Poor ollie

[marie83]

I feel so sorry for him at the moment. Us humans are never out between us for very long but since Harlie passed he has taken to clinging to the bars on the nearest side to the door screaming "hello, hello" over again poor guy. Then as soon as we come home he launches himself back on the side giving his best abused bird look.

To be honest I do think he is ok during the time we are gone but I'm setting up a camera tomorrow to check. I can't bare the thought of him clinging to the bars all miserable and alone.

[Wolf]

You don't need a camera for that, I can tell you in all honesty that he is miserable and lonely. Since the passing of Harlie, he is very highly stressed and in addition to that he is also grieving the loss of his friend.
People ( humans), for some reason don't seem to realize that parrots need the company of other parrots, preferably of their own species, but another species will do in a pinch, almost as much as they need air, or food and water. Their brains and emotional states are set up for them to never be without the companionship of their own species.
I know that this is and has been hard on you as well, but it is much more stressful to Ollie than it is to you or me. As difficult as it is for you, I would seriously consider getting him another parrot friend as soon as you feel that you can.

[marie83]

Wolf I know that but I meant to see his behaviour when he is alone because I need to wait if I possibly can (I'm away for a while and don't fully trust my partner to introduce a new bird) I cannot get another for at least 6 weeks now sadly and then there is 4 weeks quarantine on top of that. We were going to get him and harlie another of their own species anyway but the only suitable GCCs owner messed us about a while ago and others have always already gone or have been too far away. Ollie and Harlie were not really friends and didn't really interact, more coexisted but yes there is a massive change in his life because Harlie was about long before Ollie and he will also be picking up on my emotions too which won't help anything.

[Pajarita]

Isn't there any way you can 'move' things around so you can get another one sooner than that? Poor Ollie...

[Wolf]

Yes, he is picking up on your emotions, the little bugger are almost empaths in that they know our state of mind and emotion almost as soon as we begin to feel these things ourselves. I was not meaning to be insensitive, I was trying to confirm what you already knew without you having to watch it on camera too. I also knew that you would try to get him a friend, as you are to caring of a person do to otherwise and in that area I truly only meant to confirm and support that course of action. I know that you and Ollie are mentally and emotionally compromised by this set of events, and I know that because I would be and so would my birds. But don't rush it or act sooner than what you want to. Regardless Ollie is still going to grieve the loss of Harlie, even if they were not the best of friends and getting another bird will not change that. Ollie has to complete his grieving before he is ready for a new friend anyway. This is not ascribing human traits to Ollie, but it does acknowledge that many of the mental and emotional processes are remarkably similar.

I did note that you said that you could not get Ollie a companion in less than 6 weeks because you did not trust your partner to do the introductions properly, and then there is the quarantine period. Could you trust your partner to do the quarantine period properly? That would speed things up some.

[marie83]

Not unless I cancel all my clients but then I won't have enough money to live on. I am going to see if someone can do my day clients for me though because then I can take a cut of the fees for myself and pay them a wage. That way I will only be away at night but I need to speak to my accountant first who isn't available until next week and some of my only want me..... arrrgghgh.

I know it can't be helped but it had to happen at school holiday time when I'm almost fully booked and don't have room to move bookings about.

[Wolf]

That is Murphy and his minions at work.