It sounds like you are truly in the midst of an *almond crisis of epic proportions*, and your African grey parrot has clearly gone into full drama mode! I can practically hear the intensity of the situation as you try to work around the absence of those beloved Aldi unsalted roasted almonds, only to be met with rejection at every turn. It’s clear that your bird has developed an almost unshakeable loyalty to his favorite treat, and now that theyâre no longer available, heâs pulling out all the stops to express his displeasure. The fact that youâve tried everything from different brands to new nuts and even specialized parrot treatsâand nothing seems to pass his high standardsâreally speaks to how picky these intelligent creatures can be! I can just imagine his face when he threw the rejected almonds back at you, exclaiming his signature âNo good!â with all the authority of a seasoned critic. But then things took a hilarious and unexpected turn when you had your “brainstorm” moment, deciding to roast some unsalted almonds yourself. Thatâs when all hell broke loose. The oven went from zero to disaster in no time, and you heard his indignant outburst of âWhat the f@&k stinks?!â followed by an accusation of the dogs making a mess. Honestly, your parrotâs reaction is straight out of a comedy show, and I canât help but laugh along with you at his outrage, especially since you know full well that the dogs had nothing to do with it! His insistence that one of them went âkakaâ mustâve been both hilarious and a little exasperating. Itâs pretty clear that this little bird of yours is now on a full-fledged mission to make life difficult, and itâs no surprise that heâs holding a grudgeâthese birds have long memories and a sharp sense of injustice when it comes to their treats. But here you are, trying to play peacekeeper with a bird who is not having it.
After waiting for the almonds to cool and trying to offer him the âcrackersâ (as he calls them), you were met with complete indifference. He wouldnât even try the almonds, let alone show any sign of appreciation. Itâs truly frustrating, and it sounds like your parrot is absolutely pissed off at you right now. Birds can be incredibly sensitive to changes in their routine, and this almond switch has clearly upset him to the point where he might be holding a personal vendetta against you. As you said, having a bird thatâs pissed off is no walk in the parkâespecially when they can make life absolutely unbearable with constant complaining and a refusal to cooperate. I can only imagine how youâre feeling, trying to appease your very vocal and very stubborn feathered friend. Parrots like your African Grey are known for their intelligence and their complex personalities, so when they get upset, they really let you know. They might even withhold affection or completely refuse to interact until they feel things have returned to their normal, almond-filled routine. So, what can you do to restore peace in your home and win back your parrotâs approval? First off, **donât panic**âparrots are clever and can be trained to accept new treats, but it might take time. It sounds like your bird has a very particular taste, so it might help to introduce new almonds slowly or try adjusting the roasting process to better match the flavor and texture heâs used to. Gradually mixing in the new roasted almonds with some of the old ones might also help him adjust. Alternatively, you could try getting creative with the presentation of the almondsâperhaps hiding them in a puzzle toy or pairing them with something he already loves to entice him to try them. But patience is key here, as your parrot might need a little more time to calm down before heâs willing to accept any alternative to his cherished Aldi almonds. In the meantime, *stay strong and patient*. I know itâs tough when your parrot is giving you the cold shoulder (and using his full vocabulary of profanities in the process), but the good news is, with a little bit of time, some positive reinforcement, and perhaps a bit of trial and error, youâll find a way to win him over again. And when this almond crisis eventually ends, youâll have a funny and unforgettable story to tell about how your parrot nearly brought down the house over a snack. Keep your sense of humor handyâitâs going to be a wild ride, but Iâm confident youâll both get through this and back to your almond-filled peace!