Inara

Inara will play on the bottom of her cage with pieces of toys. She also has a carousel foraging toy that sits low so that she can stand and also walk around it to mimic ground foraging. I use newspapers only, and for convenience I put several days worth of layers down. Makes it easy every morning when I swap out food and water dishes to just wipe down the grate with hot vinegar water, roll up the top layer of paper and done . Also with shavings or other types of litter it makes it harder to do a good poop check. It's easy to glance at the paper and see what has gone on for the day.

Ray what a beautiful and loving way to lay Cricket to rest. The first feathered love of my life was my 'zon, Elliot. I owe him an incredible debt as he was such a great teacher. When he died I cried harder than at any other time of my life. My own memory of Cricket will be how you described her on your shoulder getting rides to where she wanted to go. I can't help but think that she will still be guiding you. When you feel a little breeze against your cheek or a little flutter in your heart, you will know it is Cricket.

Personally, I would insist on taking her in to the vet since her normal behavior has also changed. Continue with the recommended treatment and call your vet back. I f your vet still does not want her to come in, I would call another vet. You need to let your current vet know about her change in behavior. Please keep us posted.

Joe snapped these as HRH and I were playing around. Apparently my little camera was still on "macro" so the quality of the photos suckahz but the quality of the feathered smooches is primo Inara so loves flying now, and could just not be more pleased with herself. I'm so pleased that it has opened up a universe of freedom (and confidence) to her that might otherwise have been closed to her. When I was a little girl, I was fascinated with birds. I asked my old Irish Dad one day how to catch one. He said, "Be very very quiet, walk slowly up to one, and put salt on its tail." I did believe him, and spent many an hour in my childhood lurking in the back yard with a salt shaker in my hand. It wasn't until many years later that I came to understand the metaphor: If one moves slowly, is patient, and pays close attention -- magic can happen.

You know you live with a parrot when Grey Poupon takes on a whole 'nother meaning.... (This is now what we call those unnoticed and later discovered poop drops)

Am glad to hear that! Yes, I certainly didn't mean by "just do it" to leap right in and scare your bird. Really, I'm an advocate for not even handling a bird during the first 3-5 days and just allowing them to scope out their new environment, become used to the sights and sounds around them, to be able to watch the new humans from afar, and then things are not so freakishly strange for them. Trust is critical and what you do in the early days sets the pace for the rest of your relationship with one another.

Agreed, since it is so close to her follow-up anyway, better safe than sorry. Am sure it will all turn out well. X-ing fingers.

What sad news, to see such a beautiful boy pass on. I so loved seeing his soulful face, what a handsome fellow! Our furred companions' lives are just far too short, no matter how long lived. As each one passes, they leave behind one more tender spot in our hearts. Hugs to you even though only through the glass.

Hi Michelle, have you checked out Cheyenne? http://www.broadmooreast.com/our-doctors.pml Not knowing what part of the state you're in, I'm assuming that if you have to go to Ft. Collins, that going to Cheyenne might shave an hour coming and going off of your trip.

How cool is she??!! Greycie just takes adorable to another level. Loved this!!

Ray, what incredibly sad news. Certainly such an unexpected shock has stunned you to your core. A wonderful companion and family member gone too soon. My heart goes out to you, as words fail me in my sadness for you and yours.

SterlingSL thinks that naughty is nice, and encourages naughtiness, so don't believe a word Welcome, Micky and your girl FiFi who is gorgeous!

Initially, HRH Inara did not like to be spritzed at all. Period. Then I got a bird mister that really hits her with a super fine spray (basic pet store model) mist. That helped. I also mist her daily because we live in a high, arid climate -- but I soak the living bejeebuz out of her at least three times a week. This all takes place in our open shower. I put her on my arm, we walk into the shower area, and I pick up the mister (that lives there and is always filled with filtered water) and I commence misting. When she has had enough, she scootches up my arm to my shoulder, and I respect that. Then we head "home" to her cage, and often after a good soaking, she has become stimulated to take a bath. She heads for her 2nd water dish that she uses exclusively for bathing. How she manages to fit herself into it is beyond me - but she does. She completely ignores any bowls and/or bigger dishes that I've tried to entice her into on the bottom of her cage. I'm going to try Brat Birds' suggestion about putting some edible greens into the bowl and see if she will go for that. The point of my rambling? Just do it, and eventually you and your sweetie will become used to the routine, and eventually Mama Mia will come to accept and enjoy it because it feels great!

What a character Miss GG is! Swearing up a storm, in a southern accent just had me howling this morning. The old TV show, "Designing Women" came to mind with GG playing the part of Delta Burke. A lovely, but petulant character. I'm in agreement that some stressors within reason are good, in that they do create movement and growth. Really, how dare you clean all of those high windows with a spitting snake and a huge tree branch!

What a redtail day!! Ruby is so beautiful. I loved looking at her photos. Wishing you both a lifetime of adventures!

Wow! Loved it!

Thank you for such an excellent and informative follow up. it is wonderful that you have a vet that took the time to really educate you about both the feeding process as well as about how we condition our birds' behaviors. Your little companion is very fortunate to have such a conscientious steward.

HRH Inara has been really enjoying our flight training sessions and for the past couple of weeks has been doing some very short, independent flights. This morning, however, she literally took off! We had had breakfast, she had been perched at the kitchen window to look for The Squirrel, she had flown the short distance from her window perch over to the counter top, and she had ordered me to "get the water, get the cookies (she calls all dry food 'cookies')" -- which is our usual morning routine, after which I walk her to her home, she roams around on its top while I clean it and replace the papers, etc. and then when that is done, we do about 45 mins or so of recall training (which she loves!). This morning, I realized that I had forgotten to change her 2nd water dish (the one she likes to bathe in), so while she was roaming around on the top of her cage, I took the dish and told her I'd be right back, and I went into the kitchen. Within a couple of seconds of my being out of sight in the kitchen, I heard the whir of wings and the flutter of a landing -- and there she was, happy as a clam having just flown all the way across the house and successfully completing a landing on the kitchen floor. This is a big deal, considering that when she came to live with us at 2 years old she had no idea how to fly or that her wings even belonged to her. Its been clear for the past few months that she has the main floor plan mapped out in her head, but she never would venture very far at all on her own. Today was a red tailed day!

Sterling, you *must* stop it with all this cuteness! Between Toby and now Baby Rio, you're killinn' me!! :D What a beak that baby has. You've now made me more curious about Jardine's and I'm going to pour another cup of coffee and go read up on them, and why their beaks are so strong -- is it because of their natural food source(s)? Baby Rio looks like he's really settling in. Loved those videos, keep 'em coming so I can vicariously enjoy MBS!!!

What great news! Mr. Peck is quite the guy. So delighted to hear that he was/is responsive to the stick method. My (R.I.P.) wild caught Amazon, Elliot, while eventually was quite the lovebug never did step up to a hand. He had been so traumatized. He was great about stepping to a stick and then from the stick to arm/shoulder then back to stick and home for his entire life with me. Mr. Peck, I bet though will soon be stepping up au natural for you in no time. Especially with that kind of jackpot! Watch out for those bombs....

The evidence!! No use hiding, I know where you live.....

video you say? I don't know if I could stand the cuteness!!! He sounds like a lot of the guys I used to date in my wild years, lolz. Hey where are the new baby piccies, did I miss them or have I forgotten that I saw them --- the danger of being blonde *and* aged.

Sterling, I couldn't agree more. I had afghan hounds for over 28 years (my first one overlapped with my 'zon and CAG) and they too have a need for speed and for running even though in the house they are couch potatoes -- 42 miles an hour couch potatoes. They were happiest and so calm in demeanor when they could run full tilt in open fields at least once a week in addition to their regular outdoor time. Inara reminds me of them in her own need for speed. She so enjoys her flight time (that is not just a short spurt when she is out of her cage) and this week I've been calling her a Thunderbird. The T-birds practice flybys over my house when they are in town for the USAF Academy graduation. When I think of the daily mileage that she would be putting in if she was in the wild, I feel a serious duty to provide her with the motivation and opportunity to log at least a couple of hours daily split into two sessions. Sunshine, flying, and lots of showers -- all, I agree, lead to burning off excess energy and make for a more relaxed, healthy, and content companion. (I know I'm preachin' to the choir on this board ) Ray, that cracks me up!! Cricket sounds like such a character. My (R.I.P.) 'zon, Elliot was quite a perch potato. He was terrified of cages (wild caught in the '70s) and so I made him a tree that he lived in in my living room for his lifetime. He just loved to perch up there unless he heard a snack bag rattling somewhere - then he was everyone's best buddy, leaning over, giving the one-eyed look to search the room, and then chirping sweetly to try to entice one of the kids over to give him a bite. Or he loved to come down to perch on my shoulder and just hang out, or to go shower with me. Loved that guy to pieces. Cricket, sounds like she works you like a boss :D

http://www.plumorganics.com/products Inara loves these! I found these at my local Safeway store for only 1.25 each and she gets about 3 servings out of each pack. Yes, fresh is best (well except some veggies more nutrition is derived when they are steamed or lightly cooked) but for a quick no fuss vitamin A fix, the Sweet potato, Mango, Millet can't be beat. Super high in A and calcium and yet keeps the iron low. Inara loves these spread on an organic multigrain hemp or flax waffle in the morning and even goes for the broccoli. Or she likes just a spoonful slightly heated. The ones with the number 2 on them (more like junior food) are thicker and more substantial than the number 1's which are like first foods. Many start with an apple base, but then load in the other ingredients. Good for fussy eaters who fling their veggies and/or when parronts are short on time/energy and need a quickie. I could see these being good for traveling also as they come in bpa-free pouches, so light and easy to pack compared to glass jars.

Here is a photo of HRH Inara enjoying your little wooden shoe toy, Carolz! It is her very favorite foraging toy. I put dry bits of goodies into each shoe and she just loves seeking them out, as well as getting in great chewing time on the wood itself. HRH says that you must *never* discontinue these :D