They seemed comfortable enough on it to preen at times.
Both Piper and Shade are still unsure about it though.
Some pictures.
Zuri
Zuri
Joey
Petey
Petey
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Testing out the Atom
Petey, Zuri and Joey have all tested out the Atom.
They seemed comfortable enough on it to preen at times.
Both Piper and Shade are still unsure about it though.
Some pictures.
Zuri
Zuri
Joey
Petey
Petey
They seemed comfortable enough on it to preen at times.
Both Piper and Shade are still unsure about it though.
Some pictures.
Zuri
Zuri
Joey
Petey
Petey
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Finally found out Zuri's hatchday!
Out of all my birds, the only one who's hatch date eluded me were the Meyer's. I guess this is a reality of owning a rehome/rescue bird, you do not always get all the background information.
I was lucky enough that Joey's former owner gave me his hatch certificate when I purchased him; he had got Joey straight from the breeder which meant he got as much information about Joey as possible before he brought him home.
Petey I will most likely never find out his hatch date. The band isn't particularly explicit and I've joined online groups that find out the meaning behind what is on the band and was never successful figuring out what Petey's inscriptions stood for, other than the year of birth. As far as contacting past owners, there are a few and the first I know about wouldn't be much helpful.
Zuri, on the other hand, happened to be hatched as the same aviary as Joey but was sold to a pet store by the breeder, who I happened to know, and his former owner got him there. I also happen to know one of the people working at the pet store, this same person co-runs the rescue from which I got Zuri and Petey, but he couldn't remember when Zuri first arrived at the store. When I first got Zuri, I had tried contacting Zuri's breeder, who no longer breeds bird, asking if she happened to remember when Zuri was hatched, based on the band information. Nothing. After talking to someone who happened to have a bird coming from the same aviary and who got an answer from the breeder for the same thing, I tried again. This time I got an answer.
Turns out Zuri was hatched May 2, 2007. Meaning he turned three at the beginning of the month. I'm very happy I got this information; not that Zuri cares when it's his birthday or not, but I like knowing this information.
So, since it's still May and that he never got his birthday thread, happy belated birthday Zuri :)
I was lucky enough that Joey's former owner gave me his hatch certificate when I purchased him; he had got Joey straight from the breeder which meant he got as much information about Joey as possible before he brought him home.
Petey I will most likely never find out his hatch date. The band isn't particularly explicit and I've joined online groups that find out the meaning behind what is on the band and was never successful figuring out what Petey's inscriptions stood for, other than the year of birth. As far as contacting past owners, there are a few and the first I know about wouldn't be much helpful.
Zuri, on the other hand, happened to be hatched as the same aviary as Joey but was sold to a pet store by the breeder, who I happened to know, and his former owner got him there. I also happen to know one of the people working at the pet store, this same person co-runs the rescue from which I got Zuri and Petey, but he couldn't remember when Zuri first arrived at the store. When I first got Zuri, I had tried contacting Zuri's breeder, who no longer breeds bird, asking if she happened to remember when Zuri was hatched, based on the band information. Nothing. After talking to someone who happened to have a bird coming from the same aviary and who got an answer from the breeder for the same thing, I tried again. This time I got an answer.
Turns out Zuri was hatched May 2, 2007. Meaning he turned three at the beginning of the month. I'm very happy I got this information; not that Zuri cares when it's his birthday or not, but I like knowing this information.
So, since it's still May and that he never got his birthday thread, happy belated birthday Zuri :)
A shopping trip to Parrotdise Perch
Last week-end I was in the Toronto area.
I've gone a few times before, however I never even thought of heading out to Parrotdise Perch in Mississauga. Well, I did do just that on Sunday.
I went knowing I wanted one thing: a Mother Pluckin' Atom. Yes, I've made homemade versions of the atom myself using an array of supplies; hula-hoops, stainless steel screws, rope and PVC connectors or simply hula-hoops and vet wrap. The birds didn't mind them but I knew I one day wanted to purchase the real thing. What has stopped me so far? The one bird store here that had them for a while charged an insane price for them. Ordering them online meant shipping from the States and although I finally did do this once, I'm still a bit weary that I will someday get stuck with custom fees (less likely brokerage since most vendors seem to be using USPS to ship to Canada). Then I saw the price Parrotdise Perch sold them for; while more expensive than the US, once you factor in conversion rate as well as shipping costs, it seemed like it was advantageous to purchase it at Parrotdise Perch.
And I did.
The Mother Pluckin' Atom
Does that thing ever feel solid and well built! Definitely tighter than whatever I did with mine, the core is a stainless steel rod and the hardware, which is also stainless steel, used at the top allows the atom to rotate fully on itself without ever blocking.
While I was there, I tried not going overly crazy purchasing toys; I tried to keep in mind the price of some of the items elsewhere and this alone allowed me to put stuff back on the shelf (or to not even pick it up in the first place) since not everything was necessarily a better deal there. However, I did indulge in a few more Mother Plucking toys, as I face the same dilemma ordering those online as I did the atom. I got two of the Small Refillable Stainless Steel Corkscrew (since it was all they had left, would have liked one for each of my Poi (this item was too big for Piper)) as well as a Avian Mini Maze Muncher, which I have wanted to try out for a while.
The Small Refillable Stainless Steel Corkscrew and Avian Mini Maze Muncher
I also grabbed a few interesting looking foot toys and a babble ball.
Overall, it was a pleasant shopping experience and I'll probably drop by the store more often when I am in the area.
I've gone a few times before, however I never even thought of heading out to Parrotdise Perch in Mississauga. Well, I did do just that on Sunday.
I went knowing I wanted one thing: a Mother Pluckin' Atom. Yes, I've made homemade versions of the atom myself using an array of supplies; hula-hoops, stainless steel screws, rope and PVC connectors or simply hula-hoops and vet wrap. The birds didn't mind them but I knew I one day wanted to purchase the real thing. What has stopped me so far? The one bird store here that had them for a while charged an insane price for them. Ordering them online meant shipping from the States and although I finally did do this once, I'm still a bit weary that I will someday get stuck with custom fees (less likely brokerage since most vendors seem to be using USPS to ship to Canada). Then I saw the price Parrotdise Perch sold them for; while more expensive than the US, once you factor in conversion rate as well as shipping costs, it seemed like it was advantageous to purchase it at Parrotdise Perch.
And I did.
The Mother Pluckin' Atom
Does that thing ever feel solid and well built! Definitely tighter than whatever I did with mine, the core is a stainless steel rod and the hardware, which is also stainless steel, used at the top allows the atom to rotate fully on itself without ever blocking.
While I was there, I tried not going overly crazy purchasing toys; I tried to keep in mind the price of some of the items elsewhere and this alone allowed me to put stuff back on the shelf (or to not even pick it up in the first place) since not everything was necessarily a better deal there. However, I did indulge in a few more Mother Plucking toys, as I face the same dilemma ordering those online as I did the atom. I got two of the Small Refillable Stainless Steel Corkscrew (since it was all they had left, would have liked one for each of my Poi (this item was too big for Piper)) as well as a Avian Mini Maze Muncher, which I have wanted to try out for a while.
The Small Refillable Stainless Steel Corkscrew and Avian Mini Maze Muncher
I also grabbed a few interesting looking foot toys and a babble ball.
Overall, it was a pleasant shopping experience and I'll probably drop by the store more often when I am in the area.
A green head Senegal
This is what happens when you mix water (bath) and a toy with a food grade colour base..
A bird with a died head.
Mind you, she only ever dies her head green. Life as a green head must be nice :)
A bird with a died head.
Mind you, she only ever dies her head green. Life as a green head must be nice :)
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Sexing results for Zuri, Piper and Petey came in...
I just got the results a couple of minutes ago.
What I thought going in? I thought both Piper and Zuri would turn out to be males and Petey would be a female. Since I've heard so many horror stories of female Lovebirds becoming monsters when hormones kicked in and Piper is always a sweetheart, I figured she might be male, although I've always referred to her as a female (force of habit). And although I've been referring to Zuri as a female, these last few months I've been slowly changing my mind, believing she is a male, but not changing how I refer to her as a force of habit once again.
Petey...well the way she displays and acts and the like, well it seemed to me that she must be a female. I thought so, my boyfriend thought so, the person who had her briefly before me thought so (it didn't work out between the two of them), my mom thought so as well...even my vet thought she might indeed be a female.
Well here are the results.....
All 3 of them are males!!!
I got 2 out of 3, which is not bad. Time to change how I write about them I guess.
Looking on the bright side of things, I don't need to worry about egg binding too much!
What I thought going in? I thought both Piper and Zuri would turn out to be males and Petey would be a female. Since I've heard so many horror stories of female Lovebirds becoming monsters when hormones kicked in and Piper is always a sweetheart, I figured she might be male, although I've always referred to her as a female (force of habit). And although I've been referring to Zuri as a female, these last few months I've been slowly changing my mind, believing she is a male, but not changing how I refer to her as a force of habit once again.
Petey...well the way she displays and acts and the like, well it seemed to me that she must be a female. I thought so, my boyfriend thought so, the person who had her briefly before me thought so (it didn't work out between the two of them), my mom thought so as well...even my vet thought she might indeed be a female.
Well here are the results.....
All 3 of them are males!!!
I got 2 out of 3, which is not bad. Time to change how I write about them I guess.
Looking on the bright side of things, I don't need to worry about egg binding too much!
Monday, April 19, 2010
April 2010 Parrot Club meeting
Last night was my monthly parrot club meeting.
The attendance wasn't the greatest, I'm assuming people remained at home to watch the hockey game. The topic was about toys (how to use inexpensive elements to create toys) and as this has been a recurrent topic, I was more interested in socializing and interacting with the birds present.
I took a few pictures.
Indy - Meyer's
Abby - Congo African Grey
Oliver (with his owner) - Blue and Gold Macaw
Ellis - Sulfur Crested Cockatoo
Jacqueline, of the Jouets Rosie, also donated a toy to the club so we could raffle it. The toy was the "Wally". Ellis' owner won the toy, here is a picture of the winners with the toy.
The attendance wasn't the greatest, I'm assuming people remained at home to watch the hockey game. The topic was about toys (how to use inexpensive elements to create toys) and as this has been a recurrent topic, I was more interested in socializing and interacting with the birds present.
I took a few pictures.
Indy - Meyer's
Abby - Congo African Grey
Oliver (with his owner) - Blue and Gold Macaw
Ellis - Sulfur Crested Cockatoo
Jacqueline, of the Jouets Rosie, also donated a toy to the club so we could raffle it. The toy was the "Wally". Ellis' owner won the toy, here is a picture of the winners with the toy.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
As April goes by...
I haven't been posting a lot and I actually have a few things to put up.
In the next few days, I'll be writing about food I received from Avian Organics as well as a toy order from Les Jouets Rosie.
I've also contacted HealthGene for some cards to allow me to collect blood samples to do DNA sexing for Piper, Zuri and Petey. I received the cards earlier this week and manage to collect blood (by clipping a toenail a bit short) from Piper and Zuri this afternoon (with some help from the Boy) and had someone at tonight's parrot club meeting take blood from Petey; I don't want her to see me as the bad guy here and value keeping my hands intact too much to pursue this endeavor which I know would have ended up with me being the one to bleed...
Talking of parrot club meeting, I took a few pictures and I might share them in the next few days as well. We'll see how busy I am.
In the next few days, I'll be writing about food I received from Avian Organics as well as a toy order from Les Jouets Rosie.
I've also contacted HealthGene for some cards to allow me to collect blood samples to do DNA sexing for Piper, Zuri and Petey. I received the cards earlier this week and manage to collect blood (by clipping a toenail a bit short) from Piper and Zuri this afternoon (with some help from the Boy) and had someone at tonight's parrot club meeting take blood from Petey; I don't want her to see me as the bad guy here and value keeping my hands intact too much to pursue this endeavor which I know would have ended up with me being the one to bleed...
Talking of parrot club meeting, I took a few pictures and I might share them in the next few days as well. We'll see how busy I am.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
A portrait of Shade
Last Christmas, I got a painted portrait of Piper as a gift.
Well, I recently got another painted portrait as a gift, this time for Shade (the gift can either be out of the blue or to celebrate our two years living together). It was painted from the same local artist.
Well, I recently got another painted portrait as a gift, this time for Shade (the gift can either be out of the blue or to celebrate our two years living together). It was painted from the same local artist.
Friday, April 9, 2010
The results are in....
...and my hunch was right.
The baby is a male, which means I'll wait for the next clutch in hopes that there is a female there.
I do hope the little guy will find a great family though.
The baby is a male, which means I'll wait for the next clutch in hopes that there is a female there.
I do hope the little guy will find a great family though.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Today's delivery
Not toys.
We actually received the air purifier we ordered a while back. Ironically, I've been thinking about it last night and this morning before it's arrival - wishful thinking? Maybe..
In any case it's here now and I'm thrilled!
For a while I've been browsing different air purifiers, uncertain on which one to get. Finally, the Boy mentioned wanting to redeem some Points and was there anything I wanted. Well, I asked if there were any air purifiers in the items the points could be redeemed for and there was one. We read reviews on it and they were mostly good so voila, "free" air purifier.
We got this one.
It's in the birdroom, as it could not cover all the apartment and it's really the birdroom's air that I want as clean as possible given they do spend a sizable amount of time in there (i.e. during the day when we are at work and then at night).
So far, my only complaint is that it seems to be on the noisy side, but I've often read this was the case with these things so I won't obsess about it.
We actually received the air purifier we ordered a while back. Ironically, I've been thinking about it last night and this morning before it's arrival - wishful thinking? Maybe..
In any case it's here now and I'm thrilled!
For a while I've been browsing different air purifiers, uncertain on which one to get. Finally, the Boy mentioned wanting to redeem some Points and was there anything I wanted. Well, I asked if there were any air purifiers in the items the points could be redeemed for and there was one. We read reviews on it and they were mostly good so voila, "free" air purifier.
We got this one.
It's in the birdroom, as it could not cover all the apartment and it's really the birdroom's air that I want as clean as possible given they do spend a sizable amount of time in there (i.e. during the day when we are at work and then at night).
So far, my only complaint is that it seems to be on the noisy side, but I've often read this was the case with these things so I won't obsess about it.
Second April Red-bellied baby update
Got some more pictures today! (..and I am running out of different tile ideas for these..)
Also, the blood for the DNA test was taken today and the card was sent for analysis. I should know the sex of the baby in the next few days!
The baby is now down from 4 feeding a day to 3 and is starting to try out some pellets and other foods, such as cooked grains, legumes and vegetables.
April 5, 2010
April 5, 2010
It looks so grown up!
Also, the blood for the DNA test was taken today and the card was sent for analysis. I should know the sex of the baby in the next few days!
The baby is now down from 4 feeding a day to 3 and is starting to try out some pellets and other foods, such as cooked grains, legumes and vegetables.
April 5, 2010
April 5, 2010
It looks so grown up!
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Thursday, April 1, 2010
And another baby update
I haven't posted pictures in a while since I was battling having them on here if it turns out to be a male and I wait for another clutch.
But it is really neat to see the progress, that I figured I would share it.
Here are a few pictures I've received in the past few days. It's incredible how much it changes each day!
March 19, 2010
March 25, 2010
March 25, 2010
March 25, 2010
March 25, 2010
March 25, 2010
March 25, 2010
March 27, 2010
March 31, 2010
I've added the date the pictures were taken underneath the pictures and have done so for my previous baby posts.
I'm still keeping my fingers crossed this one is a female and should know for sure soon!
But it is really neat to see the progress, that I figured I would share it.
Here are a few pictures I've received in the past few days. It's incredible how much it changes each day!
March 19, 2010
March 25, 2010
March 25, 2010
March 25, 2010
March 25, 2010
March 25, 2010
March 25, 2010
March 27, 2010
March 31, 2010
I've added the date the pictures were taken underneath the pictures and have done so for my previous baby posts.
I'm still keeping my fingers crossed this one is a female and should know for sure soon!
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
My first Grey Feather Toy order
For the longest time, I've held out of ordering toys from online bird stores located in the US because I was always weary of shipping and the possible duty/brokerage fees.
However, after seeing how many people were pleased with toys they were getting at Grey Feather Toys and how amazing the toys looked, I finally decided to take the plunge earlier this month.
The toys got here last Monday.
Yesterday, I put the toys on the sofa so that multiple birds could try them out at once and I have to say, based on what I've seen so far, the toys are a success. Here are a few pictures.
Joey very decisively going towards the toys.
Zuri with the Spoonover.
I have two of the Spoonover and they will be going to Shade and Joey. I might order more later on and get one for Petey and Zuri as well.
Joey and the Baby Possession
Same toy..look at the tongue action!
Undecided...Little dipper or Dazzle?
Dazzle won!
With my order came a freebie. Looked quickly on the website and I can't find it so I don't know it's name..but it's definitively a favorite!
Joey and the "freebie"
Once Joey was done with it and moved onto other things, guess who came to investigate? Piper!..who was terrified of everything on Monday night.
Piper and the "feebie"
Piper and I playing tug-of-war with the "freebie"
The freebie also won over Shade, who was more terrified of everything than Piper Monday night. She eventually played with it. She wouldn't come near it if I offered it, but after it was put in a bowl on the tree for long enough she decided it was no longer threatening. It took her about two minutes that way to go down, get it and bring it back up with her.
Not so scared after all
Really enjoying the new toy
The freebie actually lead to Shade approaching one of the Bonbons Talon (which is also featured in the "Rough'n Tumble" post).
Moving beads
Head first into it!
Joey and the Bonbon
Really trying hard to get at those ridges
Finally, one last picture, this one to showcase the Little dipper.
Zuri and the Little dipper
All and all, this was a real positive experience and I'll surely continue to order from them in the future.
However, after seeing how many people were pleased with toys they were getting at Grey Feather Toys and how amazing the toys looked, I finally decided to take the plunge earlier this month.
The toys got here last Monday.
Yesterday, I put the toys on the sofa so that multiple birds could try them out at once and I have to say, based on what I've seen so far, the toys are a success. Here are a few pictures.
Joey very decisively going towards the toys.
Zuri with the Spoonover.
I have two of the Spoonover and they will be going to Shade and Joey. I might order more later on and get one for Petey and Zuri as well.
Joey and the Baby Possession
Same toy..look at the tongue action!
Undecided...Little dipper or Dazzle?
Dazzle won!
With my order came a freebie. Looked quickly on the website and I can't find it so I don't know it's name..but it's definitively a favorite!
Joey and the "freebie"
Once Joey was done with it and moved onto other things, guess who came to investigate? Piper!..who was terrified of everything on Monday night.
Piper and the "feebie"
Piper and I playing tug-of-war with the "freebie"
The freebie also won over Shade, who was more terrified of everything than Piper Monday night. She eventually played with it. She wouldn't come near it if I offered it, but after it was put in a bowl on the tree for long enough she decided it was no longer threatening. It took her about two minutes that way to go down, get it and bring it back up with her.
Not so scared after all
Really enjoying the new toy
The freebie actually lead to Shade approaching one of the Bonbons Talon (which is also featured in the "Rough'n Tumble" post).
Moving beads
Head first into it!
Joey and the Bonbon
Really trying hard to get at those ridges
Finally, one last picture, this one to showcase the Little dipper.
Zuri and the Little dipper
All and all, this was a real positive experience and I'll surely continue to order from them in the future.
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