Relationships

Sam and Bubbus Share Millet

In my cockatiel room, I have quite a nice flock.  These guys get to be out of the cages most of the day.  They fly about and take up positions on the various hanging playgyms.  I observe how they get along and find it interesting.  The dynamics change periodically.

This week, Bubbus and Sam seem to be buddies.  Of course, it doesn't hurt to hang a few pieces of millet spray around!  That has to be the junk food favorite for these guys! 

Sure, there is still some bickering but it's all in a good natured spirit.  In every flock, there has to be dominance and submission.  But these roles tend to fluctuate. Who's feeling their spunk today? 

Nyia Loves Cereal



Nyia Gets Her Cereal and Milk

 Nyia is a feather challenged grey.  She is spending some time here and seems to be calm and comfortable.  Her mom explained that she loves breakfast cereal each morning.  My own grey, Buster, loves cereal too.  Whenever I have a bowl of cereal he is quite persistent to taste some.  He loves sipping milk from the spoon. 

Greys need calcium in their diet so I added a little milk to Nyia's breakfast cereal.  She ate it up and licked the bowl. I love it when a good plan comes together.

What is your bird's pastime?

A Bowl Full of Texture and Fun

I currently have six macaws staying in the "macaw room".  Oro and Azul arrived and it was old home week for the gang.  They don't have indoor voices!  I spoke with their mom and she suggested a bucket with beads in it. 

I immediately installed two large Smart Crocks with plenty of beads and other goodies.  Sure enough, it got quiet!  At least for a short time! 

Every parrot has a preference for some sort of pastime.  For these two, it's fiddling with fun shape and textures. Having the large bowls in the cage make it fairly simple to retrieve the items and toss them up into the bowls when I change the papers.  Poopy ones go to the dishwasher for sure.  We're all bird slaves, right? 

I can think of each bird in my home and rattle off exactly what they prefer to do.  Knuckles loves to fray the ends of Paulie Rope.  Chauncey loves to rattle a toy of hanging washers.  Buster loves to chip away at the Avian Maze Craze blocks.  Munchie like to make forts under paper.  Ben likes to stick his head under his big bell.  And so on and so on! 

What does your parrot like to do?  Send a comment.  I'll post and share with everyone. 

A Bird's Gotta Do...



Peek A Boo - I'm hiding!



Go Ahead, Make My Day!

 A bird's gotta do what a bird's gotta do!  When Chauncey gets a bowl of dry mix, he has to use his beak to shovel it out to the floor.  When Munchkin gets his new papers installed in his cage, he has to burrow underneath to make his fort.  Each and every parrot has his own special behavior that makes him an individual. The trick is to laugh at it and consider it all part of the game.  If you want a neat home that stays neat...don't get a parrot!  They have no concept of cleanliness or neat decor.  If it can be scattered, shredded, whittled, unstrung, or mauled, then they go for it.  In their world, that's what life is all about. 

Buster Has A Setback

Buster Feathered Out



Buster Clipping Again



I've written many times about the guilt that comes naturally when one has a parrot.  They are so intelligent and so sensitive.  My grey, Buster, came to me with feather issues.  I've gotten him back to perfect feather two or three times in the years that I've had him.  He was doing so great!  The diet changes (no corn and no wheat) and the Munch Muffins really made a huge difference.  However, and there will undoubtedly always be a "however", he has taken a turn once again.  During this February heatwave, I put him outside with the other parrots.  But instead of placing him in the large flight cage that he was used to, I placed him in a smaller cage that I recently placed outside against the house.  I've moved more cages outside so that more birds could be out at the same time.  Apparently, Buster did not like the new cage or it made him anxious.  When I went out to retrieve him, he had clipped a few of his feathers.  I had hoped it was a temporary setback, but he has continued to clip away.  I knew not to hold my breath and celebrate his success.  But I was beginning to be hopeful!  So now we're back to a fuzzy bird.  Perhaps a concerted effort and we'll see success again.  But I felt it necessary to confess the ups and the downs of having a feather destructive bird. 



Clipped Carnage



Cabin Fever Goes Bye Bye



Tiel Flock Outside On Warm February Day

 I know this weather is temporary....but isn't it wonderful!  After being cooped up indoors for so long, the parrots are rejoicing in the opportunity to get outside and soak up some sunshine.

Yesterday, I packed up all of the cockatiels and transported them out to the large flight cage.  This is no simple task as I have to put one or maybe two (if they get along in the close quarters) into a carrier and carry them out to be released inside the 6' x 8' enclosure.

You should hear the commotion!  The piercing sounds of cockatiels that are separated from the flock goes right through your head and pierces your eardrums!  Luckily, once they are all reunited in the sunny flight cage, they quiet down to the normal decibel range. 



Rocky watching Echo with a close eye.

 This was Rocky's first outing to the outer limits.  He seemed to enjoy it immensely and kept a close eye on Echo!  He is still drawn to that bird like a magnet!



Barnaby A Happy Camper

Barnaby was caged outside right next to the cockatiels.  He basked contentedly in the shade and watched the tiels next door with amusement. He is an only child and finds this chaos rather entertaining. 

Being outside in a sheltered location is great for the parrots both physically and emotionally.  I even found myself soaking up the sun instead of sweeping the floors.  Life is good.
If you put your bird outside, make sure he or she has shade, water, and protection from hawks.  Bird eating hawks can frighten your bird and catch it in their talons through the cage bars from the top or even the sides and then eat it.  A cage is not enough protection.  You need to be sitting next to the cage or net the area with orchard netting. This material is cheap and easy to install to enclose an area on your deck or patio.  http://americannetting.com/) Hawks are serious hunters and they are attracted to chirping and flighty caged birds.  They are also not intimidated by people being around. They'll swoop in for a meal right in front of you so be careful! 

Parrot Nanny Milestones

When I have long term boarders I get the chance to really learn their strengths and weaknesses.  Then, I get to work on improving their lives.  I don't do anything drastic or quickly.

Most boarders are only here a short time.  Creating a stress free environment is my goal in those situations.  Boarding shouldn't be stressful.
 
Knuckles and Big Bird are spending a long time here due to various circumstances. Knuckles is an older greenwing macaw that has mobility issues. He has a nervous attitude about being transported. We've come a long way by allowing him to watch as I use a large perch to pick up and move the other macaws. He watches and learns. Then, he gets moved to the Atom etc. 



Knuckles (left) and Big Bird

 But yesterday was a true milestone. The weather was unseasonably warm and all of the parrots got to spend time outside in the outdoor cages. Knuckles watched as I moved them outside.  Then I came in to let him climb around the macaw room as usual.  I got a vibe from him that he wanted to "follow" Big Bird.  I offered him the stick and he climbed on and pointed towards the door.  Using a calm voice and announcing that we were going to see Big Bird, we moved outside.  He was delighted with himself for getting into the large flight cage.  Big Bird soon came over to be with him.  Such a happy day. 



A Warm February Day

 Getting him back inside at the end of the day was a little more of an adventure. I have a complex manzanita perching system inside the cage making it difficult for him and for me. I managed to get him on the stick and proceeded to climb out when he jumped onto the neighboring cage and climbed to the top.  Off he ran. 

The entire area is netted so we were safe in that respect.  I'm sure he was confused as to how to get back to Big Bird who was back in the indoor cage.  We offered a 6 ft long stick to Knuckles and he climbed aboard eagerly.  Maybe it was a bit frantic but I feel he now knows the routine and will calm down for the ride.  I can't wait to see the improvement in his muscle tone and feather health by being outside more.  Way to go Knuckles!

Mimicking Behaviors



Lucy Preening Her Tail

 Parrots mimic more than just words.  I have a wonderful old macaw here named Knuckles who doesn't preen himself as much as I would like. One reason is that he is old and not as steady as most macaws. He probably doesn't feel comfortable turning his attention to the tail because of balance issues.  Fortunately for him, he has a companion who comes over to preen him when they are allowed to fraternize outside the cages. Big Bird does a great job of preening her buddies head and neck which is what a mate's job would ordinarily be. However, his tail is in poor shape. So I have been placing Lucy, my scarlet next to his cage on a tree to demonstrate proper preening.  She loves to get out and flap her wings and then goes to town on her emerging feathers. Knuckles watches... I'm not sure if he's watching a beautiful girl bird with lustful eyes...or is paying attention to the demonstration.  We shall see.



Barnaby Chowing Down

 I also use close perimeter demonstrations for learning to eat well.  If I take a bird who is not interested in the morning breakfast and put a good eater next to him or her, voila!  I soon see some interest in the food shy bird.  This is why I love the Smart Crock In and Out Crocks.  I can place one exactly where I want it and exactly where the parrot is hanging out.  All the better to entice an appetite. 



Pierre Eating Better Now



Grape Gets Grapped First

 Pierre comes for daycare each day and she needs to improve her eating habits. When Barnaby arrived and started eating next to her, Pierre dug into the food.  She chose the grape first, of course!  But she'll soon learn how great the peppers and green beans are as well.  If Barnaby loves them, they must be good!  Right?