Azzie

So many colours!! Love how the hyacinth is like a baby and waving it's foot. Awesome photo!

I had the same with Cleo. The breeder refused to let her go until he was satisfied she was fully weaned and able to forage for her pellets. In my initial impatience I was annoyed, because I wanted my baby home NOW, but in hindsight the breeder was right. I know nothing about raising babies, and I would have ended doing up more harm than good.

Happy Birdday!!!

It's been coming for the last few weeks, a subtle change in Cleo's behaviour, but the last few days it's been full on! Don't wanna step up. Don't wanna step down. Don't wanna shower, wanna chew on curtain rings or wall paper instead. Don't wanna kiss. Don't wanna scritch Don't wanna sit in one place for more than a minute. Don't wanna go back to the cage. She just wants to bite and get into stuff she is not supposed to. She seems very happy though, destroying everything in sight, whistling and making noises when in and out of her cage. Still eating like a trooper. She's turned into a criminal! By the way she will be 2 years old on December 31, so she is spot on with her timing!

Good luck! Keep us all posted.

Eating off my plate is always a good one. She picks the biggest and best bits, and tosses off the pieces she doesn't want. Never mind it's MY plate and I DID want those bits lol. The dog doesn't mind, she hovers and hoovers.

Bach Flower Remedies contain no artificial preservatives or additives. Unpreserved, the tinctures are perishable, therefore they are mixed with a grape-alcohol or other alcohol carrier (usually brandy or cognac mixed with water) as a preservative. http://www.knowbachflowers.com/

One thing that really stood out for me about all you true bird lovers, is that you don't have problems with the bird sticking his/her beak and tongue in your drink! I've had some strange looks and comments from people about it. An animal just stuck it's dirty tongue in your drink.... yes I know...so what? And I take a big hearty sip and go aaahhhh.

Isn't there a lot of alcohol in Bach flower remedies, as a preservative?

Hahaha they have this amazing sense of entitlement don't they. Reminds me of a list of house rules someone posted on this forum a while ago. I'll see if I can dig it up.

Found these following links on pine cones. I know the first link is kind of long, but I loved the recipes and things on it, so I did include it. Just scroll down and you will find pine cones. http://www.parrothouse.com/recipes.html http://www.avianweb.com/foragingtoys.html - about halfway down the page you will find pine cones.

Cleo will try to get her beak into whatever I'm drinking, whether that be water, milk, tea or cola. It turns into a battle trying to get her away from the "bad" drinks, so I usually don't have any beverages when she's out. And I wonder why I'm dehydrated all the time...pffff

I would highly recommend you investing in a DVD from a company called Good Bird Inc. It is called Parrot Behaviour and Training - an Introduction to Training, by Barbara Heidenreich. Now at risk of sounding like a paid commercial here....I just received my DVD yesterday and watched only the first 20 minutes (because I need to go back over it and make sure I understand the concepts), but as far as training and getting a bird used to the basics, this is really amazing stuff. I think the DVD was $22. You can do a search on Youtube on Barbara and check out some of her free short intros to other things, just to get an idea what this woman is all about. By the way, she covers clicker training too.

Ahh cheers, thanks for that guys. I guess then indeed she is happy and excited to see me. I've had Cleo for about 18 months now, and I am still learning to speak parrot. I think I am doing ok, judging the way she interacts and how I understand most of her non-verbal cues. And Dan, she indeed fluffs up and bends her head, but she is only just learning to enjoy scritches. I guess it doesn't help that she feels like a soft feathered cactus at the moment, as she is going through a moult.

Meanwhile lol I still don't know why Cleo would quiver like that when I stand in front of her cage. Is she excited?

A typical birdie stretch starts on one side and involves them stretching a leg out and a wing down and behind, showing all the feathers. Then typically both wings go up, and the other leg and wing get done. The 6th photo shows a bird stretching, in the typical ice skaters position http://virtuallyamy.wordpress.com/2008/09/06/birds-my-parrotlet/ This shows a parrot doing the I love you thing. Notice the panting and how the wings are away from the body and lowered. This can be accompanied by regurgitating.

Do they shrink and shrivel as they ripen?

My German shepherd Jinx gets along splendidly with Cleo the CAG. Jinx even brings her toys to Cleo to play with, and it wouldn't be the first time I saw Jinx trying to push a stolen sock through the cage, with the bird hanging off the other end trying to pull it in. However...there is still the danger of the dog becoming too excited by the stimulation of movement and flapping wings, where instinct might take over, no matter how well trained my dog is.

Congrats! And to think you were considering rehoming this little gem...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5l0DNaVQ-P4&playnext=1&list=PL7F2CCB86406FDFE6&index=3

Oh that poor bird, having so many bad memories triggered by such innocent actions. I so hope he will learn and understand that that time is behind him now, and that he can let go and relax. Keep up the good work with Marcus.

Very often Cleo will quiver her breast and belly feathers when I approach her in her cage and talk to her, much like they do after a shower. Given the absence of any signs of aggression, I take this to mean she is excited or interested? Can anyone confirm or deny please?

This is actually the original. Some clown just dubbed over the original song with some really bad music

Dance in front of him anyway, he might be able to show you some moves! Cleo just sits there like a lump and stares at me.

Yes birds are lactose intolerant, and regular cheese also has a lot of salt in it (for something that's bird sized it's a lot anyway). Most crackers contain vegetable fats as well, unless it's the cabin bread type, which contains water instead of fats to make the dough mixture. If you want to give them low fat cheese, Edam is the way to go. It has the lowest fat content of all cheeses. Cheese flavoured crackers also come with a whole lot of other crap, such as preservatives and colour and flavour enhancers. Plus I still haven't figured out how they turn real cheese into powder, but I am certain it's not a natural process. I guess both foods have their pros and cons, and I would think that a small amount in moderation wouldn't hurt birds.