rbpittman

One of Dixie's favorite foods is shrimp scampi (minus the sauce). When we have this dish she gets her angel hair pasta lightly coated in red palm oil and a few pieces of shrimp that we've cooked (boiled) and peeled for her. I've never known a bird to eat shrimp, but Dixie loves them, of course when we deep fry them, we can't eat in front of her. Robin

South Carolina's state bird is the mosquito, and we've found that Skin So Soft is the best deterrent for the pests, especially while camping. All of our windows have screens and screen doors, however, the little buggers do find their way in on occasion. I purchased several "pitcher plants" that eat flies and other flying insects that I keep indoors year round. It's amazing how many little critters get in when we aren't looking. Robin

Oh Spock, you are the KING! Dixie fortunately hasn't learned any of your tactics. She loves to go to bed, but she also knows she's the last one to spend time with me, and she can impose the biggest guilt trip. She too loves to hang upside down and try to nip my fingers, but her biggest method of attack on my guilt is to hang on the front of the cage and say "Help, Help Dixie!" What do I do with such pleadings? How do I live with the guilt?

My conures have their water changed 3 times a day because they make pellet and veggie soup. It's pretty disgusting at times. Dixie occasionally will dunk a pellet, but it just stays there uneaten and dissolving in the water bowl. Beau just eats his food. They all do it, even with their water bowls on the opposite sides of their cages. It's really funny watching Blue and Bean carry pellets and veggies across their cage (no direct access) via ropes and perches and the cage itself to get to the perch by the water bowl so they can dunk.

That was not stage fright - that was straight up manipulation!

What can I say - she won't dance for the camera!

Brilliant as usual Dr. Flock! Thanks for keeping us all honest when we talk about our birds to some who may be looking to get a pet bird. You hit the nail on the head and I agree it should be required reading for anyone considering getting a bird. Two Thumbs Up! Robin

Dixie was chipped when I got her - along with her chip information (tracking number, proof of ownership) was an envelope with her metal band. Beau is not chipped or banded and will be getting his chip next month. My AV is the only AV around this area, and he recommended chipping very highly. Fortunately - the area I live in makes a big deal of having dogs/cats/birds chipped and even the local police department has a portable chip identification reader to help people with locating their pets. In all honesty - I never thought of having Beau chipped since he will probably never be able to fly with his damaged wing - but should he be stolen I want to have proof he's mine. Our next visit to the AV we will be taking the Conures in for band removal. Blue has caught his band a couple of times on toys (his band has a defect) and I don't want to take any chances of him getting hurt. Bean's band will be removed just because, his band does not bother him, but they are to be "alike" in my mind. I won't be having them chipped however, the vet didn't recommend chipping for the conures as they are much smaller. --- Robin

The last few days Beau has been making new sounds - up until then he has only done his baby bird cheep. He started with sounds more like Dixie makes - bird noises that is and sounds, but nothing discernable. Today he said "Beau" and it was clear as a bell! I'm so proud of my baby - he's almost 10 months old and saying his name!!!! YIPPEEE!!!! ---- Robin

I have had great luck with getting Beau to bathe daily - but that was by doctor's orders - and you know when the doctor say's bathe the bird, you bathe the bird! He now readily perches on the shower perch for his daily doses of misting - one with straight water, the other with either aloe juice or feather-in. Dixie on the other hand doesn't care for misting or the shower at all and expresses her displeasure quite loudly. I still carry her to the bathroom for this process, if the only thing she does is sit on the shower rod while I shower and she benefits from the humidity of the shower. I have found that she will gladly dunk herself in her water bowl after this process. I purchased an oval shaped casserole (corning I believe) and have started putting that in her cage with about 1/2 of water in it after we enjoy the humidity shower and she will bathe herself about half the time in it. Of course I have two sun conures who take two baths a day by their choice - weird little birds - I think the like to listen to me about having to change their water so often (they are also dunkers!)

Shelia, Beau was completely naked on his chest and destroyed his wing due to plucking and vet visits didn't confirm anything specific in his follicles or skin. It was recommended that I mist him twice daily which I have been diligent in doing. Along with regular water, I also used the feather in from avian.tech as recommended by Dave and the aloe juice - alternating them daily for one misting and then plain water for the second misting. It has made the world of difference in Beau. He still plucks a little - but not to the extreme of completely naked and flights are coming in on his right wing. It has been a long and difficult road for Beau but I'm sure your commitment to Charlie will prove beneficial. The only real set back I saw in Beau was when I was sick for 5 days and he didn't get his twice daily misting and it was in the dead of winter with extremely dry conditions in the house (we've since added a humidifier to the bird room). -- Robin

I bet that kiss was better than any other you've ever received! I'm so happy for you! -- Robin

In regard to that phrase, it's easy to know that Dayo understands the concept of the word, but what about a word that has multiple contexts and is one we use daily? Dixie loves the word "help." When she wants someone to get her out of her cage (like first thing in the morning) she says "help." But when I'm cleaning her cage and she's sitting on my head or chasing the paper towel, she also says "help" as in assist. She says this in two different ways - help out of her cage comes across like a plea; but help while chasing the paper towel in the bottom of her cage sounds like a question. Is it possible she's grasped this concept? -- Robin

Actually I wasn't that bored, but it's my word for not having more pressing things to do. I used 100' of 1/2 cotton rope. I cut the rope into four 25' sections and looped them over the rod. The steel rod at the top is an extension to a curtain rod I didn't need (I have another, may find another door!) but you could easily substitute a dowel rod. The toys are foot toys for the most part. It took me about 30 minutes to do it and it's very similar to tying a net (exactly like almost). They are just square knots (and I'm a good Scout!). Beau took to it immediately, he's not afraid of anything (and sometimes I wish he were). Dixie followed Beau after looking at it for about 30 seconds. Blue and Bean have really enjoyed it as it is right next to their cage and Bean is flightless at the moment and hates when Blue takes off across the room without him. I have been wanting a climbing net for them, but didn't have a good place for it - didn't want to put it in front of a window because I didn't want them to be that visible to the world, and I didn't want to remove shades. Hubby isn't too keen on it yet - he's much taller than I am and has to unhook the top to get through. Being short has it's advantages...lol. I showed it to the owner of the bird shop and he's wanting me to make some to sell at his store - they would be great put up on curtain rods on just about any wall - even using the decorative brackets that hold the out from the wall a few inches. -- Robin

I got bored so I got some rope! Beau enjoyed it first - then Dixie decided it was ok to get on. -- Robin

Yesterday I was cleaning out my car - with a bird on my shoulder! My son was taking a walk with his grandmother - with a bird on his arm. The night before I went to Mom and Dad's with a bird on my shoulder and my dad spent the whole time I was there playing with Beau. Only bird people don't question it, but it's great when non-bird people get excited about it. You're not crazy, your Mom's confirmed that, and we all already knew that! Now you can just smile and those people who don't get it, really won't get it...lol. Great story by the way. Robin

Beau does this to me - he prefers to eat outside of his cage, but I know he eats inside his cage when I'm not looking. I've made a point of putting something special in his bowl of fresh food if I know I'm going to be gone longer than my normal 2 hours. Sheesh, I guess I need to get a better life if the longest I'm ever really gone is 2 hours for a norm! -- Robin

That is great news Beth, I know you are so excited to be bringing Hawkins home and your "nesting" instincts are kicking in big time. Take time and enjoy every moment, even if it's just sitting watching your baby! Robin

Today was rather eventful in the life of Beau and Dixie. It was time to visit the vet for 6 month/annual visits (respectively). Now for the easy part - Dixie's visit was outstanding in terms of evaluation. She has an excellent weight for her size (408 grams) and is perfect in every way. She even willing opened her mouth to let Dr. Jose have a peak and was an angel during the exam. She has molted all of her old, clipped flight feathers and even demonstrated how well she could fly for Dr. Jose, including returning to me on command. Of course that was a fluke but we'll take it no matter how we got it...lol. Beau on the other hand has presented us with a new set of issues. Beau has developed a few cysts on his wing that has feather problems. He has a bunch of new flight feathers (9) coming in and that's very good news, however, he also has two feathers that are ingrown and will need to be excised. As far as the cysts go, we will wait for 30 days to pass and let those new feathers that are coming in finish developing so Dr. Jose can lance the cysts. We're hoping that lancing will be sufficient and microsurgery will not be necessary. I had noticed the bumps on his wing a few weeks ago, and scheduled the appointment as quickly as possible. Beau is handling the cysts very well in regard to not bothering that wing, but it does explain his grumbling if he touches the wing on the side of his cage or if I touch it just the wrong way. Dr. Jose is very pleased with the development of the new feathers however and doesn't believe we will have a forever one winged bird. Given the problems with no feathers to protect those new ones coming in, we are looking good. Beau's weight was very good as well - a brilliant 425 grams - major improvement from the 386 he was when I brought him home! One of the nicest things a vet can say to a parront is that you are doing a good job with their diet - their poop looked great in color and consistency and he was pleased with the purple feet each grey displayed from the fresh blackberries they have been enjoying of late. That both are healthy, even in respect to Beau's wing, and that it's obvious they are loved. Given the outstanding comments from Dr. Jose, I feel great about the visits, even with the prognosis of Beau's wing and am counting my blessings that both are healthy! Robin

Well Jill, he's finally said something, now wait until he starts talking all the time and you'll be wishing he'd just be quiet. Then again, remember how brilliant they are watch what you say around them. When I clean cages (it doesn't matter whose cage, Dixie wants to help me by sitting on my back or chasing the paper towel) and I tell her "you can't help me." We already know she can say help in the proper context, but now she's put "me" with it and when it's bedtime and she'll cling to the front of the cage and say "help me" "help me." So great to hear that Harvey is not longer "mute" - now the real fun begins! Robin

Actually Spock, with your extraordinary intellect you could suggest thoughtfully to Jay that he hook up the microphone for the computer and instead of typing in the extraordinary ventures that you have taken and will take you could just dictate the book into the computer with vlingo or some other type of voice recognition software (free of course). I want a signed copy as well, but we're keeping Dixie away from you, I'm sure that little southern belle would lose her manners in a heartbeat! Robin

Given the annual visits for our pets and knowing how thorough Dr. Jose was with Beau on his first visit ($500 +/-) I'm going to look into this, especially since their web site says they cover plucking, etc and well visits. Here's the link to the page I found. http://www.petinsurance.com/Plans-And-Coverage/Birds-and-Exotic-Pets.aspx Robin

She's so beautiful and so sweet! It's wonderful watching them play at that age! Oh I know you are so enthralled with all of them and Camilla had such a beautiful baby! Thanks for sharing Dave. Robin

Hawkins is such a beautiful baby and will grow into such a fine Grey. Do love the name and his namesake. I know you are thrilled to be with him and watching him grow. Robin

Beau's cage is tan, Dixie's is white, Blue & Bean's cage is charcoal grey, they don't seem to care. Your flock has discriminating taste and it's obvious. As far as that goes it's obvious they are spoiled. I've read your post on fixing their meals and it's amazing. I have the 5 of them and know what I go through fixing breakfast and it doesn't include mash, can only imagine your flock! Jay and Maggie you continue to be such great inspirations to all of us! Robin<br><br>Post edited by: rbpittman, at: 2010/03/10 05:18