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Post by cnyguy on Nov 30, 2022 20:48:31 GMT -5
Good that Willow got a break from the construction project going on there. Ralph enjoyed it when they remodeled the apartment under ours a few years ago. They did a lot of hammering and that gave Ralph lots of chances to tap back. But he hated it when they rebuilt the balconies here. I had to keep the blinds closed and the television sound turned up high so it wouldn't bother him as much. Ralph will shake hands on request, if he feels like it (being a parrot he has a mind of his own). When he does, I have to say "How do you do? I'm pleased to meet you." If I forget I get an impatient "grrraaaccckkk" to remind me.  |
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Post by heatherg on Nov 30, 2022 22:49:15 GMT -5
Graaack is right.
I have been making faces at Willow and watching him try to make them back. It’s funny! Also he seems to think most of talking is moving one’s beak and looking to me for confirmation. I’m not sure what to say. I don’t want to discourage him!
Willow gives the graack noise when Jasper has popped open his door (meaning that I forgot to lock it) and is on Jasper’s playgym. Which is a foot closer to Willow’s space.
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Post by heatherg on Dec 1, 2022 13:40:06 GMT -5
I heard terrible Quaker screams at 9 am this morning and saw brick workers in winter ppe hosing and cleaning THE WINDOW NEXT TO Willows cage. The poor little guy almost lost his sh!t before I got him out of there. Then the workers followed to the bedroom window and Willow was REALLY REALLY not happy. I mean he was on his basket on my bed under my hand quivering.
I haven’t heard the screeches of rage or alarm for some time. I figured Willow was kinda hysterical so he needed intensive bird time when I had t gotten much sleep at all. Anyhow I will do bird time with Jasper later today and some more time with Willow (while he’s calm).
I am looking for mixed nuts in shell; thought one could usually find them around Xmas but had no luck at the grocery store yesterday. Am I just getting old? Does nobody eat these any more? I thought it would be nice to take a little bit of shell off and let the birds chip the rest of the nut out slowly.
Candy canes look cute in the foot or beak but they are, well, candy.
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Post by cnyguy on Dec 1, 2022 20:40:06 GMT -5
Did you have Willow's cage outside for some reason? Apparently he wasn't in it when it was being hosed off so that's something to be thankful for. It's too bad he got so upset and hope he's recovering.
The store where I shop for groceries does have bags of mixed nuts. If I read the price sign right, the small bags are $12 this year. Ouch! They also used to have mixed nuts in the shell in bulk bins but when they rearranged the store this summer, they eliminated most of the bulk items. Too bad. It was more economical for me to buy smaller quantities and not break the budget. I used to make a lot of Christmas cookies that contained nuts, but they're so expensive now I've given up making those cookies.
My brother orders nuts from nuts.com and says they're higher quality and not much more expensive than they are in stores. If you can order online you could check and see what they have.
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Post by heatherg on Dec 1, 2022 23:42:59 GMT -5
Wrote a long post and lost it in some error.
Basically the workers were treating and washing the outside window right next to Willow’s cage. Like a foot away. Scared the snot out of him. I heard the screeches and came and got him; we went into the bedroom with his basket and he huddled under my hand. Then the workers, or their pals, started on the windows in my bedroom and Willow was betrayed. So I put my body between him and the window and held him until they were done (they already did that window so why’d they come back?).
I hope they’re done if they’re cleaning windows. It’s awfully cold ON THE GROUND and it must be terrible up in a plastic box on top of a scaffold. Today I noticed ropes dangling over the living room picture window but at least that’s not next to the bird cages but across the room.
Anyhow both birds got a lot of time this morning and afternoon, lots of head scratches, and we won’t get this surprise again.
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Post by cnyguy on Dec 2, 2022 21:06:37 GMT -5
Washing windows with a power spray does make a lot of noise and the water hitting the window would have to be confusing to a parrot. It is for humans. Every summer they power wash the windows at the nursing home where my friend lives and it always upsets some of the other residents. My friend Kay just gets annoyed because she can't hear the television over the noise. Hope they won't be doing much more window washing at your place so Willow won't be bothered again.
It couldn't be pleasant for the workers to be washing windows on a cold day.
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Post by heatherg on Dec 2, 2022 22:04:58 GMT -5
No, it can’t be pleasant, but they’ve been chiseling and grinding and rebricking for months so this is just the latest. It WAS right next to Willow, though, and the workers were suited up thoroughly, so he did not understand what was happening. Has been on high alert in last week, biting and testy. I hope they finish and go the heck away. Nothing worse than the whining of a power tool when you have a headache, or the screaming of the birds at the power tool.
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Post by cnyguy on Dec 3, 2022 20:27:02 GMT -5
If cold weather is setting in where you live then construction season will probably be coming to an end and you and the parrots can have some peace. Once it quiets down Willow should be calmer and more his usual self.
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Post by heatherg on Dec 4, 2022 2:46:11 GMT -5
I was sore today (post covid arthralgia) but both birds were so happy and snuggly. Willow spent part of the day snuggled up against my closed eye wile I rubbed his jaw. He purred and breathed on my nose.
Might sound funny but it was lovely. Just a long scritching session and cuddle.
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Post by cnyguy on Dec 4, 2022 20:49:42 GMT -5
It sounds like Willow has recovered from his upsetting experience. Hope that nothing more happens to bother him that way. Nice for you and the parrots to have a good day together.
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Post by biteybird on Dec 5, 2022 23:37:40 GMT -5
Poor buggers!
I hope they’ve recovered now.
I haven’t caught COVID so far, but I hope you’re feeling better.
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Post by heatherg on Dec 6, 2022 2:55:22 GMT -5
Yes, I’m feeling better. It was a lot like a bad flu I had ten+ yrs ago with a few downright scary days, a lot of being miserable, and now my breathing is much better but my hands and feet and etc are very painful. Birds did not get time today. I just felt too sick. I will find out tomorrow if my dr suggests steroids or otherwise or to just stick it out.
Annoyed as I just bought a nice needlepoint canvas and now I want to keep my hands as still as possible. That’s not good for head scritches either. But I will make sure both birds get plenty of time Tuesday. They did have a new toy for each on Monday and the toys are substantially devoured tonight.
Anyhow I watched a YouTube about teaching Quaker Parakeets to say new phrases and another about stimulating play and environments (found I was doing already her suggestion!) . So I will mess with birds heads tomorrow. Willow is obsessed with his feet so maybe I will teach him to talk about his stinky feet. Wonder if he can talk whlle he chews his toenails. (No mom, I’m keeping them CLEAN!)
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Post by heatherg on Dec 14, 2022 0:08:24 GMT -5
Willow and I had long snuggle time this afternoon. He leaned against my cheek and I scritched his head. He appeared very relaxed and happy. Willow will lean in towards my face and then sit perfectly still with his head tilted back. I would like to get a photo of the look on his face—he looks almost drunk! It’s so cute. Also I told him “Good boy!” and he looked excited and made a talking noise. So we practiced that for a bit, praising Willow for his talking efforts. The funny thing is that I know he says several phrases including that one while in his cage. ??
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Post by cnyguy on Dec 14, 2022 20:49:30 GMT -5
You and Willow had some quality one-on-one time.  It's quite likely that Willow talks when he's in his cage and he thinks you're not listening. He might be practicing some words and phrases before saying them so you can hear, or he could be one of those parrots who is a "closet talker." |
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Post by Caseysmom on Dec 14, 2022 21:46:46 GMT -5
Willow sounds like a snuggly guy If he likes talking in his cage he might like playing peek a boo. Those were Casey’s first words. When he was covered up for night time my daughter would lift up the sheet and say peek a boo Eventually Casey thought it was a fun game and started saying peek a boo back. After some time he also said “where’s Casey”too to get the game going
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