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. 

I'm such a happy, freckle-beak boy! 

     This week in the life of Bean:

     This first week has been full of plenty of new experiences! A new home, new family, new toys, and new foods! We have discovered that Cocoa Bean loves marshmallows and cheese, but he isn't wild about carrots. (Of course, why would we like the foods that are good for us?) However, as much as he loves all the treats, he still munches on his pellet throughout the day.
     Cocoa has been stepping up for me, and now scrambles up my arm to perch on my shoulder whenever I am with him. Then, he will climb down my shirt to inspect everything I touch, hoping that it might be food for him. He has let my family all step him up onto their hands as well, and he seems accepting of anyone - friend or stranger. 
     He visited the vet's office for nail and wing trims and he was such a good boy! I think he may even learn to like driving in the car, even though this time we were a little preoccupied with being in our brand-new travel carrier for the first time. (But we survived that too!)
     Cocoa Bean loves anything shiny - especially jewelry! He is not afraid to pick up silverware and inspect it all over, and, in his mind, soda cans could be the perfect toy if mom would just let him have them. (But mom won't allow this, as caffeine is toxic to birds!) Cell phones are mysterious, semi-shiny objects that take our picture. Bean just wants to chew on them, so beware!
     And finally, Cocoa Bean has found his voice! Previously, he only spoke to my mom's sparkly rings - probably out of excitement and the desire to play with them. This week, Cocoa has begun calling for me when I leave the room, and also speaking softly around bedtime! He says his name, and "Pretty bird," "Good boy," and "Hi!"
     I am learning that Cocoa Bean is incredibly curious and clever, and he has such a sweet personality that is impossible to fall in love with! Bring on next week's adventures!

     Sincerely,
     A Very Happy Bird Mama

 P.S.: I believe that Cocoa is, indeed molting, and the constant preening is just a hint of vanity (lol). However, I have been told that the beak wiping is normal for mustache parakeets and nothing to worry about. 

     The Bean is home at last! Two days ago, my mom and boyfriend helped me transfer all of Cocoa Bean's belongings to my home, where we did our best to help him settle in as comfortably as possible.
     However, we never expected Cocoa Bean to take the transition so well. Throughout it all, he was as calm as could be! It seems this bird is quite willing to just go with the flow, and I am incredibly grateful for the luck that brought us together!

    
     Over the past two days, I have been keeping a close eye on Cocoa Bean's habits. At the moment, his favorite treats (besides his daily pellet) are grapes and apples. If he's being a really, really good bird - such as sitting on his basket at the lunch table - he might get to nibble on a noodle or even a chip! Cocoa definitely is being a little spoiled with attention and treats these first few days, but I can't help doing anything to make him happy in his new home!

     I have also noticed that Cocoa seems to preen quite often. I honestly am not sure if this is a characteristic of his species, or if it is just his individual personality, or if it is due to the time of year (ie: molting season).
     Additionally, Cocoa Bean likes to rub his beak on everything and anything he can! At first I thought he might just be trying to keep his beak clean, and that maybe he was just a little bit of a clean freak. But it might also be a display of possession, comparable to "marking his territory."

     Any insight would be much appreciated!

     xoxo,
     Alyssa & Cocoa Bean

     Happy third birthday, Cocoa Bean!

     In preparation for welcoming Cocoa Bean to his new home, and in the hopes of making the transition easy as possible, I have been stocking up on bird toys. I have heard from countless sources that mustache parakeets are avid chewers, so the hope is to provide Cocoa with enough exciting toys to busy his beak, and keep it from ever needing to "inspect" my furniture.
     I have had my eye on the adorable little birdy piñata at my local bird store. It looks just like a miniature version of what you might see at a kid's birthday party, and it can be filled with your bird's favorite treats, such as dried fruit pieces or bird-safe nuts. 
     But bird 'parents' need not buy all their bird's toys. It is important that birds practice their foraging instincts. Owners can encourage birds to exercise this instinct by hiding treats in common household things such as toilet paper rolls, Dixie cups, or coffee filters. 

      Here's hoping Cocoa likes his little piñata when we celebrate his belated birthday in about a month!

     This is Cocoa Bean, the mustache parakeet. The Latin name for this species is Psittacula alexandri alexandri. Other common names for the mustache parakeet include "moustache parakeet," "red-breasted parakeet," and "Java parakeet." The Psittacula alexandri are asiatic parakeets, such as the Indian ringneck parakeet and the Alexandrine parakeet. As I mentioned, there isn't a lot of information on the mustache parakeets available online, so I will try to summarize a lot of what I have learned so far about this species here - beginning with the physical appearance. 
     The black marking between Cocoa Bean's eyes is his "mustache." You would think that this would be the most distinguishing feature of the species, but it seems that most people point to the bright pink chest as the signifier of a mustache parakeet.
     Of all the subspecies of the Psittacula alexandri, a few are dimorphic. In other words, the males and females can be distinguished based on a difference in appearance. (Note: for most parrot species, it is nearly impossible to determine the gender without a blood test.) A male mustache parakeet will develop a bright orange beak, while the female will retain the black beak that all mustache parakeets have before they mature.
     Other than the gray-blue head and black collar, the mustache parakeet has bright green feathers. The tail is long and thin - I've even heard it jokingly called a "rat tail." Mustache parakeets are a medium-sized bird, and definitely larger than what most people envision a parakeet to be.

     On a separate note, if you have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave them in a comment below. Of course, I am not a mustache parakeet expert, or really a bird expert at all by any means, so anything more than simple questions should be directed to an avian veterinarian. Please refrain from any negativity or crude language. Thank you so much!