Severe Adoption

[xafsmom]

I wouldn't trade Zoe for the world. She's my soulbird-mate. Even if Kevin from Dutch Hill beat her horrendously whilst she grew up. /nods sagely

[Dawnsfall]

Our severe is a little crazy, can go from happy to cranky and back to happy in 30 seconds flat, and sometimes gets that devilish gleam in his eye that lets us know that he wants to have fun tormenting someone, but he also loves to be snuggled, played with and talked to. He is bonded with me but enjoys every member of our family. When Cody first came to live with us, he wanted nothing more than for my husband to pack his bags and get out. My husband is home in the day so he and Cody get a lot of alone time. It took a lot of patience and band aids on my husbands part, but now Cody will step up for him and play with him even when I am home. During the day when I am gone they hang out together all day.

We make sure that Cody spends time with everybody in the family even when he is the mood for just one person. My kids (teenage girls) treat him almost like a little green baby brother. They watch baby shows with him and "babysit" him so that he doesn't have to go in his cage when the hubby and I are gone. His perch and food bowl are right next to the dining room table so he eats at the same time we do and likes to participate in family discussions.

Cody has bit everyone of us hard enough to draw blood, but most of his tantrums stop short of biting or at least biting hard enough to really hurt. He knows the word "no" and knows how to use it, which can get a little old. He does have a sense of humor though and loves to play and laugh.

Cody is the only bird we have ever had and the only severe that we have ever known. None of us would trade him for the world even when he is "Demonbird". As I write this he is cuddled up on my chest like a little green package of love.

My only suggestion is that if you are not able to stay firm when a bird is really chomping on you, then perhaps a severe might not be the best option. It seems like once Cody understood that he couldn't get his own way by biting he became much easier to deal with.

[Tom Lawless]

When I hear general descriptions of the traits of these birds I often hear of Severes as being challenging and often one person. With that in mind I have only heard good things about Red Fronts. If I didn't already have three I would be tempted to get one myself. That having been said, I have a Blue Front Amazon. Blue Front's are classified in the "Hot Three" of the different Amazons and yet the one I have is very sweet, quiet, and docile. Some have described her as the unAmazon. I say that because you may look at a Severe that is none of those things that Severes are known to be and end up with a great companion. Good luck.

BTW, I'd get a Grey.

[bozack]

Dawn/Tom,

Thanks some really good feedback there. Yeah, we plan to put osme work into it to make sure it isn't a one person burd but then again rescue said it wasn't already and wasn't cage bound at all so hopefully we keep working on it so it doesn't change. Seems like it always depends on the actual bird and how much people work with things.

I have some friends that have grey's that are mean as heck and some that aren't. We figured a grey was too smart for our household. It would pick up way to much stuff we wouldn't want it too, lol

[Tom Lawless]

She sounds great, certainly worth looking into. Keep us posted on what you decide.

[MaryG1959]

My severe was tough at first. I remember standing with my arm draped over the top of his cage---eventually he climbed up on my arm. Several years later, I can literally do anything to that bird. He's arthritic and has kidney issues. I put him in his carrier at night to sleep so he doesn't fall. I can pick him up by putting my fingers around his back and under his wings.

I adore him but have often described his personality as a "grouchy old man".....

I wouldn't trade him for the world.