Time for an update. The days are already getting longer and the birds have noticed the difference and are showing behaviors related to it.
Linus too is still chewing and chewing boxes even though the days are getting longer and the birds have already noticed (at least, the long days species have). As has been happening since he first came here, he is allowing more feathers to remain and his body is almost completely white now - the chest has 'holes' where you can still see the skin, his legs are completely bare and will always be because no feather grows there but, although he is not 'evenly' covered because he still barbers and plucks some of his contours, he doesn't look like a bird ready for the pot now.
Sophie CAG is still enamoured of her too boyfriend. She now eats from the same plate on occasion (she always wanted her own dish before) and is sporting a plucked neck on one side from his ardent 'kisses'.
Precie and Zeus Zon are beginning to chew in earnest and Zeus is beginning to show breeding displays but, so far, no aggression. And I just wanted to mention how smart they are! They not only remember, they make decisions on their own based on experiences that might not even be that common or regular to them. My husband goes into the birdroom on occasion, he repairs the chewing boards all around the room and replaces the ropes that hold the platforms hanging from the ceiling but he doesn't go in any regular manner -meaning, every so many number of days or weeks or for a pre-determined number of hours). It varies greatly - sometimes, he doesn't go in for two or three months and, sometimes, he goes in every day for a little while each day and for a number of days - it all depends on how much needs doing and spare time he has but also because I don't let him in until they finish their breakfast or when they are resting in the middle of the day. But even though this activity is not regular at all, they have learned that, if he goes in, they have to go into their cage (he is afraid of them and refuses to work in there unless they are caged) and, as soon as they see him coming in, both of them march to their cage on their own and with Precie saying: 'UHHHHHH, too bad, too bad, too bad!"
Nadia and Mami Zon are now looking all raggedy -more Mami than Naida, of course- again and they had sex yesterday morning for the first time this season. They never stop chewing but, they do start chewing in earnest around this time of the year and, soon, Naida will start nesting in one.
Zoey and Sweetpea Senegal are doing very well. It has taken years but it seems that she has finally accepted him completely... now if he would only try to feed her in her beak!
Isis Redbelly is having issues with Zoey because she has now decided to love my husband and she is taking a whole lot of exception to the fact that Zoey is trying to 'steal' her beloved. They had a fight on my husband's shoulder this morning and he ended up with a big bite to his left ear, something that, according to him is my fault for 'allowing' it -as if I could prevent this from happening (sight).
Davy Redbelly continues to be more interested in Keku Quaker than in Isis Redbelly. They are always together and I am now beginning to put them in the same cage for a little while and, two days ago, I left her there for the night (will do it again tomorrow night and more and more often until they live in the same cage). Keku loves him and he loves her. And, unfortunately, she has learned all his bad habits! To put the icing on the cake, they have discovered my pantry and I've had to put all my stuff in containers because they were chewing all the boxes and bags I had in there and no amount of telling them anything or taking them out of there made any difference. BUT Keku is beginning to obey when I tell her to "DROP IT!" when she steals something she shouldn't touch. She continues to improve, eats leafy greens like there is no tomorrow, bathes regularly, flies like the Red Baron and is the sweetest, sweetest thing, never trying to bite or even nip.
Codee GCC and Pablo Peachfront are doing very well. Pablo has slowly relaxed and learned that I am no threat to him in any way and not only does not shy away from my hand but actually approaches it when I come to him with food, taking treats out of my hand as if he had always done it. I do need to clip his wing though...
Paquita and Rajah Plet doing great but I worry that she doesn't seem to want to climb up to the roosting perch any more... I don't know why because she is doing very well otherwise, eating, drinking, bathing, etc. I even put still another 'ladder' for her to use but no cigar.
Duke and Blue Budgie have been fighting because they both want Susan. I've interfered the few times I've seen them and, for what I can see, there have been no real wounds in either one (I check them ever time) but I don't know if it's that Duke is very stubborn or that Susan has not yet decided but you can see all three together all the time, Susan in the middle and one boy to each side (little floozy needs to make up her mind, if you ask me). Funny thing is, there are three more hens and only one more male so it's not as if Duke and Blue don't have any other choice. Tweety benefits from the situation and has been courting both Flora and one or both of the twins (I can't tell Margarita from Marigold, they are clutch sisters so they are both the same age, both female and both completely yellow so, for all I know, he is trying to get jiggy with both of them
).
Casper and Peaches Indian are doing great! They LOVE their gloop, eat lots of fruits, have relaxed a bit (but not completely, we still need more time) and are now coming out of their cage regularly (Peaches more than Casper) and even flying -clumsily and weakly still but a bit improved nonetheless. They are sweet, sweet birds... never trying to bite and always responding with sweet breeding displays when one talks to them. My husband adores them and always stops by their cage (they mostly stay on top of it when they come out -their cage door is always open) a couple of times a day when he is home.
Javi Caique is still in soft molt
It's only a few pins here and there on his cheeks but still... I guess we will have to wait until the next fall to see if it stopped for good or what. But he continues to improve otherwise, he now flies about one third of the time instead of always walking to his destination and his flights have become much better in both strength and skill (straight lines, better landings, etc). AND he now says 'Come on - Come on - Come on' whenever he wants me to pick him up from wherever he is. He got a good scolding the other day because he bit my husband's cheek for no good reason other than the fact that he is a cantankerous little thing... He was on top of the Indians cage and, when my husband leaned over to talk to them, he rushed to his side and bit him!