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.

Hello, I am in dire need of a professional's opinion. I am a 17 year old girl and have loved parrots since I was a young girl. I have felt lonely without a companion of my own. I've worked at a local pet store for a year and have had handling with several different species. I believe to be capable of taking care of an exotic creature such as a parrot. For some time now I have been searching for one of the two parrots: a blue headed Pionus or an African brown headed parrot. I visited a small crowded pet store and by fluke ran into a brown head two days ago. The problem was she was in a canary sized cage being fed a seed diet for 1 year. Her colours were faded and her feathers were ruffled and overpreened. When I had taken her out with permission, the clerk told me her hind talons hand been decapitated because her breeder left her on another parrot's cage unsupervised and it bit her hind talons. I have an urge to buy this poor thing and give her a good home. I am just afraid of her attachment issues and her unknown abusive past. Do I buy her or purchase a baby in a healthier condition by a breeder?? -Chrissy, Montreal, Quebec

Chrissy, know what you are getting into.  The bird is probably much older than a year old.  Most stores just say a year because it sounds better to the buyer.  Not very honest.  The toes being bit does not bother me.  She should be able to still get around without a problem.  The feather roughness may be feather picking and it may take a while to stop that behavior, but she could still be a good pet even if not in perfect feather.  I'm sure she is used to the small cage by now, but would be best in a larger cage if you get her.  Just know that from the beginning you will be dealing with behavior issues if she is not very tame.  But if she came to you and was tame with you, she may do just fine.  She may even get her feathers back once she is in a happy home.  The feather quality being dull may be corrected by using vitamins such as Blair's Super Preen on the food.  It will bring the color back after a while.  Bathing will help too. 
 
Also know that an adult bird should be selling for about half as much as a baby, possibly even less, so maybe you can negotiate with the store owner if you want her.  Especially if you buy a larger cage from him.  A baby will be much easier, but she may be a good bird for you.  Go see her often and see how she continues to do with you.
 
Good luck, Omar

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My sun Conure, Kelly died Wednesday, after 23 years. I am looking for a handfed Sun Conure. Please contact me if you have a great Sun Conure. - Bette, Lake Elsinore, CA

Bette,  I'm so sorry to hear about  Kelly. It is very difficult what you are going through. I am forwarding this to Kim who is feeding two baby Sun Conures now. She will contact you soon and tell you about the babies we just got into the nursery.

Thanks for being a good Mom to Kelly and again, I'm sorry for your loss. - Omar

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Will you have any Hahn's Macaws available anytime soon?
- Jo Ann, Torrance, CA

Yes, I'm hoping to have some babies within the next two months. Check our Babies in the Nursery page and we will post as soon as they are available. 

Thank you. Omar
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I bought Arthur, a male Vosmaeri Eclectus about 10 years ago when you had the store in LaVerne (from Michele). I already had a female, Aurora. During the past 10 years Arthur reached sexual maturity but did not please Aurora. In fact, he goes in her cage and eats her food. This infuriates her. Aurora is in perfect feather (the most beautiful thing on the earth, and she knows it) and has laid 3 eggs (not fertilized). Arthur is plucked from head to foot. They are both unhappy. I've read about Eclectus polygamy. My question is this: Should I get a new female or a new male, one of each, or what? My goal is not breeding, just contented birds.- Paula, Upland, CA

Paula, I would suspect that they both are bonded to you. It is hard for them to see each other as a mate or best friend if you are the mate or best friend. I'm assuming that the laying of the eggs that she is doing is for you, not him. The fact that he is feather picked tells me that you are right and he is either very frustrated and not as happy as he used to be, and now it has become a habit, or he is very, very spoiled and needs to be allowed to be a bird. Fear could also be a reason, but I would not think he fears her since he is going in her cage to eat and play.

I would start by putting a full size door mirror near his cage so he can see his reflection instead of her cage or both. I would put some toys that are shreadable outside his cage in between the mirror and his cage for him to try to pull through when he is inside or go out to work with. I want him to see his reflection playing with the toys. I would bathe him daily. If you're worried about the cold, then blow dry him. This will not only help his feathers but also the re-growth if he has not damaged his feather follicles. Focus more on him especially while she is sitting on eggs and out of sight. I would set him outside when it is warm, even if it is without her. Give him more stimulus. His focus is very limited and he takes it out on himself.

Try these things and if they don't help, which I feel they will, then write me again.

Thank you, Omar

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Hi Omar. I have a 5 year old Cockatoo. She has recently starting to pluck her feathers. She is usually out of her cage 5 hours a day and I tried putting a new toy in her cage and giving her baths, but so far no luck. Any suggestions? We recently moved, and I think that may have triggered it, but not sure. -Josie, Trabuco Canyon, CA

Josie, this is a paragraph from my Cockatoo Ebook that will be released this month:
 
Fear is one of the biggest culprits when feather picking. This is why it is so important to desensitize your bird to all the things in his surroundings, such as a new puppy, a new hairstyle, a bold new nail color, a picture of a tiger hanging on your wall, or a hawk that commonly sits outside his window. If you read your bird, you will know which one of these things it is. Another event which can cause fear is moving. A move is stressful on us. Imagine how stressful it is on your bird. Remember to take the bird around the new house and have him check it out. Watch his body language when you walk in new areas.
 
The book goes into more detail but make sure to walk her around the house and introduce her to every room.  When she backs off from a certain object or room, retreat and try again later taking small steps until she is comfortable there.  You have probably been stressed yourself and she can pick up on that.  Try to spend more time with her even if it is taking her in the bathroom with you daily to shower.  he does not have to shower, but just that added time with you will help and also the steam will help the feathers. A wet bird rarely feather picks so if you can bathe her more often, great.
 
A shredable toy outside the cage bars that she can pull through and play with is helpful too. It will be more work for her than the one inside, and, the more the better. Give her more time to adjust to the new house but desensitize her as much as you can to all parts of the home, new pets or new people in the house.
 
Good luck, Omar
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I recently moved in with my friend who owns 2 birds. For a few months she was living alone after a divorce and Danali the African Grey who used to be partialy social isnt very social anymore. We have been working together to get him more comfortable with being handled by others but he is not liking it at all. He screams and nips me and even tries to fly away everytime I try to pick him up. I have also noticed he tries to moves the farthest to the back of his perch as he can when I pass by. If you have any tips on how we can encourage him to step out of his comfort zone and become a more social bird would MUCH appreciated. -Taylor, Windermere, Florida

Taylor, if you are the primary person that will be in his life and he is having trouble with you, then try this.  Put him in a carrier. Make sure the wings are clipped so he does not fly away on you. Take him in your car to a park or a friends house.  Somewhere he is not used to being.  When you arrive, take him out of the carrier by offering your hand. He will be so disoriented with his surrounding that you will be the most familiar thing to him with whom he will feel comfortable. Just hold him and talk to him for about 15 minutes or longer if he does not seem to restless.  Put him back in and take him home.  Repeat the process daily even if it means going into another room of the house he is not used to, if you don't have time to go out. Soon he will begin liking you more since you seem to be there when he is vulnerable and he will begin feeling secure around you.
 
Try this to begin with. You can both try this with Danali, but do so individually until he feels more comfortable with both of you. It has been a big change for him and he does not understand how quickly this household changed nor how quickly it will change back.
 
This should help. Omar

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A friend game me a bottle of food for my birds. The name on the bottle says: " BLAIR'S SUPER PREEN VITAMIN SUPPLEMENT FOR WELLNESS OF BIRDS"
I have tried to find it here in Philadelphia, couldn't. Then I went to your website, but couldn't find out how to order or the prices for the bird food. How can I find the prices or order this food? Or is there a place in Philadelphia where I can purchase it? -Maria, Philadelphia, PA

Hello Maria. The Blair's Super Preen is the vitamim supplement we use.  It is a great additive to your bird's food and you can get it directly from us. 
We will have our online store within one month to order all our products, but for now, you can order it from patrick@omarsexoticbirds.com. The small 35 gram bottle sells for $6.99, the 125 gram for $17.99 and the large 250 gram bottle $29.99, plus shipping.  Patrick is in charge of our shipping department.
 
Thank you, Omar