Wingy

Jake makes what I call the noise of the day. He'll pick something and do it over and over. Sometimes it is a sound and sometimes it is a word or words. It can be quite maddening if it is a sound that I can't stand and other times it will be cute. Todays noise of the day, so far anyway, seems to be the phrase Oh Boy! He seems is on a boy kick as the other day it was "good boy". For now I seem to have solved the problem of him removing the lower screw from the lock on his palace door. When Jake wasn't watching I took the screw out and wiggled a piece of thick rawhide that I had soaked in water through the screw hole and tied a bunch of knots. He hasn't shown much interest in undoing knots so this quick fix has bought me some time to look for a locking nut that will fit in that tiny space.

You can say that again. Jake was asleep on his cage top with his head tucked in and he still gave me a hard time about going in for bed. I get a sound nip every night no matter what I do or what time it is.

Don't panic, like I did, if you see him heave up some of that gulped water. Jake was playing hard like Gilbert and drank to much or to fast or something and it came back up. Jake had water streaming out of his beak and I had the vet on speed dial.

I read somewhere not to get the ionizers because it caused the particulate in the air to clump supposedly making it easier for the air filter to remove but the larger particulate more harmful for the birds to breathe. When I get home from work I will see if I can locate where I read that. Honestly though your best bet might be contacting a pediatric allergist specializing in infants and asking them for a recommendation.

When I get Chinese take out the soup comes in plastic containers. I use rawhide or plastic chain and quick links to make hanging foraging buckets. The pint sized containers work best here.

Somewhere I saw some pictures where someone had stuffed the pumpkin with fresh yummies and washable plastic toys that they knew their bird liked. Perhaps this made the pumpkin less scary.

I am so sorry.

I know I've said before that Jake isn't a snuggle bird and doesn't want to be handled much. I am ok with that. We interact, play, talk and sing but he just doesn't care to be handled or climb around on us for more than a moment or two if we aren't going some where. We always ask if he would like a scratch and let him decide if he wants one or not. Jake has been letting my partner in crime occasionally touch his wings and gently lift them but never me. Today not only did I get to touch and lift each of his wings just a little but he also lifted them himself to show me the underside and after all that asked for a scratch and didn't want me to stop. His chest was quivering, his eyes were closed, the feathers on his head were all loose and he was chattering quietly while I rubbed. Let me tell you my heart just melted.

lol Oh he can fling it far when he wants to. I am 6 feet from his cage and he pelts me with bits all the time.

The pumpkin was a hit. I'm not sure how much he actually ate but he sure had fun destroying it. I am surprised he went for it since it is all the textures he doesn't like. We did clean his beak off so he was left with a good experience and not the memory of sticky yuck on his beak. He really didn't make that much of a mess. We placed the tray from his play top on the table and used that to catch the bits. There were only a few pieces that were flung outside of the tray.

Would wrapping your fingers in vet wrap help? Perhaps using a step up perch? These aren't useful in an emergency but will let you heal psychologically.

Jake has picked up some of the R2D2 sounds after hearing about 20 minutes of the movie. I have always liked the first 3 of the released movies so I think its cute.

He doesn't like foods that are cold, hot, wet, soft or sticky for the most part. There are a few exceptions for instance he will eat about a teaspoon measure of oatmeal, Red River and mashed potato. He is willing to try new things or at least make an attempt to try them (often times just a touch to his beak and he is turning away because he doesn't like the way it feels). I think its odd that parrot favorites like nuts, sunflower seeds, sweet potato and fruits he won't touch. Jake's vet has said he is extremely tactile and she was spot on with that assessment. Everything is explored with his beak and tongue over and over again and if it doesn't get the seal of approval he wants nothing to do with it. It is bizarre watching him go over his natural rope boing with his tongue before he steps on it.

He tried the puffed millet but he just didn't seem to be real interested. I tried some and it has the texture of styrofoam and no taste. He also tried a bit of plain yogurt which he liked for a few bites. I used a 1/8th teaspoon measure and he ate about half. I was amazed that he tried it. (of course he spent the next hour trying to get the feel of wet off his beak and didn't stop fussing until I "rubbed it dry")

Ours is no we can't work late the bird has to poop. Oh the looks we get with that one.

I found dandilion greens on Tuesday and he has turned his nose up at them every day. I have tried weaving it in the bars of his cage, on a skewer, and various other ways. He either ignores it or rips it down. Is kale good for an every day food? Today in the cereal section I found organic puffed millet. No salt, sugar, oil or preservatives just plain millet. There just has to be some food that he would move heaven and earth to get. I just haven't found it yet.

Jake doesn't like to swing but he does dangle upside down from it and beat the snot out of the bells that are attached on each end.

Yeah for pet sitters.

I'm going to give Jake his this weekend too. I have an old sheet to line the floor with and can toss it in the wash on Sunday. I'm not expecting him to eat it since doesn't like squash, sweet potato or pumpkin seeds but hopefully it will give him something fun to tear apart.

I don't mind the R2D2 sounds.

I will be the voice of dissension and say if your already having trouble managing with 2 maybe 3 isn't a good idea. Having my grandbirdie Isabelle here for a week cured me of catching MBS. They couldn't be out together and Ms Isabelle could only be out in another room cause she wouldn't leave Jake alone even if he was in his palace. It was stressful for a week. I can't imagine doing it day in and day out. I know many members have multiples, I use to have 5, but with the layout of my house now and no kids around to help it just isn't for me.

Oh how frightening. Jayd and Maggie are so right in having the ones nearest where the birds are monitored and then ones near a gas furnace/hot water tank. The ones in kitchens and bedrooms are important but are really most important when your home. I have this neat gizmo from Brookstone. It is a power kill power strip. When I turn my modem on it allows power to other things I have plugged in but when I turn the modem off it cuts the power to everything in the entertainment system. (desktop computers, stereos, tv's and surround sound are power pigs even when turned off)

I am very sorry.

He has jumped from the perch above and plopped in. He has also run from the side hopped up and slid across the glass like he was on a slip n slide. I'm glad you had fun watching. Swim days always put a smile on my face.

I've tied a raw hide strip over it to hopefully distract him from unscrewing it until I can get a locking nut. It took 2 of us to get that screw away from him. He wasn't giving it up in exchange for any treat.