Brat Birds

Nothing unusual in that! LOL Have you tried almonds with Echo? I use tiny pieces of almonds for training purposes and rewards for going back into their cages on command. You really should find something you can do with Echo to help the training. As for your mess - if you are telling the truth - me too ! But there isn't much in the living room that is that important to me. When there is I cover it up with a sheet. I tried blankets, but they were more of a toy and a place to hide, so a sheet worked better for us. Mine are out if I am home and that can be anywhere from 12 t0 15 hours a day. When I worked - many years ago - I only had a TIEL. But, a very special TIEL that never got into anything and never saw the inside of a cage the last 8 years of his live.

Great lesson learned. You listened with your heart and your mind. HRH is one lucky bird. You may be preaching to the choir, but you also never know who just might need to hear this right now.

I am so glad this had a happy ending! Why do we have to learn it ourselves instead of listening to others is beyond me! You have your baby back and that is the best thing in the world.

I am glad to hear that you are going to give free flying a chance. I, too, have free flying birds. The one thing I found that I can not live without is the command to go back to their cages. It has been a life saver for me. I am not one to make my birds do what I tell them - just ask my daughter how spoiled she thinks they are! LOL But, I did insist that they learned that when I said "Peanut, cage" and "Skittles, cage" that they were to go to their respective cages. And then the command is "IN" and they both go in and then they get a nice size piece of almond. Now, do they do it every time I say it? Well, no, but I dare say it is about 97% of the time. I could not live with a free flying bird if I had to chase it to get it into the cage at night, or for an emergency.

Mine did the same thing a couple of years ago. Can't find the screw he took out so they just get the wood is other things.

Wouldn't that be wonderful!!

I don't know if those numbers are accurate or not, but I do know it feels as if they are!! LOL

I am so envious!! You have one lucky flock and a wonderful son!

Do Gabby and Mazie share the same cage?? If so, I am thinking that maybe Gabby is too overbearing and is stopping Gabby from some things she may want to try. You say they are both babies, but are they different ages? How much older is Gabby?

WOW!! Do they have access to the aviary through the window?? They look so happy.

Welcome! Love the Woody Allen name. I have a almost 9 yr.old TAG. He isn't a talker since he has mucous membrane problems. But he make all kinds of sounds and Mommy understands some of his parrotese. Love to see some pictures of Woody.

Happy Anniversary to you and HRH!! Many more to come.

I find all 5 to be wonderful advice. #1 I live, neither of my birds like to step-up on my hand. They will on my arm, so I use the arm but with out the order to step-up. #2 I have fought people who believe this one since day one. Since I am under 5' my babies are higher than me most of the time LOL. Being high is natural desire in the wild. #3 I know they are only 'talking' because I am, but it is still a nuisance! #4 My Peanut (TAG) is esp. a good one on this - I can't force him to do anything! LOL Not that I try very often. #5 My Sun needs ALL under furniture to blocked or he becomes a monster! I find small boxes don't have the same effect and he loves to destroy them.

First Welcome. I am so sorry to hear about that. I can offer you no help as I have never been through anything with my parrots like that. Prayers coming for you and Goofy.

I am so glad you got Gabby back - that is a miracle!! Going back to work while handfeeding is going to be a bit difficult isn't it? Do you have someone who can take over, or is the baby old enough to eat solid foods while you are gone. WELCOME HOME GABBY!!

As long as she is comfortable with your Aunt and cousins she should be fine. She may be upset with you when you get home though. Mine usually get over their 'mad' in a few hours! LOL You could call ruby on the phone and talk to her. I have heard this helps, though I have never tried it. Mine were left with just someone coming in twice a day for just over a week once and they all did well - just the mad part when I did get home. You might teach your cousins (I don't know how old they are) to interact a bit more with Ruby. Talking to her, playing peek-a-boo, reading to her. All interaction will help with her boredom.

Welcome! We do love pictures too.

My 2nd day from hell was also a Saturday. I did have the good sense to have these happen on a day that my daughter wasn't working! LOL So, not having learned my lesson, I was on my way to let the dog out when I lost my balance and slipped into the door. Out the door went Peanut. At this time he was flying though not very good at it yet, due to a horrible feather chop as a baby. I called and called. I had not been able to see where he went. So, again I called my daughter and granddaughter. I walked around my yard as I waited. Calling, whistling, singing, anything I could think of that might make Peanut come out where I could see him. Nothing. My helpers arrived. They walked a bit around my yard and the edges of the neighbors. I live out in the rural area, so neighbors are not very close. I went back in the house and made up flyers which we then delivered to the 10 or so neighbors just around me. We walked around some more. And then some more. Four hours later we went a couple of miles away to lunch. Now it had been over 6 hours and I was giving up hope. We came home and as we were going in the house my daughter said "SHSSSH" and then took off running. A few minutes later, from across the street in a row of bushes under some young apple trees, she emerged with Peanut on her arm. She had heard him calling. I, being so unemotional, ran into the house and cried. I would touch Peanut until my daughter had him in the house. Then I couldn't let him go. He was so happy to be home. Almost as happy as I was to have him here. For about four years after this he would not stay on my shoulder if I went anywhere near the front door!

I don't remember if I have shared the full stories of both of my days from hell. First was Skittles, my free flying, Sun Conure. Bright one Saturday morning as I opened the door to let my dog out - which I had done for years - with Skits on my shoulder! This time the dog, a black lab/dalmation mix, pushed past me fast, knocking me off balance. Skits startled and out the door he went. I gave chase - both vertically (at 4'10') and weight challenged - I could not chase for long. Blessing to be had, Skits landed in a tree in my backyard. I called and called. He just sat what seemed to me to be miles up the tree. I moved his cage out there and put his favorite food just inside the door. Nothing, no reaction. I ran inside to get my phone and called my daughter. She lives about 45 minutes away. She and my granddaughter got up and on the way out the door my granddaughter grabbed a butterfly net. I grabbed a chair and for that hour I sat a little ways away from the tree, so I could see Skittles and all he did was go up a couple more branches. Finally my helpers arrived. My daughter climbed the tree as high as she could - did I mention it was not a huge tree - and then all she could think to do is shake the branches. As I held my breathe, she shook. Skittles flew, thank God, down two branches! She shook the tree again and as Skits started to fly she caught him in the butterfly net! We all celebrated with a breakfast at McDonald's LOL, well not Skits - he got an extra piece of fruit.

I was trying to wipe Peanut's nose, but, I was sitting in the wrong chair. Yes, I have to be on the computer chair to wipe his nose, at least he thinks so. Anyways, I try again and again and he will not let me. Finally I say to him, "Peanut, why won't you let me wipe your nose. I always wipe your nose, why won't you let me wipe you nose now." I repeated this a few times as he looked puzzled and was listening very hard. Finally he leaned in and pressed his beak against my nose! This is our 'kiss', but I never said kiss just nose.

Quack Quack to you too! Too Cute. That sounds like such fun.

I agree, if you can take him with you. My only thoughts were, when you say travel cage, how small are we talking? If it is a really small one, you might want to invest in a medium size cage just for the camper. That is assuming Maggie will love it!!

I am so glad she enjoyed it. Could you have a larger cage in your office? Not one you move back and forth, but one you leave there. Of course, not as large as the one at home, but a bit larger than a travel cage. Also, I always worry about interaction that goes on when I am not there. Can any one get in your office when you are not there? Can you be sure of how those people will treat her? I know-a worry wart!

If it turns out like a child I knew, he will start a sentence in one language and finish it in another. Making perfect sense while blending the two. I think you will have fun with it.

AWWW. Sophie knows he will be home. Good luck to Sean at college.