M2MM

I have to keep my parrotlets clipped to stay out of harm's way with my TAG (he would have no conscience about killing them if they got too close. Parrotlets are fearless by nature.) My TAG is the only flighted bird in our house, he get so much exercise from flying in the house, and is such a delight to watch. He still spends considerable time in his cage because too much free time makes him overly cheeky and territorial. We take extra precautions whenever he's out. Everyone checks where he is prior to opening any outside doors or windows, especially when coming in from outside. We've already put in an extra door in the kitchen to create a vestibule, which prevents an easy exit for a flying bird. We've also bought a set of french doors to create another vestibule for the front entrance. All windows are screened, but they don't fill me with confidence since it's a plastic mesh that our TAG could easily cut his way through if he chose to. So, we are very watchful whenever a window is open, we don't trust him to stay inside if he ever got the opportunity to sneak out. All his "out" time is supervised. I would be very hesitant to free flight any bird. I know two people that have lost their CAGs after "recall training" them when outside. Luckily, due to very diligent searching and with the help of many compassionate people, both birds have been reunited with their human companions, but it took a LOT of hard work and took its toll in emotional agony. Neither of these people will be taking their birds outside without harnesses or cages ever again. At least they learned their lesson well. Too many others that I've read about, have lost their birds altogether, and now regret ever taking them outside without harnesses. I don't see that free-flight training is worth the risks for either the bird or the person.

Just a suggestion: put up a beaded curtain over Mr. Magoo's doorway, to prevent flying through (they have to walk under.) This will help keep accidental encounters to a minimum.

Gizmo's life ended surrounded by your love. I hope that some day you can let go of your sorrow and take in another little bird that needs a loving home! You are one of God's champions!

Kumiko tends to be picky about his vegies, too. But as long as I keep offering, he will eat some. It helps that I eat with him, this seems to stimulate his appetite. When everyone is eating together, he feels compelled to join in. The parrotlets have always been little piggies, but sometimes won't touch part of their fresh foods. Sunny came to us as a seed addict, but loves his fresh foods now. The only seeds I give them are soaked or sprouted - and absolutely NO sunflower seeds.

Finally - a club I can join! LOL I'm chomped on daily by all our birds. Skyler - because he has to be medicated twice daily (and hates it.) Sunny - because he hates hands, but I have to get him out of his bedtime cage somehow and I don't want him to get the idea that I'm afraid of his bites. He eventually will step up, once I've proved (yet again) that his bites won't stop me. Kumiko - because he's a rough and tumble TAG that's really a devil in disguise (an awful cute disguise too :evil: ) I laughingly commented to my husband the other day that it's a good thing that I'm not a "hand model" (those ladies that all you see of them in a commercial is their beautiful hands, applying lotion of some such.) I'm also very happy that I'm not a hemophiliac or I would have died ages ago from all the bloodletting these little mischiefs do to me. I'm building up quite a collection of scars! Kumiko latest ploy is to ask to be put up on his rope perch in the living room, and then only step off with one foot, hanging on tight to my or hubby's hand with the other foot, then reaching around to chomp us HARD. Then insult to injury - he cackles!! What a stinker. He does this more with my husband, because he reacts, less with me because I just play along.... grabbing his toes, tail, beak, etc. I'm thinking of tweeking his tush for each chomp (not too hard of course - just enough to surprise him.) {Feel-good-0002006E}

danmcq wrote: Groan! What a wonderfully punny(?) misspelling. LOL

This is the kind of thing I mean.

A tiered cage would work. Two cages in one - one over the other.<br><br>Post edited by: M2MM, at: 2008/06/26 10:18

Our TAG Kumiko didn't appreciate getting bathed, but now he will enjoy it sometimes. He still doesn't like our shower, but the spray bottle bath is something that he can really get into if he's in the right mood. He'll fluff up and squawk and run around on his rope perches, exposing various areas for spraying until he's dripping wet. He's quite the sight when we are done. Just keep trying and you will eventually find a method that he can enjoy.

This is Kumiko's most recent photo. He's been moulting out his first year's feathers, so there are some major shade differences throughout his body and wings. The newest feathers are significantly darker than his baby feathers. <br><br>Post edited by: M2MM, at: 2008/06/26 09:17

Here's a picture of Sunny! (he's a real little shoulder bird )

Just stopped in to say hi :cheer: We have a TAG (16 months old) and two parrotlets (2 & almost-5 years old). My family and I love our birds and consider them first before we plan anything, especially outings, and prefer to include them in our activities whenever possible. I "spoil" them all with the freshest organic produce I can buy, along with Harrison's pellets, organic raw nuts (walnuts, almonds, etc.) and soaked/sprouted seeds for the parrotlets (our TAG doesn't like seed.) They also get Red Palm Oil, walnut oil, and Optomega oil on their fresh foods. Plus (by vet's recommendation) avian-specific probiotics, and Nekton-S vitamin powder very lightly dusted over their fresh foods. Our TAG's named Kumiko, which means "beautiful, eternal child" in Japanese. He's a beautiful bird, with a devilish personality, so full of mischief that we have to count our fingers after playing with him. Skyler is a Blue Pacific Parrotlet with a chronic liver condition, which causes him to pluck his tummy and legs, and is under the vet's care - he's been taking Lactulose with milk thistle extract for 6 months, so far. We've recently started using Soother Spray to help him resist some of the plucking, but with limited success. He's due for a re-exam in a couple of weeks. Sunny is a normal green Pacific Parrotlet that we adopted from Greyhaven (local parrot rescue). He's hand shy, but is learning to perch on fingers. He has a powerful personality, and doesn't have any real fears. He's particularly fond of the ladies, but will take a man's shoulder when available. I'm fortunate enough that I only work part-time and can spend the majority of my time with our birds. I don't enjoy travel, which suits the birds just fine. My youngest son is home when I'm at work. He has Asperger's Syndrome, so has a lot of difficulty with human interaction, but no difficulty interacting with animals. He's very gentle and sweet with the birds and they treat him as just another flock member. My husband works long hours, so gets limited time with our flock, but he makes the effort to play with and handle them as much as he can, including reading aloud to them at bedtime. They all have smaller cages for sleeping in a quiet room, so once they are "tucked in" he reads to them. They love the routine and settle down to sleep when he gets to the last couple of pages. He always reads the same story to them - every single night. :lol: Well, that's about everything.... hope I didn't bore you to death.