Milnsbridge parrot Charlie turns his beak on smoking

HUNGRY parrot Charlie likes to join in with his owners at dinner time.

The seven-year-old African grey takes chips and peas from Julie and Steven Roberts as they eat dinner in their Milnsbridge home.

Julie, 46, said: "It’s a bit strange, parrots aren’t supposed to eat things like that."

Charlie has been dining with the Roberts since they got him from their friend Cheryl Gough of Paddock five years ago.

Julie said: "He jumps on to the settee and then climbs down and nicks a chip or a pea. When he gets a pea he holds it with his feet and peels it with his beak. He also likes chilli peppers, garlic, mashed potatoes and Yorkshire pudding and he sips Coke from a glass."

Julie, who lives on Tintern Avenue, also gives Charlie parrot food including nuts, pulses and beans.

But there is some food that he doesn’t like. Julie said: "He likes raw spaghetti but he won’t eat it when it’s been cooked. He doesn’t like roasties either. Charlie will try anything and if he doesn’t like it he’ll spit it out."

Charlie is not keen on Steven’s cigarettes either. Julie said: "When he chews up a cigarette he spits it out."

Charlie likes to talk about food. Julie said: "He’s a bit cheeky, sometimes he says ‘give me a chip’."

And Charlie sometimes talks to the ‘other bird’ in the house. Julie said: "He likes to go upstairs and sit in the shower and talk to his ‘friend’ in the mirror."

Charlie also has some unusual habits. Julie said: "He likes to try to sit on a golf ball and he also has a thing about black shoes. If anyone comes into the house wearing black shoes, he’ll peck at them.