When Parrot Expertise Comes In Handy

You may see these photos and think that Sydney is playing Peek A Boo... Well, let me tell you, he is actually saying, "Go Ahead, Make My Day." When playtime is over and it's time to go back to the cage, this big boy can have an attitude. I am patient and can back off and find a way to entice him into cooperating. Sometimes it takes a bribe. Sometimes it takes a distraction. I always seem to manage without getting anyone upset. Knowing how to read these guys and patiently determine the best way to get the desired result is paramount. Getting stressed or anxious is never going to work. Being in a hurry is the best way to get bitten. After all, Sydney knows exactly what needs to take place. He knows that he will need to go back to the cage. He just wants to test my abilities. In a way, this is his "game." A game that I calmly win.

WHO NEEDS A SHREDDER?

I always try to streamline my cleaning routines. Therefore, I don't use the pull out trays under the bird cages. I simply layer newspaper on the grate and sweep the floors...frequently! This protects the grates from the corrosive poop and, for the most part, simplifies my cleanup. Marty, the Blue and Gold guest, had different ideas! He found great joy in shredding the papers at the bottom of his boarding cage. I went ahead and spread newspaper underneath the cage and continued to let him shred. I still thinks it makes life easier than pulling out the heavy pan and changing out the papers. After all, I'd still have to sweep the floor!

A Food Challenge

Chauncey, my Slender Bill Cockatoo, is as smart as they come. He was giving me a problem when I served his breakfast that a lot of you can probably identify with! He'd take one look and start flipping the food out and onto the floor. Thanks alot! Well, I decided that this behavior was purely his way of telling me he needs to forage, even for his breakfast. He has multiple foraging toys in his cage that I routinely fill with small treats. Now I take the PVC tube with holes in it (seen in the photos) and fill with his fruit, veggies, and cooked grains. This particular toy is easy to open and clean.
You can see how this is much more of a task to get the food out! He now spends an hour eating instead of a minute. Where there's a will, there's a way!

One Playful Grey Bird

This is Matilda! She (actually a he!) has the run of the house. Not recommended, but it certainly has produced a confident happy parrot! The woodwork takes a beating but Matilda knows how to have fun. He loves empty prescription bottles, wine corks, and whatever else he can hold on to. Most birds are rather uncomfortable on the floor. This is usually a good time to train them to step up because they are often eager to get off the floor. Not Matilda. He obviously has no fear.

OUTDOOR DRENCHING

This is Marty. He is a 28 year old Blue and Gold Macaw that is staying
with me for the first time.

He "doesn't like showers" but he sure enjoyed being outdoors and getting wet with the hose set on shower. He watched me as I sprayed Molly, my Blue and Gold, in the neighboring cage. Then he watched as Lucy, my Scarlet, got the same treatment. He observed them fluffing out their feathers and relishing the spray on a hot afternoon. Then, I allowed the spray to drift over in his direction. It came gently from above as I was standing far away. He didn't know what was happening but he knew it felt good! Each day now I take the opportunity to drench him and he has learned to love it! I bet he looks shiny and beautiful by the time he goes home!


This is my Umbrella, Josey Wales. He loves to be in this old "playpen" cage with the hose nozzle set on mist. I can just hang the sprayer on a nail near his cage and he'll get completely wet and actually be quiet for a time. If you look closely, you can see him opening his beak to drink the water. Once they get used to this, it becomes their favorite activity!

COCKATIEL JUNCTION PLAYGROUND

A lot of people wonder if I allow birds to interact with each other. For the most part, I don't. But I like to allow the cockatiels to have a time out of their individual cages just to fraternize and hang out together. Surprise! They really don't go out of their way to investigate each other. Even when the cage doors are open and they have access to a climbing tree, they pretty much stay to themselves. In these two photos you can see Munch up high on one of the ropes. Vinnie and Elwood are out but sticking to their own area. My two tiels, BJ and Lacy, are not even coming out! They stayed in the cage and watched the activity. Just like if you take small children to a playground...they're reluctant to venture over and say, "Hi!" I do feel they get some benefit from this social interaction. They see each other and get some sense that they are birds in a community. But for those of you who ask, "Do they play together when they visit here?" The answer is usually "no."

Art In A Parrot's Cage?

Oh, what to do with old Tee Shirts that have beautiful screen prints of parrots. Why not hang them in the cage? I cut out these African birds and hung it in Buster's cage. I watched him for signs of liking or disliking the new decor and decided that he actually liked it! The remainder of the TeeShirt was cut into strips for making other preening toys. Even parrots like to look at pretty pictures!

They're Not Just Making Noise

I now have birds throughout much of my home. I find it fascinating to just listen to the "conversation" that is carried on during the more "vocal" moments in the day. This morning, Simon, a panama amazon guest that is staying downstairs in the dining area (this is where amazons LOVE to be since food is usually their obsession) was quite talkative and as he said a good loud "HI" I then heard Lucy my Scarlet Macaw from her upstairs room shout, "Hello!" Then just after, one of the Greys that are in yet another room seemed to finish the friendly conversation by saying, "Okay, Yep, Bye Bye." I definitely feel these various species are enjoying talking to each other. They know of the others in the home and catch a glimpse here and there as the shower rotation goes by. They are a flock and they delight in making noise. Happy noises abound. Even the shy "only birds" get into the cachophanie of "jungle sounds" and conversations. I believe "hello" is the universal word that is understood by most of these guys as they come to my home. I say hello to each one and soon all the birds do the same!



They even speak to Moki, my Pomeranian dog. They scold, "don't bark!" "Quiet" and when I leave the room thay prompt the command, "come on Moke!" Moki has learned to subsist on dropped vegetables and Harrison's Coarse. Yumm. She often chooses to stay in with the birds to clean up. (Especially on the days that they get a smidgen of chicken or cheese!) The inter-relations are fun and fascinating to watch. Just another reason that parrots captivate our interest.

Outdoor Time Is Mood Altering

With this lovely warm weather, my birds each get their turn in the rotation to the outdoor cages.

While they bask in the shade, I have a chance to clean up their cages.

While they are outside, I use the garden hose on the shower setting and get them totally drenched. They love this and it gives them a whole new outlook on life. Even my most vocal parrot, Josey Wales, my Umbrella cockatoo, comes back into the house with a new personality. For him, I set the hose nozzle on mist and leave it positioned on him. He unfolds his feathers and turns upside down to capture as much water as possible. When they each come back to a clean and replenished cage, the whole house gets quiet. Ahhhh. The peace lasts for way too little time but it is nice while it lasts! I enjoy giving them all the best possible environment. Boarding guests can take advantage of this outdoor activity if it is permitted by their parents and they can be safely transported to the cages. Yes, I realize the dangers of West Nile Virus, and bird-eating hawks, but one can't live in a glass bubble. I take precautions and cannot deny them the joy of some outdoor time. Happy birds are better behaved and quieter.

IMPATIENCE WITH SERVICE

I noticed this morning as I was serving breakfast to the gang of guests that Jasper, the Senagal with "feather issues" was agitated about waiting. I usually work my way around the room systematically so that I give each one exactly what is needed.
Lexie, the PeachFront Conure, was busy playing and eventually went over to investigate her waiting breakfast. Obviously from now on, I will serve Jasper first because when he gets nervous or anxious, he goes after his feathers! As little anxiety as possible is the best I can offer. I wish I could get that treatment!

COMFORT CALLS

Most parrots have their own way to ask for comfort. Some call this their "contact calls" and suggest returning a "contact call" whenever you hear it. I notice that these calls seem to solicit comfort. My Grey, Buster, has developed a way for us to communicate wherever I am in the house. He sings "La la" and I answer, "La la la" (One, two...One two two) It is a sing songy way to let him know all is well. He'll do this when he knows that I am nearby. Every parrot has their own comfort call request. (Some have a comfort request behavior such as leaning forward and fluttering their wings or lifting their foot.) Kilgore, the beautiful grey in the photo, sends a big smacking kissing sound. He wants to communicate and this is his way of asking, "Is everything okay?" With their extreme intelligence, it is important to be sympathetic to their emotional needs. Even when we can't drop everything and go play with them, they can get a huge lift by hearing our return reply.

More on feather picking.

This is Jasper. He is, as you can see, experiencing a difficult Spring. Most feather picking is cyclical. It comes and goes. Many feel that hormones plays a role. Although feather destructive behavior tears at our hearts, most of these birds are incredibly happy and well cared for. We do the best we can to provide everything our birds need. For one reason or another some birds cannot resist overpreening or pulling or clipping their feathers. I am hopeful that in the years ahead, some answers will be found. Why do our companion parrots pick? What can we do to improve their lives? Foraging is a huge step forward. If we spend the time, the birds can find great satisfaction in finding food. The problem comes when we don't have the time or the inclination to keep up with this tedious procedure. We need a way to quickly fill foraging dispensers. Someone should be able to invent such a unit. Imagine a cage that has a whole side dedicated to foraging! Easy to fill with good food, easy to clean, and adjustable difficulty for the resident bird. Perhaps a dishwasher safe unit that hangs on the outside of the cage. Sold in pairs so that one could be in the dishwasher while the other is in use. I'm basically thinking out loud and sharing my thoughts. Anyone up to designing such a unit?