MazyAK

-8 degrees at the Funny Farm today but the birds are toasty warm

Hey birdmom: I don't think greys should be exposed to temps. below 68 degrees. 70 is more preferable.Today it is -8 degrees outside and the bird cages are at 69 degrees by the wood stove. We have a big open house so we're heating a lot of space. If you're concerned put a thermometer by their cage. (where they can't possibly get it) (mercury would be fatal if they got some)Our 10 cords are put in for the winter<br><br>Post edited by: MazyAK, at: 2007/12/04 22:43

Mazy and Avi in front of their wood stove. They like it when you add wood!

here's a photo of Mazy & Avi in front of their stove. They like it when you add more wood.

yes it gets colder.......cold for us is -22 below zero.But Mazy and Avi (the cockatoo) are kept very warm in a typical Alaskan lodge style home with the big wood stove and heat in the floors. They never get below 68 degrees, and through the cold snaps never seem to shiver. They have all the luxuries a bird could desire. They like to watch the snow fall from their kitchen bay window perch. Bruce

Thanks all: I worked with Mazy since reading what Dave suggested. She won't even think of trying to fly to me from 3-5 feet. But when she's on my finger I send her off for a few feet to the couch seat. Sometimes she tries to pull up but more than not she just keeps flapping until skidding to a stop. Yes, I am remembering.....patience and practice

Alaska is still a special place and I don't seem to miss the conveniences of down south. We don't have a vet here though, we have to take a ferry or float plane to Juneau for any help. Even if it's 7 degrees today.

OK Dave, this is coming into focus for me. I exercise her up and down on my finger while she flaps, and we'll find the right reward for her attempts at flight. We work several times a day. Usually just after she comes out of her cage for open play. Since she spent most of her days in the cage up till this year, I let her stay out as long as she likes, and eventually (if not due to a newly arrived meal) she wants to go back. She's learning there is so much more to life on the outside of the cage. A lot of her day is spent on my shoulder observing all my doings. We're working on potty training also and the forum has helped me a lot there. Bruce

Thanks Laurie,you sound like a Michigan gal...my birth place

Dave: Thanks for all of that. It gives me a course to follow. Can I use the length of a sofa to help her work on her short landings. She will take off of my finger occasionally but won't leave the portable perch (2 feet off the ground) to fly to my arm 3 or 4 feet away. I will be patient and don't have any expectations. Thanks again Bruce

Well, here's my first question and our priority. Mazy is my 13yr. old CAG and has always been clipped. Last year we were reunited and live in a large open house perfect for the birds to fly in.(we have a cockatoo who flys). Mazy is growing in the primary flights, but she doesn't know what to do. Can anybody give me information as to how to progress so she can learn to land. She wants to fly, she squats flaps her wings just saying, "her I go, hereI go". When she takes off she just keeps going until she crashes. Since she hasn't flown I assume she is going to need to build up certain muscles. Any help will be appreciated. Bruce

Thank you all for the warm welcome. What a great group of bird lovers. FairY, what you see in Northern Exposure is actually pretty accurate as far as Haines goes. We have a 4 way stop sign, and no fast food, no movie theater, not much of anything. But we do have a public radio station so we can get messeges. We do have the largest gathering of bald eagles in the world from Oct. to Jan. on the Chilkat River. They call us "The Valley of the Eagles". It's pretty amazing to see several thousand eagles all at once. Now with snow on the ground they stand out all over the river bed. But it's 10 degrees out today and playing with Mazy in the warmth of the wood stove takes up most of the day.

Thanks Ziggy...yes, I'm the Alaskan equivalent of your friend minus the generations. Halibut & Blackcod are my money fish. The "Fairweathers", "Alutians", and "Bering Sea" are my grounds. Mazy is feeling secure that we're together for the long haul now, and she's into exploring life again. Boy is she! See ya out there

Thank you both for the welcome. I have so much to do and learn, it's exciting to be a bird parent again. I'll try to get a pic here. I'm very new to forums and the such. I'll figure it all out. I've cruised the forums deeply and had many things answered yet much remains. I guess flying for an old bird will be my first post coming up. Thanks again

Mazy,my CAG has lived in Alaska for her 13 years. The first 5 years she bonded was and living with me. The next 7 years I was out to sea too much for my relationship and Mazy. I am a 30 year commercial longline fisherman in Alaska. Mazy stayed put while I didn't. I would see her once or twice a year, and she would always perk up and come cooing to me, then scold me for being away. Now I'm an old fisherman who is home all but 3 months a year and less sea time every year, so Mazy is now with me again full time in Haines. She has become much more outgoing in this last year but still thinks her and I are the only ones who rate in our flock. Wife, kids, and new cockatoo do not, however several others are gaining better status with her every day. Last winter out of state on family business we had many hours of waiting and found ourselves at a bird breeders shop. Many hours, over several days and home we flew with a newly weaned sulfur crested cockatoo. (my wife's bird) Mazy actually likes the company in the cage next to her , ( but she'd never admit it) They do have supervised social time out of the cage, but you know how a teenagers' patience is with a toddler. Mazy is growing her flight feathers back as I feel they should be, although she doesn't know what to do with them yet.(we have a large house with excellent flying conditions and the "too" is proficient at it now). Mazy has lift but doesn't know when or how to stop. 13 years of non-flight, but we're both eager and determined to learn. In the winter we have a lodge where helicopter skiers and snowboarders stay while in Haines. We cater mostly to film crews and their athletes here to shoot winter movies. A great winter life for the whole family. Our kids are on snow machines and snowboards all winter and skateboards and four wheelers all summer.I've visited this sight often and got good help from the forums. With two different breeds in the house I have an ever growing lists of questions, and changes take place daily. I look forward to being a part of this site and hope I can contribute from my experiences. Thanks and see ya out there. Bruce Post edited by: MazyAK, at: 2007/11/30 04:21<br><br>Post edited by: MazyAK, at: 2007/11/30 04:22