but a friend of mine said someone they work with is trying to rehome their RBP due to them travelling way too much for the bird.
He is less than a year old. Maybe eight months or so. All I know is that they got him from a breeder in New York and he was great until the husband got a job that caused them to be out of town far too often.

I have read that they are prone to panic attacks and whatnot. I am a very quiet person and if I am not at work I am home in my own space, not bothering anyone else.
I live with two other people, one is not home most of the time and the other is my grandmother who has a long history of raising birds with her mom. I hope to socialize the bird enough so that he or she is able to go on walks through the park with me, but if that's too much for them I wouldn't mind a companion that likes to chill on a perch/my shoulder while I draw and write.

I have ordered three different books on parrot training methods, I do research every single day and I plan to become an Avian Specialist after I complete my studies at the VTI of Houston. : )

I'd like to think I could take on a sensitive bird even though I've only ever owned chickens... but just in case I'm going to make sure I have a lengthy interaction with the bird before adopting. Whether or not I take one home depends on if we click.
 

FlyMeToTheMoon

Meeting neighbors
Joined
1/1/17
Messages
34
There are also some very young Red Bellies at a local pet shop that does all of their breeding in the store... they're a pretty reccommended place around here and they treat their animals wonderfully but I would feel bad if I shopped instead of adopting.
So many people discourage it and I understand why. It is hard to find a rescue though, especially when you're new to owning parrots and it can be intimidating at times to get an older bird that may have quirks/issues you aren't aware of.
 

Animallover03

Biking along the boulevard
Avenue Veteran
Celebirdy of the Month
Joined
12/2/15
Messages
6,977
Location
Iowa
Real Name
Audrey
There are also some very young Red Bellies at a local pet shop that does all of their breeding in the store... they're a pretty reccommended place around here and they treat their animals wonderfully but I would feel bad if I shopped instead of adopting.
So many people discourage it and I understand why. It is hard to find a rescue though, especially when you're new to owning parrots and it can be intimidating at times to get an older bird that may have quirks/issues you aren't aware of.
Yes, but I would look into it. What general area are you located in? I'm sure of our members could recommend a rescue. I honestly love volunteering at my local rescue. :) I know it can be overwhelming, but if you meet the birds you will really understand how easy it is to want to help, and it might help you somehow know what to do.
As for the pet store, I would say you should still meet the babies, it may help you learn more about red bellies :) I honestly wanted to rescue, but I ended up clicking with Grumbles, who was a baby from a local pet store. It is a small family owned one, with knowledgeable employees who want the best for their pets :) If you bond with one it is nothing to be ashamed of, the bird chooses you!
 

FlyMeToTheMoon

Meeting neighbors
Joined
1/1/17
Messages
34
I am located in Katy, Texas... which is the Houston area. Unfortunately we do not have very many rescues here! I know of two and they tend to only take in big birds, like Cockatoos and Macaws. I also cannot afford to travel very far or pay too much on shipping. </3 But I suppose I would make it happen if I found "the one" y'know?
I'll check the pet store out! I was going to go there for a cage anyways. They're called A Parrot's Cove.
 

iamwhoiam

Ripping up the road
Avenue Veteran
Celebirdy of the Month
Mayor of the Avenue
Avenue Spotlight Award
Joined
4/16/12
Messages
28,269
Location
the zoo
If those people want to rehome their r-b it might be very kind of you to take him in and give him a loving home. Can't predict whether or not an r-b will have a panic attack or become phobic. I used to breed and handfeed red-bellied parrots and one bird out of a clutch of three might go through panic/phobia or it could be none of the birds in a clutch, etc. Any of my birds that went through that stage grew out of it. My r-bs might sometimes be frightened of new things, new people or new places but then so might my other birds. From what you have written it sounds like they want to rehome him because they don't have time to spend with him and not due to behavioral issues. I would recommend visiting him more than once so you can see what he's like and see if he tugs at your "heartstrings", so to speak.

As for walks in the park are you planning on harness training the bird? I wouldn't recommend walking through the park with him unless he is harness trained or in a carrier.

Every one of my red-bellies is a unique individual. Their personalities vary from those that could care less where they go or who they meet and those who get a bit scared. As an example, one of my females, Sophie, is very chatty and has an outgoing personality whereas her mom, Lucy, is very shy. Sophie's sister Claudé went through a phobic stage that lasted a few years and now she is friendly although not as outgoing as Sophie.
 

FlyMeToTheMoon

Meeting neighbors
Joined
1/1/17
Messages
34
As for walks in the park are you planning on harness training the bird? I wouldn't recommend walking through the park with him unless he is harness trained or in a carrier.
I will harness train him/her even if he/she doesn't get out much. : ) Especially because there is a service dog in the house! He is small, old and only ever stays downstairs but I would still fell more comfortable having a harness on the bird whenever I am not in my room, just in case.

Thanks for all the support and info!
 

iamwhoiam

Ripping up the road
Avenue Veteran
Celebirdy of the Month
Mayor of the Avenue
Avenue Spotlight Award
Joined
4/16/12
Messages
28,269
Location
the zoo
Let us know if you wind up getting that red-bellied parrot that might need a new home or if you get one from the pet shop.
 
Top