Our History
There are certain years in your life that you distinctly remember, amid all the other's that fly too fast away. One particular year, 1992, was important to me because that was when my father, Lyman Frasier, better known as "Buz" Frasier, announced he was purchasing a parrot!
As his daughter growing up I wanted and nearly had every animal available as a pet. I had a very special parakeet named "Sparky" that could talk in Spanish and English. He truly spoke in sentences and insisted on sharing all of our meals together. He had quite a sophisticated palate. Although I loved my little parakeet beyond words. The thought of getting anything with a bigger, more powerful beak never appealed to me.
Just like me, my father was a true animal lover. Always up for petting anything that crossed his path. He was however, a bachelor living in an apartment. He had a busy life schedule of running his engineering company as well as an active lifestyle of road biking, tennis, mountain climbing, etc. Only certain types of pets would fit into that lifestyle; his cat Sammy and later his parrot Honcho.
Honcho originally belonged to a woman that had a variety of parrots. Cockatoo's, Amazon's, Grays, and one Scarlet Macaw named Honcho. She told my father she was selling Honcho because she had too many birds. I had never seen such boyish excitement on his face, becoming a bird owner was a childhood dream come true.
Honcho settled into his new home very quickly. Why not, Honcho had all a parrot could ever want. Large cage, favorite treats and tons of toys. His love for my father was slower to develop. He snapped at my dad and wouldn't let him pet him. Buz was never discouraged and over time he told me that Honcho wasn't snapping at him anymore. As time went on Honcho allowed my father to pet him, following him around the house and even got on to his arm.
Next came some complaints about Honcho. Honcho was a very destructive and curious bird. He went though his wood and rope toys in less than five minutes and they were not cheap! That crafty bird unscrewed and took apart the handrail on his staircase as well as the ironing board! My father started giving him empty film canisters and prescription bottles that Honcho would take great delight in unscrewing the lid and chewing up all the plastic! It may have been child proof but it certainly wasn't parrot proof!!
One day he showed me how Honcho loved to hold onto a large stainless steel bolt and twist a wing nut up and down the bolt. He claimed that Honcho was a mechanically minded bird. My response was "Dad, you should market some toys for Mechanically Minded Birds". Then my dad added "Yes, ones that aren't destroyed in 5 minutes."
The next day he came to me with drawings of potential bird toys that where indestructible and for the mechanically minded bird. He told me to see about having them made. In 1994, Frasier Products "Parrot Toys for Birds that Like to Screw Around" was formed. It became my full time job traveling around to various trade shows selling the toys. Getting to know the industry and meeting all the fun loving and interesting bird lovers around the country. I myself have become a lover of all parrots big and small. I am now the proud owner of a Blue & Gold Macaw named Nelson and two Cockatiels, Ely and Nick.
My father taught me a lot about operating a business. He always stressed that customer service and product quality was the most important. He truly believed Parrot Toys "for the mechanically minded bird" added a new dimension to the mind of a creative a parrot. I couldn't agree more. One key thing he told me before he died is that he would like for me to continue the business. I have seen the joy these toys bring to parrots and their owners so decided I could never discontinue that! I hope you will give your bird a chance to try these truly unique and indestructible toys.
Jennifer Frasier Kirch