|
|
Post by heatherg on Aug 6, 2024 21:35:21 GMT -5
Willow continues to be a very snuggly Quaker! This morning I was too slow getting his bird cookie out so he nipped me. But otherwise he’s being a great bird. He still gets his afternoon cuddles almost every day, but today he had a nice bath and then towel dry with a horrible pink towel. He sat on me and got nice and warm and fluffy and stopped smelling like wet bird. Now he looks very nice! He’s in the middle of his molt and has one pair of long flight feathers. He’s gradually dropping his ragged contour feathers on his shoulders and wings.
Willow is learning to hang out on his tree ON HIS OWN. He’s about 5 feet from me (at least from my head). His tree is near the foot of my bed. I am having some health challenges but Willow is a very portable little bird, so he can hang out with me on my bed or in the living room, wherever I may be. He seems like quite a happy little man and now blows kisses at people he knows. It’s very cute.
I found the harness again today (he must have hid it) so we’ll try to get accustomed to the dastardly thing. I don’t know if this is going to work. Willow does not approve of the pretty blue harness, but he needs to have it to go on walks. I hope he will get used to it.
|
|
|
|
Post by cnyguy on Aug 7, 2024 19:58:24 GMT -5
Sorry to hear that you're having some health issues and hope you feel better soon. It's great that Willow is playing independently. No doubt he'll be growing some pretty new feathers soon.
|
|
|
|
Post by Caseysmom on Aug 7, 2024 21:29:52 GMT -5
Good for Willow for hanging out with you and keeping you company. I hope you are feeling better soon.
|
|
|
|
Post by heatherg on Aug 10, 2024 0:17:59 GMT -5
I’m having a thyroid problem. The good thing about that is that it’s most likely treatable. But wow, it can make you feel really sore and crappy. I now have an explanation for years of issues and I really hope we can make them GO AWAY. Willow loves to come cuddle with me either on my shoulder or up against my face while I read or watch a video. He gets some ling cuddle and preening sessions that way—and he’s now ok with being on my shoulder!
I’m thinking about finding a home for my Meyers parrot because she’s starting to contact call a lot more. Willow Quaker loves to hang out in my bedroom; as long as he has his basket he knows where he’s supposed to be. But Jasper is not so good with that and gets easily startled. I got a real bite a couple of weeks ago because I took a phone call and she got jealous of the phone.
It’s more that Jasper’s slight whininess is making me sad, than the startle bites. I know she needs more one on one time and I’m feeling SO ROTTEN that I am not always able to give her dedicated time each day. I have learned her body language and triggers well enough to avoid bites. But if she’s lonely, that’s another issue completely.
She’s such a neat velociraptor type parrot, really very cool and behaviorally very different from a Quaker. But I don’t want to ruin her by “ignoring” her when she deserves consistent time. She could do SO MUCH MORE and there’s no extra right now.
Here’s hoping I feel better fast. I’m sure Willow will keep me licked and groomed while we wait for results.
|
|
|
|
Post by cnyguy on Aug 10, 2024 19:27:48 GMT -5
I'm sure that you'll do whatever is best for Jasper. Of course, there's a good chance that when you're finally feeling better you'll be able to give Jasper more quality time.
|
|
|
|
Post by heatherg on Aug 12, 2024 22:59:32 GMT -5
I only have a week before thyroid ultrasound and then we should have a much better idea what’s going on. But everything is up in the air now. The lump may be incidental and something quite different is going on. ??
I went to get my mail quick today and did not have Willow with me. Everybody said , “where’s your bird?!” “Oh, he’s in his cage.” A package has gone missing again—an expensive one—and I am not happy.
|
|
|
|
Post by heatherg on Sept 5, 2024 1:06:21 GMT -5
Willow was mad at me today because I was wearing my glasses, so he wouldn’t be very snuggly. He mostly was using me for my nutriberries. He went back to his house well before 7 pm (his bedtime).
I don’t have thyroid cancer! Which is good. But we’re still not sure what’s going on. Bodies are complicated.
|
|
|
|
Post by cnyguy on Sept 5, 2024 19:43:48 GMT -5
Well, you got some very good news anyway. Hope they can fit out what's going on so you can feel better.
I haven't worn contact lenses for years, only glasses, so Ralph is used to them now and doesn't usually bother with them. When I first got him and substituted the glasses for the contact lenses, he used to pull the glasses off my face and throw them on the floor. I'm glad he doesn't do that anymore. Glasses are too expensive.
|
|
|
|
Post by heatherg on Sept 5, 2024 23:56:36 GMT -5
Willow hates my glasses and yes, he throws them if he can. He can’t cuddle up as close to my face if I have glasses on, and he can’t groom my eyelashes either.
Today he was happier about the glasses and me and in a much better mood. He prefers my FULL attention on his head scratches and beak rubs, not that half effort that I put in if I’m watching a video. I guess it’s acceptable for me to read a book while grooming his Majesty.
I’m looking at a backpack bird carrier for Willow, if I can’t get him to use the harness. But I feel better about this one. I wouldn’t like to sit still while someone cinched a harness on me, either. Snaps seem like a much better idea.
|
|
|
|
Post by heatherg on Sept 8, 2024 2:00:53 GMT -5
I wore my contacts this afternoon and Willow had a very long snuggle and head scritching session. I mean he got scritches for 2+ hours. I was getting a migraine so just sitting quietly, watching videos and treating my neck spasms. Willow makes a very nice hot pack on my eye when I’ve got a headache. He is such a good bird!
When he first came out, he was a bit crabby and gave me some nips. I couldn’t figure out why, and I felt a bit hurt! Then I realized he was staring at my lemonade and gave him a drink. He was VERY thirsty and after his drink, he didn’t pinch me again. Just enjoyed me grooming his head and cracking pin feather sheaths.
I’ve worried about Willow—that he might be sick because he’s not as outgoing as some Quakers—but I’ve examined him thoroughly and he LOOKS great. I’ve worked with birds and bird health for years so I’m pretty confident that my assessment is good. His only issue is barbering his feathers when he’s bored or nervous, and not badly but just so he’s looking a bit ragged on the wings by summertime.
Willow gets water up his nose when he drinks, but other than that, nose is clean, feathers around nose are clean, poops look great, he gets that tooth on his beak that adult Quakers get but nothing excessive. He’s just much quieter and not bossy like Lucy was. I told him he’d get what he wants faster if he would TELL me verbally, but he said nothing. I’m working on using my words to talk about what he’s doing in hopes he’ll figure it out. (“Want drink? What a good drink. Here’s your drink.”)
I hope we try the harness on Sunday.
|
|
|
|
Post by cnyguy on Sept 8, 2024 19:20:39 GMT -5
I think that Willow is just one of those Quakers who has a more laid back personally-- like Ralph. It sounds like he's in good condition and looks good too. He doesn't seem to be showing signs of illness so there's probably nothing to worry about. I imagine that there are lots of parronts who would love to have parrots as relaxed and even tempered as ours usually are.
|
|
|
|
Post by heatherg on Sept 11, 2024 17:52:04 GMT -5
I ordered a size three harness on Etsy (from leathers4 feathers) shop. I got it on Willow though I admit he wasn’t too pleased, and then took him outside for a while. He sat on my arm and eventually would take some treat. Wore the harness for 30-45 min and we returned indoors. He groomed vigorously and now he’s crunching his beak.
He seems to be over being mad at me. I had to tighten the harness quite a bit and it’s gluing right now (we went out with the behind- leg straps fastened by rubber band.
I’m hoping Willow will decide it’s not so bad because I’m more comfortable with the harness rather than wing clipping. And it’s safer outside.
|
|
|
|
Post by cnyguy on Sept 11, 2024 19:42:28 GMT -5
Since he accepted the harness once, maybe Willow won't mind having it on again. Hope it works out so he can have some outside adventures.
|
|
|
|
Post by heatherg on Sept 12, 2024 17:40:56 GMT -5
I’ll try the leathers4feathers harness again soon! I found the slightly stiff leather a LOT easier to handle and to get on the bird than the completely floppy lanyard-type material the first harness I tried many years ago.
I thought the avian web harness (the one with the little pleather shirt) would work better, but it didn’t. Willow really didn’t like that one and it didn’t fit right. It kinda rode up. He wasn’t thrilled about the leather harness but it was sized right to him and I think he’ll get used to it.
Willow had a nice bath and then I wrapped him up in a towel and patted him down. He had his treat and wanted something, but i couldn’t figure it out. Finally I realized he wanted to snuggle so he’s getting a nice jaw rub while we watch a video. He looks so nice with all his new feathers!
|
|
|
|
Post by heatherg on Sept 12, 2024 23:52:22 GMT -5
P.s. there was a rather loud talkative person in my apartment today, so the birds heard a lot of animated talking. Guess who talked? Willow! He was very excited and was cussing in his cage. I took him out to try to calm him down and was telling him what a good bird he is. Willow CAN say “good boy!” I thought I’d heard that phrase along with “good bird”and “step up”, but I wasn’t sure.
Anyhow I need to get some noise going on in my living room. Willow hears quieter talking, and singing, but not much loud speech. I think my little guy is just using his inside voice all the time. How exciting!!
I think we will try the harness again tomorrow. It should be quite nice out and while I don’t want to bully him, I would really like him to get used to it. Maybe I’ll get a donut and share.
|
|
