Elaine Rauhut of High Ridge said her two quaker parrots show her a lot of affection.
Trixie, who is 2, is turquoise, and Hugo, who is 7 months old, is green.
“A quaker parrot is just a smaller breed of parrot,” she said. “They are very lovable. You can kiss them, love them. I play peekaboo with Hugo.”
They also speak, Rauhut said.
“They’ll say ‘kitty, kitty,’” she said. “Both of their first words were ‘mama.’ I’m the mama.”
Rauhut said Hugo has made romantic overtures to Trixie, but thus far, she has given him the cold shoulder.
“Hugo will bring Trixie gifts into her nest box,” she said. “She turns around and takes it out. It’s a mating ritual.”
Hugo and Trixie share the Rauhut household with numerous other birds, as well as four cats.
“I’ve had birds my whole life,” Rauhut said. “I have 10 finches, 11 parakeets, two cockatiels, the two quaker parrots and a blue and gold macaw.”
Rauhut said her cats leave the winged pets alone.
“All four cats are scared to death of the birds,” she said.
PET SPOT invites readers to tell a story about their pets or nonprofit animal adoption agencies to write about an adoptable pet and submit it, plus an attached photo, to news@leaderpublications.biz. Please include a phone number and city of residence for submissions from individuals and contact information for organizations.
