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Summary: A great book for any parrot owner-however not in-depth
Review: As a pround owner of two parrots it is important to know how to treat your avian friends well. Since parrots ARE intellegent creatures and have abilities such as the well-known mimicing trick it is also important to understand bird behavior and how a bird thinks.Basically I use this book as a guide. If I see my birds fighting for attention (*which happens a lot*) I look in the book for what to do, why they do it and how to make it stop since mostly everything from the pinpointing of the eyes (*when the bird's eye gets smaller/larger*) to the bird fluffing up (*meaning its happy*)-all is described in good detail too! So, what else does this book have? Bird owner humor and stories as well as instructions to devestating times like if your bird decides he/she had enough and flys away. The only downside is that the book does not go in-depth with bird types. Instead the book focuses on the main grouping like Amazons, Macaws, Conures, Budgies, and Parakeets (*which are not budgies btw!!*), etc. So if I needed information on my Sun Conure this book will only talk about conures in general requiring you to look to another more specific book. However away from that one flaw this book is great for general types of behavior that apply to all birds. Whats also great is how this book also serves as a guide to raise a well-behaved (*as the title implies*), unspoiled bird. Does it work? Well... my Amazon which when we got was wild and scared of me(*and very violent*) is now so trusting and even comes out of her cage to look for me. (*as taught in the book*). So yes, following this book can help and it can also help the bird too with a great diet, hygine, and behavior. -aiight da Umbral Templar is signin out.
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Summary: Another parrot guide.....
Review: Can one teach a Hyacinth Macaw to hold a spoon as the cover of Mattie Sue Athan's GUIDE TO THE WELL BEHAVED PARROT SUGGESTS? At this point as a parrot owner for two years, I never cease to be impressed with the repetoire of the parrot family. I have stayed with the smaller parrots, my biggest and most recent purchase a Quaker Parrot who is as sweet and intelligent an animal as I have ever known appears to have many of the characteristics attributed to the larger birds.
Ms Athan's book includes information useful for larger and smaller parrots. In a nutshell so to speak, the book suggest that common sense actions make all the difference. Birds need food and clean water of course, but they also need an interesting space to spend most of their day and excellent lighting or like humans they can develop seasonal disorders.
Sometimes in spite of every thing you do to bring about a positive result, a bird will become cross and nippy. The Lutino Cockatiel who lives with me has lately taken to nippy behavior when I put my hand in the cage in the evening. Yesterday, I discovered eggs in the bottom of the cage. Seems Mr. Sweetie is a girl. Athan suggests that if I get Sweetiepie a mate she probably won't be a good companion bird. However, if I am patient, this nippiness will disappear as she grow older. The key ingredients for good bird behavior are human patience and perseverance.
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Summary: At last a pet book that really delivers what it promises!
Review: I admit I was skeptical about this book when I bought it, but I needed to know why my parrot was acting the way he was and how to stop it. After reading this book and trying their suggestions my bird is already showing me more love and affection than before. They guide you through everything from grooming needs, how to handle aggression and biting, to how to help the other pets in the house adjust peacefully to your companion parrot. What I found really helpful about the Guide to a Well-Behaved Parrot was that they offered several ways to approach and handle a situation while explaining the motivation behind your bird's behavior. They take into account differing bird temperaments and human lifestyles and the result is an easily read, usable hands-on manual on bird behavior. What a great book! I recommend it to any bird owner, new or old. It's never too late to get on the right track.
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Summary: Perfect for a new parrot owner
Review: I found this book extremely useful to understand the parrot behavior. I have a lovely sun conure, which I used to take on my shoulder.. and of course it used to bite me. I learned that a bird on the shoulder is a bad idea. There are many tips about training the bird, preventing bad behaviour, teaching good manners and interpretting the parrot's body language. There are tips about what to do if you are leaving your bird home-alone when you go to work. This is an excellent book. I highly recommend to all parrot owners.
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Summary: A "Must" for Parrot Owners
Review: I have just purchased and read the Second Edition of "Guide to a Well-Behaved Parrot" by Mattie Sue Athan. I had owned and used the First Edition of GTAWBP for years, until some erstwhile "friend" borrowed it and never returned it. I won't make that mistake again. There are few books on any subject that can be termed "Must Read," but anyone who owns or is even considering owning a parrot "MUST" buy and read and refer to this book time after time after time. If there ever was an essential "owners and operators manual" for a pet psitticine (parrot), then this book is it. It doesn't matter if you are brand new to parrot ownership or somewhere into your fourth decade of being owned by parrots, this book always has some new kernel of knowledge on a companion bird that the author says "has the intellectual intelligence of a human three year-old and the emotional development of a human two year-old." The GTAWBP covers all bases of parrot ownership - from socialization to behavioral development to how the owner must adapt to a complex and intelligent bird that will claim an equal share in any relationship. This is a book that needs to be read cover-to-cover and then kept close at hand for behavioral and interactive situations that will come up during a lifetime relationship. GTAWBP is a reference book that deserves an annual re-read, just to keep ideas and theories fresh in the owner's mind. Now, keep in mind that this is a second edition of a best seller that was first published in 1993. GTWBP has probably been through a couple of printings in its First Edition, but when the publisher anticipates a continued long life for a book like this, the author is asked to put out a second edition. This new edition gives the author the chance to incorporate new ideas, theories, details, and pictures that are available after the first edition was published. It's a tribute to Mattie Sue's ability and wisdom that about 80 percent of the Second Edition of GTAWBP is unchanged from the first edition. Mattie Sue (I wonder if anyone ever does refer to her as "Athan.") has changed and improved on her first edition advice on how to handle a biting parrot. She has changed some of the endearing stories at the end of the book, and she has utilized more and even better photographs and illustrations in the second edition. All of these changes add to the value of this book. On a personal note, the normally camera-shy author, who used to publish only pictures of her hands in her books, has turned into a virtual model, with at least 3 untitled pictures of herself in the new edition. The trick is still to figure out "Where's Mattie Sue?" I did spot one instance where an unknowing photo editor showed the wrong species bird in a photo, but that fix will have to wait for the third edition. In summary, the second edition of "Guide to a Well-Behaved Parrot" is well worth the purchase price, even if someone has yet to swipe your first edition.
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Summary: Guide to a Well-Behaved Parrot
Review: I have read this book several times and highly reccomend this book to any one who buys a parrot. The information is wonderful and easy to understand, the book makes it fun to work with your compainon in alot of areas. I am co-owner of a pet store and I always reccomend this book to any one who buy a parrot from me. Any time I get "help!!" calls I invite them to come and buy this book. My customers give me good feedback and it brings my customer back because of the trust they feel from the information they receive.
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Summary: just finished reading the book...
Review: I must say I had high expectations, in part, based on the other book reviews (mostly favourable). The goo-goo ga-ga remind me of some movie reviewers who have yet to see a bad movie. If you want to get substantive knowledge about parrot behavior that can aid with your parrot(s), then this book is not it. This book is a rambling treatise ridden with generalities and few exercisable action items nor insights. The gist of the book, with careful annotation and qualifications, can be explicated in 1-2 pages. The author, by all indication, seems to be an expert parrot counselor who has significant experience and success solving "parrot problems." Regrettably, that knowledge does not translate in this book. There seems to be a more recent book by the author I will buy and take a look. I believe in giving a second chance. A third chance is another matter.
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Summary: Very helpful information on my insane little companion...
Review: I realize now all the weird things he does are pretty normal behavior. Most helpful were the references to wild parrots, and how their natural behavior regarding predators, parrot group social behavior, ect. show up in a 'pet' parrot. I would have liked a little guidance on feeding. I may be feeding my little guy too many sweets or not enough vegetables. Also, they could have included more info on the details of cage cleaning. For us beginners these things are important. After two weeks of parrot ownership, (if you can call it that), I realize research, especially before purchase, and also after, is key. I was lucky to get my especially good-tempered little friend. (Well, he has insane fits, but for a parrot, he is good-tempered...)
Rating:
Summary: Very helpful information on my insane little companion...
Review: I realize now all the weird things he does are pretty normal behavior. Most helpful were the references to wild parrots, and how their natural behavior regarding predators, parrot group social behavior, ect. show up in a 'pet' parrot. I would have liked a little guidance on feeding. I may be feeding my little guy too many sweets or not enough vegetables. Also, they could have included more info on the details of cage cleaning. For us beginners these things are important. After two weeks of parrot ownership, (if you can call it that), I realize research, especially before purchase, and also after, is key. I was lucky to get my especially good-tempered little friend. (Well, he has insane fits, but for a parrot, he is good-tempered...)
Rating:
Summary: Great for establishing a healthy relationship with your bird
Review: I've read several parrot books and found this one to be excellent. The book gives great insight into bird behavior and personality traits. As a new African Grey owner and novice to birds in general, I wasn't sure if my bird was exhibiting "normal" behavior. The book helped me realized that behaviors aren't random but rather an indication of an emotion the bird is experiencing. After reading this book you won't take body language for granted; instead, you'll view it as a clue of what's going on in your fid's "bird brain!" The book helped me realize my bird is happy, well-adjusted and very normal. I've made a conscious effort to follow recommended techniques and find that they work. The book has definitely helped me foster a close relationship with my bird while helping me define boundaries that are important for a peaceful future with the new member of my household. The book also helped me commit to exposing my bird to a variety of experiences and people so he'll be calm and sociable in a variety of circumstances. I highly recommend this book... especially if you're interested in bird psychology.
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