Parrot Nanny Gayle Reece

Ground Shaking

2012-02-16T08:55:00.000-08:00

This is a photo of Klaus and Scooter. They are first timers at Parrot Nanny. These two beautiful whiteface pearl cockatiels are very young at around 1 year old. They are much loved and spoiled by their mom and dad. I am so happy that I get the opportunity to care for them.

Last evening there was a temblor earthquake over by Vallejo. Did I feel it? No. But the house of parrots did! I wondered what the commotion was all about as the parrot population was covered for the night. Of course, I went in to check on everyone. I simply walk around and talk softly and keep the drama level low while observing the birds.

Cockatiels are notorious for freaking out and breaking feathers when they panic. Luckily Klaus and Scooter and the rest of the cockatiel room came through without any injury.

This is why it's important to board your bird where someone is present throughout the night. Sometimes "children" need reassurance that all is okay.

There appears to be a lot of activity on the earthquake map. Not sure what that means but I hope everyone is ready. We are here. Lots of extra bird supplies and stored water in the event that shopping is curtailed for a week or two. Are you ready?

Here is the link to the earthquake map:
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqscanv/

Ben's New Buddy Toy

2012-02-15T16:55:00.000-08:00

My sweet old man, Ben, has adopted a new companion toy. He used to be attached to "his bell" and he would spend too much time with his head in or under a bell. Now, with the bell gone temporarily, he has befriended a Perma Play toy. It's small and he loves to push it around.
I think Ben needs a visit from Kiku soon. He seems to need someone in his life. If not Kiku, then a toy will do. Ben is possibly 35 years old now. What a character. You've all heard him if you entered this house. He sounds the alarm with any approaching visitor. However, most of the time, he is quiet. No one believes that one!

Mischievious Munchkin

2012-02-13T08:50:00.000-08:00

Oooo, a nest site!

While I was working in the cockatiel room, Munchkin was up to some mischief. I'm slaving away to make their environment clean and cozy and when I look behind me, Munch is on the table! He is supposed to be on the hanging playgym ropes!
He thoroughly investigated the paper towel hole. To him, it must have been a very instinctual mystery. Dark round holes mean potential nest sites.
However, when that didn't pan out, he found the container of seed. He's been cut off of seed and when he saw the cache, he was very very determined. It was a long way down...

Oooooo, I found the seeds!

I watched him while he thought out his plan. Hanging by his beak, he finally dropped down to the treasure. What a guy!

I got him out immediately, of course, but I rewarded his ingenuity with a small portion of seed in his shiny Jingle Cup Toy. (See previous post.)

Eureka! The Mother Lode!

Chauncey's New Buddy

2012-02-10T15:48:00.000-08:00

Chauncey is my favorite bird. (Don't tell the others!) He makes me laugh regularly. He seems to enjoy anything fuzzy shaggy and soft. He also loves jingly danglely toys. He was quietly playing with his "mop toy" and suddenly noticed that I was watching. http://youtu.be/tWBbiSxZ4Hw

He got embarrassed! He doesn't know how funny he is. He would like to think he is better than that. But ask anyone who knows him...he is funny! Slender Bills are actually one of the few cockatoos that aren't very noisy. He prefers to talk and he has an indoor voice.

New Website for Parrot Nanny

2012-02-06T09:07:00.000-08:00

Last night I launched my new simpler website. I have had the previous site up since 2005 and I wasn't able to edit it myself, thus, it stayed the same for the duration.

My business hasn't stayed the same! I have reduced some of my activities due to how busy I am now. I am concentrating on the boarding parrots in my home. That's pretty much a full time job!

I will continue to make and sell the Munch Muffins and Psittacine Cuisine as the parrots here love the menu and many of my clients are frequent buyers of these delicious and nutritious foods.   (All organic and wheat & corn free!)

I'd love your feedback about what you'd like to see on the new website. This time I can make changes! Hallelujah!

PS Thank you Mary Long for your incredible talents in web design.

http://www.parrotnanny.com/

Birds Have Names!

2012-01-26T08:37:00.000-08:00

Cornell University is researching parrots and this video is all about a study determining how they learn their names.

Yes, they have individual names and use them in communication along with other individual's names!
Fascinating stuff!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ed9A4HPdXgQ

Out-Of-Cage Time at Parrot Nanny

2012-01-23T08:43:00.000-08:00

Not your typical living room.

Luve Active and Playful

Jasper Happy to Supervise

Solo Trying To Check Out Jasper

Sumo Would Rather Be On Me

I take pride in the care that I provide for my guest birds. Some of them are used to lots of interaction and out-of-cage time. I can't duplicate their exact preferences but I can see to it that they have some time to stretch and get a change of scenery. Often this is while I clean their cage and change out their foods and water. They climb around and check out their neighbors (from a distance). Of course, when I pull out my phone to snap a photo, they immediately stop all cute antics and lean toward the phone! You can see from the photo of my living room that each parrot is comfortable kicking back in their own space.

Successful Toy Selection

2012-01-21T13:38:00.000-08:00

Every parrot has a favorite pastime. Some have many! If you can figure out exactly what your parrot enjoys doing, you can concentrate on providing the right environment. That is why I use a lot of cardboard strips and soft wood, etc. When a bird arrives for the first time, I quickly determine where that bird likes to sit and what motivates the bird. Some are rather stoic and others are hyperactive. It takes all kinds! Once I found Buster's favorite is the Avian Maze Craze Block, I now order them in quantity. He chips away at the block with seeming delight. It's his thing...

Anxious Birds, My Specialty

2012-01-13T08:42:00.000-08:00

Many of my clients have needy birds. They need attention and lots of things to do. One of my "secrets" is to create a toy string for each "guest" and place it near their roosting perch. These are not fancy or beautiful but they are irresistible. Once I determine their favorite texture or item, I refill it when needed. Some birds love the fuse beads or pony beads, some prefer soft wood. These two Toos seem to like the soft pliable baby spoons that I found at the Dollar Store and drilled holes in the handles. They're bright and just the right texture for chewing. Birds that have feather issues need the security of a good environment. Separation anxiety is enough to send them into a frenzy if they feel uncomfortable. Rooster and Bisou here know the routine and get the same cage each visit. Parrot Nanny has become their home away from home. I love them.

A Must-Have Toy For Little Birds!

2012-01-05T11:46:00.000-08:00

Look what I found! Sometimes it's easy to forget that the little birds need new and exciting toys too. I checked out one of my favorite sites, Cavalier Bird Toys, and found this can't-be-ignored toy.

It's called a Jingle Feeder Cup and it arrived as I just finished baking my Munch Muffins for the birds. I took some of the crumbly crumbs from the cooling rack and filled the Jingle Feeder Cup.

When I inserted it in Munchkin and Sammy's cage, they both went directly to it! Munch, being of high intelligence and very agile, quickly selected a chunk of muffin to eat with his foot grasp technique. (Quite unusual for a cockatiel.) That left the cup available to Sammy. Yumm.

This toy has many attributes. First, it's a foraging toy. Always preferred. Second it's a reflection toy. Some birds just can't get enough of their image! Third, it's a musical toy as it jingles delightfully. Currently these are on sale for only $7.69! What a deal!

http://www.cavalierbirdtoys.com/jingle-feeder-cup.html

Gentle Bathing and Grooming

2012-01-01T08:43:00.000-08:00

Elizabeth with Baby Bird

One of the services offered around here is gentle grooming. Elizabeth brought her little guy "Baby Bird" down for a toenail trim. Baby Bird is actually approximately 15 years old and has a touch of arthritis. To make his mobility easier, especially on Elizabeth's sweaters, we try to keep the tiny needle tips clipped on his tiny feet.

Sammy with his stained tail.

Sammy and Munchkin are boarding here this week and they tend to get dirty tails. The beautiful yellow tail feathers are soiled at night in the carrier because they love Zupreem fruity pellets and these are colorful going in and coming out, if you know what I mean. A gentle bath in a warm sink basin of water with a tiny bit of Dawn dishwashing liquid applied to the tail and vent seems to do the trick. The birds seem to appreciate the bath. (They sleep in a carrier at night to avoid night fright injury.)

Jasper Supervising His Cage Service

Jasper, also boarding, takes a bath in his water dish. Every bird has their preference. If I give Jasper a warm spray mist bath, he dives into his water bowl and makes a huge flood on his cage papers. Oh well, nobody said birds weren't messy! He happily spends time on his playstand while I tend to his accommodations. Jasper is a happy little guy even if he goes to town on his feathers. This time around we're trying to move his cage around and change the position of the perches and toys to keep him distracted and reduce boredom. With feather picking, one must never give up. There is always something else to try.

White Christmas (with green splotches)

2011-12-26T11:02:00.000-08:00

I had a happy white and green Christmas. Lots of cockatoos around here. They all seem to enjoy seeing each other.

Luve watched Bisou intently when he was playing next door to her. Rooster enjoyed looking out the window at the clear and sunny weather. Too cold to go outside but I could tell, he wanted to!

In this photo, Odie was content to sit on the open door of his cage and nibble on a small piece of string cheese.

I like to walk around and offer up a small treat to keep everyone happy while I fix breakfast for the gang.

It may be my imagination, but, I think they know when their cook is preparing the morning fare and they get excited. When cockatoos get excited, it gets loud. Something to nibble on always brings some peace and quiet to the morning!

Peel Me A Grape

2011-12-22T11:04:00.000-08:00

Salsa and Poe are spending the week with me. They are quite the pair! Poe seemed to get a kick out of Salsa diving into one of the globe grapes that was served with the breakfast fare. He bit into it and then had more than he knew what to do with! Around here, breakfast is a big deal! Everyone gets anxious, in a good way, as the foods get served. The guest birds all end up eating well because they see everyone chowing down wholeheartedly. Yum!

Behold! The Ocean!

2011-12-20T10:04:00.000-08:00

Bisou Taking In The Scenery In Mendocino

This is one lucky cockatoo. He got to go along for a weekend at the coast! This photo shows Bisou's beautiful silhouette against the magnificent backdrop of the Pacific Ocean. Makes you wonder what he thought when he saw the sights for the first time. Parrots have incredible vision and this had to be as awe inspiring to him as it is to us.

Home Security

2011-12-07T11:04:00.000-08:00

I'm a very busy person. And, at times, I work with earplugs in and a wireless headset on. In order to be made aware of an incoming client, I installed a Driveway Alert. It chimes a happy tune when someone drives in. However, it gets the dogs and birds excited! They all love company! Lately, with all the UPS and Fed Ex deliveries, Ho Ho Ho...I turned off the alert. However, I have a second kind of alert. It's also very green and off the grid. It's called two Blue Crown Conures. Ben and Kiku are positioned in the front window and announce with glee any arrival. I can be at the back of the house or even out by the turtle pond and yet I will hear the ruckus and know to go check it out. Who needs an electronic alarm? Ben and Kiku are allowed together time during the day because they get along famously. Other than the cockatiels, these two are the only birds that are allowed to fraternize. As you can see, they are quite fond of each other!

Busy Times for Parrot Nanny

2011-11-28T09:01:00.000-08:00

Roo (ster) with toy string.

With the winter weather and shorter days, my time seems to be swallowed up! I have a lot of demanding boarders that require my attention! Roo gets bored if he can't go outside. He is feather challenged so going outside has to be limited to warm weather. So, instead, I make him strings of tantalizing items that he cannot resist. In this photo, he seems to be avoiding it. However, he is actually very interested and just doesn't want the camera to catch his delight. I use polyrope and string together fun things like baby spoons, fuse beads, sunshine wheels, munch balls, leather disks, and pony beads.

Simon w breakfast on door.

Simon here is more interested in food. He like to have out-of-cage time but will come down to the door to enjoy his breakfast. Birdy Bread, with the produce makes him a happy camper!

Joshua pushing his limits.

While I'm kept busy elsewhere, Joshua decides to push his limits! I ran short of ceiling guards after hanging numerous Atoms all over the house. I figured he played happily on his apparatus and wouldn't need them... WRONG! He climbed up the chain to explore the ten foot ceiling. He looked at me when I asked him to come down with an impish grin. They know when they're in trouble!

The Way to Sara's Heart

2011-11-06T07:13:00.000-08:00

Cheese Tortellini Yummm

Life is slightly chaotic here lately as I'm having a little work done in the kitchen. I moved my own parrots upstairs to avoid any commotion, dust, or vibrations. I actually think they like it! One room has Chauncey, Buster, Joshua, and Sara (a boarding amazon). They look out the window and watch the activity from their safe location. I turn on their TV if it gets noisy.

Lucky for me and the birds, I have my small kitchen in the back of the house. I can still provide a yummy breakfast for the flock. Sara, who prefers human food, has especially enjoyed the cheese tortellini served recently.

Kiku gets Ben's Pins

Ben, my elderly Blue Crown conure, has his best buddy, Kiku visiting this week too. They are so into each other, that the commotion doesn't phase them at all!

Terrific Seminar Coming Up

2011-10-24T07:19:00.000-07:00

Don't miss the chance to participate and mingle with other bird people and spend the day learning new and exciting ways to interact with your parrot.

Sarah Rodenberg, the owner of Rodies in Clayton, is providing this fabulous opportunity!

Barbara Heidenreich, a renowned speaker and bird trainer (Good Bird.Com), will spend the entire day discussing parrot training and interacting with your parrot based on positive reinforcement.

You will learn a lot and be revitalized to improve your relationship with your bird.

This event will take place at Rodies, a wonderful bird store, in Clayton at 8863 Marsh Creek Road on Saturday November 5th from 9am to 4pm.

It will be fun and there will be lots of raffle prizes from exciting gift baskets to beautiful bird cages. You'll receive a participant's gift bag just for coming! This alone is worth a lot!

The proceeds of this event will go to Sarah's Bird Education for Kids project that brings kids into the world of parrots in many creative ways.

The cost is $125 and includes a BBQ lunch and all the day's festivities and the excitement of learning how to better relate to your bird.

Space is limited so call today 925 672 4600 or email Sarah Sarah@rodiesfeed.com to reserve your seat!

Bird Toy Making Center

2011-10-17T13:30:00.000-07:00

One of most difficult things to keep organized is all the bird toy making items. I like to be able to quickly put together a toy. I had various parts all stored in miscellaneous containers and, needless to say, it looked very messy. Plus, I had to open the tops of each container to get to the parts.

One or two trips to The Container Store in Walnut Creek solved my organization problem. I now have a great Toy Making Center with open bins to pick and pull the desired parts.

I have certain favorites that I try to keep stocked. Pony beads, fuse beads, sunshine wheels, leather pieces, plastic chain, loofah pieces, and lots and lots of wood blocks and corrugated cardboard.

I can cut a piece of Pauly Rope, grab a pair of shoelaces, or use a skewer and create a custom toy masterpiece for any bird.

Every bird home should have such a place! What fun!

Joshua Gets Away With It

2011-10-10T07:50:00.000-07:00

Joshua gets away with murder. Josh gets regular visits from Hermann and they enjoy each other so much! I don't have the heart to regulate the activity. Joshua spends every moment with Hermann in total joy. The precocious parrot kept trying to get at Hermann's eye glasses. (These guys will make up their own games.) Hermann decided to bring an old pair of glasses for Joshua to "play with". Is this a good idea? Probably not. But watching how much fun they are both having, makes it impossible to intervene. They truly have a lovely rapport. Josh will just about do anything for Hermann. This is just one example of how engaging and interactive our parrots can be.

Fear of New Toys

2011-10-03T08:18:00.000-07:00

Burd can't resist the millet.

This last week I made some new toys for the visiting birds. When I place one in Burd's cage, he seemed reluctant to touch it. I certainly don't want to stress anybody out! This toy is a string of tiny fuse beads and pony beads with a block of balsa wood in the middle. Balsa wood is usually well received! It's so soft and chewy! In order to get Burd to get closer to the "scary" toy, I clipped a piece of spray millet to the toy. It took two seconds for Burd to approach!

Making Toys Last

2011-10-01T09:02:00.000-07:00

Sometimes it's difficult to make toys last. After all, the best toys are the ones that our birds like to destroy! However, it gets frustrating if the shredible toy gets attacked at the hanging loop first and ends up at the bottom of the birdcage where the poop is. One solution is to protect the hanging portion of the toy with a buffer. For this fun shredible toy, I used a section of luffa! The birds love chewing on this interesting texture so it actually adds a lot of interest to the toy. One can get creative with ways to hide the vulnerable parts of the good toys. Paper tubes, straws, and stacked pony beads are some other solutions.

Tiel Socialization

2011-09-28T08:24:00.000-07:00

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

2011-09-26T07:55:00.000-07:00

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

2011-09-15T18:33:00.000-07:00

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

2011-09-13T10:39:00.000-07:00

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

2011-09-11T13:30:00.000-07:00

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

2011-09-08T08:08:00.000-07:00

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

2011-09-03T16:05:00.000-07:00

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.

Tiel Time is Fun Time

2011-08-24T07:43:00.000-07:00

Brie and Abby Here For A Visit

Yesterday, Brie and Abby came down for a pedicure and enjoyed hanging out in the cockatiel room with the flock. They seemed to be quite comfortable on the new Atom that I recently installed in there. An Atom allows the birds to find positions that don't create a territorial dispute. Birds like to have their personal space, so to speak. If one is directly above the other, there is a dominant/submissive posturing going on. A lot of this is quite natural and doesn't upset most flocking birds. They are used to squabbling and readjusting their position within the flock and territory.

I have mostly male cockatiels so a visit from these two pretty girls was a nice change. You'd think the boys would be drawn to them but Echo, my big friendly boy, wouldn't leave Sue, the visiting mom, alone! He just wanted to be on her and get human attention! This just goes to show how much we play a part in the flock dynamics.

Some Birds Are Easier Than Others

2011-08-13T12:45:00.000-07:00

PJ Gettin Down and Dirty

PJ is visiting! She is a hyperactive goffins who is difficult to keep challenged as her attention span is usually one minute at the most. That sentence, if said fast, exemplifies PJ's personality.

Unfortunately, when she gets bored, she pulls out her feathers. After watching her "get comfortable" in a stainless steel cup, I realized she is quite hormonal this week and interested in "feeling good". She can see her image in the shiny cup and then she can position herself for pleasure...need I say more?

This is not a good state of mind to be in if you're an anxious goffins. I diverted her attentions to another cage, sans stainless steel cups, and inserted some treats inside a pink foraging wheel.

PJ Enjoying A Better Pastime

Imagine my surprise when she spent over 20 minutes working on excavating the almond from that toy! This toy is a simple Jungle Talk toy! Cheap and yet challenging. It really helps to have oodles of foraging toys and just keep them in a bin handy to fill and hang each day for something different. You could even pre-fill them if the treats won't spoil. Almonds in the shell are great because they become a new challenge when they are finally retrieved from the toy. http://www.everythingbirdie.com/jutamamutrdi.html

Having an intelligent active and eager parrot is not for everyone. A bird such as this takes lots of time, work, patience, and creative ideas.

In return, you get an engaging, interactive, talkative, entertaining, little companion. But with that comes an enormous amount of guilt. It's nearly impossible to create an environment that keeps these guys stimulated and busy all day long, year after year. Definitely possible, just not easy!

Social Misting Time

2011-08-10T09:29:00.000-07:00

Echo and Rocky Unfold For Complete Saturation

Before the cages get cleaned, the foods get distributed, and the floors get swept and mopped, it's shower time! While the flock of cockatiels is out on the hanging gyms in the morning sunshine, I fill the large misting bottle and begin what turns into a free for all. (This procedure is a little messy but it's worth it.)

It's funny how some of the guest tiels are more shy about getting wet at first. They aren't forced to bathe, of course. However, by watching the pros enjoy themselves, they soon mimic this behavior and become bathing aficionados. Soon, the entire room is unfolding and fluffing to get their dusty and powdery feathers all the moisture that they can hold.

Afterwards, there is a preening session that goes on for an hour. Spending time in the tiel. room is very calming. You are amongst some very happy campers in there! They have the best of everything. They enjoy each other's company but are not cramped or forced to accept any attention that they don't want. If someone's personal space is encroached upon, the perceived intruder is either given the signal to buzz off, or the less socially inclined bird moves easily to a different spot in the large room. A flock society is very respectful.

An Outgoing Grey, Joshua

2011-08-07T08:15:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a day to simply care for and play with the birds. I actually had the time to spend pausing and watching as the parrots enjoyed outside of the cage time. I was mesmerized watching how Joshua immersed himself in play on his Atom hanging over his cage. He climbed up and rolled around in it with delight. He would look over to make sure I was watching, just like a toddler.

You can see, in this closeup, how relaxed he is! Providing a safe and fun environment for our parrots is so important. I like an Atom over the cage because it's out of the way and easy to just let the bird out for some free time. They tend to feel comfortable in their own zone.

Joshua is learning "Time to go back." He knows the routine, however, he also knows how to be a bit stubborn. He would like to just stay out all the time. But I am a firm believer that it's our job to guard their safety. If I'm not in the area, Joshua can get into trouble.

Sometimes he gets startled and flies off. He found himself on Chauncey's cage yesterday. I heard the commotion and came to the rescue. Chauncey, my slender billed cockatoo, has a beak that is quite intimidating. He was not happy having Joshua on his cage and was poking at him! Poor Josh didn't quite know what to do. I walked up to him and said, "Time to go back." and he flew over to his own cage! No harm done and peace reigned again. If you want to get an Atom, go to http://www.motherpluckinbirdtoys.com/

Tweeters Is A Survivor

2011-08-05T08:25:00.000-07:00

This is Tweeters. She is one of my Peace of Mind Placement birds. Unfortunately, last Sunday, her mommy passed away. There were instructions to call me and I went over to retrieve her right away. I brought her home and I am watching her for signs of grieving or depression. So far, she seems pretty active and is eating well. Some birds can shut down when their world changes. Tweeters, however, is a greencheek conure and that means active and playful.

She is a gorgeous bird with brilliant jewel colors.

Charlotte and Tweets Bonding

I have her located next to Ben, my Blue Crown Conure. Ben and Tweeters seem to be communicating and they appear to enjoy each other's company. Yesterday, Charlotte was working in that area and Tweeters became her corsage. Apparently Tweets is accustomed to being on a person all the time! What a sweetie.

(Peace of Mind Placement is a subscription service that I provide for people who have no family or friend to assume responsibility for their bird if they "don't come home" one day.)

Munch and Sam/Power Eaters

2011-08-04T10:47:00.000-07:00

Munchie, seen on the left eating Broccoli, and Sam, scarfing up the Psittacine Cuisine, are the best of eaters! They are eager to try just about everything!

When breakfast is served, they are totally available! While the flock enjoys their free flight time, Munch and Sam eat heartily. I get busy and clean the cages and sweep the floor. While I am distracted....

look who found the open bucket of Nutriberries! I think Munch is the ringleader but Sam follows him in every adventure. Sam can't move around as easily as Munchie so it looks like he is standing watch for his friend.

Sure hope they don't teach the rest of the flock how to break into the stash! It is so rewarding to see the bonds and friendships formed in the flock. Munch and Sam are certainly a dynamic duo!

True Nanny Job

2011-07-30T08:39:00.000-07:00

Littlest In Middle Stays Warm

I have the opportunity this week to be a true nanny to a young family. The mom and dad are cockatiels and they are doing a wonderful job of caring for their five babies in the nestbox. In order to have survival of all five chicks, they have to have abundant food. (Unfortunately, the youngest chicks don't always survive due to the huge size difference.) But this mom and dad seem to be very successful. I go over twice a day to replenish their selection of soft foods and fresh produce. I also let them out to fly about and get the cabin fever out of their system. After a little flying, it's back to business. The mom is the diligent caregiver. She is serious about eating heartily and then feeding the babies. She scolds the dad to come back in and help out! He seems to prefer standing guard on top of the cage. I am pleased to say that all five babies are already spoken for and will be in good homes. Looks like three "heavy pieds" and two solid yellow or white birds. Gorgeous.

Mama Eats Ravenously

Dad Stands Guard

Mimic Comfort? Yes!

2011-07-27T09:37:00.000-07:00

Zoey and PJ Comforting Each Other

Zoey, on the left, is staying with me for the first time. She has never boarded anywhere! It was stressful for her the first day as she missed her mom and wasn't used to a multiple-bird environment. She found a favorite spot in the cage and stayed there.

I noticed that she wasn't going to the food dish so I inserted an In and Out cup up where she was stationary. I also moved an active and happy guest Goffins over to be parallel with her. PJ would comfort her and when PJ moved around, so did Zoey! When PJ started eating, so did Zoey! Now Zoey is more comfortable and I even caught her playing with a toy. Hallelujah. She is still a little shy, but PJ will draw out her personality soon!

I also used this method with Lily, a first time boarding grey. She was taken aback by the environment and stayed quite still the first day. I turned Lily's cage to put her preferred perch next to Joshua's food dish. As she watched Joshua chow down, she quickly mimicked the behavior and went to find her food.

There is something magical about watching a bird watch a same species bird next to her for the first time. A kinship is quickly formed. I luckily have many eager parrots ready to show the newcomers how great this place is. Lots of good food and attention!

Shy Grey Discovers Foraging

2011-07-24T11:03:00.000-07:00

Lily is a new guest. She was quite shy at first and refused to investigate her larger boarding cage. Her home cage is smaller. To encourage her to migrate, I turned her cage around so that her chosen position was near Joshua. Joshua is an active grey. She soon learned to climb around and found the foraging toy that was hanging on the backside of the cage. It contained pistachio nuts and papaya pieces. She forgot her shyness and figured out how to get inside the various cups containing the treats. Now she is active and eating and having fun. It just took her a day to settle in and get comfortable.

Freedom to Hang Out

2011-07-16T09:24:00.000-07:00

Some birds are more active than others! Joshua is what I would call an active grey. I have provided him his own hanging play area over his cage so that he can expend some of this energy.

Recently, I purchased a new toy from Cavalier Bird Toys. It's called the Big Bird Pull-Thru Parrot Toy.

When I saw it, I immediately thought of Josh. He hangs around like a bat!

I allowed him to look at it for a day before placing it up on his play gym. There wasn't enough room inside his cage for getting the ultimate play from this toy. He was immediately mesmerized by the hanging rings. It took him about one minute to go over and begin exploring.

Watching a parrot have fun is so rewarding!

It Takes Two Baby!

2011-07-11T08:01:00.000-07:00

Charlotte and Delphis

Since the Fourth of July I've had a full house! How do I do it? I have help!

Charlotte is seen here working with Delphis who tried to supervise her cleaning efforts. He would climb down to observe every move she made as she cleaned the grate.

Delphis cages with his companion, Andres, the hen umbrella seen sitting quietly in the cage as all this action is taking place.

It's a great example of the differences between Goffins and Umbrellas. Goffins, often called Goofy Goffins, are much more active and inquisitive. They explore everything and everyone. Umbrellas are sometimes more reserved around strangers, although not always!

I appreciate Charlotte so much. When there's lots to do, it takes teamwork to get the job accomplished. It's very reassuring to know I have an assistant that can be calm and comfortable around all the parrots. Everyone here seems to love her!

Velcro Birds

2011-07-04T12:38:00.000-07:00

Artie gives the term Velcro Bird new meaning. Today was pick up day for three of the guest cockatoos. When Keith arrived and collected Artie, she would not let go of him! She played the infamous game of climb behind the neck and evade capture. Then she literally climbed down his t-shirt. Due to her history, Artie is handled with kid gloves as to not stress her. Keith exhibited patience beyond belief. He eventually shed his t-shirt to coax little Artie into the waiting carrier. So cute, so funny, and so Artie!

Cockatoos Abound This Weekend

2011-07-03T11:45:00.000-07:00

Cockatoo Grand Central

Currently, I have seven cockatoos in residence. Who needs fireworks? Every single one of them has issues with feather destruction. That puts a lot of pressure on me to return them happily to their homes with their feathers and emotions in decent shape. Artie, PJ, Rooster, Bintel, Andres, Delphis, and my own Chauncey absolutely crave the Biggie Fuse Beads strung on Poly Rope. Actually all parrots seem to love these soft pliable tube beads but cockatoos especially adore them.

Andres Loves Fuse Beads

Delphis Loves Poly Rope

Andres loves to take her time to chew the fuse bead and squish it in her beak.

Delphis has found his delight in the Poly Rope. I believe these two items have the tactile qualities that parrots crave. Their tongues fiddle with the spongy textures and they seem to be quite happy and content. Of course, I am restringing the Poly Rope throughout the day but that task is fairly easy. I can untie the knots and restring in a matter of minutes. I use squares of cardboard, woven finger traps, large pony beads, Sunshine Wheels, along with the Biggie Fuse beads. I tie the strings on a baby link so that I can quickly and easily install and remove these as needed.

Happy Wet Horizontal Too

2011-06-27T07:23:00.000-07:00

Can't Get Wet Enough!

The weather has cooperated lately allowing the parrots to be place outside for some fresh air and sunshine. Rooster, seen here, could not get enough of the spray shower. I ended up just placing the nozzle on top of the cage so that it could rain down on Mr. Roo. He got drenched and spent the entire afternoon preening and basking without so much as a peep. That was one happy camper! Sure hope he gets an outdoor enclosure at his home soon. He is a good candidate for one!

Where's Waldo? I mean Barnaby!

2011-06-23T19:00:00.000-07:00

Can you spot Barnaby?

This photo shows how camouflaged a parrot can be in the jungle canopy. Barnaby was climbing in the tree having a ball! Not here, of course, but at his home. I like to put branches in the large flight cages outside for the parrots to shred. They love bamboo! It must taste sweet. Everyone enjoys a sunny day spent outdoors.

Butters At The Wheel

2011-06-22T11:27:00.000-07:00

This is Butters, sometimes known as Mr. B. He may only be five inches long, but his personality is HUGE. Butters is one lucky little dude. His mom is a photographer and he sometimes gets to go on ride alongs! Last week he went to the Marin Headlands. This photo of him on the steering wheel truly represents how Mr. B is King of the World. If you would like to check out Butter's mom and her fabulous photos, go to http://www.saucierimages.com/ . I know you'll enjoy!

Toys Destroyed

2011-06-19T21:33:00.000-07:00

I have fun making toys for my parrots. However, I still like to purchase new ones now and then to give my birds something new to hold their interest. Recently, I bought two busy wood toys from Michelle at Mother Pluckin'.
These are called Avian Flapjacks! 80 irresistible pieces of crunchy wood! Two identical toys, one for each Molly, my Blue and Gold, and one for Lucy, my scarlet. Molly is dainty and casually chooses a piece of wood to chew.

Lucy, on the other hand, jumps on and attempts total destruction in minutes. She hasn't obliterated it yet, but give her time. There is a pile of wood pieces below! I will save these pieces and use them in a foot toy crock. When you gotta crunch, you gotta crunch!

Macaws are wood chewing fools. Chauncey, my slender billed cockatoo, is more tactile. He loves to feel various textures. Today, he looped a ring around his beak and then rubbed a rope perch. I'm sure he was mesmerized by the feeling. Funny bird.

Each one is special.

The Happy Chatter of Happy Budgies

2011-06-14T19:21:00.000-07:00

DewDrop and Clouds

This house now has the wonderful chatter of budgies! DewDrop and Clouds will be long term boarders in the "Cockatiel Room". They are happy and cheery and add so much to the flock in there.

I trimmed their wings so that they could get the lay of the land when I let them out. I was concerned that they might hit the wall or window too hard because they fly like bullets. This way they can get used to the ladders and ropes and "learn the ropes".

A Place To Feel Sheltered

2011-06-03T07:13:00.000-07:00

Every parrot needs a place inside his cage where he can feel safe and calm. Especially if he is next to another parrot or near a window. Buster is next to Chauncey, my slender billed cockatoo. He is also next to a large window. So I created a shelter for him by attaching a rodent mat to the side of his cage. I used cable ties (zip ties) pulled tight and I bent the top over to create roof of sorts. I attached a piece of cuddle bone as an added enrichment.

Buster was suspicious at first. He was bribed to go up and investigate by my putting his favorite foods in a crock near the new shelter. Sure enough, that's all it took. He went up and was soon quite comfortable roosting in his new shelter.

However, he was so comfortable, that he started to chew on the irresistible mat. That's what it's made for after all. He spent days shredding the mat happily.

Luckily, these mats are cheap.
They can be found in the small
animal section of any pet store.

I guess Buster missed seeing his neighbor, Chauncey! Now he has a window to peek out of.

Whatever keeps a parrot busy is a good thing...
I guess I'll start buying these in bulk from now on!

Contra Freeloading

2011-05-30T07:49:00.000-07:00

I recently attended a seminar where one of the topics was Contra Freeloading. I hadn't heard of that one either! Simply put, it means when a parrot chooses to forage rather than eat from an easily accessible source.

Rooster has been a guest for a couple of days and I noticed that he is doing some feather picking. He seemed to prefer his Harrison cubes to any other food so I created a foraging opportunity for him.

I took a handful of Harrison's out of his bowl and inserted them in a wiffle ball while he watched. He was very intrigued. Then I placed the ball in the crock next to his Harrison's. He chose to go for the wiffle ball! Contra Freeloading was demonstrated.

He picked it up and tweaked a cube out of one of the holes. Yea, go Roo! Of course he dropped the ball and I reinstalled it in his bowl but he continued to select the option of the ball over just getting the food from the neighboring bowl.

This foraging gave him a job to do and he seemed to enjoy each cube thoroughly. It also took a lot of time to eat. Challenging our birds is a constant, and keeping them engaged in their own entertainment is vital.

Joshua Has Visitors

2011-05-28T11:58:00.000-07:00

Joshua Loves Claudia

Joshua is still very shy about stepping onto a hand. However, he is not bashful about giving "kisses". We humans call them kisses but to Joshua, he is just trying to get fed or feed his perceived mate! "Sharing food" is a mate-bonding experience. Since Josh feels insecure, he calms himself and requests assurance by exhibiting this behavior. He gets regular visits from Claudia while her dad, Hermann, recovers from a health issue. Joshua misses Hermann and says his name as if to ask for him. Lucky for me Joshua loves Claudia just as much.

Joshua now has full wings and will fly about the living room with ease. He landed on the highest Atom yesterday and would only come down for Claudia! Birds feel safest when they're above the fray. Josh saw absolutely no reason to come down. He would have stayed up high for the whole day! I had to run errands and couldn't let him stay aloft. Claudia used her wiles and some juicy grapes to lure him down for some up close face time. Thank you Claudia!

Boarding a sensitive bird.

2011-05-22T19:16:00.000-07:00

Boarding can be stressful under any circumstance. Jasper is one of my regulars. He certainly has some feather issues and his mom and I gratefully count the feathers as they grow in. I go to great lengths to send Jasper home in good condition. This go round he came to me with some tail feathers and chest feathers! I supply a cage filled with preening enrichments and foraging toys. He gets his spray bath and out-of-cage time and we just keep our fingers crossed as the days tick by. He's a happy little camper and he knows how to keep busy.

Parrot Yoga

2011-05-18T11:48:00.000-07:00

Stretch Those Drumsticks!

Cage activities are very important and most parrots spend the majority of their day inside of a cage.

However, getting the chance to come out of the cage and flap their wings or stretch their legs is vital. A bird that doesn't get to do this will become bored and lose muscle tone.

Hanging an Atom from the ceiling is the easiest solution. It is easy to maneuver underneath and it spins! What fun the birds have flapping and spinning. They especially like to do this when I mist them with a water bottle.

Chauncey here just enjoys a long stretch. He's a muscular bird and observes the world in a very social and intellectual way. He always has a comment to make, even upside down! Atoms are available from Mother Pluckin Bird Toys. They are a fantastic investment in your parrot's activity levels.
http://www.motherpluckinbirdtoys.com/

2011-05-17T10:46:00.000-07:00

Artie's Official Poop Shirt

Artie is much loved by Keith and Margie. She, yes SHE, was rescued from a horrible situation and is now thriving. She has a special relationship with Keith, seen here reluctantly. We have all worn parrots now and then and we all know what happens to our clothing when this is practiced... having a special shirt for the occasion is a good solution.

Artie gets her collar off tomorrow for another chance at freedom. We will keep our fingers crossed that she doesn't start any self destruction. Parrots deal with stress and anxiety in obsessive compulsive ways. Then, unfortunately, it becomes a patterned behavior. Breaking a patterned behavior is very difficult. We don't always understand the triggers involved or the relief they get from doing hurtful things to themselves. Psychology is complicated.

Active Goffins

2011-05-16T08:23:00.000-07:00

Luve Goffins Romping On Top of Her Cage

Luve has a lot to do inside her cage. She is very active, as most Goffins are! Their hyper activity disorder is one reason these birds are difficult to keep feathered. They go from one activity to the next and soon run out of new challenges. When Luve is here I have to move things around and fill her foraging toys twice a day, if not more. When I am present, I just open her door to allow her to romp on top of her cage. She loves it and seems much happier.

Toy Challenges

2011-05-13T20:12:00.000-07:00

Starbird SpinaRoo Foraging Block

Starbird Toys has a great new foraging challenge for our parrots. It's called a SpinaRoo. Chauncey, my master puzzle solver, took one day to figure it out.

But I swiveled the blocks slightly to allow him to see the food treats inserted inside. Tomorrow, I will close it up and see how long it will take him to discover his pistachio nuts. This toy comes in two sizes. The one seen here is the large version. I highly recommend this toy. http://www.estarbird.com/products/SpinaRoo.html

Lulli Guzzles His Bottle

Of course, one can use just about any container to create a foraging toy! See Lulli here? He loves to guzzle a pine nut out of a bottle. He is fast as lightning. The bottles end up on the floor of the cage...making the SpinaRoo a better choice!

Challenging our birds to find their food treats is so important.

Are Parrots Birdwatchers?

2011-05-11T18:17:00.000-07:00

Luve Watching Chickadee Nestbox

Luve, a goffins cockatoo, was having a fine day outside in a large flight cage. I would go out periodically and mist the parrots with the hose. They loved it!

However, I soon noticed that Luve was fixated on the hanging nest box hung near my door. A pair of busy Chestnut Backed Chickadees have been raising their family in there for the last couple of weeks. They have the perfect set up with the netted area being predator free. They slip through the netting easily and are constantly bringing large juicy bugs to their babies. Luve was enthralled! She stopped all activity to watch and listen. Does she realize what is going on? Perhaps...

Ahhhh SpringTime!

2011-05-07T08:28:00.000-07:00

This weather has been so wonderful. Finally I can rotate the parrots to the outdoor cages for some time in the sunshine and fresh air.

Big Bird and Knuckles seem to love it and they would choose to stay out all day long if they were allowed to. Actually getting them to come inside is such an ordeal that they get to stay out for extra long periods.

Whenever one is dealing with two bonded birds, there is a dynamic of protection and cooperative resistance that is exhausting. I have resorted to having another person stand at the back of the enclosure, on the outside, to pose as a distraction. They are more inclined to step up for me if another person is "looming" at the back.

As with any behavior, the trick is not to allow it to become a "game". Luckily, I have the schedule that allows for patience and calm. I will go out and bring everyone else inside using the command, "Ready?" "Time to go back!" It's a routine that Knuckles and Big Bird watch intently. Then, they KNOW it's their turn.

I request the initial step up...they refuse and rush to the back of the large enclosure. I go into the house. They wait there and wonder and move back to the door area. Then I go out and ask again. If they move away again, I go back inside. The third time, I ask for some assistance from my son or anyone who is here visiting. The "Good Cop, Bad Cop" method is always successful. For one reason, they know that it's time for them to go inside. And second, they are unsure what that other person is doing and feel more comfortable coming to me. Behavior management is an ongoing challenge. Keeping the drama out of the process is key. Subtle manipulation...

A Grey Kind Of Day

2011-05-05T07:29:00.000-07:00

It's probably difficult to see the various greys in this photo, however, they were all out of their cages and enjoying a rousing chatter with each other. I love it when I have a group of greys. They truly talk and whistle to each other as well as myself. It's like a party! Currently, I have Buster and Joshua (my greys) as well as Apollo and Minna, two guest greys. I can see their inquisitiveness in watching each other. They mimic the other's phrases and continue to learn. I'm wondering if my two greys will start saying, "Gotta go to work, make some money, to go to Gayle's!" Apollo is an exceptional talker and seems to love coming here. They also mimic the behaviors such as eating and climbing. Timid greys come out of their shell and boisterous greys settle down to the routine easily.

Why Parrot Nanny?

2011-05-04T19:03:00.000-07:00

Recently I was contacted about potentially boarding two cockatiels here. Trying to negotiate the rate, the mom suggested that the two tiels remain in their cages and only eat the Kaytee seed that she would bring. That's not what Parrot Nanny is all about.

I pride the bird care here on quality care, out of cage time, excellent foods, misting showers, and attentive experienced observation. Each bird experiences a vacation of their own.

I would follow any instruction to the tee to make the client feel comfortable. After all, I am at their service. But I would strive to educate anyone who feels a caged life of seed only is not doing any parrot justice. Our birds deserve more.

Here is what life is like around here for cockatiels! They truly have a ball.

Fresh Air and Flight Time

Sunshine or Shade?

Indoor Playtime Hanging Out

All the bird guests at Parrot Nanny get top notch treatment. Again, I respect any request for special diet, or not to go outside, or even to remain in the cage.

However, negotiations for rate discounts are solely based on length of stay and/or multiple birds.

Ben Gets A Visit from Kiku

2011-05-02T08:03:00.000-07:00

Kiku Visits with Ben

Kiku has returned for a mini vacation at Parrot Nanny. When Kiku comes, the excitement is loud! Ben loves Kiku and likewise from Kiku. Immediately Kiku got to work on Ben's pin feathers on the back of his neck. They are allowed to fraternize for some of each day with both cages left open. They hang out and climb around happily. Oh happy day!

However, one must be careful when approaching this area. Kiku is VERY protective of old Ben. He gets very possessive. That's why this photo isn't very good. I tried to capture their mutual bliss as they were cooing and chattering. But Kiku alerted to the intrusion and placed himself between me and his buddy.

Joshua's New Play Area

2011-04-30T10:08:00.000-07:00

Joshua has a new play zone. He was so anxious about coming out of his cage that I decided to install a play area directly above him. Yes, he was intimidated by the apparatus at first. But within two days, he was climbing around like a pro. He would hang and flap his wings and even lay on his back as he attacked the hanging bell toy in the center of the Medium Atom. Next to the Atom is a stretched out rope bungee so that he can easily get up to the Atom and back down. He thoroughly enjoys this added activity and gets lots of exercise! Playing up high seems to bolster their self esteem. They have no sense of insecurity when they are higher up. To get him back inside the cage, I simply place his food cup inside and wait patiently. He eventually gets hungry and returns to his cage.

My Philosophy

2011-04-29T08:11:00.000-07:00

Cute Baby or Smart Student?

Recently, I was contacted by a breeder that wants me to work with a new mom of a cockatoo baby. She had taught the basics but wanted someone local to reinforce the proper foundations of the early years. It made me think about what my philosophy is.

My philosophy is to encourage the proper type of relationship with the parrot. Making the role one of a parent or teacher, not a mate or lover. I always emphasise what is best for the bird.
However, some people can't keep themselves from cooing and cuddling. They often see their fluffy white cockatoo as a baby that needs and gives "love" not a long lived, intelligent wild being with instincts to attract a mate, defend a territory, and procreate. Life can get very confusing for a parrot.

The only relationship they have is the one with the family. And that one is often disfunctional because it doesn't satisfy their natural urges. But if one can redirect all of those urges to instructional play and challenging tasks (foraging), the bird's self esteem can be boosted and the energies can be dissipated.

The problems come with the fact that these guys live "forever" and they are so high maintenance. Keeping them challenged and teaching them to entertain themselves is an ongoing project. If they don't do the work in the beginning years, they will end up with a monster or brat of their own creation.

Education and support is a passion for me. Keeping parrots in their homes is a goal.

Leisure Breakfast Shared

2011-04-27T10:28:00.000-07:00

Want A Bite? Yummm.

When life gets calm and I can take my time with the breakfast chores, I love to wander around the parrots with various foods. Birds that don't go down to the regular food bowls, will often take a taste of what I am offering. I feel very connected to these guys. I'll open a carton of yogurt and offer tastes as I walk around. Then I'll peel a banana and offer bites through the cage bars. Next, green beans, grapes, apple or whatever... It's really fun to share breakfast with the flock. My son, Paul, always brings his breakfast sandwich here and the final bite gets torn into small portions and distributed to the living room birds. Now they watch him intently and await their fair share. I don't know of many parrot people who can resist sharing what they're eating with their bird! It's the best way to get them to try something new.

Avian Companion Behavior Seminar

2011-04-26T07:42:00.000-07:00

Just a heads up. There will be a seminar on May 21st and May 22nd at the Renaissance Club Sport in Walnut Creek. The emphasis is on the science of our bird's behavior. All proceeds go to CHRP, a non profit organization. Saturday will be talks given by Dr. Speer, Steve Martin, Lara Joseph, and Laurie Baker. Sunday is a series of workshops. For more information:

http://www.feathered-follies.com/_data/docs/chrp2011/seminar%20brochure%202011.pdf

See you there!

Toy Preferences

2011-04-25T11:48:00.000-07:00

Every parrot has a preference for what type of toys he or she prefers. Some birds are harder to figure out than others. I can usually entice the guest parrots to try shredding on corrugated cardboard or soft wood blocks.

Chauncey, my slender billed cockatoo, is a whole different sort of bird. With that beak, one would hope he would like to chew wood. However, Chauncey is much more cerebral. He seems to love the tactile feeling of something touching his face. He will often wrap cloth or string around his face and stay motionless for long periods. I suppose it's sort of a self-massage. I do worry about entanglement but he seems able to manage this successfully without trouble.

He is also incredibly fast at solving foraging issues. I have many foraging toys for him and try to limit his feeding to this type of activity. Other than the soft cooked foods, most of his dry food is placed inside foraging toys. The newest one was recently purchased from Cavalier Bird Toys. http://store.cavalierbirdtoys.com/foragingtoys.html

Cavalier is new to me but they have lots of fun new toys. Chauncey looked warily at the new addition in his cage for one day but soon delved inside to get the pistachio nut that he saw me hide there.

I also purchased a noise banger toy for Joshua. He seems to like to make a racket! He is much more cautious about new items. I hung it across the room and moved it closer slowly over the week. Today it's in his cage for the first time and he is avoiding it completely. (Therefore I didn't position it near his food or water!) I'm sure he'll attack it with pleasure soon. Joshua likes to hang on vines (ropes) and make noise with just about anything. Perhaps I'll move one of Chauncey's musical toys over to Joshua's cage for some variety!

Safe Travel With Burd

2011-04-23T16:15:00.000-07:00

Today, Burd and his mom came over for a visit. Burd doesn't care for his smaller travel cage so Stefanie simply packed him up for the journey in his regular house cage. He had an exciting day! First, to the vet for his checkup. Then to Parrot Nanny's for a chance to reconnect. Then he was off to work with mom! He'll sleep well tonight!

If you travel with your bird in the front passenger seat, be aware that an airbag can crush a wire cage. They are very forceful! If the traffic stops suddenly and a collision happens, tragedy could occur. Stefanie already knew this and had switched her airbag off for Burd's Big Adventure. She also had the marvelous idea to order a seat belt extension to adapt her car for her special passenger. Many times the existing seatbelt just doesn't fit around the cage or carrier. Especially if your avian companion travels like Burd!

It's our job to care for and protect our feathered charges. Don't think it can't happen to you.

Fresh Air and Sunshine

2011-04-18T08:51:00.000-07:00

This is Rooster. He is a much loved, very sweet, rescued Umbrella Cockatoo. During his recent stay here, he was taken outside to enjoy the beautiful sunny weather. He has some feather issues and the sunshine is good for that as well as his soul.

There was some concern when I took him outside as to how he would react. He was abandoned
in a previous home and left in
his cage by the apartment
house dumpster. Imagine! Yes, he can get a little noisy but he is a lover, not a piece of trash.

But now he is in a home where love abounds, a happy ending.

Rooster didn't seem to recall the sorry past and he thoroughly enjoyed the day. Later, when he was quite calm, I started the misting of the parrots. He watched as I misted Ben, Lucy, Molly, Buster, and Chauncey. Then when the mist "accidentally" wafted over his cage, he reacted with delight. So I continued to mist him. He became very animated and "turned inside out" to get the most drenched that he could. He was, indeed, a happy camper!

I am thankful that parrots can be very resilient and sad stories can have happy endings, thanks to organizations like Mickaboo and people like Rooster's new parents. If you can adopt a parrot, consider rescue. You might find a very rewarding experience and a very grateful bird!

Feather Picking Issues

2011-04-14T10:16:00.000-07:00

Companions For Life No Matter What

This is a portrait of a happy bird that is much loved. Artie is a girl who owns and adores her daddy. Mom is only slightly tolerated... but that's another story.

There are reoccurring issues with feather picking and even some breast mutilation with Miss Artie but these episodes are being managed with consistent veterinary help. It is suggested that she be given a reduced calorie diet. Less fruit or sugary treats and less warm cooked foods. This is due to the fact that, in the wild, when the rains begin and the food is abundant, the nesting season starts. The wild parrots will find mates and nest cavities and start the process of creating a family. Mutual preening and regurgitation establishes a loving caring pair.

Our avian companions live where the food is always abundant, the showers are frequent, and cuddling is common. It's no wonder they get confused and frustrated that we are not their idea of a perfect mate. The instinctive urges are there and we inadvertently promote them.

The only thing we can do when this emotional and physical anxiety ramps up, is to reduce the environmental conditions (less calories and less showering) and stop giving body rubs.

It seems cruel to just stop all of this so one should replace it with more instructional interactions. Spending time teaching the bird a trick or cued behavior will build the bird's self esteem and ego. They still need good food, good care, and good interaction but more thought must go into what type.

Feather Quill Pens

2011-04-10T21:29:00.000-07:00

My feather collection grows daily. I have donated my feathers to Native Americans and Artists. However recently, I was asked to donate some feathers to a classroom of youngsters so that they could make quill pens and use them in a special art project. Yes!

I even received a thank you note written by their teacher using a quill pen! She confessed that quill pens are not very successful if you are left handed.

It looks like this classroom had some fun with the feathers!

Patience Wins Over Joshua

2011-04-09T13:26:00.000-07:00

Hermann Tames Joshua

Patience and Love

Hermann has made tremendous progress with the very hand shy Joshua. He patiently sits and visits with "his boy" and Joshua responds with eager anticipation. They have begun to take walks around the house! This is a huge step for Joshua. He seems to trust Hermann and stays quite comfortable on his arm. That's not to say that Josh doesn't get nervous occasionally. He will see something out of the corner of his eye and Hermann gets a little nibble that shows him Joshua's anxiety. Joshua eagerly anticipates every visit from Hermann. And when Hermann gets ready to leave, Josh starts talking up a storm. He'll whistle and beep and even call the dog. Such dramatics will get Hermann to laugh and come back for one last skritch. What a guy!

Shadow Play

2011-04-08T12:08:00.000-07:00

Jasper was out playing the other day as I cleaned his cage and rearranged his toys. When I turned around to see why he was so "talkative" I saw him delightfully moving about watching his shadow on the wall. He was very animated and seemed thrilled to have a companion. What fun!

Jasper and his shadow.

Kitchen Help? Not so much...

2011-04-04T07:55:00.000-07:00

Dr. Featherman Senegal Parrot

My day is an active day of rotating birds to playareas and outdoor cages. Whenever I am spending time in the kitchen, some little character can be stationed on the dining room table. This past week was a rotation of "supervisors". I had Dr. Featherman (seen here) who thoroughly enjoyed hanging out and watching me and the television. If I am preparing the foods, I am the more entertaining! If my tasks are more mundane, like washing the dishes, then Sprout TV is fun and full of songs and animated characters.

Doc Featherman Supervising

If the doc here got tired, he could spend time in the Exotic Enclosure while his neighbor, Felix came over for her turn. I am never alone!

Now, if I could just train them to empty the dishwasher!

Parrot Daycare? You betcha!

2011-03-31T17:25:00.000-07:00

Pierre at Sunny Day Camp

Pierre is an only bird and lives in a condo. While dad goes to work, she gets a day to socialize and experience a warm day outside. Sunlight may be just what she needs to improve her feather condition.

Wet and Wild Amazon Girl

It got to 80 today! So all the birds got a nice mist shower. Nobody showers like an amazon! Look at Pierre in all her wet and wild glory! What fun she had!

I hope she comes often! When the parrots have fun, I have fun!!!

Cleaning Day is a Fun Day

2011-03-27T07:56:00.000-07:00

Bintel Makes Friends With Charlotte

Charlotte is an animal lover. She is perfect for coming over on weekends and helping me with the never ending task of cleaning around here. What I love most is that she takes the time to talk to and interact with the interested parrots all around her. They feel very comfortable with her and the various activities going on because she is tuned in to them.

Here, you see Bintel holding her hand. Bintel's phone was ringing a lot while Charlotte busied herself in the area.

Thank you Charlotte! You're a big part of me keeping my sanity around here! We both remarked on the ability of these characters to make a mess as fast as it is cleaned up. There's got to be a cartoon in there somewhere! Just another instance where a good sense of humor comes in handy!

Old Toy is New Again

2011-03-23T13:12:00.000-07:00

During this rainy week, I dug into some of the bins of old toys. I have lots and lots of toys and toy parts. Probably most parrot households have this same accumulation! I came across a toy that has plastic chain and a large plastic bell. I remember putting it away because it was so noisy! Well, I installed it into Joshua's cage and he loves it! He hangs from it and does battle with it. Joshua is a very active grey!

It doesn't take much to improve a parrot's environment. A new perch or toy or a food bowl placed in an unusual place can remedy their boredom in a moment.

Sometimes a cage setup gets very static. We don't bother to change it up. This may be due to our feeling that new things scare our birds, or it may be due to our busy lives. Our parrots are with us for many years and we have the responsibility to keep them challenged and entertained. A simple rearrangement of what's in the cage or an addition of something new will spark interest in most birds.

If a bird is terrified of new things, you can work on this anxiety. Placing the new object near the cage and pretending to play with it in an animated way will get your bird accustomed to it.

Whenever you add something that may be perceived as scary, make sure you don't put it near the parrot's food or water bowls. You want to introduce "scary things" in the most remote corner of the cage, not where the bird roosts for the night, etc.

One common method of introduction when a bird is nervous about new things is to place it in the room but within sight away from the cage, then move it to the outside of the cage, then move it to the far corners of the inside, and then it can be placed in the center.

Remember to calmly talk about the new item and play with it yourself near the bird. This will go a long way towards showing your bird that the new toy is fun.

Joshua? Afraid? Not on your life! He went right over and attacked the toy with gusto!

Plenty Keeps Me Busy

2011-03-22T08:10:00.000-07:00

Not everyone would thrive in this environment. And this isn't just anyone's living room! I am greeted each morning with a chorus of "Hi Ho, Hi Ho, It's off to work we go!" I wish you could hear the chorus.

Surprisingly, most of the time this home is fairly quiet. That's a relative determination, of course. But all in all, for having a house of parrots, they are usually happy and talkative, not screaming. Since Ben, my 33 year old Blue Crown Conure, is near the front of the house and let's out a blood curdling alarm when someone arrives, it may not seem quiet when you first get here!

But back to my day's agenda...Let the fun begin! I fortunately maintain the right attitude and calmly sing my way around the house as I uncover all the cages and happily say good morning to every bird. I can keenly observe how each is doing by their posture, poop, and looking them in the eye. (covertly, of course)

Then I prepare the breakfast bowls, change out the cage papers, and again give each bird their share of attention. Of course, at that stage of the day, they really just want breakfast! They thrive being in a multi parrot home. They watch intently as the breakfasts are served and their neighbor digs in whole heartedly.

My day gets gobbled up with supplying clean water bowls, fresh pellets and seeds, and the never ending job of sweeping the floors. There is always a parrot that needs to be rotated to a play area or given a shower or newly made toy. I have many stainless steel skewers and bins of holed toy parts and cardboard to quickly make something fun for any bird.

This daily regiment might seem monotonous to some, and it could be that. But the day is interspersed with the comings and goings of various birds which means I get fun visits from their moms and dads. Discussing parrot behavior and the challenges of sharing our homes with these intelligent and comical creatures makes for interesting discussion topics! Also, all of the parrots love it when someone walks through and says hello.

My home, my business, and my life is not for everyone. But I love it! I have the macaw room, the cockatiel room, the conure room, and the living room seen in the photo. You can see for yourself, I always have something to do!

Visitors Welcome

2011-03-20T09:19:00.000-07:00

Hermann Visits Joshua

Joshua has a frequent visitor. He looks forward to seeing his friend Hermann who comes over almost daily from Rossmoor. Joshua and Hermann have a connection. Mainly because Hermann has a calm demeanor and sits next to Josh's cage with the door open and encourages socialization. He has made huge steps in Josh's tolerating the touch of a hand.

Joshua Gets Stroked

What Hermann doesn't realize is that all of the neighboring parrots get a lot out of the visits too! Minna, Lincoln, Buster, and Buzz (all greys) watch intently to participate in the interactions. Chauncey and Luve, being cockatoos, watch as well but they have other things to do...like eat. Greys are so cerebral. They are the thinkers in the flock. Cockatoos are the doers. Barnaby, the large nape amazon, watches and comments with his low grunts and whistles. When Hermann leaves, you should hear the chorus of "bye byes!" Everyone enjoys Hermann!

Luve Goffins

2011-03-19T12:34:00.000-07:00

Luve Loves to Forage

One of the services that I perform is to resupply a parrot's foraging toys. Keeping them busy while they are "vacationing" here is imperative to their well being. Luve is a typical goffins which means she is hyper active. She goes from one activity to the next.

Here I placed her coconut toy inside her cage freshly packed with shredded paper and a couple of treats. She looked at it for a moment and dove in as soon as my hand left the cage! When a foraging toy becomes that easy to solve, it's time to find more intricate forms of foraging. Perhaps a puzzle toy that has to be manipulated would be a good option. I'll work on a few different choices to see what keeps her challenged. This coconut is almost a serving bowl for her!

Life At Parrot Nanny

2011-03-18T10:29:00.000-07:00

Echo Stuck Like Glue

Here is handsome little Echo admiring himself in a type of mirror. It's not really a mirror...it's simply a shiny washer. But he will find any shiny surface and keep company with that charming companion nose to nose. I've moved him to a different cage to avoid this situation. He and the flock are allowed to roam openly in the cockatiel room and this gives Echo a chance to sneak into the neighboring cage to visit with his image. It's not bad for a short visit, but inactivity is not a good thing with these guys. They need to climb, fly, eat, and drink. Be sure your bird isn't drawn to only one spot in the cage. Promote activity.

On a different subject....
I've had some clients voice concern over the Japan catastrophe radiation spreading to the West Coast. That, plus a very rainy week, has all of the birds staying indoors. I have been busy showering them and rotating them to the various playareas. They also have full spectrum lighting available. So having to spend their days indoors is not very punitive.

Do I think the threat of radiation is viable? Not really. But I want to err on the side of caution and I want my clients to relax and not be stressed.

Comfort Food

2011-03-14T08:58:00.000-07:00

Kiki Likes The Menu !

Around here, breakfast is a big deal! No matter what the birds are doing, they all stop and come down to their breakfast bowls to investigate the morning meal.
I use the Smart Crock In and Out Bowls because I can install them conveniently where the guest bird like to be, usually up high where they roost and play. The shallow bowl with the rounded rim make it easy to see the food and scan the various items for selection. When these foods are in a deep bowl, they get tossed out to get to the bottom!

Kiki, here, went straight for the apple. I serve a varied diet depending on the best fresh produce available. Warm cooked grains (My own Psittacine Cuisine) is always a portion of the meal. Fresh produce, a bit of cheese or a dollop of yogurt, perhaps some scrambled egg and toast? Each day is a little different. I also follow any special diet instructions that the bird is used to at home.

Do all birds eat everything? Of course not. Some reject it completely the first day. However, once they see the routine breakfast service and watch their neighbors chowing down, they soon learn to try out the offering. They mimic more than sounds! I've converted quite a few parrots to my cooked grains!

In the afternoon, I take my own baked Munch Muffins around and talk to each bird and offer bites of muffin. These are made with organic oat and barley flours and flax seed meal grated carrots and solid pack pumpkin along with 22 other ingredients to make them great for feather health. I purposefully exclude corn and wheat.

All in all, the parrots eat well!

Rocky and His Mom

2011-03-07T08:44:00.000-08:00

Carmen Loves Rocky

Rocky has been a part of the cockatiel flock for a while now. His mom came to visit him yesterday and saw how he fit in with the other "bachelors". She will be boarding him here for an extended period and is happy to see him interacting with the flock.

She experienced, first hand, the attraction (obsession) that Rocky has with Echo. Rocky wants to be near Echo at all times. Echo....not so much. But cockatiels have a way of settling territory and personal space issues without much drama. It helps to be able to just fly off to a different perch location. We should all be that quick to dismiss stress in our lives!

Echo and Rocky share Carmen

When Carmen gave Rocky some love and attention, Echo came right down to see if he could get his share.

It's a perfect world when cockatiels can have their flock and human company too!

Relationships

2011-02-24T08:48:00.000-08:00

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

2011-02-23T16:30:00.000-08:00

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?

2011-02-21T08:31:00.000-08:00

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...

2011-02-19T17:50:00.000-08:00

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

2011-02-11T17:28:00.000-08:00

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

2011-02-07T07:28:00.000-08:00

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

2011-02-06T08:33:00.000-08:00

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

2011-02-04T12:31:00.000-08:00

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?

First Timer

2011-01-29T15:43:00.000-08:00

Minna with Sydney

I had a visitor today. Sydney came she had never held a parrot before. We went to the macaws, but they acted a bit intimidating. So we decided on a more mild mannered bird. I chose Minna. Minna is a sweetie. You can tell by Syd's posture that she was a little nervous. Eventually she relaxed a bit more. Minna enjoyed meeting Syd.

Quick Cleaning of Crevices

2011-01-26T13:51:00.000-08:00

Some cages are not easy to clean. A thorough cleaning is certainly recommended when needed. However, when the cracks and crevices in hard to reach places get dusty or have bits of dry debris accumulating, you might resort to a quick fix.

I keep a "can of air" around. You know, the kind sold in office supply stores to clean out dust from electronic or computer equipment. It's not really air, it's compressed gas. These cans are labeled ozone safe and CFC free but I only use this method with the bird out of the area. For one thing, the sound would be off putting to a parrot!

A few quick shots from the canned duster and, voila, the dry bits are blown away. Works like a charm!

The can comes with a long tube to get into tiny grooves. Way cool.

Infatuation On A Whole New Level

2011-01-23T12:42:00.000-08:00

Rocky is the normal male cockatiel seen here on the left. (Normal is the description of his color, not his behavior or personality.) He is staying in my cockatiel room and learning to be a bird.

He is closely bonded to his human and has caused some trouble at home by being increasingly noisy. He has had different experiences with other cockatiels at his home as well. Now he is an only bird and his deep connection to his mom has become an issue. If a bird doesn't feel that you're listening...he just gets louder. And yet, if you respond, you're actually training him to be loud to get the attention.

So what is the answer? It's a very fine line. When a bird calls out to you, you should acknowledge but without reward. The best way to do this is to simply start to sing or whistle softly so that he can figure out where you are and know he is okay. If this doesn't quiet him, you can enter his area without making any eye contact and busy yourself in the vicinity. Straighten magazines on the coffee table, adjust a picture on the wall, while you talk softly about what you are doing. Don't pay any direct attention to him. Your presence may be enough to quiet him.

Make sure you go to the bird when he is quiet, eating, or playing and not when he is demanding your attention.

While Rocky has been here, he has become one of the flock. However, he seems to be infatuated with my own male cockatiel, Echo. Rocky zeroes in on Echo and follows him everywhere! Echo doesn't return the interest and acts like an older brother who has his kid brother pestering him. Not sure how this will play out in Rocky's future. Perhaps a male companion cockatiel would be in order. Rocky certainly seems quiet here, but then, everything is relative. In this home, quiet is someone else's noisy.

Rocky Watching Echo

Freedom to Roam

2011-01-22T13:18:00.000-08:00

Oro Watches Mom Read

Here is a photo of Oro at home. She was mesmerized at her vantage point above mom, who was reading below. It must have seemed wonderful for her to be above mom! I marveled at the perfectly untouched stair posts.

Sometimes, however, we allow things to get out of hand. One way we do this is to fail to put boundaries and limitations in our parrot's lives. After all, we want to give them as much freedom and joy as we can right?

But if a parrot is allowed to roam on the floor and wander throughout the house, the house becomes their territory. They then feel the need to protect and defend the whole area. Maybe not at first. Maybe not while they're young. But when they become sexually mature and their wildness comes to the surface, they go through a stronger period.

It is normal to have to deal with the wild and instinctual nature of these beautiful and intelligent creatures. However, it is easier to manage this if their perceived space is the cage and playgym. If their space includes the entire house, you're going to have a rambuncious time of it.

Think about how much more well behaved a parrot acts when in "a neutral area". They don't own it and therefore they remain on their best behavior. You don't want to burden your bird with having to take on a large area. That's too much stress. Close supervision and plenty of rules will make for years of success with these guys. They'll be happier, and you'll be happier.

Out of Cage Time and Joshua Update

2011-01-16T08:21:00.000-08:00

Simon On Pulley Gym

Simon is spending time here on my new pulley gym. This manzanita branch hangs in my living room and I can raise and lower it as needed.
Simon wasn't too sure about it at first. He is caged in a different room with his flockmates so coming downstairs to the big "Simon Sized" gym meant he was separated from his "family".
However, soon he relaxed and utilized the expansive branch complex. The second time he was brought to this contraption, he thoroughly relaxed. Everything takes time.

Joshua in the paneled cage.

As an update to Joshua's new and improved smaller cage (truly not small as it is a macaw size cage), here is a photo of him happily ensconced in the more familiar setting. The acrylic panels are mounted on the inside of the two back corners. These are the areas that he would tend to flee to when he flailed about. He gets around just fine using the ropes and perches. No hampering his style whatsoever. Who would have ever thought that a parrot would prefer a smaller cage.
I'm a firm believer that parrots like being in their cages. Some people only feel guilt-free if their birds are out all the time. But imagine if every day someone lifted the roof off of your cozy home and put you outside. There you go! Be free! Sometimes it's just nice to be in your comfort zone. Ideally, in my opinion, parrots should have brief sessions out of their cage. Going back intermittently will allow them to relax and eat.

Greys and their comments!

2011-01-14T13:10:00.000-08:00

Joshua Migrates to New Digs

We outfitted Josh's old cage
with the acrylic panels in the back corners to prevent his wings from getting wedged in the cage bars when he flails about. But I wanted him to migrate over to the new cage without the drama of a panic attack.

I opened the doors to both cages and enticed him to make the move with some of his favorite foods in the new cage. He started working his way over slowly eating the goodies as he went. I left the room to make him less self-conscientious. Of course, I stayed within earshot.

Minna Coaches Joshua

Minna, who was watching this entire operation from nearby, coached Joshua in my absence. "Do you want some help?" she asked. "Wanna go back to your cage?" said with the sweetest little voice. "Come on." "Are you okay?"

Minna seemed genuinely concerned that Joshua was anxious and unsure. This is just one more instance where these parrots are talking in our language and expressing appropriate phrases at appropriate times.

Here is a photo of Joshua after he finally made it over to the customized cage. The clear acrylic is fastened on the cage bars and may be difficult to see in the photo. Minna continued her encouragement after he was fully in the new cage.

Joshua In Renovated Cage

It was amazing to listen to this dialog from around the corner.

Can a cage be too big?

2011-01-13T08:09:00.000-08:00

Joshua Wants Back Into the Small Cage

Joshua, while getting calmer and tamer, still tends to flail wildly if he panics. In his regular cage he would get his wings caught between the bars.

I hated the worry about this happening and breaking the delicate bones in his wings. I decided that the safest cage in my home was the huge Exotic Enclosure in my living room because it has 1/2" bar spacing.

I put Joshua in it and hoped he would enjoy the large play area with the many ropes, perches, and toys. After a couple of weeks, I have observed that he does not like it. He is too nervous to enjoy the expansive area.

So now I will come up with Plan B. I want to put him back in his previous cage but first I will install some acrylic panels to prevent the wings from going through the bars. Hopefully, Joshua will soon become calmer and less prone to the panic attacks. Until then, I know he will prefer his smaller cage.

I suppose the large enclosure was like trying to live in a huge and cavernous ballroom instead of a cozy and comforting bedroom. I'll keep you updated...

Extras For Sale

2011-01-08T08:36:00.000-08:00

Crystal Flight Hanging Play Area

I have some extra bird supplies that I would like to sell. Here is a photo of one of four Crystal Flight Hanging Play Areas that I have. They are gently used and can be converted to doubles easily if you want or need a larger play area. They hang down from the ceiling approximately 5 feet. The acrylic tray catches almost all of the mess and it is easy to sweep up underneath as there is no rolling platform stand to deal with. The tray measures 36" x 22". These sell for $350 new and I am asking $95.

Sittin Pretty Stand

Another piece that needs to go because I have no room, is a Sittin Pretty Powder Coated Rolling Stand. It's configured for a large parrot but we could put a more appropriate manzanita perch on it for any size parrot. It has a bracket to hold two cups for food and water (not seen in photo) and it can hold any form of climbing toy. Perhaps an Atom or Ring or Boingg? The white PVC guard keeps the parrot from climbing or sliding down the pole. Again, this is used and needs a scrubbing but the first $50 takes it.

Newly Powder Coated Cage

Lastly, I have a strong steel cage that I recently had powder coated. It is suitable as a second cage for a medium size parrot. Perhaps a good sleeping cage or for a parrot that is permitted lots of out-of-cage time during the day. It has two crock holders. I just need to recoup the cost of the powder coating which was $150. The bar spacing is just under an inch.

Thanks so much.

Guilt Comes With The Territory

2011-01-07T08:31:00.000-08:00

Bintel Flucuates With Feather Destruction

Parrots, even fully feathered ones, give their caregivers an inordinate amount of guilt. But when they attack themselves with fervor, we fill with anxiety. "What are we doing wrong?" Our anxiety is transferred to them and then it all seems to escalate.

I truly think that this is what makes damaging parrot behavior so difficult to resolve. They seem to have psychic powers and we cannot hide our reactions, no matter how hard we try.

This also happens when a parrot bites. The tension and fearful anticipation changes the relationship. All parrot owners need to practice a few moments of meditation just prior to entering the parrot's area. Otherwise, our daily stresses become their daily stresses. Close your eyes and take a deep breath and lower your energy level. Then, and only then, address your parrot.

When the feather destruction gets really bad, a collar or medication may be necessary to detour the pattern. This is always a tough call because the collar or routine of medicating can also become a stress. It's a complicated decision to make.

Artie Happy But Naked

Even birds that pluck and/or mutilate can be perfectly happy birds. We are the ones that suffer and feel the guilt. All we can do is provide the optimal environment. Full spectrum lights, a healthy diet that addresses potential food allergies (cut out peanuts, corn, and wheat), frequent shower opportunities, and a happy cage space loaded with foraging, preening, and play activities.

Another possible resolution is to change the relationship with the bird from being too bonded to allowing the bird to be independent and self entertaining. If the parrot thinks of you as his mate, he/she will feel too much frustration. Try not to cuddle too much. It's not good for any parrot because they are hard wired with strong instincts.

Psittacine Cuisine Yummy Cooked Grains

2011-01-04T12:47:00.000-08:00

Smeagol Analyzes the Menu

Yumm. Psittacine Cuisine!

I always love it when one of my guests enjoys my cooking. I make a special concoction called Psittacine Cuisine made up of various cooked grains. Smeagol here really loves it!

Don't Bother Me, I'm Eating!

Updates Fall Behind

2011-01-02T13:21:00.000-08:00

Andres w/Perma Play

Minna With Sweet Voice

Sara Joins In

Smeagol Adds Holiday Color

I've fallen behind in posting updates and photos.

Andres the Umbrella has found a new favorite toy. She spends a lot of time tinkering with the Perma Play Mobile.

Minna has enjoyed some time with the rowdy crowd. Her sweet little voice is a nice change from the more robust characters!

Sara and Smeagol have become friends and neighbors. I think they're drawn to their own holiday colors. Both can be sweet and quiet until they blast out with a surprise bellow as if to say, "I'm here!"