Mom & Me Critter Care, LLC

04/29/2026

The not-so-pretty truth about owning birds 🦜

Birds are incredible—smart, funny, affectionate, and deeply rewarding companions. But there’s a side of bird ownership that doesn’t get talked about enough.

Hormones.

At certain times, birds can go through hormonal phases that completely change their behavior. Even the sweetest, most well-behaved bird can suddenly become extremely loud, territorial, aggressive, or bite without warning. And yes—sometimes it truly feels like it happens for no clear reason at all.

This isn’t “bad behavior.” It’s natural, instinct-driven, and often unavoidable.

It can be frustrating, overwhelming, and honestly one of the hardest parts of living with birds.

If you’re considering adding a bird to your family, please do your research first. Understand that these phases are normal and part of the commitment. Birds are not easy pets—but for those prepared, they can still be incredibly worth it.

04/29/2026

This is a great idea & important esp for those that live alone.

04/29/2026

When it comes to cage cleanings:

04/23/2026

🚨 Let’s talk about the biggest mistake I see in parrot homes…

And no… it’s not diet.
Not toys.
Not even cage size.

It’s this.

People expect parrots to act like pets… and that’s where everything goes sideways.

I see this DAILY here.

Some days it’s half the flock acting like tiny chaos gremlins… other days they’re quiet and perfect angels lol.

After all… they’re basically toddlers with can openers on their faces in technicolor.

Here’s the difference 😬

If a toddler screams all day and destroys your house, you correct it.

With parrots?
A lot of the time it’s not something you “fix”… it’s something you should’ve prevented.

Honestly, half of parrot ownership is prevention.
Preventing illness with a clean, safe, toxin-free environment.
Good food. Good husbandry. Keeping things clean.
Preventing boredom with enrichment, toys, real out-of-cage time… and flying for those who can.

Because trying to fix problems after they start? Way harder.

That’s where the biting starts.
That’s where the screaming starts.
That’s where the “he used to be sweet” comes from.

They’re not being bad.
They’re being parrots.
They have boundaries.
They get overstimulated.
And they don’t just automatically like us because we feed them.

Once that clicks… everything changes.

Be honest… what’s one thing your bird does that you did NOT expect at all? 😂

04/23/2026

Let’s talk about dander.

This is one of those things people don’t think about enough until it becomes a problem.

Cockatoos and African greys are the biggest offenders. They produce what’s called powder down, which is that fine dust you see on feathers, cages, and honestly your entire house. It stays in the air and it’s hard on lungs. If you have asthma, COPD, or any kind of respiratory sensitivity, these species can be a real issue.

Cockatiels fall into this as well. They are the smallest members of the cockatoo family, so they produce the same type of powder down. The only reason I separate them out is because people underestimate them due to size, but their dander can absolutely be a problem. I can’t tolerate cockatoo dander myself, and even cockatiel dust will trigger me.

Amazons get overlooked in this conversation, but they are still on the dustier side compared to a lot of other parrots. They don’t rely on oil from the preening gland the same way most parrots do, so their feather maintenance still contributes to more airborne particles than people expect.

Most parrots have a preening gland near the base of the tail. They use that oil to condition their feathers and help with waterproofing and overall feather health. Species that rely more on powder down instead of oil are the ones that create the most dust.

In general, old world parrots like cockatoos, greys, and cockatiels tend to be much dustier than new world parrots. New world species like macaws, conures, pionus, and many amazons typically produce less powder down. That comes down to where they evolved and how their feathers function in those environments.

This doesn’t just affect us, it affects other birds too. High-dander species shouldn’t be housed with birds that aren’t built to handle that level of dust. Macaws and even some amazons can struggle long term being in a constant cloud of powder down. Their respiratory systems aren’t made for it.

If you have allergies or any kind of lung issue, you really need to think about species choice before bringing a bird home. And if you already have birds, a good air purifier and regular bathing are not optional. It helps them and it helps you.

Dander isn’t just a little mess to clean up. It’s a real part of parrot care that can impact health on both sides if it’s ignored.

My personal favorite:)
https://amzn.to/41M6sjG

04/20/2026

Due to unfortunate health problems that landed me in the hospital twice last week and now ill be having surgery this Wednesday we had to miss the bird and reptile show we were supposed to have a table at last saturday and now I am missing volunteer appreciation week at the zoo. Hopefully things will get better soon and I’ll get back to posting.

04/18/2026