Customer Reviews

Sally Blanchard's Companion Parrot Handbook: Using Nurturing Guidance to Create the Best Companion Parrot Possible: Aka, the Happy Bappy Fun Book

5 star:		(33)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I have a 2 yr old CAG. This book was highly informative not only for CAG owners, but also people who have any companion parrot. I've bought NUMEROUS books on parrots and CAGs since I've had my CAG. If I could only have one book, this would be it. It's wonderful and written in clear consice language that's easy to understand and enjoy. This book also lists different viewpoints, such as whether or not to clip wings, rather then just listing one side. It's a great book, and though it's a little pricy it's well worth the money you'll save buying cheaper books that aren't informative.

Just when I thought that the writings of Sally Blanchard couldn't be held in more esteem by me, she does it again! Because of it's price and the fact that I thought I had read all uptodate info from this author, I held out on buying this book. I was cheating myself, as this book is a wonderful guide to anyone who is a new or seasoned bird owner. Sally gives current advice on having a happy parrot, and is always `right on' with her guidance. This is the most trustworthy source any parrot owner could possibly ask for. It doesn't get any better than this! My parrots lives are improved from the knowledge I glean herein. That, I would think, says it all.

Everyone who owns a pet bird should read this book.

Sally clears away many potentially harmful "wives tales" or mis-information, and offers simple but meaningful suggestions about how to keep and develop a better relationship with your pet bird.

Both new and experienced pet bird owners will benefit from reading this book, which goes into detail about how to care for your parrot at every stage of his or her life. It is essential reading before one takes home a pet bird, or even buys the cage.

From the woman who wrote the book on parrot behavior . . . it's The Book of parrot behavior. Sally's understanding of parrot psychology is without peer--and her ability to put her knowledge into guidance that is easy to understand and apply makes this book invaluable. Remarkably, it is a friendly and welcoming book in spite of its little-understood and sometimes intimidating topic.

The book is divided into sections on all stages of your companion bird's life--bringing a baby bird home, bathing, housing, how much attention to give, games to play, preventing and repatterning unwanted behavior, dealing with phobias, and much more. Some (all?) entries are reprinted from the Pet Bird Report (soon to be called the Compaion Parrot Quarterly). All are written clearly and thoroughly, with concrete advice as well as more right-brained assessments of parrot psychology.

If you have a companion parrot, whether it's a well-adjusted hand-raised Grey or a phobic rescue cockatoo (like mine), keep this book close at hand. You'll turn to it time and again for advice and entertainment.

I was very impressed with the scope of information in this book about general care and training for parrots and helpful insights for specific problem behaviors. The "Companion Parrot Handbook" is terrific for people contemplating adding a bird to their household, as well as a valuable reference guide for anyone who already owns parrots.

Sally's down to earth easy to understand compilation of her first hand knowledge, experiences and advice for living with companion parrots is entertaining and extremely well presented. She offers helpful guidance for maintaining a truly enjoyable long lasting relationship with these wonderful, intelligent feathered animals.

Just got the book and read it half-way through but already it is clear: this book is fantastic! I've had an African Grey for 24 years (now at my parent's place), moved into a new house recently, and got a Blue Indian Ringneck to liven up the place (quite a different bugga from my Jaco). So, decided to read up on Ringnecks et al. (surprisingly the Internet contains little informative data). Anyhow, I acquired several books including a couple by M. Athan (see my review). Mostly they were disappointments, esp. the behavioral ones. A lot of half-baked psycho-babble and generic tautologies that leave you almost as clueless as before (and I've had a temperamental birdy for some while).

Not so with S. Blanchard's book. It is insightful, to-the-point, well-organized, well-written (entertaining parrot humor is a bonus), and makes an immediate difference. Blanchard doesn't over-generalize, ramble on about a simple point, nor does she hide behind scientific parrot factoids (I have a couple of books on the factoids) or too many second-hand hearsay. Many of her observations strike a chord (and will be useful to complete novices and non-experts alike), such as her shower-shy African Grey who feared the water spray and how she got around it. My Jaco remains to this day shower-shy, the water spray being one of her arch enemies. I've ordered another book and sent it to my parents.

Perhaps the most important lesson that one gains from S. Blanchard's book is a correct attitude towards these cute & devilish buggas. Blanchard states that whereas dogs project unconditional love, with the parrot the emphasis is on conditional. Like golf which can ruin a perfectly good walk (to paraphrase M. Twain), parrots can ruin a perfectly calm existence. But what fun amidst the up-and-downs! I'm a scientist and therefore a harsh critic on what I perceive as dressed-up nonsense. This book is an unqualified gem. And the book contains but a couple of sentences that allude to ringnecks, my original problem.

This is a great book that covers everything from health care, caging, toys, and parrots highly intelligence and complex personalities. It's a great book to pick up at any time and easy to find the information you're looking for. I constantly refer back to this book when I have any questions and the answers are usually there.

Every bird/pet store should carry this book and give it to people interested in getting a pet bird prior to bringing one home. Education and commitment is the key to keeping and giving your pet parrot a long happy, healthy life...this book will help you keep that promise.

Sally also publishes a great magazine called the Pet Bird Report (published 4-6x a year?). No affiliation to the magazine, I'm just a reader. The magazine is filled with great information and touching stories about these complex, loving creatures. It contains current issues about parrot health, conservation, care, and the humane treatment of these great animals. not to mention the fun stuff!

When I first discovered the author's Pet Bird Report magazine, I couldn't read enough -- I ordered all the back issues I could, and devoured them all. This book is like having all the issues of the magazine, but in an easier format to handle. Sally Blanchard is one of a handful of people who are revolutionizing the way we see parrots, and people and parrots both are better off for the change. Lots of great material makes this book a must-buy for any avian library. -- Gina Spadafori, co-author with Brian L. Speer, DVM, Dip. ABVP (Avian Practice), of BIRDS FOR DUMMIES

This is deffinately the bird "bible." I highly encourage those who are new to the field of birds to read this wonderful book. I have been working with birds for an extremely long time, and even so, Blanchard's writings can still help me find out things about my companion birds that I may have never known if it weren't for her. Also, for those who are struggling with care for their companions, I highly recommend reading the Companion Parrot Handbook before you decide to adopt out your feathered family member. Blanchard's writings can help, and will inspire!

I recommend this book to anyone who has a companion parrot. It contains a wealth of information about their behavior that can help even those who have been parrot people for a long time understand their bird(s) and be more appreciative of the animal which they are privileged to "own". I am a breeder and recommend this book to everyone adopting one of my babies. It has helped those who adopted a baby to be better parrot people and has influenced potential whim buyers to not undertake something for which they are not suited.