Spike's Flying Home Parrot Sanctuary

10/19/2025

Not all who teach us about love are human…💛

10/12/2025

Mom's sitting!!! Attack!!! Im so proud of this bunch! Patience and time goes along ways with these guys! Albert and Foxy are bonded. They've been in the Sanctuary for 2018. They have cone along ways with wanting humans!

10/12/2025

Neko is our very very needy Sun Conure. She loves to be with me as Im cleaning! Manny is our senior cocktail who after we lost Spike, another tiel, Manny took to Neko. We do not suggest putting different species with others but sometimes they choose!

10/12/2025

Signs of Sick Bird….

10/09/2025

🦜✨ Clean Bowls = Healthy Birds! ✨

One of the most important (but often overlooked) parts of parrot care is properly cleaning and sanitizing food and water bowls every single day.

Parrots drop food, dunk pellets, and even rinse toys in their bowls — which means bacteria can grow fast if dishes aren’t cleaned properly. 🧫😷

👉 Here’s why it matters:
• Dirty bowls can cause bacterial and fungal infections.
• Old food and standing water attract insects and mold.
• Even “just rinsing” isn’t enough — soap and hot water (or a bird-safe disinfectant) are essential.
• Always rinse thoroughly to make sure no soap residue remains before refilling.
• If you use stainless steel bowls (our favorite choice), they’re easiest to sanitize and don’t hold bacteria like plastic can.

💧 Pro Tip: Keep an extra set of bowls on hand so you can rotate them — one set in use, one in the wash.

Keeping things clean isn’t just about looks — it’s about your bird’s health and lifespan. A few extra minutes a day can make a world of difference for your feathered family. 🩵🪶

09/23/2025

Amazon parrots housed singly spent over ¼ of their active time (28%) preening in one study. Birds housed in pairs in the same study only spent 19% of their active time preening.

1. Meehan CL, Garner JP, Mench JA. Isosexual pair housing improves the welfare of young Amazon parrots. Appl Anim Behav Sci. 2003;81:73-88

09/15/2025

The joys of having 2 quakers! Bo just wants some cuddle time, Pluto being jealous and controlling lol

08/08/2025

If you have birds in your home, please read!

The number of pet birds lost outdoors has dramatically increased, so we wanted to put together a blog post to raise awareness and hopefully prevent further losses.

When sharing our homes with pet birds, we must make an honest assessment of our birds' environment. We need to eliminate and reduce risks yet still meet the need for exercise and stimulation without compromising safety, security, and well-being.

This blog will highlight safety measures like barriers, microchips, harnesses, and carriers, the pros and cons of wing-clipping versus flighted birds, and how important it is to supervise your pet bird. We will also share how we help found birds here at the Exotic Bird Hospital and provide resources for additional info should your bird ever get loose outdoors.

https://exoticbirdhospitalblog.wordpress.com/2025/08/05/ways-to-keep-pet-birds-secure-indoors-and-tips-to-prevent-escape-outdoors/

07/22/2025

Hey MFR and Spike's Flying Home Parrot Sanctuary Family & Friends! 🐾

We’re gearing up for next year and need your help to make it amazing!

In the past, our Annual Open House + Garage Sale has been a fun way to support The Flying Home Parrot Sanctuary — but this year, we’re thinking of switching things up a bit.

Here's what we're dreaming up:
💡 TWO separate events, each with its own special vibe:

🏡 Event #1: MFR Open House Weekend
A chill and welcoming time to:
✔️ Tour the space
✔️ Meet our team
✔️ Connect with other pet lovers
✔️ Soak in the MFR experience
Maybe just a few hours on one or two days—casual and low-key.

🎉 Event #2: A NEW Fundraiser for the Sanctuary!
This one’s going to be something special — and we want YOUR input!

We're imagining a relaxed, dog-friendly gathering for MFR clients, friends, and their pups. Think:

🌭 Tasty food
🍹 Delicious drinks
🐶 Dog games & play zones
🎁 Raffles or prizes
🦜 A cause that matters
💬 Socializing with fellow pet lovers

All proceeds go to The Flying Home Parrot Sanctuary, and we want this to become an annual tradition!

💬 Here’s where YOU come in:
We want your thoughts on making this event unforgettable!

Food: Food truck? Caterer? BBQ?

Drinks: Hire a bartender? DIY drink station?

Activities: Raffle prizes? Contests? Dog games?

Timing: Would you prefer a daytime or evening event?

Tickets: What’s a fair price for a ticket that includes food, drinks, and a donation to the Sanctuary?

🎟️ Tickets would be pre-paid and include everything above — and most importantly, support a great cause.

Let us know your thoughts!
What would make this a "must-attend" event for you and your furry friend?

Help us make it unforgettable — and please feel free to share this with friends and family who love animals and good times.

With love & feathers,
🐾 The MFR Team
🦜 Supporting The Flying Home Parrot Sanctuary

Send a message to learn more

07/21/2025

Sad truth! Every species requires alot of work. Before getting a bird, research! Itll save you and the bird alot of heartache, pain, and trouble!

ADOPTION SUCCESS, AND A WORD.

This boy has NO CONCEPT of how lucky he is.
Easily one in a thousand.

His adopter has been licensed to care for for birds like him for 30 years - as long as she's been learning and rehabilitating large parrots.

Unlike the MAJORITY of his captive cousins, this boy's human genuinely understands him AND the forever-work.

No chance of rejection because:

▪︎Human acquired Bird without learning the realities of management.
▪︎He behaves like a normal cockatoo removed from his natural environment.
▪︎Human's life choices just "got in the way" in a few years down the track.

Unlike the MAJORITY, his needs will be properly met.
He can ACTUALLY thrive, instead of just existing.

THE TEAM WAS SO RELIEVED

Y'all don't even understand.

Advertise a black cockatoo?
HOARDS descend from nowhere.
All DESPERATE to own that bird.
Impulsive excitement or ego, we guess?
Must be.
Because, two questions in, it's damn clear that Bird's real-life Best Interests were never on the radar.

CONSIDERING A COCKATOO?
THE BRUTAL TRUTH-BOMB:

Sure, they're impressive.
But so are PLENTY of different animals who require:

▪︎Full-time attention
▪︎Full-time highly-skilled physical and psychological management.
▪︎Zoo-grade care and expense.
▪︎FOR 80 YEARS WITHOUT A BREAK EVER.

just so they don't die young and miserable.

WHY bring one home?
Consider VERY carefully.

PEOPLE WHO CONTACT US ABOUT LARGE PARROTS:

95% of y'all aren't equipped.
Most don't even know what you don't know.
And when offered education?
Mostly "Nah", don't wanna

▪︎Take actual responsibility
▪︎Ease in
▪︎Learn the realities
▪︎Build skills
▪︎DO the work
▪︎Spend the kind of money required to HELP Bird, instead of just containing them in your house for *reasons*.

Tiktok makes parrot care look straightforward!
No investment, work, or skills required!
So we get the misconceptions but...

WHEN WE TELL THE TRUTH?

We, who actually DO the care and rehab?
Get this.

50% of y'all flat-out refuse to believe it.

We're liars, gatekeepers, being deliberately difficult.

**Pffft, as IF we wouldn't JUMP at the chance to rehome a Bird right.
We always have a wait list, and more slip through the cracks every day**

SO COME AT US ALL YA LIKE FOR THIS

It doesn't change the truth.

It doesn't get Birds looked after.

We aren't even rude.

We just don't tell lies so some Human can feel good about trying to acquire an animal they aren't prepared or equipped to care for.

Apparently that's controversial.

But guess who suffers for lies like that?

None of it's ok.

07/16/2025

At our sanctuary, we give small to medium-sized birds a loving, permanent home. These incredible creatures have faced trauma, neglect, and so much more. They deserve safety and compassion for the rest of their lives.

We’re currently struggling with vet bills and need your help to catch up. Every donation, no matter how small, directly supports their medical care, food, and daily needs.

Please like, comment, and share this post to spread the word and help us reach more people who might want to support our cause. Together, we can ensure these beautiful birds live the peaceful lives they truly deserve. Thank you for being a part of this journey!

Help Us Care for Birds in Need At our sanctuary, we provide a lovi… Bobbie Jo Lakso needs your support for Spike's Flying Home Parrot Sanctuary fundraiser

07/15/2025