A while back the subject of parrots being like ferrets came up on the FML. I am looking for parrot lover to care for a parrot for about 6 - 8 months. I hesitate even to ask this, but don't know what else to do. My parents' farm in St. James, MO was destroyed by a tornado last week. Most of their animals survived, but now comes the long term job of clean up and rebuilding. Their other animals were outside pets (dogs, pig, emu, cattle, various barnyard fowl), but the parrot has been having a rough time of it. Mom and Dad have temporarily moved an old RV onto the farm to live in. The parrot's cage takes up a huge percentage of their minimal living space. Plus, she is used to being outside her cage and just using it for eating and sleeping. Now she never gets a chance come out. They are very worried about what to do. I cannot take her. I am allergic and do not have the space or time she requires. Also, my ferrets have free run of the house much of the time and I'm not quite sure how well they'd get along. We're looking for someone who doesn't live too far away since we would have to drive (St. James is about 80 miles from St. Louis). Anyone interested must be an experienced parrot parent (but with no young children) and just wishing for a parrot to spend a few months with them. Maybe someone who once had a parrot and is missing him or her. Parrots are like ferrets in that it takes special knowledge to care for them and special understanding to live with them. Jo has a strong personality. She likes some people, but will ignore the rest. She chews on woodwork, poops on things, might nip at your hands when you try to change her food/water dishes. She thinks she's queen of the flock and we are all just her subjects. She can be a real bx#*. On the other hand, she might fly to your shoulder and preen your hair (don't wear earrings or she'll try to pull them out). She sings (Happy Bird-day) and talks when she's in the mood, which is usually when you don't want her to. We thought she was a boy for years until she layed an egg. I'm telling the bad along with the good because I want you to know what you'd be getting into. She's lived with my folks for about ten years (that's not old for a parrot). She will be so confused to leave them, even temporarily, but we just don't know what else to do. They would want her back as soon as their new home is built. I know this is only marginally ferret-related, but I also know there are many animal lovers reading this list. Please email me personally if you are interested. I spend most of my free time picking up tornado-rubble, and don't have time to read the FML as regularly as I would like. Thank you so much. Jodie [Posted in FML issue 2706]