Bird woman's flock

[Bird woman]

Yea I know sometimes I get to dam complacent and honestly it was early , just fed everyone and was relaxing apparently a little 2 much. Well the one good thing is every bird in the house is tip toeing around probably from me yelling at my husband . At least it's calm for now. The too's are being especially lovey and attentive also. BW

[seagoatdeb]

Glad harmony has been restored. If my husband and I argue Gaugan chimes right in and get both of us laughing.

[Bird woman]

I have a video of my too Lilly bitching up a storm outside when the wind was getting in her face , but there was a problem posting it . It was hallarious wish you guys could see it. I think the previous owners fought a lot so it probably isn't cute but she only goes off when she's mad, everything is pretty much me and the birds and my worker and friend who love my birds all day so there's never any yelling. I usually don't yell anyway but I was hurt and bleeding bad and not wanting to act like anything was wrong In front of the birds and didn't need my husband pulling the hee-man card on me . That just set me off. : ( he went to work early) BW

[seagoatdeb]

Everytime, I cant see Gaugan who is always exploring everywhere, I run around worried calling "Gaugan where are you" She is usually somewhere watching me looking at me like I have a screw loose. Every once in a while when I am in anothr room I can hear her yell out...."Gaugan where are you"

[Bird woman]

Well stupid me decided long ago that I wasn't going to respond to excessive screaming for no reason so I taught them to call mama when they want me or need something. As a result of that it starts at about 5:30 am momma , momma and then like a 5 year old at the top of there lungs MOM !!!! most of the birds will answer when I call unless there up to something they aren't suppose to do . Go figure . I'm luckey enough to have several avairys outside so it's pretty easy to keep track of the little monsters !!! BW

[Pajarita]

Yes, whenever I get bit and scream in pain, suddenly, all the birds become statues

My birds know their names and usually either come when I call them or answer me (Isis Redbelly actually says: "I'm right here!" ). I was talking to one of my daughters on the phone yesterday while I was doing my morning chores and I was telling her that Sweetpea has taken to hang on to Pookey's bars when he is out early in the morning. He doesn't do it to bother her, he likes grays because he lived for 11 years with one but she gets all bent out of shape and screams so, whenever I hear her, I walk over to the kitchen doorway and call out: "SWEETPEA!" and immediately, you see his little head popping up from behind the bedspread I have covering on side of her cage! But he still doesn't fly off so I have no choice but to walk over and bring him back with me -he will learn to do it on his own as time goes by the same way that Zoey Senegal learned.

[Bird woman]

I've noticed that when I'm able to bring a new bird out of quarantine that it sure doesn't take long for the newby to pick up on the routine of the rest of the flock . I've also found that the ones that seem to be really difficult changing over there diet except new foods much better when there dining with the flock. Bitten twice more today not bad , the bare-eye got a slight wing trim. I really don't like doing that but this is a real little wild child and I really wanted him to be able to go outside with the other birds. ( separate cage of course ) It's really hard telling how long it's been since he's enjoyed real sunshine. He steps up real good now and is a little snuggle bunny. These cockatoos sure seem to be the hyperactive of the too's, I need to get to reading up on them. He absolutely loves all the new toys but already seems to be displaying jealousy toward the other birds. I've decided to separate Huie and Mathew for part of the day as I think Mathew is getting a little tired of Huies hot pursuit. Besides Mathew is such a sweetie when Huie isnt around and I don't want him to become aggressive.I only have 8 useable fingers left. How long have you had sweet pea ? What is sweet peas story? Have a great day. PS I started a thread on hoarding in off topic for people if there so inclined to tell the raw truth of it all and explore each others feelings and intentions on why we do what we do. I started with some real honesty. BW

[Pajarita]

Sweetpea is now 19 and he came to me when he was 11 because he was 'the parrot from hell' according to his previous owners. He was the most aggressive parrot I've ever had and still holds the record for it! His owners did not say how long he had been in the cage (it was one of those old-fashioned, square ones with the gold bars and one single thick dowel in the middle) but I suspect it had been pretty much all his life because he hated humanity in general and me in particular because he fell head over heels for Tobita, a female Senegal I had that loved me to pieces, and he saw me as his competition. He attacked me constantly and relentlessly - so much so that, out of sheer desperation (I had become afraid of going into the birdroom and had to force myself to do it every time), I clipped him. He is the only bird I've ever clipped and, of course, I felt like a heel immediately (he hid for three days, the poor thing!). But, one day, 3.5 years after he had come to me, he started flying to my shoulder, perching next to Tobita (female senegal he fell in love with at first sight and who loved me to pieces -another reason for him to hate me!) and I allowed him (trembling inside and with my heart in my throat because I was expecting one of my ears to be ripped clean off!). And he started getting better from there to the point that now he is my friend. He doesn't kiss me or preens me but he steps up, follows me around, rides my shoulder and perches on my knees to take a nap, allows me to scratch his head and preen him, talks to me, etc. and he seems to have finally reached a point where he is not mad at the world any longer. Now, if Zoey would finally 'hook up' with him and he would stop plucking once and for all, we would all be happy!

[Bird woman]

So is it what your telling me there is light at the end of the tunnel where these macaws are concerned if I have any fingers toes or arms left?( Man it's brutle) and I am going to have to go buy another bottle or a case of patience if I'm going to get through this. You should have seen the look on my face when Huie lit on me for the very first time I was paralyzed like a statue. I knew I was about to loose my whole head. But that was then and this is now and at this point if he landed on me I'm sure my head would be toast. really not kidding.BW

[Pajarita]

Yes, 99.99% of the time (I hesitate to say 100%) there is always a light at the end of the tunnel. The key is patience, persistence and, above all, consistency. I have taken in wild-caught ex-breeder male amazons which, in my personal opinion, are the most aggressive of ALL parrots and even them learn not to attack you - well, as long as it's not breeding season and you don't make the mistake of getting too close to their nest and mate. But even them learned to 'back off' so I could put food and clean water in their 'spot' and to 'go home' (into a cage) when I would order them to (my husband would NOT walk into the birdroom to fix anything if it was breeding season and they were loose). Sweetpea obviously had never been socialized properly when he was a baby or juvenile (if he had, he would know about preening and kissing people) and, by the time he came to me, it was pretty much too late for him to learn niceties but he never bites me any longer, he steps up when I ask him to (to a stick and hand), he knows many commands and is very obedient about them and we have the most interesting conversations

I think that the problem you are having is because you brought in new birds too close to one another and nobody has had the time to adjust - I learned my lesson about that! But just keep on trying and it will be OK. The days are getting noticeably shorter and, before we know it, they will have no more sexual hormones in their bloodstream and things will calm down.