[寵物資訊] 醒目鸚鵡變家傭幫主人晾衫吸塵

鸚鵡說話不罕見，但能幫助做家務的鸚鵡相信前所未聞！英國西南部一戶人家養了兩隻愛做家務的乖巧鸚鵡，會和主人一起晾衫吸塵，成為主人的家事好幫手。

居於英國德文郡的希爾（Hill）家裏飼養了兩頭鸚鵡博松（Bosun）和阿奇（Archie）。女主人莎倫（Sharon）稱，這兩頭鸚鵡非常「八卦」，不管家人做任何事情，牠們都很熱心「幫忙」：主人要洗衣服時，鸚鵡們會站在洗衣機門上當監工，又會幫忙抓着洗衣粉匙子。主人晾衣服時牠們又會用喙和爪協助「拉好」衣物。

鸚鵡們又會坐在吸塵機上跟主人一起吸塵，和主人一同外出購物時看守貨物，亦會陪着主人在農地工作，偶爾也會趁機偷吃樹上果子。莎倫說，對鸚鵡來說，主人是牠們的同伴，牠們幫忙其實是希望和同伴打好社交關係。

天性八卦無所事事易抑鬱
鸚鵡是聰明的動物，好奇心旺盛，需要不斷得到精神刺激，否則會出現抑鬱，甚至會用喙亂拔羽毛，自殘身體。

Are these made from pollyester? Potty parrots help owners with their daily chores including hanging out the washing

Household chores are a burden that most of us would happily put off for as long as possible.

But parrots Bosun and Archie have a different attitude and like nothing more than helping out with the cleaning and gardening.

The birds particularly enjoy using their beaks to put clothes on the washing line to dry, according to owners Sharon and Reg Hill from Brixham, Devon.

Helpful: Bosun the parrot hangs out the washing for his owners Sharon and Reg Hill

Sharon, 47, said: 'They are both very nosy and need a lot of mental stimulation.

'When we’re at home they roam freely through the house. They just love to get involved.'

The birds take part in chores ranging from loading the washing machine to vacuuming the floors.

Allow me: Sharon laughs as Bosun helps out yet again

'When I’m doing the washing they perch on the washing machine door as I’m putting the sheets in,' Sharon said. 'They hold the washing powder container.

'They even grab the clothes pegs in their beaks when I’m hanging out the washing.

'And they join in with the vacuuming too - following me around and sitting on the Dyson.

'They’re amazing - very intelligent. It’s like having young children around the house.

Dig this: Archie the parrot helps Sharon with the gardening

Familiar faces: The parrots are regular visitors to the allotment

'But for them we’re just part of their flock - they’re being sociable.'

The parrots even join their owners on shopping trips and help out at the couple's allotment.

'When they come to our allotment with us, they sit on the fence and watch us work,' Sharon said.

'Given half a chance, they will be up in the fruit trees or helping themselves to a few raspberries.'

Sharon helps run Birdline UK Parrot Rescue, a charity which provides safehouses where birds are assessed before going to a permanent foster home.

Friends: Bosun looks on while Sharon load the washing machine

Measured: Bosun holds the washing powder container in his beak

Run entirely by volunteers, the charity takes in about 1,000 birds a year, and Sharon has been so successful in promoting its work that nine parrots are living with her neighbours.

Because parrots can live into their nineties, many outlive their owners.

This means they can become depressed, and there have even been cases of birds being given Prozac to help them overcome their loss.

'They need a lot of stimulation,' Sharon said. 'They can get depressed and start self-mutilating by plucking out all their feathers.

Basket case: Bosun needs to be entertained and follows Sharon everywhere

'African greys, particularly, can end up on Prozac.'

Sharon said some of the parrots seen by the charity arrived in poor condition.

'They can come in bald and self-mutilated from being kept in too small a cage,' she added.

Minding the goods: Bosun looks after Sharon's basket as she goes shopping

'We have one who is partially sighted, one with slightly deformed hips.

'We are seeking new members who are willing to help by becoming safehouses, or possibly permanent foster homes for rescued birds.'

Perched: Bosun sits on Sharon's vacuum cleaner as she tries to clean the floor

She went on: 'We are always in need of homes for these animals.

'As people increasingly find themselves short of money, more birds are being handed in to us.

'More birds are in poor health as owners are unable to afford vets’ bills.

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