I have a visitor...

JennM · 10-02-2004, 03:54 PM

One of my regulars who also is a bird enthusiast, is helping a friend who has an aviary with 15 birds. She came in for Koi food this morning, toting this little guy on her steering wheel

Of course I invited her to bring him (her?) in... where he became quite a flirt. I get to keep him overnight - he's on a day pass

We don't know his(her?) name... but he's a Bare-Eyed Cockatoo and a real sweetie. He's made himself quite at home on my stand, we're spoiling him rotten with treats and love

Rick O · 10-02-2004, 03:57 PM

That's a beautiful bird. You should start carrying birds.

JennM · 10-02-2004, 05:25 PM

Heh just what I need - more poop

They are a fun hobby but I don't think I'd like to make them part of my job too... (famous last words)...

Ron was just here and gave my two a beak and nail trim... they're all pretty now

Jenn

Junkzoo · 10-02-2004, 06:15 PM

COOL! I seem to remember another one just like that,,,

Waitin' on Shirley's response,,,,,

Don't fight it Jenn,,,You/we know you want one,,,,,mwa'hahahahahahaha

tims · 10-02-2004, 06:26 PM

Birds of a feather ehhhh?

Jenn that is soooo cool, you know by the picture i would say you were at Tina's shop! she has the same type bird "sid", he totally likes me, i can get away with anything...
i think it will make a nice addition to your store!

what's a little more poop anyway?

Junkzoo · 10-02-2004, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tims

What's a little more poop anyway?

Careful Tim , You might have just made RWD's(Bob's) sig line! LOL

JennM · 10-02-2004, 06:33 PM

Well if the rightful owner wants to unload him/her....

I mean, who needs 15 birds, right? I did not meet the owner, it was my customer who was helping the owner catch up on cleaning her aviary, who brought him in. Kim will be back to collect him tomorrow ...

The owner works for a local veterinarian with whom I'm aquainted, he's also an avian vet so I take it she takes in some unwanted or foundling birds... who knows? Not getting my hopes up but if Kim tells the owner that I'm smitten... you never know I might be cage shopping again.... another of my regulars offered me a tiel she does not want, and I said I'd take it in but she has not brought it in... I'm not going to chase her for it, but if she brings it in, I'll love it and feed it...(OMG I sense another addiction here...)

I felt terrible leaving the too in the bathroom at the shop for the night (toilet lid down...) Had to put him in the back or if he takes a walkabout he'll set off my motion detector and I don't have a cage - so we put fresh food and water on the stand, cleaned up the day's mess from it, made sure the bathroom was bird-proof and said night night. I'll go in early tomorrow morning for playtime as the store does not open til 1:00. I kept him behind the counter all day so he could see all the people. He said "Hello" and "Hi" a couple of times, but wasn't terribly affectionate with anybody but me during the day - he does not seem to like men too much. My friend Ron, the veterinarian, came by today - gave my conures a beak trim and nail trim and tidied them up a bit - my two are in good feather. I just love them - they are just perfect for me

I'll post some pix of them tomorrow. I took them to a pet trade show a few weeks ago - theme was "Cheeseburger in Paradise" and you can't be a proper Parrothead without a parrot... they were a hit and we schmoozed a pile of treats and toys. My conures don't play too much with toys they like their bell on a chain and ignore most toys even though I rotate them regularly - but they love the peanut feeder I got them - every couple of days I wedge a few peanuts in it and they have to work to get them out - gives them some enrichment.

Yep - that too is a sweetie - a bit nippy but I'm sure with some one-on-one ... *sigh*...

Trying VERY hard not to get "too attached"....

Jenn

JennM · 10-02-2004, 06:43 PM

I should mention... I would have brought the too home but with 2 cats and a dog I didn't think it would be a prudent measure - especially without a cage. My conures have never been home to the house - but they are very much at home at the shop - since I spend more time there than anyplace anyway...

At the end of the day when we were tidying up and changing food and water before we left, I picked up the too and he cuddled in my neck :::awwww::: I actually asked Scott to wipe down the stand ... he wasn't impressed (he doesn't "do" bird cleanup) but halfway through the bird went to him willingly and snuggled all over him too - perhaps he just needed to have some quiet time to feel secure. He was very cuddly at the end of the day. I'll have some snuggle time with him tomorrow

Glad I have a bunch of toys - I was given some stuff more appropriate to a larger bird - and he seems to like to play.

Will you all comfort me when he goes back home tomorrow? He's a little thin but we spoiled him with bird treats I got at the trade show... he looks like he's plucked a few feathers too,(no bald spots but you can tell..) but he did not pluck while he was with us today. When Kim was helping clean up the aviary, she had given the birds showers and it looks like a fresh wing clip - he was all nice and clean. Loves his head scratched, lifts his wings for a scratch...

Gawd how pathetic am I?????

Jenn

ShirleyM · 10-03-2004, 10:58 AM

That's wonderful, Jenn!! Too bad you can't keep him...I wonder why he's thin and plucking a little? How old is he? He looks young in the picture...He was lucky to get to visit with you.

Shirley

JennM · 10-03-2004, 11:08 AM

Hehe I knew you'd turn up here

I know absolutely nothing about him (her?), not even its name. Kim just had him out for a change of scenery while she helped the lady with her aviary. I gave her some blank newspaper that I save from my dry goods orders, boxes are stuffed with paper for packing, I smooth it out and save it - makes great bird cage liner and I also use it to wrap frozen fish food at purchase, so I always save it and I have LOTS (I'm such a pack rat!)... so I gave her half my stack of paper for the aviary and when the too settled in on my stand, she offered to leave him all day - of course I said YES! She asked what time I closed and asked if I would like to keep him overnight... I was a bit apprehensive because I didn't have a spare cage, but she said he'd be fine on the stand - and he was - we left the bathroom door open a crack so he had dark but not pitch dark and he was all happy to see me this morning. Rather dog like - he puts his head down to be scratched and lifts his wings for a scratch. When Ron was here he was going to look him over but the bird wasn't too keen on menfolk at that time so Ron just let it be - not my bird and all that. I think he's a bit thin because I can feel his breastbone. He's a bit picky as far as eating - he didn't like the pellets I offered but he ate some of them and some seeds (I know....) and some of the bird treat bar (sort of a granola bar thingy) that I had. He likes the pumpkin seeds that my conures won't touch. He's already contact calling for me if I walk to the back room...

I have a big "sucker" tattooed on my forehead.

I'm trying to keep in mind that he's leaving today....but he's so darned cute

I did tell Kim that if the owner was looking for a home for him, I was interested, but I cannot afford to buy him. Luckily I am "connected" for supplies and veterinary care... otherwise this is a rich person's hobby...

I just feel kind of bad because these birds live in an aviary shed - not a house as companions, and I wonder how much one-on-one time they get? My brats... er conures are never more than a few feet away during the day, the cage is across the room and Woodstock is quite chatty except when you are right in front of him but he and I "converse" all day. Right now they are at the end of the counter on their gym and "No Name" is on the stand beside/behind me.

I think I should just open a zoo...

Jenn

ShirleyM · 10-03-2004, 11:18 AM

Why does she keep so many birds if she can't keep them as part of her household community?? Yes, Shelby puts her head down and lifts her wings...very affectionate. She would be so lonely and miserable in an "aviary" setting....
I wonder if she breeds or does "rescue"...in which case,...it would be nice if they were up for adoption.

Thanks for the "rest of the story"...

JennM · 10-03-2004, 11:23 AM

Well that's what I am thinking....

JennM · 10-03-2004, 06:11 PM

Kim came in early afternoon as I was schmoozing with the too

She offered to leave him with me for another day or two, she saw how smitten we were with one another. She thinks that the owner actually bought that particular bird - it was not a "rescue"...(although she thinks it was purchased at a flea market - so "rescue" might be a relative term...) but she also said that she takes birds this lady's birds home one by one, for a week or so at a time to give them some one-on-one. The owner actually gave her a green-winged macaw - the owner has the birds' best interests at heart. So, I'm not getting my hopes up that she'll be willing to adopt out this particular bird... but I'm enjoying my time with him while it lasts and with any luck, he'll come back to visit again

I'm definitely sold on the specie, I did some research online and this too seems to be a fine example of the pleasant and playful disposition. He's definitely a lot quieter than my conures, but I have become accustomed to their vocalizations, and since they live at the shop, they don't wake anybody up

They love to flirt with people and they definitely keep me company at work.

I've been trying a bit to work with the too - he's very friendly and affectionate but I'm spoiled by my own birds' understanding of the command, "Step up" (Woodstock tells Pepe to step up all the time

) The too dodges at the command and occasionally nips - if he nips I turn my back and walk away after I say a gentle but firm NO. If I need to move the bird, I'll gently persevere, I've used the wooden perch to get him to step up to avoid getting bitten and (he dances fast!) I laud him with praise when he does. Once he's up, he sits on my forearm quite happily and will snuggle into my chest or nuzzle my chin. He likes to click - the sound is soothing to both of us!

Given a bit of time I know I could really work with him as he's halfway to well-mannered, he just needs to learn what I want from him - he loves the attention and responds well to praise and petting

My own conures are learning from me - Woody started saying, "Good boy!" this week - he'd never said that before and I say it to him quite frequently. When it's bedtime, if they are on their playpen I say, "Night night!" and they hop back into their cage for me to close it up for the night. Woody has quite a vocabulary - but won't talk when anybody (even me) is standing too close to him but he's very chatty across the room and we repeat each other - it's funny to hear him whistle and say, "I love you!" (he knew those things when he came into my care).

I was careful to give my conures their usual attention while the too has been here - no jealousy issues, the conures sat on their gym and the too on the stand - close to one another but not close enough to come into contact - don't want any mishaps.

All in all, it has been a pleasant experience for all of us

As much as I hope he'll stay, I have to "detach" and know he'll probably go home.... tomorrow.

Jenn

ShirleyM · 10-03-2004, 07:41 PM

Jenn -- You are a natural! You're doing all the right things -- you are perfect for birds and they are lucky to be with you...and I hope this guy can stay longer. They need forever one on one homes, not just a week at a time ... They are so much like little 2 and 3 yr olds.

~ Shirley

JennM · 10-03-2004, 08:02 PM

Oh I know he needs a proper home - but since I might just have a short time, I'm making the most of it. If he goes home with some nice manners, perhaps he can come back... even if just for a visit. (can you tell I'm already attached?)

Again, not getting hopes too high but gee it would be nice...

Thanks for the vote of confidence regarding how I'm managing him (and my others) - I'm literally "flying" by the seat of my pants. Just using behavior modification techniques that work with other creatures. Had an "aha!" moment watching dolphin trainers once, they made a point to demonstrate how they managed behaviors that weren't good - smart animals respond best if negative behavior is ignored rather than scolded or punished. They want attention - if bad behavior gets attention it sends the wrong message. Any attention is good attention, right? So I use the "NO" as a cue that I'm not pleased and will ignore, then I follow through with ignoring. The bird was stepping toward me after I turned away... it wanted my attention so I'd wait a few moments, say, "be nice" and try again. Usually after a couple of tries, he'd get the point. He's pretty smart and caught on quickly. Good behavior or the desired response got lots of petting/scratching of feathers and a happy, "Good bird!" He responded well to this. Dogs like treats - every creature has its "currency"... just have to figure out what each animal wants as a reward. This has worked with a few different critters

I might be on to something LOL! Some catch on more quickly than others. Since he craves attention it wasn't too hard to convince him that my way was the right way. He really is a sweetie and wants to please, if for nothing else, some loving!

Jenn