Get Expert Advice About Your Bird From Omar
Omar loves talking to bird owners about how to care for their pets and teaching them training methods that lead to better behavior. If you have a question that you would like to ask Omar about your bird, click the Ask Omar button below, fill out the form, and then check back on this page for the answer to your question.

If your question is medical in nature, please contact your Avian Vet for advice.

Hi Omar. I'm really excited to get a bird companion from your wonderful store but I just can't make up my mind between a sun conure or a turquoise conure. Are sun conures really too loud? Im unsure if my family would be bothered by the noise level, especially at night. And how much bigger are they than the turquoise conure? Thank You. - Andrea, Fullerton, CA

Andrea. We just took a baby Sun Conure to the Brea store. They are definately louder then the Green cheeks, but more willing to go to multiple people. The Turquoise Conure will be more your bird. 

One more thing. Non of these birds are loud at night when they're put to bed. If you get a Sun, we can help you work with any noise issue. 

Hope this helps. Omar

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We really do not have this bird in our house, the bird is outside our house but keeps coming back every day and keeps pecking at the window.  This bird has already scared away all the other birds that usually come to the feeder.  Is there any place I can post a notice of finding a South African Pin Tailed Whydah?  It appears to have been someone's pet at some time because it will peck at the window with me standing there, it does not seem to be afraid.  Part 2, is there an agency or private company that will rescue this type of bird? - Robert, Fullerton, CA

If you could take a picture of the bird, it would be helpful. This bird should not be scaring the other birds away since he is a small bird.  If you catch him, you can bring him in to Brea and find him a home. 

Thank you. Omar
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I am planning to get a Hahns Macaw for your Lake Forest store. I have a 5 yr old son and 2 dogs, one Cockateil and 2 Parakeets.

Would you recommend to get the Hahns macaw or some other bird which will be better for my son and other pets? Please advise. -Pama

Hahns are great little pets and all my customers that have them love them so much.  But if noise would be a problem in your household, one may not be for you. They can be squawky birds similar to a conure. 

Caiques are great fun birds, the clowns of the parrot family, and one of my favorites. The big difference here is that you are almost guaranteed that your  Hahns will talk while your Caique probably won't and will make it up by being so playful. 

Hope this helps. Omar

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I'm just wondering if you trim and groom other birds like duck/cranes/chickens birds in that category? -Blake, Oxnard, CA

Blake, we can but would rather not. I'm sorry. Sometimes Poultry can carry some bacteria or viruses that can affect our Psittacine friends that we carry. I'm sorry to turn you away for this but if you need a referral of a Veterinarian that does grooming in your area, please give us a call. 

Thank you. Omar

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Hello I'm a new bird owner and when I enter my bedroom my cockatiel Chip jumps down from his perch to the bottom of his cage and walks back and forth i just want to know if you know what it means i don't know if its excitement because he doesn't like stepping up and he bites sometimes to my sister and dad when my dad gets him in his hand and he pets him he still tries to fight can you help? - Mary, Burbank, CA

Sometimes if a bird jumps to the cage bottom and starts to pace back and forth this means he wants out. Try working with him more as you are. It is probably best if only one of you works with him until he is tamer then others can handle him easier. Make sure you only pet the bird around his head and ears at first. This is where they like it more. He may be complaining and biting if you're trying to pet him where he doesn't like it. 

It sound like you need a little more practice. Work with him about 15 minutes each time, about two times a day. He'll soon be your buddy.  If you need more help, check out my Cockatiel e-book at www.readyourbird.com. 

Thanks. Omar

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Hi, I have two adult budgies a male and female. They are together in the same cage and are not a bonded pair and they fight often. I was wondering what method of taming them you would recommend? They are not tame at all but the female will eat out of my hand sometimes. The male is absolutely scared. How should I tame them? Thanks. Vanessa, Pauma Valley, CA

Hello Vanessa. Clipping their wings will help if you are going to tame them.  Keeping them in separate cages will help during the process too, so they will like you better.  With Budgies, the way I have tamed them is to cup the bird in your hand lightly for about 15 minutes a couple of times a day and pet his head.  Use your bare hand, sometimes Parakeets get stressed out when a towel or glove is used.  Try holding him against your chest with your hand behind him and then take your other hand and begin petting his head.  Find the ears, behind the eyes on either side of the head, and pet him there.  He'll like it.  When you get him to the point of fluffing his feathers, you won him over.
 
Later once he is used to you, begin playing the ladder trick.  Put your finger under his chest and press so he steps up to you.  Tell him to step up every time so he learns what the words mean.  If the stepping up thing does not seem to be happening, go to the corner of a room with a slick floor and put him on the floor with your body preventing him from going around you.  Use a small stick or dowel to get him to step up to it.  Then once he does that well, begin with the finger.  Remember to say the words every time you want him to step up.  I know this is hard to teach with words and not showing you, but it may give you the idea.
 
Good luck, Omar
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Hi I'm trying to get my Senegal parrot on a balanced diet because all he eats is Zupreem fruit blend and seeds. I try to give him this veggie mix with a little fruit blend to try to attract him but nothing works. Is there a way to help him like real fruits and veggies? - Derek, Costa Mesa, CA

Derek, you can use the Bird Fruit Kabobs to hang the fruit and vegetables from.  We have them in our stores.  Since they hang like a toy, the birds pick at them more.  It is more natural actually since fruit hangs from a tree.  If he is getting vitamins, such as Super Preen Vitamins, he will be getting all the minerals and amino acids necessary for what he is missing in his diet.  Just sprinkle it on the seed as if you were putting salt on your food.  Try these things and you and your Senegal will feel better.
 
Thanks, Omar
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Hi Omar my friend recently moved away and gave me this very large bird enclosure it measures 72x144x48. It's a nice cage and I am wondering if its OK to house different species of birds there like Macaws with Greys or Cockatoos or just different birds that are similar to size? Will species be a problem or the sex of the birds?- Milton, Rosemead, CA

Milton, you do need to make sure the birds get along.  If you had hand fed birds that grew up together, you easily could put them in there.  It is big enough.  This also depends on the wire.  Macaw and Cockatoos can chew out of a lot, so make sure it is at least 1/8" bar size, but preferably 3/16". If outside, make sure it has shelter from the sun, rain and wind.  Some sun and rain is good as long as they can get away from it if they choose.
 
The sex of the birds may not make as much difference since they are different species, but some will pair and become aggressive with the other remaining one.  So make sure you keep an eye on that and if you begin to notice anything like that, separate them.  You can get a couple of Touracos or other soft bills, if you don't go with Parrots, or some Australian Parakeets to keep in the cage as a flight.  Possibilities are endless, just start with young birds so they bond to each other better.  Also, four would be better than three.  They will tend to pair and hold their ground.
 
Good luck, Omar
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Hi, I was just wondering when will you guys get more Caique babies? And how many? Lastly do you know the sexes of your birds? Thanks. -Vicky, Temecula, CA

We have a couple of Apricot Headed babies in the store available now and some in the nursery.  We also have more eggs of Black Head and Apricots.  If you can, contact the manager of the store and put your name down on the type you are looking for and as soon as they are available to be looked at, Kim can bring them in and show them to you.  If you like one of them, then you can put a deposit on it.
 
Thank you, Omar
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What kind of bird would you recommend as a little bigger than a Parakeet for a novice? I have 4 young children that would like to interact with it. I heard a good one would be a Green Cheeked Conure? Thanks! - Don, Lake Elsinore, CA

Don, I would say a Cockatiel. The Green Cheek will be nice, but very one sided.  It will probably pick one of the children or you to be his partner and can be aggressive to the others.  It will be great with the one child though.  If noise is not a problem, you may be better off with a Sun Conure or Jenday.  They will be better with the group as long as the group handles him often and correctly. We can help you on behavior suggestions when you are ready to get another bird. Thanks, Omar
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Hello Omar, I have been reading over some of the advice you have given others. My Timneh Gray (Kaweah) screams for attention when I leave the room or even when I am in the room and he wants out of the cage. You mentioned using a carrier for time outs. I have tried that for over a month, and he has learned to bite me when it is time to go in the carrier (I put him in it anyways). When I tell him no, he will whisper (I often get him out of the cage as a reward when he whispers), but immediately after that he will scream again. I keep him right next to the kitchen and he loves to come out and get into things and try all sorts of foods. Do you think this is contributing to the problem? When I leave him in his outdoor cage when I leave for work, he is not as noisy, maybe because he is resigned to the fact that he will be there all day. He is pretty smart; I think we are both trying to outsmart each other and right now it looks like he is winning. Any ideas? Does your Cockatoo e-book offer better advice on this than the African Gray book? -Becca, El Portal, CA  

Becca, they are REALLY smart and always want to win.  With the information you read in my ebook you should be able to try other things.  In this case, the African Grey book is very similar to the Cockatoo book but of course they are more demanding than the Greys.  Try my little remote car trick I talk about in the books.  He just cannot know you are in charge of it.  This way when he screams the car is there, when he whispers or talks, you are.  Just don't abuse it, since he may learn to call the car.  Usually they don't make much noise when you are not home.  He is so excited to spend whatever amount of time with you that he demands it.  You are his world.  What great unconditional love.
 
Good luck with the car.  Omar