Tiel Socialization

Yesterday, Abby and Briesy came over for a visit.  They lead a sheltered life and occasionally come over just to expose them to the flock mentality.  It's difficult to tell if they like it.  I think they do because they typically don't want to go home, at least not easily.  Abby and Brie hang out on the rope vines and observe the boys.

The boys, hang out on the Atom.  Even if there isn't a lot of social interaction, they seem to just love seeing each other and vying for position.

Bubbus advanced and started talking to the cute girls.  He chatted away but the girls remained aloof.  Katie is here too but she doesn't entertain the attentions of the guys either. 

Cockatiels have huge flocks in the wilds of Australia.  They aren't meant to be singles.  Having the chance to mingle and experience a group setting is good for them. 

Burd With Buddy Ball

Burd has strong instincts to feed.

Lots of birds regurgitate.  It's a strong impulse to feed their mate and their young.  I normally advise to distract and discourage this type of behavior when it involves a human.  After all, you don't want your bird to perceive you as his mate.  This little budgie bird is staying with me for a while.  I noticed he is captivated by his woven birdie ball toy.  He walks over and feeds it regularly.  Should I discourage this behavior?  Perhaps not.  Burd is boarding here for the first time and I want him to be comfortable.  He's in his own cage and I don't want to redecorate!  If I remove his "buddy toy" he might get stressed.  I'll just do my best to clean it up and let him continue this comfort behavior. 

At home, the mom might want to redirect this behavior by adding other toys or moving this one.  It's not good to fixate on one item in the cage.  This is why mirrors can become a problem.  A bird can get so attached that the activity level drops.  Not good.

Burd, however, is very active!  He comes out and flies around like a bumblebee.  Very happy camper!

Indy is in No Hurry

 Life around here is very routine.  I move along at a casually enjoyable speed tending to each bird and getting the many chores done. 

One of those routine chores is to rotate the birds to the large outdoor flight cages.  Indy, this smug hyacinth macaw, has his own idea of time.  You see, first you ask him to step up.  That's his cue to latch onto the cage bars with his huge feet and even huger beak.  It would take a numatic jack to pry him off.  One must resort to psychology.  I stop asking and close his cage.  Then proceed to take out another macaw.  Each time I come in, I ask Indy if he wants to go outside?  "Want to go out and get a cracker?"  Again he becomes fixed to the cage.  I close the door and get a different bird.  And so on and so on...

 It occurs to me that his mom and dad probably have a lot more time than I do!

Indy seems to expect a bribe of a good head rub while going through the gyrations of getting him out of the cage. 
Okay, I can do that...  I begin with the expected head skritch, especially around the yellow skin around his eyes.  He loves that! 

But I like to work my way out to the wings and tail too.  Indy has some big powerful beautiful tail feathers arriving.  They have a thick coating of keratin protecting the young feathers.  If the keratin is dry, it is supposed to get removed.  Of course Indy doesn't take to that sissy chore.  But I get pleasure from breaking open the casting and flaking it off.  Inside?  A beautiful blue tail feather. 

Once this long process is accomplished by his hand maiden, he will usually condescend to coming out.   If he stays stubborn, I leave him alone.  (I think he likes watching the TV in there.)  If my son, Paul, is home, I ask Paul to walk around the back of the cage.  Just stand there I say, don't even look at him.  Sure enough, Indy steps on my hand quite handily.  Good hand vs. the unknown person standing at the back.  Good cop, bad cop. 

Once outside?  Indy is very happy!  So I can't figure out why he is so reluctant!  Hmmm.  Maybe it's the free massage.  He is training me!

Gratification

My macaw room currently has five residents.  Indy, a hyacinth, Knuckles and Big Bird, two greenwings, and my own Molly and Lucy, a Blue and Gold and Scarlet. 

They all truly enjoy the company of each other.  They have their own flatscreen TV tuned to the Sprout TV channel, most of the time.  No SpongeBob here!

Every day these colorful animated beings bring joy to my life.  This morning I entered the room with the breakfast tray.  As I started to serve each cage, the anticipation was met with a loud "Yummmmmm".  Each bird in turn commented on the delectable selection of produce, grains, cheese, and muffin. 

Sometimes I feel like nobody knows how much care I put into caring for these beautiful birds.  But then...I get accolades from the birds themselves!  It certainly makes my day!

"Yummmmmm!"  as a chorus, makes me smile.

Kakeo Makes Friends

Kakeo is a big bold beautiful blue front amazon.  He is spending his vacation here and is having a lot of fun.  Each day he is allowed to play in the huge Exotic Enclosure where he migrates from toy to toy and perch to perch utilizing every inch of the 4' x 6' cage.  (At night, he prefers to be in his smaller cage next to his plush blue star.)  Kakeo has a rather outgoing personality that could be interpreted as aggressive.  He postures with his fanned tail and pinned eyes as he flattens in the normally dangerous horizontal position.  He is handled with great respect.  This doesn't mean he doesn't get love and attention.  He loves being flirted with and sung to.  In this photo, Charlotte, my helper, is getting Kakeo to whisper sweet nothings to her.  He is quite the charmer. 

Tweeters Found A Terrific Home

Very happy to report that I was able to find Tweeters, aka Sweet Pea, a wonderful home.  A young couple out in the valley came to meet her and were taken with her affectionate personality.  I'm sure she'll get the attention she craves with the stay-at-home mom. 

I have a new favorite thing for the parrots.  Maybe I should call it their new favorite thing...  I found Champagne Grapes at Trader Joes.  These grapes are tiny and I put a little grouping on everyone's breakfast bowl.  They love them!  Even the birds that don't go for the larger style grapes will pick these up and delight in holding the clump and eating them one by one.  Very cool.  I understand the Berkeley Bowl carries them too.  Try them out while they're available!

The Perfect Bird



Tweeters/Sweet Pea

 This is Tweeters.  She is a four year old female green cheeked conure.  She is very tame and can be handled like a snowcone.  She mumbles and purrs with a guttural chortle that oozes contentment.  On the decibel level scale, she is quite low.  She's a parrot, so she makes some noise.  However, she would do well in most condo/apartment situations. Her previous home was very quiet.  I need to find her "the perfect home" and I'm very picky.  I made a promise to her mom, who is no longer with us,  that I would find the right home.  Am I tempted to keep her?  Of course!  I need a place to go for a hug as much as the next guy.  But she would love to be worn all day by a loving human.  Either someone who works from home, or is retired would be very nice.  Ideally I'd like to find a home where she is the only bird.  She truly enjoys human company.  Tweeters, fondly called Sweet Pea by me now, eats a pellet diet.  I'm trying to encourage her to eat fresh foods as well.  This little bird is incredible.  She deserves happiness.