The Parrot Companion: Caring for Parrots, Macaws, Budgies, Cockatiels and More [Paperback]

Rosemary Low (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 9, 2006

Quick access to comprehensive information and expert guidance for parrot owners.

Parrots are loved for their intelligence, sociability, longevity and humorous, almost-human characteristics. These same attractive qualities demand serious consideration and commitment when acquiring a parrot.

The Parrot Companion provides practical knowledge gained from an expert's decades of experience with these birds. The author examines the 25 most common breeds, which include Greys, Amazons, caiques, conures, cockatiels and budgerigars. The data for each one compare principal characteristics such as voice shrillness, mimicry and potential behavioral problems.

The author emphasizes responsible ownership, with a focus on choosing the right bird and keeping it happy and healthy. Topics include:

• Socializing a parrot
• Safety tips
• Avoiding behavior problems
• Finding an escaped bird
• Step-by-step training
• Trimming flight feathers vs. clipping wings
• The right equipment
• Feather plucking, biting and screaming
• Feeding, nutrition, health and grooming
• Re-homing a parrot.

This comprehensive reference is filled with color photos and will be welcomed by new and long-time parrot owners.

(20081004)

Editorial Reviews

Review

A pet owner's reference certain to receive popular attention in any lending library setting. (Rosemary Low The Midwest Book Review` 200706)

Beautiful photographs, clear charts and perky tip boxes add to the clearly written, informative guide to all things winged. (Michelle J. Mills Pasadena Star News )

Beautiful photographs, clear charts and perky tip boxes add to the clearly written informative guide to all things winged. (Michelle Mills San Gabriel Valley Tribune )

About the Author

Rosemary Low is the author of more than 20 books and a cofounder of the World Parrot Trust, which advocates against the trade of wild-caught parrots. She lives in England.

(20081005)

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Firefly Books (November 9, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1554071992
• ISBN-13: 978-1554071999
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 6.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,513,361 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars The Parrot Companion: Caring for Parrots, Macaws, Budgies, Cockatiels and More, April 14, 2008

By 

Andy D "Andy" (Europe) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Parrot Companion: Caring for Parrots, Macaws, Budgies, Cockatiels and More (Paperback)

This was the first book I had bought on this subject and it was to help me make a decision on what type of bird I was going to get as a pet/companion (I had taken expert advice from a well established aviary and had whittled it down to either a Senegal or an Amazon). Whilst I found this book had a few good tips in various chapters the overall impression I was left with was very negative. I found the author sort of negative towards nearly every breed of bird featured (negative towards keeping one as a companion bird). I completely appreciate that prospective buyers need to understand the huge amount of time, patience and commitment needed to keep both bird & owner happy and I understand that was likely the author's goal but I felt that the book was nearly written to turn people off the idea of getting a bird. Fortunately it has not turned me off and I will still refer to the book for some of the advice on training/caging, etc which I do think will be useful to me.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Offer insights into differences between species so owners can tailor parrot choice and care, June 17, 2007

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Parrot Companion: Caring for Parrots, Macaws, Budgies, Cockatiels and More (Paperback)

Responsible ownership of parrots means understanding thoroughly how to keep the bird happy and healthy - and THE PARROT COMPANION: CARING FOR PARROTS, MACAWS, BUDGIES, COCKATIELS AND MORE is the item of choice for so doing. Charts offer insights into differences between species so owners can tailor parrot choice and care, while safety tips for parrot and keeper, common behavior and physiological problems, step-by-step training, and more make for a pet owner's reference certain to receive popular attention in any lending library setting.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars A WASTE OF TIME/MONEY! Look elsewhere for guidence, December 13, 2009

By 

Dennis W. Sullivan "dezul" (MA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Parrot Companion: Caring for Parrots, Macaws, Budgies, Cockatiels and More (Paperback)

This book offers little to no insight in to having/caring/training/managing a companion bird. It spends more time telling the reader all the difficulties of owning a bird, but never advises on how to actually avoid or manage the behaviors. I blasts you with how much a bird might scream or be messy and then say "but with a caring owner and the right situation the bird could be a great pet"!?!?!?! huh??? THAT IS REALLY HELPFUL...NOT! I found the information(lack of information)pointless for anyone that already owns a bird and sorely lacking for anyone that is thinking of purchasing or adopting one. Look elsewhere for any guidence!