-> our cockatiel used to ride around in the ruff of fur on our
-> wolf-hyrbid's neck. The dog liked it as much as the bird did--
Our Old Man was very protective of 'his' Lilac Crown.  They'd sometimes ride,
and other times they'd stroll side by side.  He had NO part of the Yellow 
Cheek
though.
The old dog used to lead the parrot all the way from the bird room, to my
bedroom, and then stand there and watch the parrot climb the bedclothes to 
come
"Cheerup" my head.  Then if I didn't wake up quick enough the parrot would
gently check out my nose with his beak, to see if I was "In there."
The parrot was never the same after The Big Dog died, and just wasted away in
less than a year.  We like to think they're together again.
-> Question--why get a wild bird?
Quite frankly because I simply cannot afford to pay someone else to gentle or
hand-raise one.  Besides, after their stint in the crowbar hotel, they've 
een
'socialized' to a certain degree by the keepers.  (Who all love birds or 
they'd
never put up with the incessant RACKET!)  Of course the major packets, often 
20
- 50 birds confiscated together which must be KEPT together as evidence, 
on't
get much socialization, but I snoop around in the room where the individuals
and pairs are kept, and scope out the milder cases.  That's how I found the
last Lilac Crown.  He was outgoing but VERY defensive, (We didn't know how
little he could see which explained it later) and would snap a lead pencil in
two or bite holes in oil-field gloves if given the opportunity.
A month in 'solitary' calmed him substantially, and from there on very gentle
socialization brought him around.  As soon as he would play nice with a 
pencil,
I began offering him a dowel to sit on and in less than a month he was finger
trained and shoulder 'safe'. 
It's my personal opinion that Lilac Crowns are among the more naturally 
ocial
and easily tamed of the Amazons, and though I've NEVER seen a really good
talker there's lots to be said for less vocal companionship! 
Football games on TV being the major exception to the "Quiet" facet.  Crowd
noises and bands playing brought out the showman in old LC.  He'd SING at the
top of his voice in Spanish, "Corazone, mi corazone!" and then when the 
uckus
died down, he'd sit up real straight and proclaim, "Perrica Paradow" which
loosly translated means "Proud, or Parade, parrot." His only other vocal
expression was "Cheerup!" (Except of course at 6:00 AM when he greeted the 
un
joyously, and LOUDLY! Calling and then answering himself in a different 
voice.)
I may never have the same quality of results again taming my own, but then 
he
expensive Yellow Cheek we bought to replace our FIRST Lilac Crown, though 
ame
as a dog initially developed a nasty temper at about five years, and would
have NO part of any man, dog or beast. (He delighted in terrifying the cats.)
That's why we were so shocked when he took to the little girl so completely.
If he couldn't have my office manager he didn't anything to do with ANYBODY!
 ^..^
--- FidoPCB v1.5 beta-'j'
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