Azzie

Maybe I should get more AGs, so the whole brocolli or silverbeet doesn't go to waste...

Unfortunately, due to New Zealand's incredibly stringent policies, importation of live birds is prohibited. I had a look a few months ago about the importation of animals into NZ, as my sister lives in Sweden and was thinking of coming back home. I also learnt that hamsters are illegal to own in New Zealand, and if you accidentally release an exotic bird into the wild, you have to notify the Department of Conservation, who will pull out all stops to try and catch the bird. Not so long ago a man got prosecuted for releasing two lorikeets. Apparently lots of exotic birds pose a threat to rare and unique species only found in New Zealand, predator wise and food supply wise. As for me, if I were to move to another country and I could not take my birds or dog with me, I simply would not go. I made a commitment to the animals for their natural life span, and that is something I will honour, before my own needs and wants.

Congratulations!!! It's SO exciting when you first hear them speak! I am sure you are sitting there now listening to every little sound Beau makes = )

Cleo scared the hell out of me today. I was bent over into her cage, replacing the newspaper on the bottom, when I hear this human voice behind me say WHOOOO! I whipped around to confront the intruder, banging my head on the cage in the process, only to be faced with a very smug looking bird. WHOOOO indeed....

Hi guys I have a special request. Jason Napier is a 23 year old New Zealander who is facing life threatening surgery. He has an abnormality in the blood vessels in his brain, which could blow at any time. Very soon he is to undergo surgery which could leave him blind, paralyzed, or could kill him. His wish is to become famous. A site has been set up on FaceBook, for people to join and help make his wish come true. Jason has been interviewed on many national tv programmes, and has even featured on our national news. Please, if you could go to the site below and join up, send a friend request to Jason, you are helping a dying man's wish come true. Feel free to get as many family members and friends to join up too! http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=857120292#/group.php?gid=119792571223

I was shocked to hear of the passing of both. My first thoughts on Michael Jackson was that it was a media hoax. Caesarsdad, your description of feelings it evoked are spot on. Those thoughts when through my mind also. May they both rest in peace. Patrick Swayze is not doing so well either. Apparently the pancreatic cancer has spread to his liver.

Gah I'm a dork. I meant to say 31 December 2008.

Cleo is just over a week shy of 6 months. And yep I'm over the moon! I tried very hard not to get my hopes up. Heh, about Adaya, I said to Cleo yesterday she was lagging behind and to hurry up and say something. She just ignored me, but I think she might have thought about it overnight.

OMG this is unbelievable! Just as I finished the previous post, I heard her say "quack quack quack". When Cleo is not happy with me she clucks and quacks at me, and I say things to her like "yeah yeah, quack quack, I know you aren't happy quack quack". But this time she actually spoke the word!! Not just made a quacking sound! Heehee I have tears in my eyes at the moment!! Sorry for ranting lol.

This morning I was sitting here checking the forums, and Cleo was happily whistling and chattering in her cage. I noticed a moment of silence, and suddenly heard "hello". I almost fell off my chair with surprise. My baby spoke!!! It wasn't totally perfect, but it was definitely a hello! I thought I heard her say it last week, as did my partner, but neither of us were totally convinced it was Cleo, as both lorikeets try to say it too, but their hello sounds more like "heh-ho", very nasally. Cleo has said nothing since, even though I've been saying hello to her over and over since she said it. I do know they will speak when they want to. Her hatch date was 31 January 2008, so she's not even 6 months old. I hope she keep it up lol :laugh:

Beans are full of starch unfortunately. Same with pasta, rice and any root vegetable such as potato. I think just feed him pellets and a little seed, and try some other fruit/vegetables such as apple and carrot. They aren't overly full of natural sugars like grapes and berries are. I really don't think a few weeks of a less than optimal diet is going to harm him. You're right with the overly affectionate behaviour towards toys not being normal. In the absence of a mate, he's transferring his desires onto an object, and the best thing is to remove it. Prolonged contact with such an item of affection just encourages more broody behaviour. A friend of mine had 2 rainbow lorikeets, and the male would become infatuated with a leaf of silverbeet and try to mate with it, for hours on end. And you also did the right thing by removing potential nesting material, which in your bird's cage was the newspaper on the bottom. It is quite frightening when your previously sweet natured bird turns into this raging monster. First thing I wondered if Sam was sick, as her behaviour was so out of character. She lives in the same cage with another lorikeet, gender also unknown, but I saw the other one mount and try to mate with Sam. I tried to put them in separate cages to reduce sexual stimuli but they spend all their time calling out to each other and fretting. I guess these 2 have pair bonded and being separated was causing lots of anxiety so I put them back together. I just did some reading about hormonal behaviour, and it seems that high protein foods and showering can also encourage hormones. So that's any form of bean out of the question Here's some links I found useful when dealing with Sam. They pretty much cover the same stuff and I'm sure you've come across it with your earlier reading. http://www.avianweb.com/sexualbehaviorinbirds.html http://www.littletykesaviary.com/index_files/Page717.htm http://www3.upatsix.com/liz/articles/spring.html

ShroedersJen, at least the tube I had in was only for 24 hours, I feel silly now for having whined about that. It was such a relief to get the tube out though. The best part was that I was able to take medication again to control the regurgitation (ironic that really). The pain was incredible, like there was a brick stuck sideways in my chest. I can now see why some people with indigestion confuse it with having a heart attack. The results from the first test were good. The specialist said I had a beautiful oesophagus, which made me laugh. It was the nicest thing anyone had said to me all week! That's a good thing though, because that means the stomach modifications done through surgery won't affect my ability to swallow. As for the 24 hour ph probe, the results will take 7-10 days to be analysed. Early next month they've booked me for a barium swallow, to see how much of the stomach is actually protruding into the chest cavity and sitting below the lungs. Apparently they're going to put pressure on my abdomen to see if they can get the stomach to "pop" into the chest area and capture it on x-ray. I'm not a huge fan of surgery and being cut open and what not, but the sooner they can fix this the better! Thank you all for your concerns and listening ears! It helps a lot to be able to whine and feel a bit sorry for myself with a sympathetic audience.

Baxtersmom, my lorikeet Sam is doing the exact same thing. She (?) has been scratching the bottom of the cage which is covered in news paper, and tearing little shreds off the paper. She has made a tunnel under the paper which leads to her "nest". She even stores items for fruit and vegetables in there as well some some of her favourite small toys. When I go near the cage she becomes very territorial and possessive, and makes a specific whistle that tells me she is majorly peeved off. As for going near her, forget it, she has rips chunks of flesh off my hands, so I can totally sympathise with you. The other thing I noticed when Sam became so hormonal is that she was much more vocal. Lots of loud yelling and squeals. Lorikeets are naturally quite noisy and loud anyway, but these were totally different sounds. What I've done, and seems to be working, is almost fully close the curtains behind the cage, so it looks like permanent twilight. I've stopped feeding them corn on the cob and very sweet fruits. That's not easy for a lorikeet, as they are naturally nectar eaters and love sweet stuff. I only interact with Sam when she is not moody and broody and does not do her particular whistle. When she gets into one of those moods, I leave her alone, mostly for my safety. Sam is also currently cage bound, because for one she WILL attack me, and secondly she is impossible to try and get back in the cage when she is hormonal like this. Sam has been like this for about 4 weeks now, and slowly seems to be settling down to normal. She still scratches at the cage and makes nests, but not to the extent she used to, which was pretty much all day. She is playing more with the hanging toys. She still gets cranky at times and will try to lash out, but again to a lesser extent. Apart from the suggestions posted by the other readers, I don't think there's much more you can do but ride it out. Don't feel guilty for having your bird cage bound at the moment. He'll survive, and it's for the safety of everyone, the bird, the dog and you. If your husband does handle the bird, make sure he doesn't touch it around the back, wings and vent area, as that can sexually stimulate a bird. If your bird is masturbating (rubbing his bottom on things), see if you can gently distract him from doing this by offering a toy or a small treat. Good luck with your moody broody bird

Cleo loves any kind of pasta, but especially the tri-coloured fettucine. The green spinach flavoured ones are the first to go. Actually I think Cleo would eat anything as long as it had tomato with it...

Thanks for the advice Dan! She hates being misted even more than being showered, and the way she flaps around the cage if I try makes me fearful she'll do herself an injury. I've not managed to find any pure Aloe juice, only stuff with additives such as preservatives. I guess if the preservative is vitamin E it wouldn't matter so much? Luvparrots, what you wrote is what I am hoping for! I might try and putting a dish of water on the bottom of the cage today. Knowing Cleo and how nosy she is, she will go and check it out. Thanks for the advice guys, much appreciated!

I'm a nurse, and worked on a physical rehabilitation ward for a few years, mostly with stroke patients. The work is heavy with lots of lifting and turning, and as mentioned, there are messes to clean up. It can be frustrating work also, with little or no progress being made by the patient. But... It is the most rewarding and enjoyable work I have ever done. I am about to start a new job in an elderly rest home, where I will be doing much of the same work. I would not trade it for anything in the world (well maybe for another African grey). The satisfaction gained from knowing you are helping someone is indescribable. The feeling you get when the patient does make progress, no matter how small, makes it all worthwhile. Personally, I'd rise to the challenge and take the carers' position. If you are uncertain, is it possible to reduce your pharmacy hours by a few days and do the carers' job and see how it goes? As my favourite street philosopher says: If you're careful enough, nothing bad or good will ever happen to you. -- Ashleigh Brilliant

Cleo has been declining to shower the last few weeks, so rather than force her I just let her sit on the shower rail in the steam and watch. Last night I noticed she was very dusty, to the point where her beak had turned grey after grooming her back. So today I made her have a shower. Well, what a commotion! Lots of quacking and clucking and trying to run away. Eventually Cleo tolerated just a minute under the spray and sat still. She then managed to lull me into a false sense of security and when I let my guard down she flapped off. After I was done, I managed to coax her down from the rail, and she was back to her sweet cuddly self. What amazed me was how she did not try to bite me during the shower, even though it was very clear she loathed every second of it. The other thing that touched me was how she didn't hold a grudge against me after, and perched quite happily on my shoulder. She's such a sweet baby, and still continues to try and feed me her regurged food.

I wanna have my little whinge, so here goes... Had to get some medical tests done today. I have a hiatus hernia which is giving me hell. It involved the placement of 2 tubes through my nose into my stomach. One was for testing the pressure inside the oesophagus, the other stays in place for 24 hours to do some more measuring and figuring what's happening inside. All going well, these tests will clear me for surgery to have the problem fixed. So today I am housebound, with this blasted tube coming outta my snozz, which is attached to a small computer I have to carry around. It feels uncomfortable, like there's food stuck down my throat, and of course I'm not allowed to take the medication I usually take to control the symptoms, 'coz that will mess up the test results. Cleo isn't happy either. I tried having her out, but she was unable to resist chewing on the tube and the computer, so I had to put her back in the cage under much protest from her. I miss my cuddle and play time with my girl I'll try again tonight, which is the time she usually just sits on the back of a chair in the lounge and chills whilst watching tv. She seems not to mind too much, as she's whistling, chattering and playing with her toys as I am writing this. Bah...roll on tomorrow morning so things are back to normal!

She could always look for a part time job....or is that a dirty word:P

Can I please see a pic of the albino hedgehog?

Congrats on a new puppy!!! When my black lab Ollo passed away in September I was devastated. I decided straight away to get another dog, not to replace him because nothing and no one could do that. But the house was so empty and quiet. I got an 8 week old German shepherd pup and I named her Jinx. The name is very appropriate. I don't know if you have had a shepherd before, but I liken them to the African greys of the dog species. Incredibly smart, quick to learn, and needing a gentle but firm and consistent hand to guide and develop them to their full potential. Shepherds also tend to bond to one owner very strongly. If you'd like to chat about your pup, training and care for him/her, I'd be keen on that. And yes please DO post pics!! They are such gorgeous little fluff balls at that age.

I also found with Cleo when first attempting to scratch that starting just to the side of her beak was a good place. I approached from the side so she could see me fingers at all times, rather than swooping in overhead. During this I kept saying "scratch...oooh nice scratch", and making lots of cooing sounds to her. Now when I ask if she wants a scratch she will assume the position, and sometimes twists into a pretzel if she wants a particular spot done. When she is out and wants a scratch she will spontaneously bend her head. What Cleo loves the most right now is having the dry skin where her beak attaches to her face rubbbed firmly, and the white skin around her eyes and nostrils. I get a lot of dander off around those areas and she really seems to appreciate it, to the point where she goes limp and falls off into my lap.

I got the job!!! They offered me a casual contract, an on call kind of thing to fill in gaps in the nursing roster. At the moment they have 3 night shifts a week available to cover maternity leave. Casual suits me fine. It means I still get to spend lots of time with all my babies. Thank you for all the positive thoughts and well wishes!

What cute little critters they are! I've never seen one before. I had heard of them and for some reason I thought they were a species of bat :dry: They look a little like squirrels, are they related to the same species?

I've read several comments around the place that say nicotine can be absorbed from a person's hands into a bird through their feet. I've come across no research proving or disproving this. In a way it makes sense, with the nicotine patches you can use when trying to quit. However, those patches are prolonged and concentrated contact, but why take the risk. I'm a smoker, and I also have other birds and a dog who loves to lick. Each time before I handle any bird, I wash my hands with soap. Just to be safe = )