Saturday, December 11, 2010
Friday, December 10, 2010
From 6 to 8..
Starting tomorrow..
My mom will be dropping off her two pois, Nemo (Shade's brother) and Itsy (possibly Zuri's older sister...assuming the breeder only had the one pair of Meyer's) for a few weeks while my parents go away for the Holidays.
I'll try to do like last year and have a collection of daily posts about how things are going around here, with the addition of two new birds.
New challenges?
-Well Itsy and Nemo seem to have only grown to hate each other more. Keeping them separate while insuring that they both also get some quality one on one time might be tricky;
-Shade and Pixel, although seemed to have calmed down a bit (should go knock on some wood), have started being a bit more open about not entirely liking each other. Not sure what throwing "new" birds in the mix will do;
-Itsy was not fond of Shade the last few time she was here (might be her not liking Senegals as Nemo is one..). She also wasn't very fond of the Meyer's but didn't seem to care too much about Joey. However, I'm not sure how Pixel will perceive this addition of another female bird here..
-Nemo and Shade always have a rough few first days together - hopefully this time it won't last as long and they'll get over the wanting to attack the other and just start ignoring each other faster.
Here are their temporary cages away from home:
I also have another larger cage in my bedroom in case anyone should need it (if I need to separate them a bit and a bird is already occupying the bird room).
My mom will be dropping off her two pois, Nemo (Shade's brother) and Itsy (possibly Zuri's older sister...assuming the breeder only had the one pair of Meyer's) for a few weeks while my parents go away for the Holidays.
I'll try to do like last year and have a collection of daily posts about how things are going around here, with the addition of two new birds.
New challenges?
-Well Itsy and Nemo seem to have only grown to hate each other more. Keeping them separate while insuring that they both also get some quality one on one time might be tricky;
-Shade and Pixel, although seemed to have calmed down a bit (should go knock on some wood), have started being a bit more open about not entirely liking each other. Not sure what throwing "new" birds in the mix will do;
-Itsy was not fond of Shade the last few time she was here (might be her not liking Senegals as Nemo is one..). She also wasn't very fond of the Meyer's but didn't seem to care too much about Joey. However, I'm not sure how Pixel will perceive this addition of another female bird here..
-Nemo and Shade always have a rough few first days together - hopefully this time it won't last as long and they'll get over the wanting to attack the other and just start ignoring each other faster.
Here are their temporary cages away from home:
I also have another larger cage in my bedroom in case anyone should need it (if I need to separate them a bit and a bird is already occupying the bird room).
Recent Rosie Toys order
Earlier this week I ordered a few things from "Les Jouets Rosie" since there is a 20% discount on everything but the cages and shipping.
The biggest part of my order consisted of more beads.Lots and lots of beads.
I also got two small toys. The small balsa one is for Piper. Trying it out, if he doesn't take to it I know I have some birds which will reduce it to toothpicks in less than 5 minutes. The other one is for Petey. He currently has one that is in a pretty sad shape as it is the toy that takes quite the beating when he's frustrated.
And now off to make more foot toys with all those beads..
The biggest part of my order consisted of more beads.Lots and lots of beads.
I also got two small toys. The small balsa one is for Piper. Trying it out, if he doesn't take to it I know I have some birds which will reduce it to toothpicks in less than 5 minutes. The other one is for Petey. He currently has one that is in a pretty sad shape as it is the toy that takes quite the beating when he's frustrated.
And now off to make more foot toys with all those beads..
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
The last of the Sidewalk Sale Order
My wood shipment from Pet Products by Nature (PPBN).
Truthfully, I got it yesterday at the same time as the Things for Wings order as well as my Secret Santa package. That was quite unusual for me, receiving three packages at once (which I loved!)
Anyways, I had ordered 400 wood coins from PPBN - 200 willow coins and 200 cottonwood coins, as they are the favorite types of wood for my birds. The birds also love yucca/kiote, but I figured I'd go with something that took them a smidgen longer to destroy, as they go through yucca like a knife through butter.
Honestly...after having people tell me how 100 coins were a lot and how much space it would take, I was expecting a slightly larger-in-size shipment than I did. But it's all good - those 400 coins should last a bit!
I've said this before, but I held off ordering straight from Pet Products by Nature because the coins are sold in larger quantities and not knowing what my birds would and wouldn't like, I didn't want to have too much of something they did not like on my hands. When Things for Wings came along and started selling the PPBN wood in smaller quantities, I was happy and tried a few kinds. Knowing the favorites, it was just logical to go through PPBN. It was a pleasant shopping experience, however, it will probably be the first and last time I order through PPBN. Unfortunately, the owner has closed down the general retail website and will only be dealing with wholesales for personal reasons. So, I do recommend that you keep an eye on her website, as there should be a list of vendors which will be carrying PPBN wood available soon.
As for myself, I'll be going back to Things for Wings as long as Danita carries the PPBN wood!
Truthfully, I got it yesterday at the same time as the Things for Wings order as well as my Secret Santa package. That was quite unusual for me, receiving three packages at once (which I loved!)
Anyways, I had ordered 400 wood coins from PPBN - 200 willow coins and 200 cottonwood coins, as they are the favorite types of wood for my birds. The birds also love yucca/kiote, but I figured I'd go with something that took them a smidgen longer to destroy, as they go through yucca like a knife through butter.
Honestly...after having people tell me how 100 coins were a lot and how much space it would take, I was expecting a slightly larger-in-size shipment than I did. But it's all good - those 400 coins should last a bit!
I've said this before, but I held off ordering straight from Pet Products by Nature because the coins are sold in larger quantities and not knowing what my birds would and wouldn't like, I didn't want to have too much of something they did not like on my hands. When Things for Wings came along and started selling the PPBN wood in smaller quantities, I was happy and tried a few kinds. Knowing the favorites, it was just logical to go through PPBN. It was a pleasant shopping experience, however, it will probably be the first and last time I order through PPBN. Unfortunately, the owner has closed down the general retail website and will only be dealing with wholesales for personal reasons. So, I do recommend that you keep an eye on her website, as there should be a list of vendors which will be carrying PPBN wood available soon.
As for myself, I'll be going back to Things for Wings as long as Danita carries the PPBN wood!
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
T4W Sidewalk Sale order
I received my Things for Wings order I made during Avian Avenue's Sidewalk Sale last month.
This order was all custom toys. I went with the smaller amount, $10, since I was having 5 of them made and it all adds up.
I'm quite happy with the end results - for Joey, Shade, Zuri and Pixel I have wanted the same toy, only in a different colour scheme as they all like the same things and if toys end up too different, then I don't know who to give what. This is what their toys looked like.
For Petey I wanted something different as he doesn't like wood and chewables that you can destroy as much - he's more of a leather and plastic kind of bird, although he does enjoy paper so I asked for some of that. His toy is the following and I have to say I'm quite pleased with it as well
Yes Piper didn't get a custom toy. But he doesn't really play with the toys he's got and he also has containers full of them (he was my first bird after all and got plenty more than the others did in that first year). His favorite thing is to spend plenty of time on me and he gets to do that every day - that makes him happy. So I figured that this time, we could skip getting him something.
This order was all custom toys. I went with the smaller amount, $10, since I was having 5 of them made and it all adds up.
I'm quite happy with the end results - for Joey, Shade, Zuri and Pixel I have wanted the same toy, only in a different colour scheme as they all like the same things and if toys end up too different, then I don't know who to give what. This is what their toys looked like.
For Petey I wanted something different as he doesn't like wood and chewables that you can destroy as much - he's more of a leather and plastic kind of bird, although he does enjoy paper so I asked for some of that. His toy is the following and I have to say I'm quite pleased with it as well
Yes Piper didn't get a custom toy. But he doesn't really play with the toys he's got and he also has containers full of them (he was my first bird after all and got plenty more than the others did in that first year). His favorite thing is to spend plenty of time on me and he gets to do that every day - that makes him happy. So I figured that this time, we could skip getting him something.
Secret Santa gifts!
I have participated at this year's Secret Santa gift exchange on Avian Avenue. Last year I did not and it seemed like much fun so I figured why not try it?
I received my package today. And I opened it - yeah Christmas is still far away, but if I wait for Christmas to give the birds the toys, where's the harm? In any case, most people who have received their packages have opened them as well (and some of these were in November).
Everything I got fit in a shoe box. No I didn't take a picture of the box as we all know what a shoe box looks like...
The contents, however, were fantastic - I am so happy and I'm sure I'll have some very happy birdies!
The gifts came from Oliver's Garden - the boing is a dead giveaway and I also checked the information provided by Canada Post online about my mail stub - it indicated the package originated in Chester, Nova Scotia, exactly where Oliver's Garden is located.
The toys are great, love the fact that I got a yellow boing and that block with multiple "leaves" is quite fantastic (so is everything else). I'll have a hard time deciding who gets what!
I received my package today. And I opened it - yeah Christmas is still far away, but if I wait for Christmas to give the birds the toys, where's the harm? In any case, most people who have received their packages have opened them as well (and some of these were in November).
Everything I got fit in a shoe box. No I didn't take a picture of the box as we all know what a shoe box looks like...
The contents, however, were fantastic - I am so happy and I'm sure I'll have some very happy birdies!
The gifts came from Oliver's Garden - the boing is a dead giveaway and I also checked the information provided by Canada Post online about my mail stub - it indicated the package originated in Chester, Nova Scotia, exactly where Oliver's Garden is located.
The toys are great, love the fact that I got a yellow boing and that block with multiple "leaves" is quite fantastic (so is everything else). I'll have a hard time deciding who gets what!
Monday, December 6, 2010
An Avian Organic baked goodie - The Flatbread Fusion
Yesterday I finally made the Flatbread Fusion (pomegranate flavour) I ordered from Avian Organics a while ago.
Not sure why I waited so long.
As with most Avian Organics products, it was quite a success. Shade, Zuri and Joey ate their pieces right away. Pixel picked at it, but she's never really been the one to eat much when out of the cage and it was a much bigger success when I offered it as an in cage treat. Even Piper and Petey, who take longest to warm up to new food, looked at it and, in Piper's case, picked at it a bit.
This is what the flatbread looked like when I took it out of the stove and let it cool down a bit.
Some pictures of Shade, Zuri and Joey enjoying their portion of flatbread.
Zuri liked it so much, he went through the crumbs left by Shade and Joey after having eaten his AND Petey's share.
I will now leave you with one last picture, one of my favorites.
What?! I don't look at you when you are eating!
Not sure why I waited so long.
As with most Avian Organics products, it was quite a success. Shade, Zuri and Joey ate their pieces right away. Pixel picked at it, but she's never really been the one to eat much when out of the cage and it was a much bigger success when I offered it as an in cage treat. Even Piper and Petey, who take longest to warm up to new food, looked at it and, in Piper's case, picked at it a bit.
This is what the flatbread looked like when I took it out of the stove and let it cool down a bit.
Some pictures of Shade, Zuri and Joey enjoying their portion of flatbread.
Zuri liked it so much, he went through the crumbs left by Shade and Joey after having eaten his AND Petey's share.
I will now leave you with one last picture, one of my favorites.
What?! I don't look at you when you are eating!
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Destruction of a toy...
A while ago, I had purchased a few toys from Things for Wings, including four Hokey Pokey. Last Sunday I finally decided to give them to the four Pois I have that enjoy those type of toys - Petey has never really cared about chewing wood nor has Piper.
Out on a whim, I decided to take pictures of what the toys looked like when I put them in the cage earlier in the morning. Knowing that they probably wouldn't last too long, I figured I'd take pictures of what the toys looked like when I took my birds out later in the afternoon.
Those poor toys....
Pixel - before
After
Shade - before
After
Zuri - before
After
Joey - before
After - you see that Joey wasn't as thorough on the first day. But he was the first one to totally destroy the toy, small pokey things included.
Verdict: the toy was really loved. I'll surely buy more down the road.
Out on a whim, I decided to take pictures of what the toys looked like when I put them in the cage earlier in the morning. Knowing that they probably wouldn't last too long, I figured I'd take pictures of what the toys looked like when I took my birds out later in the afternoon.
Those poor toys....
Pixel - before
After
Shade - before
After
Zuri - before
After
Joey - before
After - you see that Joey wasn't as thorough on the first day. But he was the first one to totally destroy the toy, small pokey things included.
Verdict: the toy was really loved. I'll surely buy more down the road.
The Kitchen Guardian
These last few weeks, I've been unable to go in the kitchen without Pixel jumping/flying to me. And once she lands on me, she either lets out a victory screech or a "woooooo" sound (as if this was all very fun) and then does a little victory dance.
The moment I am out of the kitchen, she flies back to a perch/stand which is close to the kitchen doorway and waits for me to go back in for whatever reason and the cycle will start over again.
Little Kitchen Guardian.
The moment I am out of the kitchen, she flies back to a perch/stand which is close to the kitchen doorway and waits for me to go back in for whatever reason and the cycle will start over again.
Little Kitchen Guardian.
Saturday, December 4, 2010
1/2 of my Sidewalk Sale bounty!
Earlier this week I finally got hold of two thirds of my Sidewalk Sale bounty - more specifically the stuff I had ordered from Mother Pluckin' Bird Toys (MPBT) and from California Bird Nerds (CABirdNerds). I still have to receive wood coins from Pet Products by Nature and a few custom toys from Things for Wings.
I've ordered from MPBT before. This time around, I just kept it to different wood refill kits. The mini maze munchers are already well loved!
This was the first time I've ordered with CABirdNerds however.
I went crazy and ordered A LOT of beads. The big bag has 1000 beads in it....
I've already started making some foot toys with the beads. The MPBT blocks will mostly be used on their corkscrew skewers or given as is in their foraging bowls.
I've ordered from MPBT before. This time around, I just kept it to different wood refill kits. The mini maze munchers are already well loved!
This was the first time I've ordered with CABirdNerds however.
I went crazy and ordered A LOT of beads. The big bag has 1000 beads in it....
I've already started making some foot toys with the beads. The MPBT blocks will mostly be used on their corkscrew skewers or given as is in their foraging bowls.
Friday, December 3, 2010
More Poinciana Seed Pod Enjoyment
Earlier this week I decided to thaw one of the precious few Poinciana seed pods I have left in the freezer.
I had thawed one once before and it had gone over well with the birds, as well as when I introduced them fresh when I first received them. While the pods browned up a bit after being thawed, they remained "tender" for the first few hours before drying up, just like they did when "fresh". The birds also seem to enjoy the dried up version - they chew on it and do bang it around to make some noise.
In any case, the pod sections I offered this week were as appreciated as before, although this time they got all the seeds before anything had a chance to dry up.
Some pictures of course, Zuri, Shade and Joey were particularly fond of the pods.
Enjoying the pod and looking Angelique at the same time...
Dgging in!
Still holding on..
Shade and her crazy obsessed eyes!
Manages to extract a seed!
Messy beak!
Shade is not the only one with crazy eyes - here is Joey's rendition!
More crazy-obsessed eyes!
Joey gives the pods two talons up!
I had thawed one once before and it had gone over well with the birds, as well as when I introduced them fresh when I first received them. While the pods browned up a bit after being thawed, they remained "tender" for the first few hours before drying up, just like they did when "fresh". The birds also seem to enjoy the dried up version - they chew on it and do bang it around to make some noise.
In any case, the pod sections I offered this week were as appreciated as before, although this time they got all the seeds before anything had a chance to dry up.
Some pictures of course, Zuri, Shade and Joey were particularly fond of the pods.
Enjoying the pod and looking Angelique at the same time...
Dgging in!
Still holding on..
Shade and her crazy obsessed eyes!
Manages to extract a seed!
Messy beak!
Shade is not the only one with crazy eyes - here is Joey's rendition!
More crazy-obsessed eyes!
Joey gives the pods two talons up!
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