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Post by cnyguy on Nov 11, 2015 20:48:18 GMT -5
I've read so much on this and other parrot forums about how sympathetic some parrots are when their human companions aren't feeling well. Maybe Ralph was absent the day they taught about that in Gentleman Parrot School. I've had a nasty cold for the past few days and have been feeling miserable, but Ralph still expects his full measure of attention, and more, since I haven't been out of the apartment much. He did allow me a ten-minute nap yesterday. I could have used a longer one, but Ralph came down to the bottom corner of his cage, closest to the sofa, and started beeping at me. A feathered alarm clock.  Today, I decided to just sit and read for a while. I got halfway through one page of the novel I'm reading, and heard the rattle of Ralph's water dish-- his signal that it's bath time. Of course, I got up, gave him fresh bath water, misted him, and mopped up all the water from around his cage. Oh, well; George the YCA was never sympathetic when I was sick either, so I'm used to it. And as all parrots know, it's not good to spoil their human slaves by being too cooperative. |
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Post by Jan and Shah on Nov 11, 2015 22:12:43 GMT -5
Gary, Gary, Gary - I cant believe you expect sympathy from Ralph. I know some quakers on this website are very sympathetic when their parronts are ill, but Ralph and Shah aren't among them. Shah gets really angry with me if I am ill and becomes extremely demanding which turns into temper tantrums if his demands are not seen to immediately. You have my sympathy for being ill and hopefully you will recover soon.
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Post by biteybird on Nov 12, 2015 2:32:00 GMT -5
At least Ralph only 'beeps', whereas Bonnie SHRIEKS (at 2-second intervals for hours, if it suits her purpose - she's extremely persistent)…I think she, too, was AWOL the day that lesson was taught at Parrot School.  Ralph is quite correct - showing any sort of sympathy at your plight would create a dangerous precedent; one he would not wish to adhere to on a long-term basis. I hope you feel better soon! |
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Post by easttex on Nov 12, 2015 2:56:07 GMT -5
I've read so much on this and other parrot forums about how sympathetic some parrots are when their human companions aren't feeling well. Pure myth, as far as I can tell. I've never gotten sympathy like others describe. Though I haven't been sick since Peppy moved in. Maybe... Hope springs eternal, or as someone once misheard me years ago, hopes bring a turtle. Take care of yourself, Gary. Apparently your roommate won't. |
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Post by julianna on Nov 12, 2015 14:26:09 GMT -5
We have sympathy for you Gary. Oscar does let me be when I am ill because I am laying down. If I am sitting up he thinks everything is okay.... and if he still won't leave me alone, I can always move to the other couch.
I now get 1 hour of quiet time in the afternoon which I use to relax after a very busy morning. But exactly one hour later he will start his screetching... time to get up. Better than 10 minutes for sure. It used to be 10 minutes only but I kept telling him uh uh... uh uh... and eventually (a year later).. lol.... he finally gets it.
Good luck on that cold. I had a nasty one also. Three days really bad and then a month of coughing.
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Post by aaron on Nov 12, 2015 14:39:51 GMT -5
Cupcake will let us nap when we need to, as long as we're in the same room. Just this past weekend, my wife and I were both feeling quite out of it, and we needed extra sleep. So, after waking up Cupcake and spending a bit of time with her, we put her in her cage, and each laid down on the couch (it's a big couch), and she didn't make a peep the whole time, for 2-3 hours. She is also fairly good at just sitting on me when I am resting and she is out of the cage, although I'm not a fan of falling asleep with the bird nearby for safety reasons... but if I am lying on the couch, she has been known to sit on me peacefully for quite a while. Although she has been known to wake us up with kisses I don't know if any of this really falls into the category of true sympathy. I think the times where sympathy is most evident is when someone cries. Cupcake definitely acts concerned and sensitive when a flock member is sad. Although even with that, I wonder if the appropriate word is "sensitivity" and not "sympathy". Feel better soon Gary!! |
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Post by cnyguy on Nov 12, 2015 20:49:38 GMT -5
I'm feeling slightly better today. Colds tend to drag on for a while whenever I get one, so it will probably be a few more days before it goes away completely.  In establishing himself as a Gentleman Quaker, Ralph has set high standards for himself, so I suppose it must be tough to try to measure up in every way. I guess I should be grateful that he doesn't have a tanrum like Shah or shriek like Bonnie.  Maybe most of those stories about sympathetic parrots are mainly fiction-- the ones who are uncharacteristically quiet when their humans are sick, the ones who snuggle with their ailing companions and the ones who solicitously ask "are you OK?" Those parronts are probably really getting shouted at and pestered for attention just like the rest of us. |
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Post by aaron on Nov 12, 2015 21:00:02 GMT -5
I think they are probably mostly fiction. Perhaps there are some real cases though. I'd love to witness that At any rate, I'd imagine if there are truly sympathetic birds out there, they probably (*gasp*) ... aren't Quakers |
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Post by cnyguy on Nov 13, 2015 21:16:01 GMT -5
I think they are probably mostly fiction. Perhaps there are some real cases though. I'd love to witness that At any rate, I'd imagine if there are truly sympathetic birds out there, they probably (*gasp*) ... aren't Quakers The more memorable stories of sympathetic and solicitous parrots I recall from other parrot forums included a couple CAGs, a Senegal, a Green-wing Macaw and a Blue-headed Pionus, but I can't seem to remember any mention of Quakers-- or Amazons either. |
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Post by easttex on Nov 14, 2015 5:54:30 GMT -5
My CAG is highly sensitive to my moods, but as for actual sympathy, I doubt it.
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Post by bruce on Nov 19, 2015 13:35:48 GMT -5
This is an interesting topic. My QP Chuckie occasionally allows me a short nap in the living room, generally though after about 15 minutes or so he turns into a noise production system and wakes me up. I don't get angry though; I have sleep apnea, so it really isn't a good idea for me to doze without my breathing machine running. I have thought about trying to get him classified as a assistive animal (might be interesting way to get around regulation in states that ban QPs). Sadly, I doubt anyone would take me seriously. As to sympathy, Chuckie displays the opposite - he actually laughs if he manages to deliver a painful bite.  |
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Post by aaron on Nov 19, 2015 15:12:07 GMT -5
I wonder if that would work, to get him classified that way It doesn't take much with dogs, from what I understand... My friend (who has no disabilities of any sort) told me all he had to do was pay $50 bucks to get his dog classified as a service animal. |
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Post by biteybird on Nov 20, 2015 2:43:43 GMT -5
As to sympathy, Chuckie displays the opposite - he actually laughs if he manages to deliver a painful bite. Join the Club...Bonnie says "ow" and laughs after she nips too hard and sometimes even says "good girl" THEN laughs. She's so cheeky and smart it's scary. |
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Today, I decided to just sit and read for a while. I got halfway through one page of the novel I'm reading, and heard the rattle of Ralph's water dish-- his signal that it's bath time. Of course, I got up, gave him fresh bath water, misted him, and mopped up all the water from around his cage. Oh, well; George the YCA was never sympathetic when I was sick either, so I'm used to it. And as all parrots know, it's not good to spoil their human slaves by being too cooperative. 
