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Post by beccilouise on Apr 1, 2017 14:14:25 GMT -5
Hi everyone! Been away for a short while with mad busyness as my poetry book is out later this year! Thought I'd pop back onto the forum and see how everyone is. Maya is doing really well! She hasn't been out in her harness in a while as we've been quarantined to avoid Bird Flu, but there haven't been any recorded cases in two weeks now, so I'm hoping we've seen the last of it. Maya is now a keen flier and parades around our flat, chirping away. She's learned to avoid the windows, which I'm really happy about as a little bird crashed into our window this morning and concussed itself. It was so tiny! I cupped it in my hands and brought it in for a short while so nothing ate it, and then it flew away about ten minutes later. Maya was really good the whole time and, obviously, I thoroughly washed my hands after before handling Maya again. She's still a rampaging teenager but we've not had any major aggression for quite some time, mainly (I think) because both David and I have learned to anticipate it. So all going well and still love my gorgeous little birdie! Any tips for when mating hormones turn her into a dinosaur this Summer?  |
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Apr 1, 2017 22:21:14 GMT -5
Post by cnyguy on Apr 1, 2017 22:21:14 GMT -5
Welcome back to you and Maya!  Sorry that I have no advice to offer for dealing with hormonal issues. So far, that hasn't been a major problem with any of my parrots (and I hope it stays that way  ). |
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Post by julianna on Apr 2, 2017 14:13:15 GMT -5
Nice to hear from you... congratulations on the book coming out... you must be soooo excited. Hormones... duhhhh.... just bear it I guess. I did set up a little stand with a sock tied to the corners so that if Oscar must "do his thing" he can use that. When he goes into heat it usually only lasts a few weeks... if I remember correctly.
Remember if she decides to bite you... try not to react too extreme... just get her to her cage and give her some time out.
Good luck.
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Apr 3, 2017 1:23:23 GMT -5
Post by biteybird on Apr 3, 2017 1:23:23 GMT -5
I don't have any valuable advice to offer...we had Bonnie fitted with a hormone implant, but she still sometimes bites hubby. However, in between the attacks she's definitely more 'level' (if you disregard the normal 'quaker' feistyness!). Congratulations on your book! What is it called and where do we get it? You have a fan club here, you know! |
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Apr 3, 2017 22:47:57 GMT -5
Post by aaron on Apr 3, 2017 22:47:57 GMT -5
Welcome back! Glad to hear things are going well! Of course you know this, but during hormonal times, proper sleep schedule is really important... 12+ hours of darkness a day, and avoiding experiences that might give off a nest vibe... All helps with Cupcake a lot. When she bites us, if it is more than a communicative nip, she gets brief, but immediate cage time. Generally 1-2 minutes. Then she ideally goes right back into the same situation that triggered her to bite. It definitely works, at least for now That said, the majority of her bites are because she wants something or we are taking her away from somewhere she wants to be. The only bites I would consider to be triggered by hormonal aggression are the ones that are triggered by certain objects, like my beard trimmer. Those bites are different and more vicious... and I'm not sure how one would prevent them, and it sounds like that might be the kind of bite you're dealing with. I just try to avoid those situations, like you guys seem to be doing. |
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Apr 21, 2017 14:41:33 GMT -5
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Post by beccilouise on Apr 21, 2017 14:41:33 GMT -5
Thanks everyone! We've been working hard to lessen her hormonal aggression. It's not that bad at all, but it's also definitely improving. Walking outside, introducing foraging toys and a regulated sleep pattern are my plan! My book is called 'Octopus Medicine', it will be available from Two Rivers Press. They have a website and it will be available from September 1st! I am very excited Very busy, but Maya has been coming everywhere with me, being generally lovely to children at workshops and at performances. She LOVES the attention and goes all fluffy to pose for pictures. Bless her little dinosaur toes! |
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Post by aaron on Apr 21, 2017 23:31:23 GMT -5
Glad to hear things are going well with Maya. I think your plan is a great one. I saw the jacket cover and blurb for your book on your blog! I think it sounds great and will gladly purchase a copy when it is available And I love those little dinosaur toes! They have the best feet! |
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Apr 23, 2017 5:26:41 GMT -5
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Post by beccilouise on Apr 23, 2017 5:26:41 GMT -5
Thanks Aaron! I'm really excited about it. Maya is doing very well, although definitely still showing situational aggression towards bottles (why?!) To be honest, it's quite funny, but I'd rather not be bitten every time I get the milk bottle out, so am trying to take your advice, give her a time out and then, after two or three minutes, bring her back into the situation and praise her when she doesn't react. She's getting there! It's definitely become more noticeable with the lengthening days, so I'm trying to be quite vigilant about bedtime. Other than that, though, she's a lovely, friendly, well socialised little birdie who loves to come outside and makes friends with everyone...as long as they're not holding a bottle. Her dinosaur toes are the cutest little things! The other day, I rescued a wren that flew into our window. OH MY GOSH, it was the tiniest, most delicate thing I have ever seen in my life! It was so small that, when it was flying, I might have mistaken it for a large moth! Luckily, it was fine and flew off up into a tree about five minutes after I found it. It made Maya look like a giant!
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Apr 23, 2017 7:27:49 GMT -5
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Post by biteybird on Apr 23, 2017 7:27:49 GMT -5
Yep, anything glass or metal=TARGET for the quaker beak. (at least, ours). I like their toes, too. Bonnie likes chewing her toes and feet, but doesn't seem to damage them. I think it's a quaker fetish. |
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Post by aaron on Apr 24, 2017 22:08:07 GMT -5
Glad to hear things are going so well... She sounds like an extremely sweet little girl. It's funny how they fixate on certain objects like a water bottle... for Cupcake it is one of my two beard trimmers. I cannot even turn it on in the room when she is present without getting a bite that breaks the skin. She's not like that with anything else. My other beard trimmer doesn't bother her at all. Who knows! To be honest, I have not used the technique you describe for this kind of biting situation, so I can't say if it works, although it seems like it is likely to. We've been lucky enough that she doesn't feel this way about anything that we can't easily avoid her seeing. But I've had success with reducing her tendency to bite when she is trying to tell us that she really wants something we have (food) while we are in the kitchen.
Cupcake loves to chew on her feet, especially when getting rubs and laying back in one of our hands. She likes foot rubs too. Those feet are pretty good.
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Post by easttex on Apr 25, 2017 4:56:04 GMT -5
The other day, I rescued a wren that flew into our window. OH MY GOSH, it was the tiniest, most delicate thing I have ever seen in my life! It was so small that, when it was flying, I might have mistaken it for a large moth! Luckily, it was fine and flew off up into a tree about five minutes after I found it. It made Maya look like a giant! Wrens are cute and sassy little birds, and they can really turn up the volume for such tiny things. For small you should see a hummingbird. The ruby-throated that are common here in summer are less than 4 grams. And they're fearless. I have set a feeder on a table and rested my hand next to it and within minutes one will to start using me for a perch. It's the most incredible feeling. Their feet are so small that they can't walk with them, so they either perch or fly. That's a great picture of you and Maya, by the way. |
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Post by beccilouise on Apr 25, 2017 15:45:09 GMT -5
Thank you easttex! I never knew wrens were so sassy! This one had a bit of a flap about, but was pretty quiet. Maya was FASCINATED! I've watched hummingbirds on TV but, being in the UK, have never seen one in the flesh. They sound too cute to handle! I think birds, as many animals, are pretty good at reading the character and intention of a human being. If an animal trusts a person, I'm more likely to trust them too. I think the hummingbird's trust of you is a real compliment Hope you and Allie are both doing ok. x |
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Apr 26, 2017 2:59:21 GMT -5
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Post by biteybird on Apr 26, 2017 2:59:21 GMT -5
I saw LOTS of hawks and WedgeTailed Eagles once I reached the Northern Territory (it took me nearly 6 days to drive from Melbourne to Darwin) and at first Bonnie cringed and did the alarm call, but after a couple of days she didn't bat an eyelid. They really do adjust well to new things. It's fun watching them checking out a new/unknown creature.
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Post by easttex on Apr 27, 2017 3:40:36 GMT -5
I think the hummingbird's trust of you is a real compliment Hope you and Allie are both doing ok. x It's nice to think so, but it's probably as much a matter of their own bold natures as anything. They are so fast and maneuverable that they don't seem to be bothered by details like hawks in the area. If you're wearing something with a floral pattern they'll buzz right up to you to check it out. Great little characters. Allie and I are doing well, thanks! |
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Post by beccilouise on Apr 30, 2017 15:59:29 GMT -5
Hahaha, brazen little birdies! They sound lovely. I expect you're right, but I'm a romantic at heart |
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Sorry that I have no advice to offer for dealing with hormonal issues. So far, that hasn't been a major problem with any of my parrots (and I hope it stays that way 
).
