Thought I would add my .03 (taxes:  I'm from NY) regarding the combo of
parrots and ferrets.
 
One lovely day, having just returned from the airport, I followed my
usual routine when I got home:  let out the dogs, let out the bird
(I have an african Timneh Grey named Smoky) and then the two ferrets.
The dogs always tolerated Smoky just fine, and Smoky and the ferrets
seemed (they'd been living together for about 6 months) to have reached
some accord as to who was boss (Smoky).  But the plot thickens...
 
I jumped on the phone, and was in the same room as everyone, when suddenly
I heard a horrible screeching from my bird.  I threw the phone (my poor
pal on the other line hearing me screech after the bird and no idea what
the heck was going on) and went running over to see what the he** was
happaning.  Sure enough, my worst nightmare.  There was Smoky flat on
the floor, his neck between the jaws of my youngest ferret!  I yelled
at the ferret to let go (fat chance), then ended up PRYING his jaws open
so Smoky could escape.
 
The story has a happy ending (phew).  The bird was virtually unscathed
save for a scratch on his nose, but he is still as arrogant as always,
and continues to walk down his cage and across the floor.
 
I have to agree with someone else's theory, that the ferret thought my
bird was a toy which can be the only reason it didn't sink its teeth
into Smoky's neck.  At any rate, my ferret Santino absolutely does
not come anywhere near Smoky unless he's on a leash and in eyeshot.
As for caging Smoky when Santino is in the room, it ain't worth the
racket you have to listen to as he bangs his cage door--might as
well give him a tin cup to run back and forth across the bars :)
 
Is it a pain having to supervise everyone so closely?  Yup.  But *do* plan
to, especially if you're going to have a bird and a ferret in the same
house!
[Posted in FML issue 1077]