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[latrine]

I thought you guys might like seeing one of these..
I have been taking some videos of Rocky, my 26 year old Yellow Naped Amazon Parrot, he's a real ham and he has lots of crazy noises, voices & impersonations.. these are only a few.. he says 'hello' a few times in the video.. I was knocking on stuff trying to get him to say hello.. and more words.. all of my birds usually say hello whenever someone knocks on the door or the phone rings or something.. it was a bit 'loud' when I had 9 of them.. heh..

Anyways I am still looking for a permanent home for Rocky as much as I love him, I am sick quite often, as you guys know, and I've re-homed almost all of my parrots.. we just got Tyler back again and he may be staying with us but his illness is so close to my own that it's kind of like watching after a mini-me so it isn't that bad..  Tyler is also very independent and doesn't want a lot of hands-on time..

Rocky, on the other hand, is VERY affectionate.. loves to cuddle and is really just a big mush.. IF your a girl.  If your a boy.. he will try and kill you.. if there is a boy in the room and you are a girl, he may try and bite you.. it's just a bird thing.. transferring aggression or something.. you can usually tell from just watching his body language.. amazons are VERY expressive.. they call them the 'Clowns of the parrot world' And it's very true.. he is a HUGE clown and loves to perform.

Most of my birds came from very abusive homes and Rocky was abused/hit/injured on a regular basis by a man and he has never gotten over it so it's been especially tough finding him a home.  He has been living with my bf and I for 2 years now and he still does not trust my bf.. my bf took care of him for the entire 7 months I was hospitalized, by himself, and while he behaved better towards him during that time (I wasn't here so less jealousy...) he still didn't trust him and went back to 'hating' him when I got home..

He gets along great with girls and would be ok in a home with men as long as they don't try to do much with him and the female owner was careful about handling when the man was around him.. I think he would be happiest with a single gal or, to be blunt, a lesbian couple.. he just doesn't do well with guys.  He liked one boyfriend I had when I was a teenager but he has really long curly hair and I think Rocky thought he was a chick..lol.

Rocky also has a bad liver from the bad diet he was on before I got him but it is completely controlled by the dandelion greens and Milk Thistle added to his food. He is on the best food available right now, Harrison's pellets, and also a special mash I make for him and my other birds..
I live in upstate NY atm but may be moving down south.. if anyone was interested in adding a clown to their home
 I'm just trying to find a good home for him, someone who will love him and promise to tell me if they cannot keep him.. I'm not looking for money or anything.. and, if nothing else.. just watch his video because he's a funny little green guy   Thanks!

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjDzsbel-4o" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjDzsbel-4o</a>

- Sarah

[Crewella]

Loved his video, but over in the UK sadly am no use to you.  I had a horse in my teens/20s that had been beaten and was terrifed of men in just the same way as Rocky, but horses are herd animals and are, I think, easier to get to trust you than birds are.  I suspect, anyway (though more of an immediate problem when trying to kill you! ).  I really hope he finds a loving home. 

[InmemoryofRomeo]

Aww!!! I'd take him in a heart beat, if only I didn't live on the other side of the planet

[Talon]

He sounds like quite a character! I'd take him too if I didn't already have two guinea pigs and a dog with food alergies and a sensitive stomach. Plus we may be moving to an apartment soon and... *gulp* I may have to get rid of all my animals. My sister- whom I live with- says that the schools in this rural hole-in-the-wall town arn't doing anything good for her children. I can't blame her there. Still, I'll misss my furry babies. I may be able to keep my guinea pigs but the not-knowing is driving me crazy. I do wish you the best in finding him a home.
Talon

[kat]

He really is beautiful.  I love the silly sounds he was making.   He looks like a fun little fellow.  I do hope he finds a loving home.  It is a shame I'm on the other side of the world or I'd adopt him in a snap.  

[pirpintine]

he's a total sweety. ive always wanted a parrot, theyve just facinated me.  closest i got was having budgies as a child.

and im actually getting myself a budgie again hopefully this week!  i loved having birds;  and theyre a nice small (i live in an attic room with my fiancee in his families home - so not a HUGE space!) and cheap to look after, and i hope to be teaching it some tricks if its willing

i'd love one day to have a larger parrot, and i'm sure this guy will have no troubles finding a home sometime soon.

[Willow]

AWW that is adorable!
I've always wanted a parrot, their intelligence astounds me, but I couldn't own a pet for so long as parrots can live for a very, very long time.  Rocky is so cute be sure to post more videos of him sometime or another

[bhobbes]

Aw, what a lovely video. Brutus is sitting on my shoulder right now.

It's always upsetting to hear about a lot of the parrot abuse that goes on (I've volunteered at a few rescue shelters since I cannot take any in). It shows the ignorance of (most) humans and makes me wonder how the heck (many) of these people treat their kids.

It can take forever to gain their trust (and it's not even guaranteed). Ella (my "adopted" member) took about 3 years before she trusted me to the point where she does now, however even that really seems to depend on the day. She does warm up and trust females quite quickly/easily. I'm not sure if she had a bad experience with males previously or is simply used to females (I've read several places that many species seem to respond better to women than men). Brutus just doesn't like any human other than me haha.

I hope you can find a good home for him, as that's not always an easy task (the good part mostly). Though he and I have milk thistle in common

[latrine]

Oh wow, bhobbes, really? I'm glad milk thistle helps you as well.. he was on a diet of mostly sunflower seeds and the oiliest of them (I think it was just a  'black oily sunflower wild bird mix' they fed him.. ugh.. I know he's 26 and we didn't know as much about what to feed them/how to care for them, back then but even a PARROT FOOD seed diet would be better.. now he gets no seeds and only a few occasional almonds as they are one of the least fattiest nuts)
He was getting sores on his feet, getting very lethargic and lost the sheen of his feathers and then the spark in his eye.. the milk thistle bounced him back within a week.. amazing stuff.  If he ever isn't feeling well I know he just hasn't eaten enough of his morning mash and holler at him to eat his meal.. hehe..
He's a great bird but he just won't trust guys.. it's just him.. the way he is.. The same as my other bird, Tyler, he trusts people to a point, even I, after a very patient 16 years, can only scratch his head and hold him for a limited time.. he was very badly abused. 
That's wonderful that you were able to help that horse, Crewella, I love horses too..
I love doing rescues, most of my birds were rescues.. the club I was in sent me to all the really tough cases.. and it was amazing, all they really ever needed was proper food and LOVE.

Talon, my bf's niece had the same issues with very bad schools in kind of the same General area as you.. she is now doing a home schooling program that even supplies a computer.. it's simply amazing and I would say she is ahead of the normal school kids by probably 2 grades, she's only 7! It does require parent help at first but as they get older the kids can do it themselves... your sister should look into it.. it's really awesome.. if we end up moving there  (I hope to god I am able to have kids someday) our kids will probably be home schooled as well. .. maybe she can do that and you won't have to move.. I hope you don't have to give up your pets, I know how much that hurts

It can be a bit overwhelming with how long they live, you have a perpetual 3 year old for pretty much your entire life, lol.. and then you put them in your will.. but they are well worth it (and a pain in the butt)
Best of luck with your budgie, pirpintine.. they are wonderful, intelligent birds and if your patient I'm sure you'll be able to teach your new bird tons of tricks.. no one ever thinks it's true but they can be one of the best talkers out there..
IMR, just come for a very expensive visit..   lol..
Thanks for looking guys, he's a big ham, isn't he?  He just loves to show off..

- Sarah

[bhobbes]

Sorry, let me clarify - my liver isn't bad but I often take milk thistle on a regular basis to help it out (very into nutrition etc. and my "diet" is centered around the heart, kidneys, and liver).

And most people with parrots have to include them in their wills given the life expectancy of many species.