Hints From Heloise

Dear Heloise: I am thinking about buying a bird for my son. The cute parakeets I see in pet stores seem so nervous when I approach them. What type of bird won’t be so skittish around people? Cyndi Donnelly, Las Vegas, Nev.

Your best bet is to buy directly from a bird breeder. Parakeets make wonderful pets.

The American Veterinary Medical Association says that young birds raised and hand trained in private homes are usually friendlier toward people. Birds found in pet stores may have been shipped cross-country, and living in a cage in that environment can be upsetting.

Avian veterinarians can probably put you in touch with bird breeders in your area, or you can ask for recommendations from friends and relatives who have birds. - Heloise

Dear Heloise: The perfect answer to keep your pouf valances puffy: I fill them with the plastic peanuts that come as a filler in packages. The packing peanuts never flatten out and work like a charm. - Irene Wolfel, Saint Marys, Pa.