Sigh. Scooter is mad at me again!

[entrancedbymyGCC]

We just got back from 5 days in Seattle at the American Astronomical Society winter meeting (gosh, I miss living there, I really loved that city). And Scooter is one P.O.d little green cheek again. That's 3 for 3 on recent trips longer than overnight. This time we asked the sitter NOT to play the birdsitter DVD and to handle the birds minimally to see if that would help or make things worse -- it did neither, both birds are in much the same state as the last time we traveled. To wit: Scotty seems happy to see us and his behavior is otherwise pretty much where it was when we left (ear fetish and all) and Scooter is a fluffed ball of grumptitude.

This time I'm going to make no attempt to handle him whatsoever until he clearly demonstrates he is ready. One lacerated lip a year is enough... So far, the best I've gotten is him saying "hey bird" to lure me over and then fluffing up to give me the evil eye and cuss me out at some length. I have no idea what he's saying, but it sure sounds like cussing! And that seems to be the interaction he wants! He's also banging his toys around quite a lot.

Since we have new folks on here, I guess I'll ask again -- any ideas on how to deal with a bird that gets angry when you are away a few days? Any ideas on how to "make up" again? To prevent the behavior? Dare I hope he will grow out of it? He's such a super-tame cheerful birdie the rest of the time it's always a bit of a shock to encounter Scooter Hyde.

[TheNzJessie]

tell me about it! i went away for one night, just got back now. and Jango is acting like i went away for a year, i even bought him and the budgie some willow fresh of my grandads farm!! nope not good enough apparently >.< well hes gonna love it when i go to aussie in august for 3 weeks and hes getting pet sitted by one of the fellow zoo keepers, cant wait =p

[captwest]

Hey Entranced, i don't know your routine, but how long do you have to be gone before this happens ? If you come home at 10 pm is he pissed? Do you have to be gone overnite? I call and talk to Jake on the speaker phone and she gets very excited, Maybe call Scooter in the am or make a video for him to watch, you know, mom doing stupid human tricks !! Worth a try.

[birdnut]

Take Scooter with you???

[idlepirate]

you're worrying me now for my trip. im looking at 5 weeks. I was thinking to skype my bird while im gone inbetween. I do think that 3weeks to 5 weeks wont make much difference to him. I just keep thinking of him sitting and waiting for me everyday and that I dont walk in the door to tuck him into bed night after night....arrrrghhh.

I heard a theory once with cats and dogs that they have no sense of time. you can be gone for 1 hour or all day and it feels the same to them. I think birds are different and will know if you're gone long.
The longest Ive left Lorenzo so far was from 8in the morning till about 11 at night. and he reacted happy to see me and didnt look too stressed out. Im sure a few weeks and hell hate me. its the fact that someone else is gonna feed him his breakfast and put him to bed at night, that will confuse him.

Captwest's idea to ring him up (or try skyping him) seems the best so far. worth a try. Parrots just hate changing their routine. what about coming in with loads of treats make him forget you've been gone and just want treats?

[entrancedbymyGCC]

Yay, he's made up with me! This is only the second day home, which is faster than the last two times. The way we patched things up was about the same, though. He'd stopped coming to the front of the cage, bristling like a pine cone and reading me the riot act by yesterday evening, but right up until just now, he still would not come forward when I opened the door and I now know from experience if he's going to be that reticent, trying to insist will just result in lost skin. So I let him let himself out of the cage onto his playtop, and from there he willingly stepped up and got scritched and all those good things. He's still mad at Bill though and just now ran at him and bit him on the cage top. It's usually me he stays angry with.

He's quite fine even if we are gone overnight a single night, but we don't even have the sitter in if we are gone one evening. He did not mind longer trips, though, when we first got him.

Haven't tried the Skype thing, although we may if and when I get a new computer. I can't leave mine on when I'm away from home because the fan periodically goes nonlinear and scares the birds. May try a tape, but my gut sense is that that won't help. The main things in the routine that differ when we are gone are slightly earlier meal and bed times, less out of cage time, no time outside the office room, and no getting sung a lullaby at bedtime. The routine is probably actually more regular than when we are home because we don't tend to keep a very rigid schedule. The main lighting in the room is on a timer, so that is consistent no matter what.

If two birds have a squabble, do they ever stay angry at each other? If so, how do they "make up"?

Unfortunately, now that I have birdie back, he's still going to get short shrift for a couple days. I brought a nasty cold back from Seattle and am wiped out just from typing this.

[idlepirate]

and no getting sung a lullaby at bedtime

awww thats sweet, my sister does that for her parrot every night as well, and nobody is allowed to disturb them. she has to be completely alone with him and sings everynight.

[captwest]

Here's Hoping You Feel Better Soon . Is it the sitter that bothers him? Resents a stranger being around?

[entrancedbymyGCC]

Hey Captwest, thanks. Am less relentlessly horizontal today! He seems to behave well for the sitter and she really enjoys him, but that may play a role. Still, it was the same sitter as the first few trips where he was fine when we got back. It's just really hard to figure out. And I guess it isn't all that common either.

I wonder how much his age plays into it. He'll be two in March and I'm definitely seeing him change in some ways. More stubborn, more apt to get posessive of things, more bonded to me and less to my husband. He's still being "mad" at him.

Idlepirate, my husband sometimes listens in -- and he actually sings to them if I'm gone and he's home. How's that for a good guy!

[iknowwhatiknow]

Before I had Rory, I'd never known an animal to hold a grudge before. I was so used to dogs who are just grateful you're home. Who knew animals even had that capacity?