Elvenking

Lol@ destroy your friendship. Well, I haven't let it get to the point of missing friend opportunities, but I have made an effort to spend a bit of time with him. Last night was the hardest when I knew I would have probably the shortest day with him....but I mean look at him...hes getting close to weaning, he is chewing on his seed mix now happily next to me....so I really shouldn't worry. There is this little sad 'coo' he does when he claws at the bottom of the cage when I cage and leave him at home, and it echos in my head. Kind of a reverse 'whoop'. Ohhh gawd. I am starting to feel better today though, hearing all of these stories. I am obviosly over reacting, but it can be hard not to get caught up. I adore this grey like nothing I ever imagined.

My only suggestion is to try to get his attention and tell him calmly, "no" and show him something he can chew on. Easier said than done, yes. But I could swear Issac knows what I mean when I say 'no' because he now looks at me and then does something else most of the times. However, he is still a baby at 15 weeks and I have a lot to learn about them getting older .

I cover Issac from 10\11 PM to 7:30-8AM. When I do cover him...sometimes he mounches on veggies...but shortly after...I can always hear the beak nashing...that is when I know he is settling in. I do have the TV on low after that till I go to bed...but he seems no worse for it...so long as it's not loud. He also has the house to himself while I am at work, and I am sure he naps in the day too. As far as how long to cover him...I say only over night...all other times uncovered. if he sleeps 10 hours (which is recommended) then 14 hours uncovered. It's only for sleep and never for any other reason. Just my 2 cents.

danmcq wrote: OMG...perfectly said. It is a foriegn feeling to me. To be so attached to a bird. When I am with him, I just feel that connection happening. Anxiety to be back home with him, yes...absolutely. Okay...I am feeling less crazy now. He is probably home right now just going through his toys, food, or sleeping. Well, and listening to Jazz. I like rock and metal, but I don;t think that is conducive to a serene afternoon for Issac.

Wow...the responses are really rolling in, thank you all for sharing them. The days I do have him out for extended periods of time when I am home on the weekends, he does eventually cruise back to his cage for a good preening or a nap. I really just needed to hear some of the things I heard here today. It's helping. Look at that face...I adore him. <br><br>Post edited by: Elvenking, at: 2010/03/04 21:01

Thank you for your message. His little coos echo in my head long after I am gone. I appreciate knowing your schedule. I am not used to caring for anything this much. Even my daughter didn;t worry me this much when she was younger because she had so many people loving her. Issac has me, and I feel solely responsible. I do take a lot away from your post though. I do see that Issac plays with his toys and goes through veggies and seed throughout the day. Thank you for the boost.

By the way...a typical schedule with Issac is for me to spend about 1.5 hours in the morning getting ready with him, another min of 1.5 after work (sometimes I have to go be with my daughter after that) and up to the rest of the night which is typically 4-6 more hours in those occasions. If I do go visit my daughter...and usually back by 7:30-8:00PM and let him hang out for another 2-3 hours till bed time.

Okay...so I have a bit of a complex. I cannot leave my bird at home and not go mental while I am away. Last night I had plans to go to a friends house for a while. I did end up keeping them, but with heavy self-induced guilt about the time I spend with Issac. People think I am not right in the head, I think I am not right in the head. I read about members who are stay-at-home members of the family and I am so jealous. I live alone so when I am not home, it's just Issac and my other conure Pedro. I find myself worrying if he wonders where I am or if and when I will come back. Well, I am sure he knows I will come back. But...well...you get the idea. Someone help ease my mind. If you live by yourself with your bird, I want to hear from you too. I am slightly relieved to find he is still his happy self when I come home and apparantly no worse for the wear. But I am gonna be thrown in the loony bin if i don;t work this out in my head. <br><br>Post edited by: Elvenking, at: 2010/03/04 20:24

My goodness, I love these birds. Their behaviors are so suprising all the time. Issac keeps me laughing with his smart little self too. Super cute video.

Yes...the cuddly part was a big surprise. I will live it well.

Welcome back! Glad you are reunited with Yoshi. I have only had Issac for about 5 weeks, but I would miss him soooo much. Heck, the hours I have to spend at work each day, I think of him lots. <br><br>Post edited by: Elvenking, at: 2010/03/03 22:49

At this point, this is just something I deal with, the mental guilt of having to watch as he makes little coos that sound so sad as he claws the paper at the bottom. I know he gives up shortly after I leave though...even so...I am always sorry. I will be home soon baby! He does get to listen to Reggae and Smooth Jazz while I am away though. Hope he likes that. I cannot take many days off work, so it's not going to happen much. But I might be able to work from home a couple times a month. I also don't want him to get used to unusual situations that I cannot sustain. I come home and am reassured by the veggies all over the bottom of the cage and the wood shavings from toys that yield them when he chews them. If I came home and he was on the bottom still....I would die!

Ohh yes...me jealous. I look forward to the day Issac says or mimics something, he is young yet, but I spend a lot of time with him. He does however make the sweetest bird sounds ever. I love the little 'coo' noises. And his babbling is ever cute! Keep goin Issac!

So far, there has not been so much as a moment where I do not know where Issac is or what he is doing. It's a lot of work, but his hapiness is worth it. He brings so much joy to my life. Leaving him flighted, I also know that keeping him from leaving is not preventing his freedom, but his death sentance. May I always be dilligent.

I wasn't suprised to see that it was a small mom & pop shop putting these things out given the care and quality invested into them. I found out that tax season was not going to be a brutal as I thought and immediately remembered the atom. Issac LOVES anything made of that kind of rope that they make. It is hard to believe that 5 weeks ago when I brought him home...I got him like 3 small toys to play with. Now he has a small playground of stuff to keep him entertained. I hope they ship it soon. I have the cable and hook ready to go. Here is a bad phone picture of his current cage and play area. <br><br>Post edited by: Elvenking, at: 2010/03/03 21:47

Yeah...I hung a temporary swing from the same position last night. It's made of that same twisty rope stuff they can sink their talons into. He loves it! I think he enjoys the fact that he can get high up sometimes. It was swaying and spinning a bit too much before...so I anchored it to the cage a bit. But he went right to it. I think the atom is going to be a hit. I like the fact that you can hang something in the center for him to get too. Bird fun!

Indeed, where did you find this awesome lookin carrier?

I always observe Issac stretching his wings too. I always say, "Ohh wow...pretty bird!" I also give all of his feathers a look over as well. As far as clipping. I was in your shoes a while back and ended up making the choice to leave him flighted. It is not an easy decision and your dilligence will have to increase quite a bit. I would not recommend it for anyone who has to have their attention drawn away from the bird for long periods of time throughout the day. That is just my limited experience talking, but it's quite an undertaking. However, I rather enjoy the responsability of keeping an eye on him while he enjoys his primary method of locomotion. So far, Issac is out probably 95% of the time I am home...and I always know exactly where he is. Regardless of if you clip or not. They do want to explore and will take to the floor if needed. It's like making sure your baby doesn't 'get into trouble'. The big one is making sure they don't get away. This is paramount to the well being of the bird. In the five weeks I have had him, he likes to fly indeed. Mostly to me. The things i discourage flight to seem to be less of an attraction to him as I go on. Anyway...my two cents. Post edited by: Elvenking, at: 2010/03/02 22:26 <br><br>Post edited by: Elvenking, at: 2010/03/02 22:27

Okay...I did it! Ordered the large 22" diameter atom for my baby. FYI, Avian Avenue had a code for 10% off orders (Promo Code: avianavenue), so that saved me an additional $13.50 off the order. Love it! I am so excited for Issac!

That is awesome she is picking up flight. I will never forget Issacs first rise to my vaulted cieling...I was freaking out cause he had never gone up till that moment. On his third flight attempt, he put it to use..actually made a good landing. This was in his tenth week going on eleven. Now he zips around pretty good. It is a pretty awesome sight to see these beautiful birds floating around. When they fly to you, you feel pretty special too.

I find that replacing Issac where I want him about 3 times...he usually gets the hint. However there are just some places I cannot go without his attention. The kitchen...apparantly....good things happen in the kitchen and he will not miss it for the world. Head landing are much less frequent especially if I hear him coming, I can either put my hand out or stay still so he can make an accurate shoulder landing. He is a pro flyer.

So...I tried the trick of getting him focused on his favorite treat while putting him in the cage for the day. So...I got a little chunk of corn on the cob and showed him. He lit up when he saw it in his dish...so I guide him and his dish into the cage...he quickly grabs the corn out of his dish and begins working his way up my arm. Smart Alec!! There apparantly is nothing he likes more than being out and about. Anyway, usually on the thrid time of trying and talking him down...he reluctantly sets down on his perch...and I praise him well at that point and close the door. So...it's a ritual...but it's manageable. That little rascal! Below is a picture of him en route to me while i tried to catch a picture...lol. <br><br>Post edited by: Elvenking, at: 2010/03/02 18:44

Yeah....I have seen the atom just loved by birds...and every thread I have read has absolutely nothing to say but good things. Just trying to figure out if I should go with the large for my congo...45 dollar difference from the 90 dollars the medium costs. And he is a big bird for a grey. <br><br>Post edited by: Elvenking, at: 2010/03/02 18:35

He has also mastered the art of being cute as a defense mechanism. If I try to take him off my shoulder, he puts his head right in front of his feet for 'scratches'. And ohh yes...it gets me every time. At least for as long as it takes to scratch his little neck. <br><br>Post edited by: Elvenking, at: 2010/03/02 00:02

Joy is a perfect landing on my shoulder followed by a little 'coo' in my ear.