Stories- ringneck, quaker, and gcc

[shiraartain]

Yes, it was a very pleasant surprise. Speaking of surprises, Fajr definitely adores my Dad. When I came back from Japan after six weeks, Fajr reacted with indifference. No excitement or displeasure at all. My Dad came home after three weeks, and Fajr was very pleased. He saw my dad's face and said "oi!oi!oi!yeahhhh!" We asked him, "who's is this? Who's come?" And he responded "mitthu!mitthu's come!" I will admit, I was a bit jealous because of the huge difference in affection. Sometimes I feel like I'm just his cleaning lady :').

We took his cone off on Friday, he bathed that day, and I think I made the water a bit too warm yesterday (I usually give it to him cold, but it was lukewarm) because he just dunked his head once or twice and then walked off. Going to see if I can upload the video of taking his cone off.

He sits with me while I study, and sits on my dad's hand while my dad plays games on his phone, and just enjoys keeping us company right now. He flies short distances, but definitely still has a preference for climbing and using his feet to get where he wants. This worries and frustrates me a bit, as I wish he would fly since it reduces the danger of him being stepped on. Might do flight training and recall again with my sister?

He's still in my room because we haven't gotten around to moving his cage back yet, and he started saying something while I was falling asleep, and I realized the garbled phrase he was saying was "paani chaye?" (Want water?) So I said it back to him a few times and he seemed content and fell quiet again.

My mom cleaned their cage, but left in the middle of it, so I came downstairs yesterday to find Lemon and Clover out and sitting on their cage. I finished up the cleaning (twins were out), put dinner in the cage, and Lemon was nice and compliant, but it took me ages to get Clover in. She bit my wrist when I asked her to step up, so I ended up draping their night sheet over their cage and Clover finally climbed into the cage from the top after 15 minutes. After which they were both rewarded with almonds.

My mom says that because animals recognize those who truly love them, all the birds adore my youngest sister and Fajr adores my Dad too.

Fajr still cuddles with me and naps in my hand, so I don't mind not being number one.

[shiraartain]

Something I forgot to mention: I was able to make it out to the rescue! Thanks to Navres thread, I would always remember that I needed to go in, and so we were finally able to do so about a week ago. The green cheek that were rescued from the flipper are living in an aviary together. The woman running the rescue tried to sort them into family units, but was unable to. There were many different species of birds, and they were all sweet. My sister talked to a sun conure and the owner opened the cage so he could come out if he's like, but he just continued to watch my sister from inside. She eventually turned her attentions to the grey next door and when that happens the sunny wasted no time in clambering out and up to her shoulder.

Apparently his former owner opened up a feral cat rescue and they went for him. Her boyfriend wasn't a fan of the bird either, so she gave him to the rescue but didn't want him placed for adoption. After a year and a half, Marie, who runs the rescue, was able to persuade the former owner to let him be put up for adoption. He's very adoptable, a total sweetheart. He'll probably find a home very soon.

The aforementioned Grey next door had a cloth cone. I asked about it and was told that he mutilates, thus the cone. It also would occasionally make the sound of shrieking metal.

There were a few wild-caught birds, one with heart disease who is staying at the rescue and isn't going to be placed for adoption. I'm very bad with names, so aside from the greys, a macaw, GCCs, and a plucked eclectus, parakeets, dyh Amazon, I can't remember the breeds of unfamiliar birds.

There weren't any Quakers or ringnecks. Ringnecks are hard to find in Michigan since they're troublesome to breed. Quakers aren't as uncommon, but now that I think about it, the bird store down the street doesn't sell them either.

The rescue is in a rural area. My sister and I went an hour early with the intention of exploring the town, only to arrive and see nothing but farms and "NO TRESPASSING" signs. A big difference from the city and the suburbs.

[shiraartain]

So I moved Clover and Lemon to our addition. I've been plotting this for a while as they got sent back to the basement. My parents refused to compromise, so one day I just hauled their cage to the dining room with my youngest sister's help, set them up, and made myself scarce. My mom didn't even notice until Clover started talking. After a few weak protests at the beginning, my mom told me to move them to the addition because she doesn't want feather and dander in our food. No complaints since then, and probably won't be as long as their cage is kept clean. Came home today to find mom on the couch, sipping tea and watching them play. They still call, but a lot less yelling that I've noticed. And since they're in sight, they don't become out of mind and my sister remembers to interact with them.

Since we redid the walls and added insulation, the temperature is a lot more stable, more so if we keep the curtain that separates it from the rest of the house open. I have them next to the patio window because a) it's the only spot where there isn't a vent, b)exposure to natural light and c) looking outside keeps them entertained (I wonder how they'll feel about the neighborhood birds once we refill our birdfeeder). Winter has not been that bad this year, so I think they'll be fine. Will move them if it suddenly becomes cold, but it doesn't seem like it will. The only other foreseeable problem is someone seeing and stealing them, but I doubt that would happen.

After bringing them up, I noticed their water dish was tipped over every morning. Today I left late, and discovered that they were tipping it and then trying to bathe in the dish. I got Fajr's bowl for them, and they can both hop in there neatly and their bodies will fit, but the rest of the bodies remains dry. They're used to the oil drip tray (which has never been used for oil) and bathing freely, so guess I'll be bringing that upstairs too.

The major problem with this arrangement was that Fajr would see them, and we weren't sure about if he would try attacking them again. But it seems he has learned his lesson. Clover escaped through the food hatch this morning when I left it open while getting their breakfast, and he simply watched her land on me and didn't show any aggression at all. He was sitting on the table. He also flew over to my mom who was about to nap in the addition, and simply sat, with no aggression towards the pair.

He has taken out the stitches, and the injury has healed up nicely. And has also begun flying a little more. Despite everything, we are all still paranoid about his not flying as much as he used to, so every time he does so, it makes us feel a little less worried.

I've posted a bunch lately and don't think there will be any more news for a while (hopefully- I'd like things to settle down).

[Wolf]

I hear that, you and Fajr have had quite the run of excitement lately. Loseing a toe was a hard reminder for him to stay out of other bird's spaces, but I would not count on it working indefinitely as he seems to be too curious for that.

[Pajarita]

Great news on both fronts! Does this mean that you might end up keeping them? (I am keeping my fingers crossed the answer is yes!)

[shiraartain]

Don't know as that really depends on Chika taking care of them (other twin gave up), but I think we have a chance at another year, at least. I'm trying to sell the TV display so we can put the television up on the wall, and then the cage won't seem to crowd the room as much anymore.

[Pajarita]

Maybe your mother will fall in love with them and take care of them herself...

[shiraartain]

She actually does feed them when I'm running late and clean their cages occasionally, but the bulk of the responsibility is ours. She has an illness where water damages the skin on her hands and soap does even more damage, so it's something I avoid asking of her. She is coming to love them more, though.

[Pajarita]

That's the thing about parrots: they really, really grow on you. My husband is not a parrot person but he now 'feels' for them, enjoys their antics and doesn't complain as much as he used to -of course, this took 24 years but hey! better than nothing, right?

[shiraartain]

Did I say I hope things settle down? Forgot there's never a dull moment with Parrots. Fajr escaped and chomped down on my ear Monday morning, then this morning he escaped again and Clover and Lemon also escaped (out of their cages-not outside) -- all this while I'm running late for work because it snowed overnight and traffic was definitely going to be excessive.

Lured the pair in with almonds, and Fajr thankfully decided against biting my face this morning.

I ordered 144 finger traps, and some krinkle paper because the birds are all running short on toys. Cost was about $20, moreso because of the krinkle paper. Which is ridiculous, any alternative ideas are appreciated.