Parrot Lady Posted August 21, 2012 Share Posted August 21, 2012 Hi Teri welcome to the forum , Virgil looks good congrads and hope u2 get to be best friends Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarasota Posted August 21, 2012 Share Posted August 21, 2012 I think we were typing at the same time Sara! I didn't know about the bobbing possibly meaning backoff. That is good info. I'll see if I can get a video of it. It's very different from what TeriG described. It starts with a head bob, then he fluffs his feathers and bobs and the eyes pin. That means I'm way too close and I need to back off. He's amazingly hand friendly with me - we shared a banana this morning - just no touch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katana600 Posted August 21, 2012 Share Posted August 21, 2012 You are off to a really good start with Virgil. It is awesome that he stepped up for you. We have a rehomed grey about ten or eleven years old. At first when he would step up, I could tell he was nervous so I would ask if he wanted to go back and he was in a big hurry to do so. He has taken a really long time to build trust. It seems like Virgil does remember you and that is good. You really have an advantage with that. I am so glad you joined us, we will learn a lot from you as you and Virgil become best friends. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timbersmom Posted August 21, 2012 Share Posted August 21, 2012 I'll see if I can get a video of it. It's very different from what TeriG described. It starts with a head bob, then he fluffs his feathers and bobs and the eyes pin. That means I'm way too close and I need to back off. He's amazingly hand friendly with me - we shared a banana this morning - just no touch. I've never seen Timber with his eyes pinned. I have seen him do the fluff and bob! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kins2321@yahoo.com Posted August 21, 2012 Share Posted August 21, 2012 Always... watch the eyes! Eye pinning means... dialating and constricting. Can actually mean two things, from my experience with Sophie. When she was two, just adopted, her eye pinning meant, she was warning me. BACKOFF! As she got older, ( around another six months), and trusted me, her eye pinning meant, she was interested in learning what I had just said. Usually catchy phrases. She wanted to learn what I had just said. Its important to " listen" to your bird, and understand what they are communicating. Warning, vs Learning. Lucky now, all eyepinning means, she is learning. Nancy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeriG Posted August 24, 2012 Author Share Posted August 24, 2012 Virgil is doing great. He has come out of his cage once so far and he stepped up to me from on top of the cage without trying to bite. He has never done that before. He has always been very territorial of his cage. I'm hoping this good behavior will last. I have been giving him a sunflower seed every time he steps up. If he tries to bite I hold back the seed. I think he will get the picture pretty quick. He still dances for me and he still does the stretch thing. I got some video I will post up, so you can give me your opinion as to what he's doing. You can hear the little squeak in the one video that does for me too. I also have him blowing me kisses when I say I love you to him. Of course when ever I try to get it on video he won't do it. http://s1268.photobucket.com/albums/jj574/genduso4195/Virgil/?action=view¤t=Virgil.mp4 http://s1268.photobucket.com/albums/jj574/genduso4195/Virgil/?action=view¤t=Virgil2.mp4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeriG Posted August 24, 2012 Author Share Posted August 24, 2012 Oh I almost forgot! I bought Harrison's High Potency Pellets for him and he LOVES them. Which is good since all he does with the fresh fruits and veggies is decorate the bottom of his cage. He will chew on the orange pieces and he likes carrots. He eats a little of the mixed frozen veggies I give him, but the peppers, green beans, zucchini, ect he just pulls out of the bowl. He did enjoy destroying the broccoli, but I don't think he ate any of it. And he didn't touch the kale. I know it will take some time, since for 25yrs all he knew were seeds. He will try something if he sees me eating it, so I try to pretend I'm eating what I want him to eat. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarasota Posted August 24, 2012 Share Posted August 24, 2012 Yay on the Harrison's! My little dudes love it too. I'll leave this one to the experts....but this is what I see. In the first video, just looks like a bird that would like to come out of the cage. The wings are slightly out like he'd like to be somewhere else (early flight behavior). The second video is more difficult to see - but looks like breeding behavior. I can't tell if he's actually regurgitating anything when he's hanging upside down, but the wing tips are fluttering slightly and the posture suggests breeding. Hopefully, someone can shed more light on this one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeriG Posted September 2, 2012 Author Share Posted September 2, 2012 I thought I would post a few new pictures of Virgil getting use to his playstand. We attached a perch from his cage over to it, so he could check it out on his own. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timbersmom Posted September 2, 2012 Share Posted September 2, 2012 Great pics! He looks engaged and happy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeffNOK Posted September 2, 2012 Share Posted September 2, 2012 Looks very happy and healthy. I hope you are really enjoying this new experience and adventure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeriG Posted September 2, 2012 Author Share Posted September 2, 2012 I really am enjoying him. This morning he actually asked to step up by lifting his foot for me. I was so shocked! But he did so good. I'm so proud of him. :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timbersmom Posted September 2, 2012 Share Posted September 2, 2012 It is so rewarding. I wouldn't have guessed it myself, before I got Timber, and have difficulty describing how I feel when we make progress! You are doing so well with him, and I'm so happy for you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray P Posted September 2, 2012 Share Posted September 2, 2012 You can tell a real parrot lover and parent because they are always so proud of those little steps forward that make their day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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