It looks like he wasn't entirely ready for his picture to be taken...
Friday, November 9, 2012
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Messy pomegranate or messy Léa?
Tonight, the birds got some pomegranate arils as part of their dinner.
It was a risky move, seeing how potentially messy they can be.
However, most of the small guys kept the mess to a minimum - after all, they can't waste any of the goodness (I had the rest of the fruit and it was delicious!)
Léa on the other hand....
Pomegranate stains all over her lower mandible and her left foot was covered in red sticky juice.
But the mess didn't end there.
The bars closest to her bowl were splattered, although there were some stray drops much higher up.
The paper at the bottom of her cage was also a mess - but luckily it seemed contained to her cage and nothing on the floor or wall behind it.
It really seems like she enjoyed it but I hope she'll learn to eat them more neatly like the others!
It was a risky move, seeing how potentially messy they can be.
However, most of the small guys kept the mess to a minimum - after all, they can't waste any of the goodness (I had the rest of the fruit and it was delicious!)
Léa on the other hand....
Pomegranate stains all over her lower mandible and her left foot was covered in red sticky juice.
But the mess didn't end there.
The bars closest to her bowl were splattered, although there were some stray drops much higher up.
The paper at the bottom of her cage was also a mess - but luckily it seemed contained to her cage and nothing on the floor or wall behind it.
It really seems like she enjoyed it but I hope she'll learn to eat them more neatly like the others!
Looking for stainless steel skewers?
Expandable Habitats' monthly sale for November is on their "Chewable Hangers" (or simply put skewers) - buy 3 medium or large Chewable Hangers or Toy Hangers and get 1 free.
Here they are on the website!
Now the medium or large refers to the size of the acrylic ball on the end of the skewer, not the actual length - the skewers themselves are available in short, medium or long (see the table on the website for exact measurements).
I purchased my skewers from EH last year when they had a similar sale. The birds currently each have a skewer filled with wood pieces and I think a few are almost due for a refill. Such an easy way to keep them occupied!
If you order, you have to mention that you saw the sale on their website (see here).
Here they are on the website!
Now the medium or large refers to the size of the acrylic ball on the end of the skewer, not the actual length - the skewers themselves are available in short, medium or long (see the table on the website for exact measurements).
I purchased my skewers from EH last year when they had a similar sale. The birds currently each have a skewer filled with wood pieces and I think a few are almost due for a refill. Such an easy way to keep them occupied!
If you order, you have to mention that you saw the sale on their website (see here).
312:365 - Petey
I've really enjoyed how cooperative he's become for this 365 exercise.
It's a shame that it took nearly a year of doing this to get to this point...
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Weird eating habits
Each member of my flock has some weird quirks when it comes to eating.
The latest one we discovered is how Léa chooses to eat her morning piece of toast. This was first noticed by the Boy, he then mentioned it and I then noticed as well...
See how thin that piece of toast is? When Léa is done with her morning toast, there are two pieces leftover of this particular width. Why? It's like she peels her toast and only eats the inside part. Which is quite weird, when you consider that all other birds in the flock, including Piper, will chose to reduce their portion to tiny crumbs.
I'm sure if the others noticed her doing this, they would think that she was one unusual bird (and would lament the waste!)
The latest one we discovered is how Léa chooses to eat her morning piece of toast. This was first noticed by the Boy, he then mentioned it and I then noticed as well...
See how thin that piece of toast is? When Léa is done with her morning toast, there are two pieces leftover of this particular width. Why? It's like she peels her toast and only eats the inside part. Which is quite weird, when you consider that all other birds in the flock, including Piper, will chose to reduce their portion to tiny crumbs.
I'm sure if the others noticed her doing this, they would think that she was one unusual bird (and would lament the waste!)
Quotes
"He really likes Mirror-Jo"
~The Boy talking about a slightly narcissistic Joey who was showing off for his reflection in the bathroom mirror while the Boy was refreshing the water bowls.
311:365 - Léa
It was one of those evenings where I could have done without having to take a picture.
Surprisingly, Léa cooperated quite nicely so the whole thing took less than 5 minutes.
And I got a picture that I'm quite happy with!
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Getting my Shade back!
No she didn't go anywhere!
I've mentioned on a few occasions already that when Fall and Spring comes around, so do hormones within the flock. And while some of them birds tend to be a bit more unpredictable with bites and such, Shade gets a bit more independent and less cuddly than her usual self.
It feels like that period was a little longer this year, but, if this past week-end is any indication, she seems to be returning to her old self and wanting to sit on my right shoulder and cuddle for long periods of time.
It makes me happy!
I've mentioned on a few occasions already that when Fall and Spring comes around, so do hormones within the flock. And while some of them birds tend to be a bit more unpredictable with bites and such, Shade gets a bit more independent and less cuddly than her usual self.
It feels like that period was a little longer this year, but, if this past week-end is any indication, she seems to be returning to her old self and wanting to sit on my right shoulder and cuddle for long periods of time.
It makes me happy!
Bottom's up!
Forget trying to have a glass of water around when Piper is out - it's impossible!
He'll either:
a) drink
b) try and take a bath in the glass
c) all of the above
Generally, the answer is c).
Birdie alarm
I had a rough night last night. I woke up on a few occasions on my own but always managed to get back to sleep.
Then, around 4 am, I woke up in a daze - I could have sworn I heard some of the birds, mostly Léa, scream and suddenly, there was a man's voice in my house. This, of course, made me quite uneasy and I tried to wake the Boy up so he would go and check out what was going on but he wouldn't budge. So I got up.
For some reason, our new computer had awoken itself and a video I had paused earlier in the evening had started, which explained the man's voice. But not knowing what had prompted it to turn on, I went into the birdroom to check on the birds - they were once again quiet and there was no unidentified presence in the room.
I went back and more or less forced the Boy to go and check downstairs. He came back and said everything seemed normal (and did I ever resent him for using the word "seem" - it doesn't scream certainty).
When the alarm finally signaled 5:30 am, I waited to listen to the news and it appears we had an earthquake start not too far from where we live and apparently it was felt by quite a few people. While I myself can't say that I felt anything, I'm sure that is what set off the birds and mostly likely what set off the computer as well.
One of the bad side effects is that Léa is back to being a little weird - and I'm sure I have that earthquake to blame as it probably spooked her.
310:365 - Joey's wings
He really has taken a liking to showing off with his wings up in the air lately.
Monday, November 5, 2012
4 years!
4 years ago yesterday I started this blog.
If I'm honest, I don't think that back then I would have kept it up for as long as I have. It was something I started with little expectations and just to experience "blogging".
I'm happy I kept up with it.
I really did it mostly for me, as a journal, and I love that I can go back and read older posts. As well, it's allowed me to keep a better track about the cyclical changes the birds go through, not to mention a easy way to browse through pictures loads of pictures of them when I'm away from them.
Since I started, the blog has had a name change, 3 parrots were added to the flock and I have, I believe, grown as a parrot owner. While I don't foresee any more additions for quite some time, I'm sure I'll have plenty more to share about life with the flock - as they keep me on my toes daily.
So here is to many more years of blogging!
(And, just for fun, here' is a link to my very first blog post - The beginningl)
If I'm honest, I don't think that back then I would have kept it up for as long as I have. It was something I started with little expectations and just to experience "blogging".
I'm happy I kept up with it.
I really did it mostly for me, as a journal, and I love that I can go back and read older posts. As well, it's allowed me to keep a better track about the cyclical changes the birds go through, not to mention a easy way to browse through pictures loads of pictures of them when I'm away from them.
Since I started, the blog has had a name change, 3 parrots were added to the flock and I have, I believe, grown as a parrot owner. While I don't foresee any more additions for quite some time, I'm sure I'll have plenty more to share about life with the flock - as they keep me on my toes daily.
So here is to many more years of blogging!
(And, just for fun, here' is a link to my very first blog post - The beginningl)
What if they are ready to move to the next step but not you?
I've been talking lately about how I've had a set back with Léa but I failed to mention another bird-human relationship in which I'm the one who's holding back a bit when it's apparent that the bird seems ready to move onto the next step.
The bird in question is Joey.
Our beginning was rather rough; in Joey's previous home, his previous owner, a man, gave him a lot of attention and I think at some point, that man's then wife might have resented Joey for it (going from what I've heard from some people). That tense relationship has played a role in why Joey was in need of a new home. While Joey didn't flat out hate women the way Petey does, he was always more comfortable with the Boy and other men when we first got him, while I got my fair share of bites and nips.
It seems that I got some emotional scarring from those bites and nips - I didn't resent Joey for them, after all he's a bird and those come with the territory - but as a result, I would handle him around with a perch and wouldn't allow him access to my shoulder, a thing that I only really allow with birds who I trust won't try to go after my earlobes or my face (which really means Piper, Shade, Pixel and occasionally Zuri depending on what mood he is).
While I had to restart gaining some of Léa's trust around stepping up, it dawned on me how ready Joey was to move on. He's much more predictable around my hands, when he asks for head scratches he no longer flips out like he used to when he started to abandon himself to it and he just enjoys the scratch for however longer I decide to give it to him. He also looks ready to do a perfect "step up" onto my finger but that is where I freeze - instead of focusing on the progress he's made and that things will go well, I remember the bites that led me to handle him with a perch instead.
This is something I will have to get over, and honestly, a bite is just a bite and if it comes down to him biting, so what? In fact, if I show any hesitation because all I can focus on is the bite that didn't yet happen, he'll most likely sense it and bite away. I need to get to the point of being confident, of not caring about the outcome and it'll probably go well.
I need to think about how wonderful it'll be to finally be able to hold him on my hand and have him happily perch there - and that should be plenty of motivation for me.
The bird in question is Joey.
Our beginning was rather rough; in Joey's previous home, his previous owner, a man, gave him a lot of attention and I think at some point, that man's then wife might have resented Joey for it (going from what I've heard from some people). That tense relationship has played a role in why Joey was in need of a new home. While Joey didn't flat out hate women the way Petey does, he was always more comfortable with the Boy and other men when we first got him, while I got my fair share of bites and nips.
It seems that I got some emotional scarring from those bites and nips - I didn't resent Joey for them, after all he's a bird and those come with the territory - but as a result, I would handle him around with a perch and wouldn't allow him access to my shoulder, a thing that I only really allow with birds who I trust won't try to go after my earlobes or my face (which really means Piper, Shade, Pixel and occasionally Zuri depending on what mood he is).
While I had to restart gaining some of Léa's trust around stepping up, it dawned on me how ready Joey was to move on. He's much more predictable around my hands, when he asks for head scratches he no longer flips out like he used to when he started to abandon himself to it and he just enjoys the scratch for however longer I decide to give it to him. He also looks ready to do a perfect "step up" onto my finger but that is where I freeze - instead of focusing on the progress he's made and that things will go well, I remember the bites that led me to handle him with a perch instead.
This is something I will have to get over, and honestly, a bite is just a bite and if it comes down to him biting, so what? In fact, if I show any hesitation because all I can focus on is the bite that didn't yet happen, he'll most likely sense it and bite away. I need to get to the point of being confident, of not caring about the outcome and it'll probably go well.
I need to think about how wonderful it'll be to finally be able to hold him on my hand and have him happily perch there - and that should be plenty of motivation for me.
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