
While Facebook has its myriad charms and useful attributes, there are a few negative aspects. One of them is people. I’ve been known to say I’ve always wanted to be a flight attendant for Fed Ex. I have been in the throes of a small sniping battle with an individual for months. I had no idea how bad it got until yesterday when lo and behold, they popped up again. After a long, protracted “discussion,” they called a halt to the attack and the dust settled. I hope it stays that way.
I titled this piece “Debbie Downer.” You know who Debbie Downer is, right? You’ll find it right here at HULU: Debbie Downer
I’m normally not a negative person. I like my life and other than a few nagging little issues now and again which I believe to be normal in anyone’s life, I’ve got it pretty good. But I get somewhat irritated when someone messes with my work, my ideas and my efforts, all of which I like to think are positive.
This blog is one of the things I am happy about and the Chop Concept is another. I think it’s something I’ve been able to contribute to the world of aviculture that has made a difference in the lives of parrots and in the lives of their families.

I like to think I’ve helped make the diet of parrots better and the lives of the families easier. So where’s the downside to that?
Well, just ask “Debbie Downer.” She will tell you that Chop is evil and must be destroyed. Chop is killing parrots. Chop is devoid of protein and is going to hurt the birds in such a way that will negatively impact their health. “Debbie” would probably like to see me gassed. The interesting part of the “discussion,” for lack of a better term, is that I don’t think “Debbie” has any idea what Chop is.
This is from a person who came to me about a year ago and told me she couldn’t get her birds to “eat anything.” When I asked her in the “discussion” if her birds were eating yet, she replied, “Of course! Twice a day!”

Unfortunately, she apparently wasn’t telling the truth about that because I was emailed this quote from a FaceBook group about her bird’s eating habits. She said, and I quote: “My birds won’t eat greens, even when they are smaller than minced.. if they get in their mouths, they try to spit the bits out. Very frustrating.” This was dated August 4th at 8:57 a.m. That was 8 days ago. So much for integrity…
So this pontificating and getting after Chop every single time anyone puts up a link to a Chop video is wearing me down. “Debbie” even made a call to some really important people and told them “Chop is evil,” and that I must be prevented from promoting it. Nothing like some nice, positive news early in the afternoon. It’s sad really.

And it’s beginning to chap my rear end. It’s like having a chihuahua nipping at my heels every time I turn around.
Now here is the worst part: “Debbie” is dragging a very fine chat group down with her by misrepresenting their efforts and what they are all about. How do I know? I know because in the middle of this FB discussion, which wasn’t even on my own wall, the Moderator of the group that was being represented came on to try and smooth some feathers. We really aren’t even remotely far apart on our philosophies about feeding and she made it clear that she had no issue with Chop.

So what’s the problem? To be honest, I have no idea. Other people have their theories and thoughts on why “Debbie” keeps doing this. But the thing is, her efforts are akin to shutting the barn door after the horse has run. It’s simply too late. I believe the Chop concept is here to stay. As it evolves and spreads and people start putting their own spin on it, more and more people are going to adopt it as part of their Avicultural Lifestyle. And I couldn’t be happier about it.

Now if I could just get “Debbie Downer” off my back….
August 12, 2012 at 10:05 am
She’s probably been to one of your presentations and has smiled to your face, these people usually have no cajones in real life. I’ve started removing and/or blocking people that are negative and judgey judges. I’ve never met so many a$$hats in 40 years of life than I have in 10 years of playing online video games and being involved with social media. Anonymity is the refuge of the cruel.
LikeLike
August 12, 2012 at 3:02 pm
Actually she hasn’t. But we know each other. Known one another for years.
LikeLike
August 12, 2012 at 10:12 am
I worry for “Debbie’s” birds. “chop is evil?”. Good grief lady!
LikeLike
August 12, 2012 at 3:02 pm
It is evil…and must be destroyed. I know Deb, I know…I’m stymied myself…
LikeLike
August 12, 2012 at 10:14 am
“While Facebook has its myriad charms and useful attributes, there are a few negative aspects. One of them is people.” This message should appear as a disclaimer whenever one signs on to Facebook. Not that anyone would take heed….
LikeLike
August 12, 2012 at 2:24 pm
Great idea!
LikeLike
August 12, 2012 at 10:25 am
Why is it that only the most wonderful and beautiful people are bird people?
LikeLike
August 12, 2012 at 3:01 pm
It takes one to know one Dennis…thank you so much! And I know all of the bird people here are beaming at your comment.
LikeLike
August 12, 2012 at 10:46 am
Any “Debbie” can try to say chop is evil. But also … anyone who cares at all about trying to provide good nutrition for their birds … will recognize “Debbie” for what she is … someone who just likes to cause trouble. Troublemakers can’t change reality … no matter how much they complain. “Chop” is one way to provide good food to my birds … the end!
LikeLike
August 12, 2012 at 3:35 pm
Thanks so much for being so supportive, Jayne. You have made me feel immensely better.
LikeLike
August 12, 2012 at 11:01 am
Pat… this individual is trying to elevate herself by bringing you down. She’s 3 gallons of crazy in a 2 gallon bucket my dear. No one believes her so don’t let her bring you down. You’ve done a great job and my birds all LOVE chop and they are all healthy and happy! She’s an idiot!
LikeLike
August 12, 2012 at 3:34 pm
“3 gallons of crazy in a 2 gallon bucket my dear…” Classic! Now THAT”S funny!
LikeLike
August 12, 2012 at 6:02 pm
Pat, we Southerners have a way with words… LOL. Actually, I have to admit, I saw it on Facebook a while back and thought it applied to several people I know!
LikeLike
August 12, 2012 at 11:01 am
I love this!! You are doing the right thing, don’t stop because of the little tiny jealous petty people~ you are SO loved~ signed~Spawn
LikeLike
August 12, 2012 at 2:53 pm
Thanks, “Fellow Spawn of Satan.” May you always wear your goat head proudly!
LikeLike
August 12, 2012 at 11:02 am
Wow. Who knew such drama could exist over feeding parrots fresh veggies. I could see that being the case if you were promoting feeding parrots a diet of deep-fried oreo’s & circus peanuts.
I “tried” Facebook for about a month a few years ago & it irked the living daylights outta me. Sure I may be missing out on some latest greatest info….but I also dodge the crazy people bullet like your Debbie Downer.
LikeLike
August 12, 2012 at 3:00 pm
Hmmm…Deep fried oreos…now that’s a concept I like. But not for my birds of course! Jane I have to be there. And for the most part I like Facebook. But it’s tough sledding sometimes…
LikeLike
August 12, 2012 at 11:18 am
Happy to be a Chop supporter! Chop on!!!
LikeLike
August 12, 2012 at 2:53 pm
Chop On Pam!
LikeLike
August 12, 2012 at 11:23 am
Oh the controversial and vile act of feeding our parrots health foods!
LikeLike
August 12, 2012 at 2:55 pm
It’s criminal I tell you!
LikeLike
August 12, 2012 at 11:26 am
There will always be drama surrounding any concept or idea. All I know is that Patricia and her chop concept have absolutely revolutionized the way we feed the parrots of Best Friends Parrot Garden.
Why do I love chop? Ease, cost, lack of waste, and nutrition.
*Ease: It used to take a staff member about 8 hours a week to prepare “wet” food for our birds. It is much easier to marshall the troups and spend a couple of hours every six week preparing the food for all our birds.
*Cost: Our fresh food costs have plummeted. I used to spend about $600 a month feeding fresh foods. Now an average “chop” batch costs me under $150 for six weeks. That frees up a lot of money for toys and perches.
*Waste: When we fed a more traditional fresh food diet, it felt like we throwing away $8 worth of food out of every $10 fed. Now the majority of our birds are members of the “clean bowl, messy beak” club.
*Nutrition. Ah…the nutrition. There is no concievable way that I could get the sheer number of nutritional ingredients into our birds any other way. By preparing once a month I can include so many more nutrient dense items.
Bottom line: our birds LIKE chop. They EAT chop. And it SAVES money. What else could possibly matter?
LikeLike
August 12, 2012 at 2:55 pm
Because it’s evil, that’s why…you know that as well as I do! 🙂
LikeLike
August 12, 2012 at 12:16 pm
She’s probably jealous that she didn’t create and market the concept of Chop herself. Tough to ignore harassment like that, but it’s really the only thing you can do. Maybe one of the admins of the FB group will get annoyed enough at her disruption to ban her, is about all you can hope for. Even then, she’ll probably go off the deep end about how that admin is evil. With people like that, it’s always someone or something. It just happens to be your turn right now.
LikeLike
August 12, 2012 at 2:59 pm
I don’t know what the issue is. All I know is that I have done more good here than harm.
LikeLike
August 12, 2012 at 1:05 pm
Some people can only look for the negatives in life. As you know, I am a huge proponent of “chop” and have been making my own variation of it for years, for my cockatoo and macaw. They are extremely healthy parrots who enjoy their “chop”, along with their pellets and fresh fruits and vegs. Nutritionally, I think the “chop” is the best thing I could have ever done for them. I shudder to think of what life is like for Debbie Downer’s poor birds. Living with that much vitriol has got to have an impact on them, as well. Keep spreading the good word, Patricia.
LikeLike
August 12, 2012 at 2:57 pm
That’s why I think her birds won’t eat what she serves. If it was Chop, they’d probably eat it. That was mean, I don’t really mean that. But I am still mystified what the issue is…
LikeLike
August 12, 2012 at 2:26 pm
Take a deep breath, push your thoughts of this person aside, and let time pass. Time will tell and the awesome will prevail – YOU! Just let her talk herself into her own social grave. Sounds like she has a good start. And if she calls it “evil” but has no reasons why, then everyone will know it’s meaningless.
LikeLike
August 12, 2012 at 2:58 pm
Melissa, You just are such a sensible person. Thank you for that…
LikeLike
August 12, 2012 at 4:57 pm
alright………..who the fuck is Debbie and where can I find this damn page she is running her mouth off on???? (and I don’t even own birds………) Does DD work for a bird SEED company? This is happening in the dog world now too, suddenly some vets are saying “fresh” dog food is bad for the dogs……..yeah right PURINA!
LikeLike
August 12, 2012 at 4:57 pm
oops…………..am I allowed to swear? 🙂
LikeLike
August 13, 2012 at 8:41 am
Of course!
LikeLike
August 12, 2012 at 4:58 pm
She is probably so negative because her birds didn’t eat it on the first or second try and she gave up trying. Like little kids you have to keep on trying with them but some people just don’t get that. On another bird forum there is someone who had originally come on as a new parakeet owner and was asking how to get her bird to eat pellets because he wouldn’t – now she goes around saying pellets are evil and will kill your bird.
LikeLike
August 12, 2012 at 5:53 pm
Wow, actually calling people and telling them a grain/bean and veggie mix is evil is pretty nasty.
Honestly, I’ve seen the same person spread misinformation on other topics on an Email list. So, don’t let her get under your skin too much.
LikeLike
August 12, 2012 at 6:11 pm
what is so evil about chop?! I love it! I mix mine in with some mashed baked sweet potato and whala!!!… my birds are eating greens!!! greens they would otherwise shred and spit out onto the floor… SHE’S CRAZY!! Keep on with the Chop!! Thank you Patricia!!!! 🙂
LikeLike
August 12, 2012 at 7:37 pm
You know, with how people react to kale chips … it could be considered pornographic. 😀
LikeLike
August 12, 2012 at 9:45 pm
P, Our lives has passed too closely lately and it will again next week at AFA. You’ve seen my page posts always upbeat, fun and down right cheery, if I say so my self. Well, Friday I posted the sweetest picture of Lacie, my CAG, laying on her eggs and in front of her just happens to be her lunch a nice mix of cut up fresh fruit. WELL, I get a post from who I now would call “DD” as her cutting words to me sounded very familiar to your 2nd section “Devoid of Protein”! She stated I was not feeding my parrot correctly as I am “Not Feeding her enough Protein”. Hmmmmmm? She instructed me to go and read her article on this subject as should change this diet now! AfterAfter I explained pleasantly that actually she only eats a few pcs but I like to give her a choice AND when on to list the smorgesborg of birdie bread, warm cereals, many, many veggies and other items besides her vita seed mix and pellets.
She came back to instruct me that even though she could see I meant well, I was not feeding her correctly and must change to give her the “Protein” that she MUST have!. I was so upset and taken aback to think someone that doesn’t know me or my birds and the 24/7 care and loving attention I give them that most children don’t get. I actually “Blocked” her, the 1st person ever!
So that I know to be correct, her name starts with a “B” and from what I could tell, she is NOT one of your FB friends. Please let me know if I am correct and that I wasn’t being crazy or hypercritical. Go Chop!!! Veggies Rule the World!
LikeLike
August 12, 2012 at 10:27 pm
Go CHOP! See you next week!
LikeLike
August 12, 2012 at 10:00 pm
Chop is not evil, it’s wonderful! My eclectus parrot and my pigeon love chop and their health couldn’t be better. Their feathers are so glossy and their weight is perfect according to my avian vet. We love you for introducing chop into our lives 😀
LikeLike
August 12, 2012 at 10:26 pm
Thank you so much! Chop on!!
LikeLike
August 12, 2012 at 10:27 pm
Not sure who Debbie Downer is, but I attest to the fact that chop has made my birds’s feathers gleam like never before. They’re healthy and happier! I have started a garden for my birds, and loving it! Even my pickiest eaters LOVE their morning chop. They expect it, and pronto! Lol. I even wrote a blog article about your chop on my blog. Chin up, Patricia! ❤
LikeLike
August 12, 2012 at 10:30 pm
Most annoying part – Not only is Chop great for birds, it’s great for other animals too. I’ve been wanting to try making Chop for hedgehogs (can’t until I am in a position to become a hedgie-mommy again, my girl died in January), and I’m considering trying to make a Chop for the beaver kit that just came to the wildlife shelter I work at. Have to check with the rehabilitator though, on ingredients and whether she thinks it’d be a good thing to have on hand for his diet. And yes, the main reason I want to make Chop for this little beaver is that I have a food processor that I bought to make Chop for an Amazon that came into the wildlife shelter, and that’s the only time I’ve used this processor. I need another reason to use it!
LikeLike
August 12, 2012 at 10:41 pm
After all this talk of chop I think you need to reprise your original blog on making chop and bring your new “bleaders” up to date. I know I could do with a refresher course myself, especially when it comes to all the dry ingredients which is where I get confused. Can you talk a bit about those in a future article? And sorry about all the drama but that appears to come with the territory these days if you have any presence on the internet at all. Just know that you have a solid base of fans who both enjoy your writing and understand that chop is a great concept. CHOP ON!
LikeLike
August 13, 2012 at 12:13 pm
OMG…you scared me. In Florida politics, Ozzie, is calling his opponent “Debbie Downer” and I thought you had joined his camp. Now I know where he got it…haha
Had no idea you had your own Debbie.
LikeLike
August 13, 2012 at 12:34 pm
I’m not a facebook fan. I’m one of those Neanderthals that (gasp) doesn’t have a facebook page. (insert look of horror here) I don’t fault people who do have one, i just don’t feel the need. so i really don’t have all the details on your debbie downer. But i can say, after working in retail for 15 years, you encounter people who will attack you personally from time to time for petty problems. (what do you MEAN you are out of mayonnaise? you are a horrible human being that doesn’t deserve air…yes I’ve had this shouted in my face over a $3 jar of mayonnaise) The one saving grace i have is that when i go home at nite my wonderful angels (parrots) don’t care that we ran out of mayonnaise. They are happy to see me and THEY are the people in my life that i care what they think. The fool who had a fit about mayo? She was nobody in my world, she’s now nothing more than an amusing story i tell from time to time. someday, when Chop is listed in all the parrot keeping manuals as #1 in the nutrition sections, Debbie Downer will be nothing more than an amusing story you tell people.
Keep on keeping on (peace)
LikeLike
August 14, 2012 at 10:04 am
Keep up the good fight Patricia and don’t let “Debbie Downer” ruin your beautiful sense of humor. Unfortunately, there will always be someone like her out there with an agenda. CHOP is a great concept !!
LikeLike
August 14, 2012 at 4:41 pm
Well, the proof is in the pudding! My five parrots have never looked better! I have a male eclectus rescue plucker who is slowly refeathering in brilliant colors…CHOP ‘TIL YOU DROP!! 😉
LikeLike
August 14, 2012 at 11:18 pm
I have been a fan of yours since I read my first ‘memo from’ pieces you wrote for “Bird Talk.” I am sorry to hear that there is a twit out there doing this. I wonder if it is the person that folks on the bird forums I belong to have been discussing. Trust me, if it is, she is NOT popular at all with those groups either. Just know from all these comments that you are loved and that chop rules! 🙂
LikeLike