It is hard work to run a small business- you have to be head of marketing, chief financial officer, CEO, designer, shipper, and accountant all rolled into one! Bags of a Feather is no exception-it is truly a one-woman show. Well, it is a one-woman and four-bird show.

Although I have no human assistants, I have 4 parrots ranging in size from very small to very large. They have their own space downstairs, and I can hear them from all over the house. If I am working at home all day, I usually do some work on the computer for a while and then go uncover them and wake them up anywhere from 9 Am to 10:30 AM. They are definitely NOT early risers. I will often do a workout shortly after getting them up and fed and watered,.

Moe Green the moustached parakeet is the Workout Trainer and Assistant. His contribution is to imitate my huffing and puffing when lifting weights, which makes me laugh. He imitates my laugh perfectly, so it kind of turns into a laugh session instead of a workout.

Moe Green- Workout Trainer

Bambu the Senegal Parrot is the Chief Carrot Shredder (and Trouble- Maker). He will fly around wildly, attempt to land on top of the macaw, and scream with wild abandon. He absolutely loves carrots, and spends the first part of his morning shredding a piece of raw carrot into tiny little pieces. I find carrot shreds on the bottoms of my shoes, in the bathtub, and other strange places in the house. If i ask him for a “smacky kiss” he knows exactly what I mean and responds with a big kissy noise. He can also turn up the cuteness factor and likes to demonstrate the exact spot that needs a head scritch- NOW:

Bambu- Chief Carrot Shredder

BeeGee the Blue & Gold Macaw is the Head Nutshell Flinger and Toothpick Maker of the household. She has the “Nut-bucket” on top of her large stainless steel cage, and heads up there first thing for a few walnuts, almonds or Brazil nuts. The preferred nut for flinging purposes is the walnut, which can roll great distances and hide under furniture. I do NOT walk around barefoot in the bird area! She will chew some wooden toys and make some toothpicks when she feels like it, but surprisingly, a big toy lasts her a very long time:

BeeGee and toy that Dad made

The final staff member is Boomer the blue and white lacewing budgie, who is the official Outdoor Bird Sentry. She will squawk when the wild birds feed outside in the winter, just in case nobody else is paying attention. She is very shy when it comes to the camera, and declined to sit still to have her picture taken. She is quite vocal about the flocks of wild turkeys that come to feed on the ground under the bird feeder outside. Bambu has a special alarm call he uses only for the turkeys and he thinks of them as “turkey monsters”:

Wild Turkeys

The parrot flock keeps me entertained and are wonderful to have around. The “payroll” consists of a few apple slices or some nuts, they never complain about the hours or working condition, they nap every afternoon, and are the perfect “employees” for Bags of a Feather!