katana600

We live in Georgia and we installed a whole house fan just after moving in. It is a great investment, we paid about five hundred dollars total including installation. Ours is in the upstairs ceiling above the stairwell on the top floor. Java is a smaller parrot, actively flying and I would not turn it on while she is flying freely. With that said, it is only cool enough outside in the spring to use it early in the morning and long after sunset. Also, I only need to have it on for ten minutes or so to pull a huge breeze though the house. It cools and refreshes things but it isn't meant to be on for long periods of time, it is a bit loud too. We open a door to the screened porch on one side of the house, and a bathroom window on the other side and on low you can feel a breeze that takes the edge off the Georgia heat. If we turn it on high, any paper that is not held tight is going to be moved to a new location, LOL. That includes the little feathers on the floor of the bird cage.

Hooray for Timber, he and Miss Gilbert are kindred spirits. When they regain their flight ability and confidence I believe we will have a whole new world of interaction with them. It's interesting to me that each of them call us by the names they have chosen, LuLu and Jamie. To Inara, it is so exciting I want to use all caps and lots of !!! too! Along with our excitement, GilGirl is tamping down her enthusiasm with a couple of days of quiet. Stepping up to me from her cage is relatively new. When she is out on the door, I step between the opening and her position and she holds her foot right out for stepping up. But... now when she sees me move anywhere in the house, she makes a quick dive to hurry into her cage. That is my sign of too much, too soon. I will give her a few days to relax, find some motivation that helps her move forward and respect her ability to decide when she is ready. Her trust is so fragile and her frustration is so near the surface that I watch and wait for opportunity. I push a little, wait a little and remember always that it was only a short year ago that she started tentatively "playing" with paper tape and coming from being totally shut down to maybe, just maybe taking a risk and stepping forward just a little. She now destroys lightweight toys bigger than her body in one day. I keep holding back my enthusiasm for wanting to start flight training to keep her just wanting a little more without retreating and hiding from me. Her sure fire method of getting that point across from me is not in the avoidance, but in the amount of cussing she does when she has her little beak out of joint just a little. I would so rather let that trait fade into her distant past.

Loved the video of his first day. He looks sleek and beautiful. It is a grand new beginning of your life together. I was taken by his willingness to continue eating as you approached. His exploration on the first day in a new environment speaks to the care and stability he has had. I think you are off to a great start. Congratulations Peck, you have won the lottery of finding yourself in the perfect home for you.

That might be the first young Timneh I have seen with silver gray eyes. I was so smitten with the photo, I almost forgot to read the article. So glad neither of them were injured.

Oh dear the sight of her sleeping peacefully just about opens the floodgates for me. She is such a beautiful baby. She is in a happy, loving home and is going to have a charmed life with you. Thanks for sharing those heartwarming photos.

The sight of her leveling off instead of diving to the floor was exciting enough. When she banked, I was still not aware that it was through conscious effort, but when she lifted to go over the dining room table and sustained height even for a few seconds, I have so much more hope for her to really fly all over the house. I was awake several times in the night just thinking about it and happy for her to be taking this next step. It has been at least six years since she has had her gift of flight. When I got her from Sarah, she said the previous caretaker said she could not fly. I knew I was hoping against logic and reality, but I couldn't stop thinking "maybe". If I start thinking French doors, all I need to do is look at one window pane that was remodeled when I temporarily moved a cage too close while I was cleaning to realize that is going to keep me on my feet just the same. The sheer curtains are a great idea but since I have bolts of sheer fabric, I may try just to drape the three main pieces in the dining room and see if that is a deterent. As for the yogurt, I won't say for sure she doesn't like it, just that when she was expecting warm oatmeal, cold yogurt was rejected with attitude. Besides, I like it so well she may have to fight me for it. I still feel overcome with emotion that I saw Miss Gilbert fly, real flight. I think all of you believed and sent those happy thoughts to lift her tattered wings. She is going to do this!

With missing feathers, a broken wing, at least two vets saying was missing too many follicles and would never fly, I dreamed, I hoped but never let myself really do much more than that. Now that she flew once, I want to go get her and toss her into the air to see it again. I am holding back to let her approach this in her own way. She is definitely learning and seeing her own potential. My mind goes from being wildly excited and happy for her to wondering how to put French doors on the dining room to keep her out of there. She has already taken big chunks out of my furniture. I got her some of the Liberte coconut yogurt and she turned up her beak, stuck out her tongue and tried to wipe it off. I ate it and thought it was wonderful though. LOL. There is no guesswork today, I saw her rise three feet and sustain flight. I believe we are about to meet the real Miss Gilbert, fears and limitations cast off and a new horizon rising.

I was reading too fast trying to catch up today and thought that when you said your husband bought you a camera, those were pictures of Megan at your house. Then I caught that you posted pics from his former home and looked again. He is out of the cage, looking relaxed and part of the family. It looks like a lot of hard work has been done and they will help him transition to your loving home. I am watching with great interest to see how this goes. If Miss Gilbert gains her flight and becomes settled here, we may want to think about a friend. Thanks for keeping up with us on the forum and sharing this exciting new adventure in your life.

"timely rotation of all food product" is what Greycie interpreted to mean rotating from the chopping board, to the floor to your dinner plate. She is just following her job description. Great photo, I love it.

Wow, that is not only a great shot of a relaxed grey in the shower, but the water droplets in the photo are fascinating. Great job on the shower and the photography. I love it.

Great find. I usually wait until we have a bird fair and buy a couple of 4 ounce jars at about eight dollars each, so this is a real find. I will look for this brand in grocery stores in Georgia. Thanks for the tip!

Ray, you are opening my heart and mind to the possibility of an amazon at some point in my life. There is nothing better for me than to feed a hungry person or creature. We have tried chicken bones and haven't had any takers, they both just drop it to the bottom of the cage and never go near it. Shrimp on the other hand is a treasured delicacy occasionally. Now that Miss Gilbert is learning to fly, I am going to have to find some tasty treats to incentivize her to come to the table with us. I would love to see Cricket or Judy's Josey splintering a bone.

Things just keep getting better and better, beaming is a mild word for my joy today. Miss Gilbert was confined to her cage today while I was away from the house. Its highly unusual for me to be gone for the full day. She has been working on a six inch long cylinder (4 inch diameter) of hard cardboard like a birdie bagel but much bigger. I put it inside her cage and she chewed over half of it. When I got home, I went to move it to her playtop where she spends time out of her cage while I am home. It startled her when I moved it and she launched off her cage. She beat her wings and headed for the front door but instead of dropping as she usually would do, she banked, turned and for the very first time ever she achieved lift! She flew upward, over the dining room table, to the far side of the dining room where she landed poised and beautifully on a dining room chair. Miss Gilbert really can fly! She stood up tall and proud and hooted. She eagerly stepped up onto my hand and when I came close to her cage, she flew again. She was too tired to get any lift but landed on the living room carpet this time. I saw her from beginning to end and it is more than wishful thinking, she really is capable of flight. This is a game changer and I know her confidence is going to build at an exponential rate. It is going to be a new challenge for me to keep up with her now. Oatmeal to Gil girl is like spinach to Popeye, the magic potion for strength and courage. My fondest dream for her is coming to fruition.

Just getting caught up on your madhouse, I mean bird house. You put me to shame, I have only two and can't get a fraction done in a day that you manage to accomplish. I don't have a little toe biter at my feet either. Lilly is campaigning for a hall of fame record for her antics. Then I think of carrying her in a blanket and that she is in her sweetness and glory for that activity which melts my heart. Your house in the country sounds like it is meant for you. Hoping that all just falls into place for you.

I am in your corner! It took me five months to get to the place where you are now. Peck may well flourish with the extended flock and Megan may enjoy his company from a distance. Whatever comes, you can handle it and we will all learn from you as you find ways to help Megan and Peck at the same time. I have the same feeling as you that he will be very happy in your home.

As I was considering if it was a fluke or wishful thinking, when I was out in the kitchen making dinner, I heard the same sound and Gilbert flew again. This time she went over the ottoman and landed on the rug so I am thinking there is something to this. She used to have several curved or "fluted" wing feathers and I have been noticing how much more smooth they have been looking. It could be that it has taken this long for her dietary changes to make a difference. She still has gaps of missing feathers but she is obviously gaining a little momentum. She doesn't have lift, but she is sustaining longer air time. For all of her poker face indifference to me, I am making believe she was actually trying to come be with me. LOL. I took her to the kitchen and put her on a perch on the counter but she was still too nervous to stay. I will have to stay out of sight next time and see where she is trying to go.

That is so cute! He is training you well. Miss Gilbert says "C'mere" and "C'mon over here". I dutifully get up and come to her too. She laughs when I respond too. Escher knows just what he is doing.

You all are not going to believe this, I hardly believe it myself and I saw it with my own eyes. No sooner did you honor Miss Gilbert with making her journey into a sticky, she truly rose to the occasion. I was in the kitchen making strawberry shortcake when I heard the flutter of wings. I thought it was Java on her way out to me, but out of the corner of my eye, I saw that it was Miss Gilbert. She flew. She really did. She launched off the top of her cage, over the stair banister about twenty feet to land on an ottoman in the living room. It wasn't controlled and it wasn't graceful but she put everything she has into it. She stood tall and made big chirping sounds and David picked her up and held her for a while. It makes me choke up to think she could make it that far. This is a new beginning for her. I can not believe I wrote that you all are the wind beneath her wings and she took off. I just know all your happy thoughts and good energy was picked up by Gil girl.

It seems sometimes that time passes so slowly and things remain the same. I started the Miss Gilbert thread so I would have a way to "measure" progress. I really appreciate how many people are encouraging us and telling us it will get better and better it becomes. In all the experiences, I have learned there is no typical rehome, nor typical rescue and its a blend of creating a safety zone and rehabilitation. We had an incredible day yesterday. I have been working to get her away from her cage in a way that doesn't leave her panicked, frantic and closed down for days after the experience. Yesterday was epic! She splashed in her water dish, so I got out the mist bottle and she played with the nozzle and was biting the water droplets. She not only had no issue with the shower but also was at ease with me nearly being inside the cage with her. She spread her wings and ducked and swayed as she really enjoyed the shower for the first time. Usually she growls and flaps and tries to escape so I get a couple quick squirts in and back off. I actually had to refill her small spray bottle and we had water running down the walls, puddling on the floor and Gil was glorious. Then she stayed wet for so long, I turned the heat up. When I fed her some warm oatmeal to help keep her warm from the inside, she offered me a step up and came to the back of the sofa for over an hour. Instead of asking to go back she actually retreated from me and curled up for a nap. She is quieter today as is her pattern. Its a slow step forward and then a couple of days to back off and let her process it. She definitely is gaining steam and it has taken this forum village to give us ideas, help us avoid setbacks and just be the wind beneath her wings. Thank you all for helping her find her safe place to land and for helping cheer her on to reach her potential.

Nicely done Rikki. While I was watching and enjoying her on her swing, my little Java was answering each call. I was enjoying the easy relaxed posture on a moving swing. She is a beauty.

Your room of fresh air and sunshine and unfettered playtime is beautiful. Maybe next year you could add skylights if that would bring in more sunshine.

Thank you Ray. Reading how our forum members relate to the parrots in their lives enriches and encourages and allows us to reach new understanding of each individual, feathered and human. Nothing in life has prepared me for the complexity of a rehomed Timneh. I was just thinking of the difference between rehome, rescue and rehabilitation. No matter what it is called, no matter how long it takes, there is nothing to compare to the blossoming of a soul.

I can never get enough of those precious baby pictures. She looks so content and just perfect. I am looking forward to learning more about her as she grows. She has already captivated your heart, that's obvious. Congratulations on a smooth transition.