Thanks for the link Wingy. I buy stuff from Dr. F & S all the time and I hadn't seen they had a safflower based seed mix. I'll give this one a try next!
Wow, that would be a shock. I've actually hesitated to have Timber tested because at some level "he" will always be a boy to me. Maybe I'll just live in blissful ignorance. The hardest thing for me would be trying to say "her" instead of "him." In the end, what difference does it really make though? Very interesting theory about LuLu. Who knows? That could have been her name at one time. I hadn't thought about it, but some do rename the birds they rehome so it is certainly possible.
I try to give Timber as much variety as possible. He gets pellets, seed, spouted seed, and vegetables (some cooked, some not) every day. He also gets whatever we are eating that he can have, as well as pine nuts, almonds, and a peanut or cashew at bedtime. I remember reading somewhere, sometime on the forum to give 1/4 cup of seed a day.
Right now I'm using Volkman Avian Science Super Hookbill. I have a bag of Higgins Safflower Gold to try next. I'm feeling my way in this area too. Hopefully someone with more experience will give us the answer...
It sounds like you are well on your way to paying your "debt" to Gilbert for your mistreatment. They always have to put on a bit of a show just to let you know they noticed your absence and were displeased don't they? I'd give him 72 hours...
Loved the videos, thanks for posting! I've never had a baby, what a sweetheart. In the second one, it sounds like he has a lot to say. Sure with you could tell what he's trying to vocalize! Of course, I could say the same of human infants...
That would probably be a lot more than Timber would eat. On his skewer, I have a baby carrot, a broccoli floweret, a small piece of cauliflower, and three pea pods. He never eats all of it. You bird may be a better eater. You have to determine the amount by trial and error. If he eats it all give more, if he doesn't, cut back.
Good deal! Sometimes Timber "sneezes" or that is what I assume it is. I always assume he is trying to clear dust or dander from his nares since it is usually accompanied by a slight head shake. He never has any discharge or seems distressed, and he has done it since I got him (over a year now).
Timber is six and he still scratches away at times, especially when he has something to scratch at like a cardboard box.. From what I've read it is just a normal behavior for them. No worries!
Truthfully, I'd guess a good 50% and maybe more of the forum members (including myself) have been through a divorce. We just helped my oldest son through a year-long divorce/custody battle/mess and he is still healing. Your birds, family, and true friends are what will help you keep putting one foot in front of the other. As others have said so well, your birds need you, in whatever state you are in, because you are their family. They will weather the storm, just as you will! God bless.
A lot of us struggle with getting our birds to eat pellets. As Dave pointed out just recently, pellets aren't a necessity as long as Smokey is getting a varied diet of things he WILL eat. Good news about the vegetables!