Unlike many pet owners, we do not refer to our pets as our children. We do not call ourselves pet moms or dads. Peach was hatched between 1981-1986. In spite of her adorable child-like facial expression, she is an adult. We have a very close personal relationship with her as an adult creature of a different species rather than infantilizing her as if she were a human child. We believe in helping her to be as much her cockatoo self as she can be, and trying to interact with her on her own terms. This does not mean that we let her do whatever she wants. There is a hierarchy, and the humans have ultimate say in the household, but we don’t baby her or bully her.
Related to the issue of recognizing the adulthood of parrots, their existence as sexually mature beings is overt and often a source of misunderstanding and conflict between birds and their owners. Spring and Fall, which are hormone season for birds, can be rough for birds and humans. If you have not already done so, please familiarize yourself with the types of physical contact that are sexually stimulating for birds (essentially any contact or stroking other than on the head and feet) , and the types of hiding spaces, containers, and materials that are too nest-like. Parrots (especially cockatoos) are easily stimulated, which can lead to all kinds of terrible consequences, including sexual frustration, biting, excessive hormone production, calcium deficiency due to egg laying, egg binding, and screaming.
We’re not comfortable referring to ourselves as parents of a being trying to mate with us. That said, we do not judge the people who call themselves “parronts” or refer to their birds as their “feathered kids,” (fids). We choose to navigate our family dynamics differently. You do what works best for your own situation.
