As I prepare for graduate school, I have had to find a place to live. Surprisingly enough, not every apartment and rental unit allows birds on their properties! In fact, a number only allowed cats and dogs, while others specifically allowed only cats or dogs. Some places distinguish by size and weight limits (such as under 30 pounds).
     The lesson learned was to always ask if a caged bird is allowed! Generally, a member of general public who is not very familiar with birds would be likely to think "macaw" and "loud" and "big and scary" if they were told a person has a parrot. It is important to explain exactly what type of bird you have. It may be helpful to also have a picture of your bird (preferably looking sweet and innocent), and even documents from your veterinarian verifying that your bird is healthy. For places that have pet weight restrictions, a bird that weighs under a pound may not even qualify for the pet rental deposit. On the other hand, if your bird is not usually in its cage during the day, you may still have to pay a fee for possible damages.
     Furthermore, it is not recommended to try to sneak your bird into an apartment without telling your landlord because you will need to know if and when they will be spraying for pests, as the chemicals can be life-threatening to your birdy! Request advance notice of any such procedures so that you may make sure your bird is out of harm's way.

     Reunited with my mustache!

    After a weekend trip away from home, I return to find that Cocoa Bean has learned to say "Come here!" to anyone who is nearby. I'm not sure if this means he missed me, or if he has just discovered what will get him the most attention. Either way, Cocoa definitely has a streak of sass in him - as many other mustache parakeet owners have mentioned is characteristic of this species.