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Post by cnyguy on Sept 13, 2024 19:15:30 GMT -5
Maybe Willow is like George the YCA, who liked loud voices and especially loud laughter. Ralph really prefers things quieter.
Good luck with the next attempt with the harness.
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Post by Caseysmom on Sept 13, 2024 21:33:57 GMT -5
Casey loves listening to animated conversations, after people go home he spends about a half hour repeating everything he heard. He really likes playful children screeches and laughter. He was never a fan of a harness though Good luck
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Post by heatherg on Sept 14, 2024 0:05:14 GMT -5
We tried the harness again today, rewarded Willow with a bit of donut but he wouldn’t eat it for a while. I had to cuddle him before he felt secure and relaxed and ate. We sat outside and had donut and coffee, and then Willow cuddled with my face some more. Got some pics of Willow looking good in his new outfit while sitting in the sun.
We returned indoors to my apartment and Willow got some cuddles and head rubs. He relaxed more while on familiar turf (still wearing the harness).. I took the lead off and just let him chill out on my hand and on his basket. Fed him treats and he fluffed out and wagged his tail. He was perfectly fine as long as I let him cuddle into my hand. After a few hours of being out with me in my apartment, Willow was doing really well, very calm. I was able to remove the harness pretty easily and think maybe I’ve figured out how best to get it on and off.
I talked loudly to Willow and he began to make noises back. I guess I just need to be loud with him. Otherwise he sits quietly and preens. It would be nice if he could talk a little, like ask for out or cuddles or drink. He’s still got some feathers to regrow but he is trying little flights. Maybe this will give him some confidence? I hope so!
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Post by cnyguy on Sept 14, 2024 19:26:37 GMT -5
You seem to be off to a good start with the harness. Hope it will work for you and Willow. I'm pretty sure that Ralph wouldn't want anything to do with one.
Just keep working on getting Willow to say what you want him to and eventually you could be rewarded. It takes lots of time and repetition. A little extra patience doesn't hurt either. I know you enjoy his personality and cuddling with him. Good parrot, as Ralph would say.
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Post by heatherg on Sept 14, 2024 20:32:28 GMT -5
I told Willow loudly and enthusiastically what a “Good boy!” he is today. He stared at me and moved his beak.
We did not work with the harness today. The last few days had been very exciting and I wanted Willow to have a break. So we sang songs and Willow did bird things. Willow got lots of cuddles and a big chunk of avicake. He was a very happy guy. But he’s fast asleep now, perhaps dreaming of delicious treats.
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Post by heatherg on Sept 17, 2024 23:12:04 GMT -5
Willow was grumpy today. I’m not sure why, but he was extra nippy. He’s also figured out that he can fly if he doesn’t feel like doing something. This is new. Hmm.
I trimmed Willow’s “tooth” from his beak because he’s been accidentally cutting me. In the last few days, he’s given me what would normally be a beak nudge or minor pinch, but because he doesn’t chew down his beak, he perforates my finger. So I used the fingernail grinder to take down that point a bit and he was NOT IMPRESSED. (It’s so quick and less restraint for him but he still hates it.). He flew towards the closed door and hung sadly off my backpack.
I did apologize, but Willow was not in a cuddly mood. He got a bit of head massage and pets but wanted to sit on my shoulder and then was acting anxious. It occurs to me that we’re approaching the time change and maybe he just wanted to go to bed—it was 6:30. So anyhow I took him to his house and he ran on in, settled down behind his hanging toy and next to his toy basket and fluffed up.
I wish birds were nocturnal because I couldn’t sleep last night so got up and cleaned, and needed to sleep late today. I didn’t spend as much time with Willow or Jasper. Shame on me! But the guys have gotten a bunch of new toys and accessories and I’m trying new fidgety toys in each cage. Willow has some zip ties and Jasper has a bunch of cardboard to chew. Maybe if I put pony beads on the zip ties then Willow will play with them?
Maybe tomorrow we can work with the harness and get outside for a bit. I need to find a high-value treat for harness training reward. I suppose I’ve got some nuts that could be chopped up for tiny tiny rewards.
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Post by cnyguy on Sept 18, 2024 19:39:21 GMT -5
It's not unusual for most parrots to have an occasional grumpy day. The beak trim probably wouldn't have improved Willow's attitude either. He'll probably be in a more typical mood tomorrow. Unfortunately, parrots aren't related to owls so they're not nocturnal.  We humans have to accommodate their schedule so they can get enough sleep. I've had sleepless nights myself and I usually just want to try to sleep and don't feel like doing housework, or the things that are usually recommended like reading. If I did the vacuuming at 3 AM, I'm sure there would be complaints from my neighbors and Ralph both. You can try attaching some beads to a few cable ties and see what Willow thinks of them. I did that for Ralph when I first got him and he had fun with them, but eventually lost interest. I would put a few beads on the cable tie and make a loop of it and hang it in his cage. The last time I rearranged his cage I found one and put it in, but Ralph hasn't paid any attention to it. |
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Post by heatherg on Sept 19, 2024 14:03:25 GMT -5
I think the beads might get Willow interested, because he doesn’t notice the cable ties now. I wish I could get him to play with toys more. Seems like he’s more into watching out the window and being cuddled.
Willow had a very good day yesterday and is out right now, enjoying half an avicake. We went to get the mail, and Willow was admired by some women in a meeting room. He would not talk to them but of course started making noises when we got in the elevator, trying to get my mask off and being a goofball.
He’s enjoying his jaw rub and has begun asking for a jaw rub from my left hand, too. Of course he thinks staring at me and saying errrr is enough info to tell what he wants. I can repeat “beak rub!” all I want, he’s not going to say it.
Since he likes louder, cheerful talking, maybe Willow would enjoy Sesame Street? I could move the TV so it would be closer to the parrot cages. Sesame Street has lots of singing and colors so I’d think he’d enjoy it. But Jasper is jealous/ territorial and maybe the TV would encourage her wrath, as does the phone and bird videos.
What a nice puffy snuggly parrot I’ve got!
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Post by cnyguy on Sept 19, 2024 19:26:12 GMT -5
Not all parrots are enthusiastic about toys. They are usually more selective about what they like to play with. George the YCA was like that. He liked to chew up wood and untie knots in strings, but actual toys didn't interest him much. He had a nylon dog bone that he liked to toss around and a hard rubber ball that he would sometimes roll around the cage bottom, and he would fight with his stainless steel cowbell, but he ignored parrot toys. Much like Ralph. I've written many times about his indifference to most parrot toys and the things he would rather play with. I imagine that there are things that Willow would enjoy playing with too, it's just a matter of finding out what they are. Meanwhile, you can enjoy cuddling with him and giving him beak rubs. Do try adding some beads to the cable ties and see if that piques his interest.
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Post by heatherg on Sept 19, 2024 23:33:00 GMT -5
Willow seems to like laces with beads or knots or straw sections on them. Likes to slide around the little toys. I do have a bunch of little flower gadgets that I could add, too.
I just want to be sure that Willow is well. His personality is very different from Lucy’s personality. He’s not completely bossy and he just wants to be on or near me. But if he’s happy and healthy, and I believe he is, that’s my priority. Willow seems really a healthy guy (yes, unusual for me to have a non-disabled bird, but he needed a home and I needed a Quaker.).
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Post by heatherg on Sept 21, 2024 21:31:02 GMT -5
We tried the harness again today and Willow HATED it. He seemed very distressed. Now that I think about it, for quite a while we were around someone that I find unpleasant, so maybe that added to Willow’s distress. He did perk up when we returned to my apartment, still wearing harness. But I thought he’d put up with it enough, so took it off. And he was so happy to be out!!
I’m tempted to clip Willow’s wings and say screw the harness while indoors. There’s no way a clip can be less traumatic to him than the harness. I’m looking at a bird backpack or front pack for outings. There’s a block party this weekend that Lucy used to really dig. But if we can’t use the harness, Willow should probably stay home.
We didn’t attend the block party today, but instead chilled out without harness, getting scritches while rewatching “Dr. Strangelove.” Sadly, it’s less hysterical when watched sober. We also learned that a friend passed away a week ago after a long illness and lots of pain. This seemed maybe more respectful that a block party. The afternoon stormed, along with the sad news.
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Post by cnyguy on Sept 22, 2024 19:17:42 GMT -5
Sorry about the passing of your friend.
Maybe the harness isn't going to work out after all. It seems to be stressful for Willow. Even clipped it could be risky taking him out of your apartment, so something like the Pak-o-Bird might be the best idea for taking Willow places. One of my neighbors at the apartment complex uses the backpack type to take his conure outside. She adjusted to it quickly and enjoys going out in it.
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Post by Caseysmom on Sept 22, 2024 22:14:27 GMT -5
Very sorry about your friend , such a hard sad time.
I agree a bird can still fly with clipped wings they just can’t get much lift , but one small breeze could get them up and going. Casey came with clipped wings when his leg was broken and he had a cast He could still fly. He’s fully flighted now. He never liked the harness either
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Post by heatherg on Oct 8, 2024 8:05:07 GMT -5
Thank you. Yes, I’ve been thinking of my friend. I’m going to find his obituary and may write to his family. He had a hard life for the last 20 yrs ( hit by vehicle and then had strokes). This man was very 🧭 and kind and calmed me down after a terrifying stalking incident with a medical ride driver. He didn’t know me but he still gave me a hug until I stopped crying. Sadly, I don’t know if he got on with his family. I feel badly that I didn’t know and simply wondered how he was doing.
I couldn’t sleep last night, and realized at 6:30 am that I was hungry, I made some pancakes and Willow and Jasper started their morning right with blueberry cornmeal pancakes. (I doctored up the mix a little.). Willow decided the blueberries were scary and ATE AROUND THEM!!
I’m going to see if I can convince him otherwise. Blueberries are good for you!
I’m going to try to get some sleep until noon. Gotta get up then or I’ll repeat this tonight.
It’s suddenly too cold to take Willow outside! We went from 80f to 50 f over a weekend. I’ve closed all my windows, at least at night, and maybe today we can have a Birdie Spa Afternoon. Maybe trim the wings befire the bird spa? Gotta get it done sometime, I guess.
P.s. we clipped wings today. It took about three minutes and only involved checking both wings for blood feathers. Left wing had a few blood feathers. Snipped the primary flight feathers on both sides, sparing growing out feathers. I didn’t even need to towel him, but just held my thumb on his shoulder joint.
I finished, released the wings, and Willow settled down on my wrist. He fluffed out and seems fine. It was way less stressful than getting him into the harness, even after I learned how to do the harness quickly.
Willow is on his basket on my lap, preening. He seems back to normal. He’s licking my shoulder and grooming my shoulder straps. We almost got run down a half hour ago by someone on a tear, so I think it was time to clip. He likes to go get the mail and packages or get coffee and doughnuts on Fridays. This clip will keep him safer inside buildings.
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Post by heatherg on Oct 13, 2024 19:00:33 GMT -5
Willow and I had a nice long scritch session while watching Monty Python’s Flying Circus. It’s been a long time since I saw much Monty Python. Most of its still funny, but some of the more British humor only works for me when I’m an altered state. Willow enjoyed resting his beaky upon my beaky while I rubbed his head and jaw. What a silly bird!
Willow enjoyed all the cuddles and was whispering “gimmee kiss” back at me as I smooched his shiny little beak. I think he likes speech better when it’s louder—otherwise he doesn’t whisper back. Maybe I will finally succeed in getting him to talk.
I went shopping Thursday and brought home a massive amount of produce. Spent part of the weekend preserving herbs and packing things away. Willow and Jasper enjoyed orange sweet pepper and tomato this evening. And I found that dried parsley, cilantro, and mint are SO MUCH BETTER TASTING when they are packed away fresh.
Later tonight I should cook up some chicken and wild rice soup. Was supposed to do it yesterday but I had quite a cold all weekend. I look positively green! I guess I kind of match Jasper and Willow. I did not get as much done as I should have, but I kept my priorities straight—ample bird time every day! Jasper was comfortable enough to hang out on my shoulder while I did chores and prepared dinner. That’s really nice. And Willow is sleeping because it’s almost 7 pm.
I am glad I have two such nice birds, and that I’m understanding Jasper a bit better. She has settled down some more, and Willow is so much happier now that we are not messing with the harness.
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We humans have to accommodate their schedule so they can get enough sleep. I've had sleepless nights myself and I usually just want to try to sleep and don't feel like doing housework, or the things that are usually recommended like reading. If I did the vacuuming at 3 AM, I'm sure there would be complaints from my neighbors and Ralph both.