Alexandrines

[zooman]

1000x eh? that is pretty cool.

 

It is nice to get out of the city and go for a drive and its one of those i had to come home somehow and figured why not have a little fun too. With gas prices a drive like that for fun wouldnt be a reality. If it wasnt an overnight trip i wouldve taken zuri he loves to go out and drive hes so calm and watches everything. Tiago doesnt like car rides. Im making it a priority this winter to get him used to the harness so i can try one year of not clipping him and see what happens. Hes the only one of the 2 that will let me get that touchy feely.

 

Hmm biggest challenge...Id have to say keeping them amused in the toy dept. More so zuri than tiago because tiago as long as it wood or breakable hes happy. Zuri is a challenge in that hes very picky and loses his focus easily gets bored more or less but i guess im not challenging him enough or havent found his niche thing. He just wants to be on me 24/7 and switching them to harrisons is the challenge i havent yet done so def the food thing for both.

 

And my guys love the boing too i have one as well and zuri will hang upside down and flap soo hard and do monkey sounds yelps it is soo funny too.

[bettyboop]

Z had a boing , she tore it up , she tears everything up . She is so destructive . She had two rope perches .$$$$$$$$$ , you should see them . I give her old ceral boxes , with wood toys inside , she goes nuts . She eats through the box , then shreds the wood stuff . DAILY , we do this $$$$$$$....LOL....If she sees a cereal box on the counter , she goes for it ..

 

Good point about the entertainment being a challange.

I think mine is making sure she is happy , I work so hard at spending time with her and keeping her away from her cage . It is another room , she is so protective of that darn thing .Sammy isnt as much of a challange , he seems to be content with his schedule and isnt as clingy as she is , however he is bonded with my Husband and goes wild when he comes in from work.

I just want her to be as free as she can be in our home and with us . We share food , she has her own dishes, LOL....We share water , we share the shower on occasion , we have fun ....She loves the car , Sammy hates it ..It makes him nervous .

 

Do you have toy box in your birds cages ? It can be anything , a bowl , a box , filled with all types of play stuff .My birds love their toy boxes, they go down and empty it out , play with the stuff and then play with the bowl . Sammy bangs the bowl around , he loves the sound , it is a metal food bowl , and when it hits the cage , he laughs .Z has her toys in a plastic bowl , so she enjoys chewing on it also .<br><br>Post edited by: bettyboop, at: 2008/10/24 14:22

[bettyboop]

Pat , that is too cute about Raja and the boing .Sounds like he was getting rid of some pent up energy .I love it when they enjoy their toys .They are too cute .Zsa Zsa growls at her toys and Sammy slaps them and acts like he is attacking them , then he laughs.

[Tycos_mom]

I have wicker baskets for all my birds toy boxes they sit on their play tops and they have a ball emptying them then the chew on the basket. When the basket gets to the point where it won't hold toys anymore I go get them a new one they're onlya a dollar at the dollar store. but I agree they love there toy boxes. My Amazon loves cereal boxes. when I buy a new box of cereal I always dump it into a tupperware jug because if she spots any cereal box ful or empty she assumes its hers and will chew right through it. I've had tons of cereal wasted from her spilling it everywhere now I don't take any chances as soon as it comes out of the grocery bag it gets put into a jug so she can have to box to chew.

 

So on another note I picking up my new rescue on Monday the person I'm getting him from Brother is going to penticton on Monday so he's going to meet me 1/2 way so its only going to be 300 miles round trip for me thats way better than the whole way which would be 1000 miles round trip. I've got so much todo before then I have to disenfect his cage, find a spot to Quarentine him go shopping for more toys cut some new perches of the tree cleant the branches and thats all before Sunday night.and I have to work tonight and tomorrow night. I also have to make a vet appointment for him but I think I'm going to put that off for a week or so until he gets a chance to settle in a bit. the 500 mile car ride down is going to be enough stress for now. he's going to be quarentined anyway so I'm not to worried. My friend took him to the vet a week ago before she brought him to her house because she breeds birds she didn't want to take any chances. her vet said that he was in resonable health he just needed some TLc and some good nutrition and a few good baths. so I'm not to concerned about rushing off to the vet as soon as I get him home. anyway I may not be on here for a day or so because of all the work I have todo I'll be back though this forum is very addictive:laugh:

[bettyboop]

We understand being busy . I took my Mom to the Dr. today .She is going to have total hip replacement after the first of the year . I cleaned at her house all afternoon , it is a mess. It should take three months to get it into shape , bless her heart , she has just let things go for a while now. She is older and I just wasnt paying attention .You know I run in and out before she fell , and just didnt really notice .She has always had such a clean home and kept the front part and the bath and kitchen , but not the rest . I have closets that need attention and cabinets , omg......So I have my work cut out for me .

You be careful going to get that little one , hurry back , we will miss you .

Hugs ,

Mary

[zooman]

Id have to say your birds are spoiled haha..but i understand totally everyday i think how i can make them happier and share most of my food with them even a small bite of french fry..shhh dont tell anyone..haha But i noticed that they wont play with a box thats bigger than them, i think they get scared but toilet paper rolls filled with paper and a treat inside is a daily fav for them, tiago its a 5 or less min toy for zuri its about ten mins. zuri just gets bored so quick and drop whatever he has in a sec if it means a chance for a walk with me well on me that is. Tiago is is humble playing with his wood toys..I spent a bundle at the toy supply place and $20 worth of wood and cut it all up and ready for some toy making when my stuff gets in. I dont have a toy box because they spend nights and the first hrs of the day in the cage and the rest on the big playstand so the toys are all hanging on the stand. Doesnt it get all covered with poop? or is it not on the bottom like im picturing it? If i put a wicker basket in there it would last a day with tiago. I am almost complete making my new carrier ill post a pic when im totally finished i hope they like it better if it works ill make one for each. I did it without spending a lot but $10 worth of s.s. screws and fasteners.

[zooman]

Wow congrats on your new rescue i didnt know i looked at another post of yours and noticed, well good for you and i bow to you how you do it and afford it..lol..He is a very nice bird even though he looks a bit rough but in your care shouldnt be too long.

 

Good luck with him and after you get him id lie to know how they differ from our birds ive always been a bit intimidated by the larger beaks of macaws and there...larger voices..haha.

[bettyboop]

The old trick , never put anything under a perch .HA HA

Works like a charm . I also have hung toy boxes , I purchased a kids sand pail and hung it with large plastic chain , placed the sand pail by a lower perch and they go in and get the stuff .

My Cag will not play with anything but foot toys, if everything is hanging he won't touch it .Try tying some little pieces of wood on the side of the cage and see if Zuri will accept those . My birds are in their cages for about 4 hours each morning , 5 if I have to go somewhere , like the store .So I am constantly having to find new ideas .I read the other day , someone took a book , any kind , drilled a hole in it and hung it in the cage and their bird loved it .Messy but entertaining ......

So , you think my birds are spoiled , ha ha, oh well so are our kids and dogs .I am a softie, when it comes to my little ones.

A little french fry is OK. We all do it .

Have a great weekend.

[zooman]

Hope your having a good weekend as well. Its rainy here so i decided to finish the carrier box and took a pic of it and see what you think.

[zooman]

But otherwise i know we both spoil our birds and apparently your dog and kids too..oh my..lol. Hopefully you spoil yourself sometimes as well.

 

Zuri just isnt too much into wood toys like today i gave tiago one of zuris wood toys its like a very easy to chew wood and zuri has been at it for a couple weeks but lost interest gave it to tiago and he half destroyed it already. I bought foraging toyss for zuri and again just not into toys unless they are paper but that wont help his beak to naturally wear away. Any ideas? i do have toys in their cage and rotate them and everything and what zuri does when im sleep i have no idea like the mornings cause i work night shift. whereas tiagos cage is littered with wood everyday.

So weird how they are soo different do you have that with yours?

any break throughs with you and your grey?

[bettyboop]

The carrier looks great , you did a good job , and I know those boys will enjoy going outside in it .

 

Sammy and I do have better moments , he doesnt seem as nippy around me , but I can't trust him above the waist , so being on me is out of the question .He is a sweet guy and seems content with everything just like it is . we talk all day long .He flies over and sits by me , or flies to the office and hangs out...Usually while Zsa Zsa is preening , as you know they preen forever ...

 

Yes I do spoil myself from time to time , but not much , who has time ?An occasional Saturday off , just to watch movies and lounge around is awesome to me ....

 

Yes , my birds are different also . The only other thing I can suggest for you to help Zuri, play with toys is for you to play with them in front of him, act as though you are having a blast , walk around with them , and don't give whichever one it is to him for a couple of days .This worked with Sammy on a couple of things .Another thing , offer them some walnuts or almonds in the shell , this is great for their beaks .I think you should be able to purchase them at your market.They love shiny things , perhaps you could find some small shiny item and put small wood chips on it . If my birds don't eat wood for a while , I don't worry about it .Once Zsa Zsa didn't touch wood for about a month , then she went back to it, who knows what that was all about .

 

How old is he ? As we all know the Grey is more concerned with you rather than toys . This is one thing I adore about Zsa Zsa , she is clingy sometimes but not all the time . I want my birds to be tame , but when I have to do something , they need to stay put .Z goes nuts if I pick up the phone, I have to go and put her down and give her a toy or she will fly back and attack the phone .I know clipping would solve some of this but I just love watching her fly. Sammy flies but not as much as Z .The only time he flies is if we are out of the room for a couple of mins . then he will call us , and fly to where we are and say peeka boo boo. He is so funny , and the funny things he says , he makes us laugh all the time .

[zooman]

thanks i hope they enjoy it too, if it works ill buy another carrier and do the same thing.

 

Ive tried all that you mentioned and they love the walnuts they should be coming into season again its always near christmas. I wondered what life would be like with a flighted birds and im getting the idea id be in for a long day like that. I love them but them flying all over would be hard. Do they ever knock over stuff?

 

I think his lack of playing is due to the less than given toys when he was at the store. He had toys but not im sure a rotation of them. Its my guess anyways its not like i know for sure. I do play with the toys and take them away and then give them to him and hes like I got it now what, ok drop it..lol I know hes happy and loves me which is great.

[bettyboop]

Yep , thats the key , if they don't have toys when they are young , sometimes they won't play with them .

Does he ever chew on wood ?

 

No , my birds don't knock things over , they just follow me around and usually Z is on me and Sammy is walking on the floor or on a T stand .We have a place for them in each room .My Husband made T stands out of dried pieces of large untreated bamboo , mixed concrete in a clay pot and stuck the T in the concrete.He used sisal rope to attatch the T and we have one in each room .They know where they are , so thats where they perch , I also have a wooden playstand that is an extra that rolls around , so they can both be in the same room .It works out great .They never bother our stuff . They are good birds , the only thing Z ever got into was sweet -n-low packets on the counter .I now keep them put up . Sammy chewed on an Antique table when he first came and I put in a room they never go in.I also have bells on their playstands , so I can usually hear where they are or arent .I put bells on my Christmas tree also , that way I can hear the little tinkling sounds if she is on the tree ....Works great.Zsa Zsa loved the Christmas tree last year , she would hide in it , talk about funny , she blends right in .Sammy came in Feb. So I have no idea how he reacts to the tree yet .We will see .

So in other words they come looking for us , if they arent busy with a toy.

M

[zooman]

It is just a thought i dont know for sure but i thought of it as being a good reason. He does chew wood but very rarely and he'll work at one toy for a hour and never touch it for days, where tiago will destroy it in a day. I dont mind soo much it does save me money..lol

 

Thats good that they are seasoned fliers, my birds when they do fly go down fast. But you have a good plan by having a stand in each room at least they have a target. Maybe one day when i get a house ill give them that kind of freedom, they have to earn it..haha

 

oh christmas tree haha that would be funny seeing an alex in there or lack thereof of seeing her. Id be scared of the things on the tree getting broken but im a worry wort anyhow.

[Tycos_mom]

my birds are flighted also and when they want to spend a little time with me they will fly to where I am I find it a lot easier to keep them flighted that way I don't have to go to them to play with them they will come to me. they seem to keep the samentimes everyday to come and play I don't know how but its always within a coule minutes everyday. Mabie they can tell time;) :blink: :laugh:

[bettyboop]

Yes , I have a very extensive collection of snowmen for my Christmas tree .I have been collecting for about 25 years . So when we got our first bird , I ended up having a second tree , which is in our dinning room where I can close off and they can't get to it .

Then the tree in the family room is decorated with a little more bird friendly stuff .Not only breaking but chewing , was a concern for me .A lot of those ornaments have lead in the paint .

 

I love watching my birds fly , and I do have to be extra careful all the time .We always put them up when someone comes over and we notify each other when one is almost home , that the birds are out .They have never shown an interest in the doors , so hopefully they never will .

Yesterday at the store they have a fresh bumper crop of nuts in the shell . I bought some and they both were so excited when I gave them one , they spent hours working on them .HA HA , IT WAS CUTE....

[bettyboop]

Pat , glad you had a safe trip . Looking forward to hearing about the newbie .

Hugs,

M

[zooman]

Well im happy that you havent had any accidents around and that goes for both of you im learning something new i had this misconception free flighted birds meant poop everywhere and things getting chewed and knocked over. Guess you both have done an amazing job in training them to be good birdies. I just know if i left tiago out he would cause destruction on the nearest wood.

 

Very big congrats go to the new mommy and her baby she just got home well not baby anymore but you know..I hope hes adjusting well after the long drive.

 

We are getting our first snow its not staying yet on the ground but its coming down and sticking to our cars yuck!! I am not ready for winter yet. Do you ladies get snow in your areas i know B.C. does but depends on where you are.

[bettyboop]

Snow in Fort Worth Texas , is very rare, however we are getting some very early cold snaps this year , so it might be different . Back in 1978 we had a ton of snow that lasted 8 or 9 days on the ground . It was beautiful . However we arent used to snow , so it is sort of hazardous . Ha

 

I had to really work with Sammy to leave my furniture alone when he first came , just telling him NO, and placing him back on his stand , since at that time he didnt like the playstand too much . Now he loves his playstand and stay there a lot.

Zsa Zsa goes after the rubber strip on my fridge , so we do have to watch her .

As far as poop , I really don't have a lot of problems with it . Ususally they poop on their stuff and ocasionally , there might be a little one somewhere. Now we do not let Sammy out first thing in the AM , he really poops big , yuck , in the Am , so he stays in his cage for a while.

Birds are very trainable...

Enjoy the snow , I am jealous.

[Tycos_mom]

You have snow already yuk yuk I live in BC and we get snow for about 3 weeks every year I hate snow. Its pretty to look at if you don't have to shovel it or go out in it. We have had beautiful weather here. the leaves are all changing and its sunshining and warm really a beautiful time of year. I don't have problems with poop my birds are pretty good about poopin on comand so I just put them on a peice of newspaper and say go poop and they go. I love to watch them fly also. the are pretty good about leaving my furnature alone but they like to chew the natural wood trim around my windows. GRRRR Oh well It can be replace when they finally stop chewing it I'll replace it.

[zooman]

ya tiago cost me some $ at my old apartment i had just got him and i made the mistake of leaving him alone outside his cage and when i came into his room half the window frame was gone and now in pieces on the floor, not too happy about that i had to fix it before moving out. As for Zuri i had his playstand too close to the window and he decided to chew the vinyl blinds. All in a matter of minutes urgh oh well we love them right?

 

And ya it was the kinda of snow that stayed on the grass til morning and never stuck to the ground it suppose to go up now to 16 degrees celcius not sure about Fahrenheit which is pretty warm for the time of year so we are def. getting some flip flop weather this week. Id miss the snow but id be happy for snow a month of the year and then it can go away..lol..maybe it'll listen to me some year.

[bettyboop]

Yes , they are like little children , they have to be watched.

Zsa Zsa is pretty good as long as she sees us every few mins.

Sammy doesnt really show an interest in anything , except my two chairs in the den , I keep a towel on the top part , and as long as that is there , all is well . But if it isnt , he will bite at the fabric .Little poots !!!LOL...(laughing out loud)

I do try to keep them busy ...

I am sure you grow weary of the cold and the snow , but you guys can always move to Texas , and then you just do like the rest of us ....Wait a minute , and the weather will change .Nothing last too long around here .

[zooman]

Yeah the snowy days are coming but at least the air gets all cleared out and that way we cant get too bored of the warm weather...ya right!! Texas is soo far away and you guys are scary your motto is dont mess with texas right?lol..kidding yeah it seems like a really nice state. Id like to ravel and see all the bird shops when i read the magazines some of the nicest and biggest seem to be down there. Its soo rare to see one around here. I think people are really missing out on having a parrot. I have to say i wouldnt have ever thought we had them here until the store i bought mine came into town. Its a shame..

 

and i def know how you feel about the furniture tiago has to be watched 24/7 he'll make toothpicks out of anything even with a cage full of new and exciting toys he likes the chairs as well

[bettyboop]

Yeah , you gotta watch yourself in Texas , we all pack guns and everything is bigger here .LOL....

The slogan just means , you will go to jail if you break the law .Or thats what it's suppose to mean , I don't think anyone goes to jail anymore . Our system is really bad.

I think they show interest in our furniture because we do , it's ours and they seem to want what we have .Funny , yesterday , Zsa Zsa was on top of a door which is in front of my washer / dryer and she took a hunk out of the door .I couldnt believe she did it so quickly . Gosh it can happen in a second , I just shooed her away .

But like you say , we love them . We do ....

I guess wherever we are , we grow weary of the weather . Texas is so extreme in the summer but we normally have very mild winters , with a small amount of Fall and Spring . I like Texas , it has a lot to offer .

[bettyboop]

HAPPY HALLOWEEN ,

Be Safe ......