Rainbow, Myrtle & Cockatiels

[seagoatdeb]

Cocktiels do love to flock, so very happy for Gimpy, and glad he has you. The Meyers really like to flock too, they just want to be where everyone else is.....so different than Red Bellys who live most of their lives in the brush, in the wild, as documented by Ruppell, back in the 1800's. It has been a big adjustment for Gaugan to have a stubborn poi who was determined to flock with every one, but he is such a mellow, instantly forgiving type, the she has figured out a way for him to be a flock member. She is the type who mistrusts everyone at first and they have to work to have her allow them to have interaction with them and become a member of the flock, and she limits how much they can do. Now that she is preening Sunny the poor fellow thinks he can flock with her more often and she is showing him that she will preen him when "she" is in the mood, and "she" will allow him close to her when she is in the mood. She is the boss of us all in that way.....lol....But it is so nice to see Sunny be able to be preened by a parrot and some time flocking with a parrot, it is so good for the both of them....It makes me feel so happy and I am sure you are feeling a similar deep happy for Gimpy too.

[liz]

Yesterday was exciting. When I filled their tray with seed in the evening Jackie was the first to come to me and tweeting all the way. I don't bend well so I get on the floor to feed them. I had my head very close to the floor and talking to Jackie when another bird landed on the other side of her so close that he knocked her over. She took it in stride and kept tweeting. It was Gimpy. He landed on the tray right in front of my face. I did not move and continued talking to Jackie. He just totally ignored how close I was and went about picking through the seed. The rest of the flock followed. I still did not move.
It was wonderful. Here I am with my head on the floor and a flock of happy healthy cockatiels in front of my eyes. Really, right there in front of my eyes.
When Jackie started to eat I scooted back before getting up so my movement would not scare them.

I have to give the credit to the flock. They accepted Gimpy as an individual and when he would not come out to be with them, they went in and spent time with him in the cage.
I have seen this with my furry babies. A new rescue can come in scared and be comforted by the others. They even give lessons on how to get through the dog door. (that was fun to watch until Chloe tried to teach Myrtle.)

I really love these little ones. As a flock they are very happy. Individually they are bonding with me. Tommy who I could not find in the flock for a long time has started throwing kisses to identify himself while moving toward me for kisses. He is so sweet.

Gimpy has learned to use his wings and kind of hop from one place to another. He is getting good at it. The one leg he has is so twisted that he cannot hop like a one legged bird.

I have read research about handicapped kids. Those who are not pampered progress faster and farther than the pampered.

[Pajarita]

Yes, tiels are wonderful, wonderful little birds! They are so sweet-tempered and mild- mannered that one doesn't really need to do anything but feed them and give them their space to be accepted and trusted 100%... I miss mine terribly but I need to keep the numbers down now that I am getting old.

And you are absolutely 100% correct on the correct care to give to a handicapped animal. One needs to take into consideration their infirmity but that doesn't mean one should make everything so easy that the animal doesn't need to put an effort.

[liz]

I hoped he would be able to fly when his feathers grew back. What I did not expect was the way he gets across the floor with a flutter and hop.

I took these little refugees in to get them away from the humans who were bad to them. I had hoped they would flock and comfort each other. I saw it as I added a new one. Then they started coming fast. It seemed all of a sudden cockatiels needed help.
I gave them the best I could and did not ask anything of them. Even Tommy disappeared in the flock for a while. I never expected these poor little abused beings wanting to be my friend. One by one they are coming to me.

Flutter is still a hold out but is starting to pay attention when I talk to him. Before this he just fluttered away if I said his name.

I love just sitting in the room with them. I made them happy and now they are making me very happy.

[Pajarita]

Yes, indeed, Liz. That's the greatest asset animals have, I think: if you are good to them, they are good to you.

[liz]

I got up early and took my meds then fed every thing then went back to bed. I have my two dogs, one of Rachel's, Aunt Betty's cat and Rambo in my bed. Myrtle is on top of the dresser.
They all seem to know who they belong to and their siblings. But we also have an extended family.

[Pajarita]

It's a 'modern family'!

[liz]

Yes.

Right now Jasmine my little dog is on the bed beside Rambo. Myrtle is on the perch beside my bed. It is hard to consentrate on TV with two birds talking and a dog wanting belly rubs.

Before yesterday the Cockatiels would only eat cooked veggies mixed in there grain. The fresh food had nibble out of them when I picked them up and gave the seed supper. YAY

[Pajarita]

Great job, Liz!

[liz]

I woke up late this morning. It was 7:30. What woke me up was Rambo's happy noises. (Even in my sleep I am on alert with noises like a momma with a baby.) I could hear his happy noises. Both make noises like a little kid trying to hum. I did not see him until he popped up on the bed. He has learned to climb the doggie steps to get on my bed instead of just asking for help to get up.

Yesterday he refused to step up for Rachel while we were having quiet time. SURPRISE. I am #1 again.

Myrtle has loosened up on her jealousy. She lets him snuggle and talk to me up close. She also lets him take naps with me. He is allowed to show affection to me with no problem. The jealousy kicks in if I touch him other than to give him "help". So far so good. Rambo understands and will get away from my hands when she is in the room and comes back when she leaves the room. This little bird is teaching me again that he is not a bird brain. He can pick up on emotions even from Myrtle and the other animals.

I want to live into his old age. I don't want to have to leave him like his "Gran'ma". He has been through so much in his life. He was neglected in his first home. Then stolen from there by his second human. After being her baby for 14 years his second human was going to sell him because she finally got pregnant and did not want him in the way. So I snatched him away from her not knowing anything about him other than he was green and talked while walking through the house.

We went through a learning process. He did not teach me about parrots but gave me a crash course in "Rambo" starting with day 1.
No matter that I had gone from #1 to #3. I was happy that he was happy. I did not realize how much I missed him.