Nychsa

LOL Judy! How on earth is one to tell if they have a problem or not??? Well, I think as part of our pre-travel visit to the vet, I'm going to get him to show me how I can examine her to make sure she doesn't have breathing distress or something. This is driving me crazy because it really sounds like she has a cough! I mean I did get what my partner was saying, and I doubly realized that he was right when Bella lifted her little foot and put it in front of her beak when she "coughed":laugh: That's when I KNEW she was messing with me!! But it did make me aware that I need to know how to tell when she's having a problem.

I can totally empathize with you atreasure! Spring is here and my seasonal allergies started back up to include an occasional cough. Three days ago Bella started mimicking my cough and I went into a panic thinking she had a respitory problem! It totally freaked me out I was ready to run to the Vet with her. My partner then pointed out to me that she's doing this in the middle of her chatter reptoire and that she's coping me. I'm still anxious about it and I'm thinking just for my own peace of mind I want her checked out - but it is still unnerving!!!!!

Marlene wrote: Now that's a great idea! A portable playpen! That would solve a good deal. I could have used one of those yesterday - I was in my office working and I thought Jiggy and Bella wold enjoy sitting on their travel cage and play with some toys there. But, instead they jumped on me - one on each shoulder, Bella promptly dropped a bomb on me, and Jiggy started nibbling on my ear. When I tried to talk to my banker on the phone, Bella grabbed my glasses and ripped them off my face :blink: I put her back on the cage and she flew back over and started climbing my table lamp toppling it over and landing on my computer :unsure: Of course papers were flying all over the place :blink: Geezum, I do need to make a sitcom out of these two around here!!!!

Kasia, Do you need assistance getting to the vet? If so, just send me a PM and give me your vet's name, and telephone number and we'll get the funds over there. These babies need to get to an avaian vet and we shouldn't delay that. So, drop me a PM if you need help. Keep us posted Terri

Nice Tiffani!! They both look very happy. Pocco got my two chirping away hearing the video :laugh:

Acappella wrote: One of the things Bella LOVES to chew on is this soft wood toy that I got her at PETCO. It's like a block of soft wood, and has holes in it so she can hang on to it. She really has a go at that - chews on it many times during the day. I also have these toys made of wood that have a bell at the bottom. She likes chewing on those as well. She also has a parrot abacus in her cage made of wood and she LOVES chewing on that. So, maybe Dorian might like some wooden toys too?

It sounds like he's really having a grand time Marlene! Good for him!! They do love to forage - in fact, that was one of the first things my avian vet told me to ensure they get - lots of foraging time. Our foraging area is on their playtops. I put straw up there, and I toss food around on the top along with nuts they can open and toys to hide goodies in. When I'm home, they forage all day long!

What a great mile stone! Happy B-Day to Klaus!!! Did he make any B-day wishes??

Nice Maddness - Yeah Coco! I love that picture of him in your avatar. Bella is more snuggly in the evening as well. She'll snuggle during the day, but usually she has it urgent and she's off to get into something and can't be disturbed <br><br>Post edited by: Nychsa, at: 2008/03/10 03:05

Hi, Here are some pictures of Bella doing what I would call "snuggling". Cheers! Terri <br><br>Post edited by: Nychsa, at: 2008/03/10 00:11

spookyhurst wrote: :laugh: :laugh: Thanks for the laugh this morning Spooky! I couldn't help getting this image of Nikko with a gold chain around her neck bouncing up and down to hip-hop!

Well, Tari, what works for some may not work for others. I personally am happy my vet is so comfortable with birds, he was able to reach right in and take Bella out of her crate and began interacting with her, handling her with confidence, and without any problems. He is a fabulous avian vet who is used to handling birds of prey. He has an amazon himself. He was able to run her through all the tests he needed. She nipped him once and he held her at eye's height and said "ouch no bite!" and he made a sad face. She didn't bite again. I'm also glad Bella likes her towel, and we don't use it as a restraint. After her shower I wrap her up in it and she sits in it with her little noggen sticking out. She'll sit there wrapped up in her towel for about 15 minutes after her shower, and then when she's warm enough and dry enough, she'll come out of the towel on her own. But, that's what works for us.

Laurie wrote: awww Laurie, you know some guys just don't like to dance! Maybe he's the sultry romantic kind??? :woohoo:

How cute Tiffani!! Fawkes seems like such a good natured bird. Thanks for sharing!!!

danmcq wrote: Yep Nychsa, tactile interactions are important to us all :whistle: Good post B) Well, we're just going to have to get Bella to tell Dayo you need some more tactile interactions! Maybe a good nip here or there :evil: :laugh: :laugh:

danmcq wrote: LOL - I could just picture that, pick up Coaster - Take Off - Uh Oh, too heavy...... in a nose dive....this is gonna hurt!! She needs to learn to let it go..... :side: :silly: :laugh: Dan that's exactly what it looked like! Letting go though?? oh no, not her Ladyship! If she has something she's going to fight you for it!:evil:

You keep dancing Ronda! Rock on! Sooner or later Sweetheart will be shaking a parrots leg right there with you

Yeay Toni and Tiffani! We should get our own dance club started :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: Videos! I need to nag my son about this video situation - he either needs to buy it or not be offended if I buy one :pinch:

Yeah Ronda! I can imagine how thrilled you are with the progress Sweetheart is making. Given the pictures you've shown of her, I can imagine how hard it must be not to just snatch her up and lover up on her. She is SO CUTE! But, you sure are working it, and I'm sure it's going to really pay off

Ah ha ha Dan! See, I knew I wasn't the only closet bird-dancer around here! It's just too tempting to horse around with them like that. Thanks for sharing! I'll see about doing some different tunes with them too. Well, Bella is done with breakfast and is climbing up lamps again to attack the shades so I better get her in the shower and cool her jets a bit. Ah ha ha!! Just as I wrote this she tried to make off with a coaster and it was too big for her so she and the coaster went for a dive - now she's sitting here complaining and mumbling something. What a clown! :woohoo:

kimmie_30 wrote: That's great Kimmie! Will you have some time alone with him? I recall my breeders brought Bella and I to a room where they then quietly left and let Bella and I have some bonding time alone. They left me with grapes and goodies for her. But it sounds like Dan had the most interation with Dayo before he brought Dayo home - his approch might be really worth taking note of!

I totally agree Greenwing - the ladies who hand fed Bella were very attentive, and socialzed the babies a good deal, teaching them 'no bite', 'step up' and cuddling a good deal with them. In fact, I just read in the Parrot's Handbook that how babies are socialized during hand feeding is something that affects them through out their lives.

I know I'm not the only one out there dancing around with the parrots! We had a FABULOUS Dance this morning (and yes, my partner is wondering if I should be committed!). My conure Jiggy does the Jiggy dance - he bobs his head up and down when you dance with him. My grand daughter tuaght both Jiggy and Bella the "Tootie tah" where both Jiggy and Bella bob up and down to that tune. Just now Bella took it one step further - I did the Tootie Tah with her and "flapped my wings": Bella looked at me carefully and then after I was done she did it too!!!!!! :woohoo: :lol: :woohoo: :lol: !!! I was so delighted I praised the daylights out of her, so she did it a few more times! So my partner says to me "I hope you realize you work in very sensitive positions and if this gets out that you dance around in the morning with your birds, you may end up getting committed!" :lol: So, I KNOW I'm not the only one out there dancing with the birds! Come on all you bird dancers! Do share your two step stories! By the way the birds are SO spun up now the chattering and chirping and of course Bella's non-stop commentary are absolutely defening (I'm wondering how my dog's ears are handling this :woohoo:

Joe, here is one book that has some VERY interesting suggestions re: socializing AG's, and it does speak also of the importance of tactile interactions. http://books.google.com/books?id=qqrxmrS2bXQC&pg=PA135&lpg=PA135&dq=purpose+of+preening+for+african+grey+parrots&source=web&ots=UXUlQZgm5k&sig=hLUgNVp5UInkr6Q4YP7SfQRJmxM&hl=en#PPP1,M1

Dovetailing on your topic Joe, I just remembered having read somewhere (I'll find the source, it was a good read) that parrots actually need that tactile interaction. They preen each other and that is related to social and emotional interactions rather then cleaning as we would think normally. The article actuall stated if we don't show our parrots that kind of tactile "love' they will become emotionally imbalanced and can get sick. I found that very interesting! I'll see if I can't find that article again.