Coco Calling No.324 - My Personal ‘Human Domestic’

I’m now 26 years old. It’s taken me a long time, but I can look back on my life and feel proud of the way I’ve trained my human owner to take care of me. In fact, you could say that he’s now my ‘human domestic.’ And here’s why…

My first ‘doings’ of the day is always enormous, so I never want to do it in my cage. I’ve therefore trained my owner to place me on the tap over the sink, and I can go there. Yes, that’s become our routine first thing every morning.

And then we have the question of water throughout the day. A regular supply of fresh water is very important to parrots. So, if for any reason he needs to run water from a tap, I’ve trained him to hold his arm out next to the flow so that I can perch on it and take a good drink. (It tastes so much better than the water from my bowl).

Then, if I commit any ‘indiscretions’ around the house, I’ve trained him to bend down and immediately clean them up. When I want to take a bath, I make a unique call, so he knows to get my favourite jug out of the cupboard, fill it to the brim with water, and place it on the draining board. Or, if I lower my head so that my beak touches the ground, he knows that I’m ready to receive a tickle. Plus, once a week, I’ve trained him to thoroughly clean my cage out, -a process which involves perch scrubbing and bar cleaning. And perhaps, most importantly of all, he shows me love. Yes, humans are sometimes more intelligent than we give them credit for. And we have a set-up which works well on both sides; I enable my owner to be a better person than he would otherwise be and help to prevent him from running wild in the streets. Meanwhile, he encourages me to count my blessings, - to be grateful for what I have in life. And I reckon that’s a pretty good thing all round. Maybe all humans should be given parrots to look after……

“You are rich if you have enough to meet your most basic needs. You are rich if you have access to clean water, food, shelter, love, a roof over your head. You have to count your blessings to see that you are richer than you think.”

(Michelle Singletary: [1963-present]: Current American journalist and author).

“When it comes to life the critical thing is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude.”

(G.K. Chesterton: [1874-1936]: English Christian writer).

“The grateful heart sees blessings everywhere.”                                          (Ellizabeth Elliot: [1926-2015]: American Christian missionary and author).

“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation...… I can do anything through him who gives me strength.” 

(Philippians 4: 12-13)