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Post by siobhan on Jan 25, 2016 17:06:38 GMT -5
Jade and I had an argument last week, when she chomped the heck out of me while I was reaching for her water bowl to change it. So she's been standoffish. Last night, she decided to forgive me (since obviously *I* was the one in the wrong, LOL) and she started being silly. She climbed down to the floor of her cage, and ran in circles around her ladder (which she has tied to her walls and perches with a long shoelace woven in an elaborate pattern I can't begin to understand) yelling "peekaboo!" I was laughing, but Clyde was sitting on my hand staring at her like she was a new kind of insect. Later, she decided to learn a new trick for Mommy. She was ringing one of her many bells , which hangs on the outside of her cage, so I said, "ring your bell, Jade!" and she rang it again and I made a huge fuss, and she lifted her wings and said "whee hee!" The trick to "teaching" Jade "tricks" is to find a thing she likes to do anyway and convincing her to do it on request (never "on COMMAND," one does not "command" a Quaker or any other parrot for that matter). That's how we began lifting our wings when I say "good girl!" or "whoo!" She was doing that anyway, when she felt she'd been especially clever. Now she'll also ring her bell when I ask. Then I have to touch her beak and make a kissing sound. That's the trick SHE taught ME. LOL
I should note that Clyde disapproves in the strongest possible terms when I play with Jade or even if I talk to Jade, and this is in spite of the fact that he's on my hand or shoulder and she is on her perch. It's not like he's getting ignored. I wonder what he'd do if he realized how much attention Rocky 'Too gets that he knows nothing about.
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Post by cnyguy on Jan 25, 2016 20:55:54 GMT -5
Glad that Jade has decided to forgive your transgression.  I'm sure Clyde would not be amused if he knew how much attention Rocky gets (which, of course, only Clyde should be entitled to, as he would see it). |
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Post by biteybird on Jan 25, 2016 22:47:08 GMT -5
I can just visualise Jade scuttling about yelling "Peekaboo!"!  The quaker personality is so complex & it's really difficult to stay mad at them when they go into 'cute' mode, even when their behaviour's been insufferable. Clyde has a healthy streak of jealousy, doesn't he? |
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Post by julianna on Jan 27, 2016 13:38:12 GMT -5
That is really cute Siohban. Jade sounds like quite the comedian there. Sure would be nice if these little creatures would stop biting the hand that feeds them.... or the face that is near their shoulder perch... lol
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Post by bruce on Jan 29, 2016 19:39:29 GMT -5
Totally adorable post, Jade and Siobhan . QPs definitely do teach us ways of interacting with them |
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Post by aaron on Feb 1, 2016 13:32:08 GMT -5
Gosh, Clyde would probably lose it if he knew about Rocky. Does Rocky have any knowledge of the room full of other birds?
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Post by siobhan on Feb 2, 2016 12:58:11 GMT -5
Yes, he does. I take him to the screen door of their room periodically to show him he has siblings, and of course, he can hear them all over the house. Jade leads two or three Daily Squawks every day. I've taken him to the screen door on Ringo's room, too, while she sat on her wood door and looked down at us and made remarks (translated, roughly, "MOM, what is that enormous white THING on your arm???"). He actually seems a little afraid of the small birds, though they are not afraid of him, which is why he isn't allowed in there with them. They might mistake him for a new Pigeon Queen, and while they all deferred to Her Majesty (except Johnny, who had a long-standing feud with her), they weren't afraid of her. She pecked them occasionally, but couldn't do any real damage. Rocky could. I don't know if he WOULD, but he could. And is he protective of me even in regard to Hubby, so imagine how he would feel if one of the small parrots landed on my shoulder or lap while he was already occupying me. I know people who have big parrots and small ones together, but those are usually parrots who have known each other for years and worked out a pecking order, like Clyde and Benjy, and to a degree, Jade and Benjy.
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Post by oteyspeople on Feb 2, 2016 13:11:33 GMT -5
Wow, I missed you guys! Old laptop died, & I lost my contacts. Had a message show up today, so that gave me the link back. Glad to see Jade is still being Jade.
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Post by aaron on Feb 2, 2016 14:03:14 GMT -5
Interesting. Yeah, it seems wise to keep them separate. Rocky could do major damage! He's no pigeon!
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Post by siobhan on Feb 2, 2016 15:25:05 GMT -5
Speaking of birds objecting to other birds landing on me, Jade landed on my shoulder this morning while I was saying good morning to everyone, and Clyde, who was on my hand, scrambled up my shirt front to my other shoulder and, just for a moment, I thought they would each occupy a shoulder and be content, but no. Clyde went around the back of my head and started a fight with Jade who, to give credit where it's due, stood her ground for a minute or two (with me scolding Clyde and telling him to let her be) before she surrendered and went back to her cage. Bird fights on one's shoulder before coffee. Way to start the day.
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Post by beccilouise on Feb 5, 2016 20:41:48 GMT -5
Siobhan, I would not have the patience to deal with that! How many birds do you have? Are lots of the rescues? It's amazing that you are so clearly able to give each of them the time they need. I am one very impressed and awestruck novice. |
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Post by siobhan on Feb 7, 2016 22:39:53 GMT -5
I have six parrots and a starling and every one is a rescue.
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Post by biteybird on Feb 8, 2016 1:35:41 GMT -5
Beccilouise is right; it's amazing you can give them all the time they need, not only the birds but your other animals - but you do! Lucky critters. |
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Post by beccilouise on Feb 8, 2016 4:23:24 GMT -5
That's amazing! It's unlikely that I will, but if I was to acquire another bird, I would rescue. I didn't realise until after I got Byron just how many parrots were given up. I guess it must be similar with dogs; they are endearing enough that people will impulsively buy, but all intelligent animals require a lot of time and mental stimulation, which some owners do not realise before they bring home. Your critters are indeed, very lucky |
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Post by aaron on Feb 8, 2016 13:19:15 GMT -5
If we were ever to get another bird (maybe in a decade or something), we would definitely rescue as well. I wish there was some way to force this knowledge on people before they were allowed to purchase a parrot! I wish I had known! Although the thought of not having Cupcake is a horrible one.
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I'm sure Clyde would not be amused if he knew how much attention Rocky gets (which, of course, only Clyde should be entitled to, as he would see it). 
The quaker personality is so complex & it's really difficult to stay mad at them when they go into 'cute' mode, even when their behaviour's been insufferable. Clyde has a healthy streak of jealousy, doesn't he?
