Poppy

[Giannine]

She's a cute little one. Has some great coloring too unless it's just the camera doing that.

 

I can let you know if it's the camera if you specify the coloring:) She has some bright red tail feathers and the darker ones are a pretty burgundy. Her face is always pinkish but several of these pics have an Instagram filter (Lark) which whitens her face and you can't really see the pink flush

[neoow]

Ah geez, she makes me so parrot broody haha!

 

Lovely photos.

[Timbersmom]

Timber makes what we call his "baby bird cheep" when he wants something (like when he sees hubby getting cheese) and he's 10! As to the breathing thing, I've never dealt with a baby so don't know. Hopefully someone who has will have an answer for that one.

[Giannine]

Timber's baby bird cheep sounds like what Poppy does:) Her breathing hard sound is only when she seems to be excited and is kind of wheezy-snorty (my descriptive words can use some help:rolleyes:)

[Giannine]

I found a video on Youtube of another grey making the sound Poppy makes:

[katana600]

The drooping wings and breathy sounds in the video look like "love" offerings. If she pumps her head, that's working up to regurgitating. Sometimes my parrots get overcome and go through a phase of this. It comes and goes. The general advice we are given is not to touch below the neck because touching or petting their back will sometimes put them in the mood. It makes sense too that she gets rough after a session of the love dance.

 

I love her baby photos. Every time I see these delightful, precious babies it reminds me of the sweetness and trusting nature of innocence. Miss Gilbert started out like this somewhere. She hit a rough patch but we are seeing a new outlook. The baby pictures you posted give me a tenderness toward Gil and lets me think of where she has been.

[Maash]

Hi, I was wondering if someone here can help identify this guy's age

 

[Giannine]

The drooping wings and breathy sounds in the video look like "love" offerings. If she pumps her head, that's working up to regurgitating. Sometimes my parrots get overcome and go through a phase of this. It comes and goes. The general advice we are given is not to touch below the neck because touching or petting their back will sometimes put them in the mood. It makes sense too that she gets rough after a session of the love dance.

 

I love her baby photos. Every time I see these delightful, precious babies it reminds me of the sweetness and trusting nature of innocence. Miss Gilbert started out like this somewhere. She hit a rough patch but we are seeing a new outlook. The baby pictures you posted give me a tenderness toward Gil and lets me think of where she has been.

 

I haven't noticed the drooping wings when she does it...I'm pretty sure she doesn't do that part, just the breathing...and she gets pretty "mouthy" while she is doing it. It's almost like she is in a mini frenzy, desperate for something and gets a bit "bitey" in the process but doesn't bite to the extent it hurts. I am going to work on distracting her when she gets like this (which she was about 10 minutes ago). I don't really ever touch her below her neck because of what I have read about it sexually stimulating them. Don't want that:eek:

 

I need to go read the latest updates on Gilbert. I can imagine it probably helps being reminded Gilbert was once a baby with probably only positive experiences with humans. Yours and Gilbert's story cemented my commitment to Poppy before I even got her. It has really illustrated to me how sensitive they are and how important it is to not give up on them, no matter how hard it might get sometimes.

[katana600]

Poppy is a lucky little girl, as are you and yours lucky to spend time with an intelligent, loving little character. It may not be a sexual response, I am not sure exactly what they are thinking when they do the love dance. Gilbert has just recently started doing those breathy, clicky sounds when I scratch her head or when I bring a coveted treat like a grape or pistachio. You have the right idea to distract her and redirect, especially since she is starting to get rough at that point. Teaching her that using her beak is only for gentle play is important, she doesn't have a reference point for what it feels like to you or your kids. Miss Gilbert has come a long way, she still has a long way to go. I still have much to learn and even then I know we are barely scratching the surface of "knowing" parrots. It is enlightening to consider our companions may only be one generation from being in the wild. Many of the parent birds are wild caught. Some, like Phenix (Birdhouse/Val) can still remember being in their native environments. They are still very much wild creatures and we have an obligation to work to the best of our ability to create a lifetime of commitment to them. You and Poppy have a lifetime of learning together, I am glad to be a part of that.

[Giannine]

Poppy is a lucky little girl, as are you and yours lucky to spend time with an intelligent, loving little character. It may not be a sexual response, I am not sure exactly what they are thinking when they do the love dance. Gilbert has just recently started doing those breathy, clicky sounds when I scratch her head or when I bring a coveted treat like a grape or pistachio. You have the right idea to distract her and redirect, especially since she is starting to get rough at that point. Teaching her that using her beak is only for gentle play is important, she doesn't have a reference point for what it feels like to you or your kids. Miss Gilbert has come a long way, she still has a long way to go. I still have much to learn and even then I know we are barely scratching the surface of "knowing" parrots. It is enlightening to consider our companions may only be one generation from being in the wild. Many of the parent birds are wild caught. Some, like Phenix (Birdhouse/Val) can still remember being in their native environments. They are still very much wild creatures and we have an obligation to work to the best of our ability to create a lifetime of commitment to them. You and Poppy have a lifetime of learning together, I am glad to be a part of that.

 

Thank you...you and everyone on this board have been wonderful and I'm glad to have a place like this to come to to get away sometimes:D My mom has always been a reclusive person and I was just telling her on the phone today how I have just realized over the past week that I am much more like her than I realized. I told her Poppy is going to be my best friend for the rest of my life. We were talking about the tiny house movement and how cool it is but as much as I may want one someday, I told her I have to have room for my bird cages LOL I think after my kids are (mostly) gone, I will settle for a small 2 bedroom cottage or cabin in the woods somewhere. I would be happy with a one bedroom but with 7 kids, I am sure I will have a lot of grandkids one day and I'm pretty sure the birds want peace and quiet at bedtime.

 

I was doing some reading yesterday on the noise Poppy makes and came across a couple others who believe it is the bird being affectionate. How affectionate, I don't know. Yesterday I wore my hair down which I rarely do and Poppy was making all of her grunting noises and quick movements and started diving her head into my hair that was hanging down over my shoulder LOL She loved it (goofball). I came to the conclusion she was a bit over excited/happy. I definitely have to distract her because it gets to the point I can't really control her and she likes my nostrils for some reason:rolleyes:

 

I was wondering if some of you may be able to give me tips on how to properly introduce Poppy and the kids as far as easing into the kids being able to give her a scratch or hold her for a couple of minutes. The kids are not hyper (not allowed in the house) or loud and I have taught them to be very respectful of animals and their space. They are really cautious around Poppy because they are afraid of getting bit. Some of the kids are just afraid but a couple of the kids have gotten bit when trying to offer her food from their fingers. They do move cautiously and speak quietly to her ("Hi Poppy") as they approach her.

 

My 7-year-old is referred to as "The Olive Charmer" because she and Olive have a special bond none of us have with her even though she really loves me and my 17-year-old. The poor girl tried to make friends with Poppy and got bit. So did my 12-year-old. She was talking sweetly to her and either reached to give her a rub or give her food (can't remember which) and got a bite. My 15-year-old son wants badly to give her a little rub but is too scared to. After the other bites, I don't allow any of the kids within striking distance of her until I figure out how to properly introduce them. Help?:confused:

Edited September 16, 2016 by Giannine

[SRSeedBurners]

Well...when GreycieMae came home, my kid was 18 at the time (now 22). We had the same problem, GreycieMae was nippy with Kayla to the point that Kayla started to not like GreycieMae. Kayla is my fallback plan for Greycie should anything happen to us so I couldn't have the two falling apart and never coming together. I went on a several month program of having Kayla play with Greycie, feed her treats, and so forth until they both now love each other. The problem I have is Kayla likes to 'pick on' Greycie which doesn't work well. Even at 22 I have to scold my young adult kid to stop making Greycie mean. Kayla hasn't lived with us in a couple of years but they still play together now when she comes home.

[Giannine]

That is exactly the reason why it is important to me to have the girls build a relationship with Poppy. She will very likely go to one of them if she outlives me. I will make it a point to have them near me and Poppy say, on the couch, and have them offer her treats and toys

[katana600]

We have a different relationship with Miss Gilbert so nobody really gets favored treatment. But... when Java was young, she had to test everyone. It wasn't just a nip if someone got close. She would actually seek people out with aggressive behavior. Our youngest daughter had just left for her second college semester out of state when Java came home with us. On spring break, Java was awful. She would dive bomb, pull hair and stalk our daughter. In turn, our daughter would post on FaceBook pictures of our "devil bird" with flashing red eyes. What I did was to put Java in her cage after any hostility on her part. Then our whole family would leave the room. After about ten minutes I would have my daughter go upstairs with a stick perch to offer to "rescue" Java and bring her to the flock. Also, Java had no flight ability and hated to be on the floor. Her wings were grossly cut back and she would fall off a perch to the floor and that is when she would step up onto Kelsey's hand so grateful to have a lift back to safety that she didn't attempt to bite. We held tight to the one for all and all for one and we called Java's bluff. There were a few bites in particular to my husband and even though, at the time, I did think he deserved it, I would chastise Java and return her to her cage and we would all leave the room briefly. She won't let anyone else rub her head like I do and certainly no one else wants to be so close as to let her lay on her back in their hands, but she is respectful and will step up for any of us now. It takes a lot of time, dedication and sharing treats etc. We have had Java ten years and she is sweet to everyone.

[Giannine]

Wow! Quite the turnaround in little Java! That is very encouraging:D I hope Poppy never starts acting out to that extent...I do anticipate it being 1-2 years before we see her full personality and hope to socialize her well in the meantime

[Giannine]

Everything has been going well with Poppy. I really thought I would be on here asking a million questions but I have found that just getting to know her and allowing her to get to know me has been my best teacher.

 

I did learn a lesson yesterday, however. Normally if I need to go upstairs for anything, including going to the bathroom as my house is a tri level and they didn't put a bathroom on the main level, I take the dogs (Solo the Boxer and Mia the Shih Tzu) with me in case one of the birds decides she wants to take a trip down to the floor. The birds hang out on their cage play tops or on the Manzanita tree stand (one at a time).

 

I have never allowed them to be in close proximity of one another because I am afraid they will fight.

Yesterday I took the dogs upstairs with me to get myself looking presentable quickly as someone was coming to look at my car to possibly buy it. I was upstairs for less than 10 minutes and didn't hear anything downstairs...all seemed well. I opened my bedroom door, all was quiet, walk to the landing of the stairs, all was quiet, start walking down the stairs and reach the bottom, look up, and see Poppy perched on the corner of the play top on Olive's cage and Olive perched about 15" away, from her. As soon as they saw me, Olive started going toward Poppy with her beak open and Poppy started flapping her wings so I rushed over and got Poppy off.

 

Apparently, Poppy had fallen off the tree, walked over to Olive's cage and climbed up it. I have no clue how long she had been there and find it funny they were sitting peacefully until they saw me:confused:

[SRSeedBurners]

Apparently, Poppy had fallen off the tree, walked over to Olive's cage and climbed up it. I have no clue how long she had been there and find it funny they were sitting peacefully until they saw me:confused:

 

 

 

My Caique and my Grey will sit next to each other, on the same little perch, in the aviary. They will even sit there and do mock kissing. Once I'm spotted it's game on. My Grey gets extremely jealous and doesn't want Toby Toby anywhere near me. Toby knows when I enter the picture Greycie is going to lose her damn mind so he opts for a first strike and makes things even worse.

[Giannine]

My Caique and my Grey will sit next to each other, on the same little perch, in the aviary. They will even sit there and do mock kissing. Once I'm spotted it's game on.

 

Tooo funny! I just find it so odd how calm they were and both acting as if it was the most normal thing to be sharing a cage top next to each other. Especially a Quaker Parrot's. Olive is just a little sassy boss. She has quite a lot of spunk whereas Poppy is the complete opposite.

[SRSeedBurners]

Ever had a Caique? They take spunky and crazy to the next level. And talk about a temper tantrum. The caique is the one that I have to protect our lil birds from, and anyone that comes in our house that is shorter than 5'4". He absolutely hates short people. He is like a heat-seaking missile. He will fly straight in at full speed with talons and beak ready to inflict carnage.

 

 

...and then 30 seconds later be the sweetest thing you ever did see. Jeckyll & Hyde birds.

[katana600]

You have the right idea to observe and learn from Poppy. That is exactly what she is doing with your and your household. Every parrot is unique in the atmosphere in which they live with us. If you haven't already read it, a good book that helped me a lot in the beginning was "The Parrot Problem Solver" by Barbara Heidenreich. What that book did for me is to look at the way parrots interpret our behavior and how changes later cause them distress and acting out. It opened my eyes to reasons other people have rehomed their parrots. Not that you are doing anything that I would see as a red flag, I think Poppy is in a great environment. Reading your thread just brings me back to when I brought home our baby grey and how easily I was drawn in to falling in love with the baby, and not having a clue of the adult parrot that would included in my life for decades. Poppy is learning about when you leave the room and take the dogs it is her short term freedom to hurry and get anything done she knows is usually out of bounds. It is so funny that just like kids, when they see mom, a big distraction helps disguise the fact they were pushing the limits.

[Giannine]

I haven't read that book but I will order it. I just ordered two other African Grey books and have read a third. I will add The Parrot Problem Solver to my library. Poppy watches me very intently. I sold everything in my salt water aquarium and the woman who was buying it said, "Your bird is a trip" and I asked her why and she said, "She has not taken her eyes off you since we've been here." I looked back at Poppy on her cage and she was in her crouching position with her neck craned out watching me very closely. She does that a lot.

 

Sterling, I have never owned a Caique and probably never will, only because I have 7 kids, 2 dogs, and 2 birds and I just don't think I can stretch myself much further:D I think the only other bird I find very tempting is a Conure but I have no plans to get one in the next several years (or maybe ever)

[SRSeedBurners]

You don't want a conure. Nope. Rotten to the core. They sure are.

 

 

[Giannine]

You don't want a conure. Nope. Rotten to the core. They sure are.

 

 

 

Too cute...she reminds me of Olive. Olive gets her little foot right on top of her head and twists her head upside down and closes her eyes as she slowly rubs her head lol Olive is definitely my 7-year-old's bird. They have a relationship with each other that nobody else has with Olive. Giovanna just adores her and Olive seems to trust her more than even me, though I am 2nd. As I am sitting here typing this, I am watching Olive climb down her tree to get close to our Boxer. She has taken to taunting him and he seems to think she is a little play toy he knows he isn't allowed to touch but wants to so badly. He gets close enough to her so she can swipe at him with her beak as if he likes the interaction (weirdo).

 

Poppy on the other hand, pays him little attention and shows little fear of him, though she will open her beak wide as a warning if he tries to put his nose on her.

[Giannine]

I do have one question I've been meaning to ask. What does it mean when Greys caw like a crow? Poppy always does this after she is finished eating and sounds quite contrary. You'd think she would sound content and happy:rolleyes:

[katana600]

That's a tough one. She may like that abrasive sound and that may be what she considers a sound of satisfaction. When Miss Gilbert asks for a treat or a cracker, and I bring her something that is to her great satisfaction she has a staccato double "chirp" that is almost like a percussion sound that hurts my ears. Everyone hates that sound. But for her it is a joyful affirmation. She gets a tiny sliver of cheese when the dogs share a half slice as a bedtime treat. She always makes that sound as she takes her cheese. Another odd thing she does that doesn't make sense to me is when she bows her head for a scratch, and she is really enjoying it, she will turn and look at me gently and make the sound of a crying baby. Sarah said she would do that at her house as well. I would think the sound of a baby crying would not be a "happy" thing for her, but it is. Go figure.

[Giannine]

Another odd thing she does that doesn't make sense to me is when she bows her head for a scratch, and she is really enjoying it, she will turn and look at me gently and make the sound of a crying baby. Sarah said she would do that at her house as well. I would think the sound of a baby crying would not be a "happy" thing for her, but it is. Go figure.

 

Hmm...That's exactly what Poppy does sometimes when I have her on my lap or chest, rubbing her head. She sounds like a begging baby. After I handfeed her, she turns from sweet baby to sounding like an irritated crow. She makes that same cawing sound when I put her in her cage, as well.