Kiwi gets 'roughed up' by his human (pics)

Kiwibird · Jun 5, 2015

Birdman's earlier post inspired me to get a few pics of Kiwi and hubby playing 'rough'. Believe me, if Kiwi wasn't into it, Joe would be an amputee:54: This is just how the little guy likes to play with his daddy

What the pics don't capture are the hilarious noises of pure joy lol

Of course, he would NEVER play that way with me. I go for a more 'gentle' interaction anyways. Please excuse my appallingly messy hair:52: If I had tried to kiss his head or back a few years ago, I would have gotten my face ripped off. Now he actually enjoys kisses and snuggles from mommy:10:

(I've been able to 'snuggle' on him for a while now, and yes, he is every bit as soft as I imagined he'd be before he allowed it!

Birdman666 · Jun 5, 2015

Gotta love that stuff!

Yeah, I don't know how these myths get started... Anyone ever seen an amazon play with their toys?! THEY GET INTO IT... and it's kind of like a dog, it sounds as if someone's getting torn apart... but it's just play.

(Until it's overload mode with a zon. Then it can end up quite bloody...)

My red lored is courting me at the moment. Seems like she's in permanent snuggle mode right now. Pinches me if I stop!

Christinenc2000 · Jun 5, 2015

I love it . Great pictures. I have such a fear of Zons . Not sure why . These pictures are priceless.

Doublete · Jun 5, 2015

Chiqui is getting to snuggle mode with me... Today she really wanted head scratches and was talking directly to me... I think she was saying something I say to her all the time but it wasn't clear. Then she started climbing around her play stand like it was a jungle gym.

Love your pics

RavensGryf · Jun 5, 2015

Aw that's great April! Love to see how far he's come over the years

. These pics really show Kiwi's beautiful colors too. Love how bright the green is!

Kiwibird · Jun 5, 2015

Birdman666 said:
Gotta love that stuff!

Yeah, I don't know how these myths get started... Anyone ever seen an amazon play with their toys?! THEY GET INTO IT... and it's kind of like a dog, it sounds as if someone's getting torn apart... but it's just play.

(Until it's overload mode with a zon. Then it can end up quite bloody...)

My red lored is courting me at the moment. Seems like she's in permanent snuggle mode right now. Pinches me if I stop!

I think to someone who doesn't understand birds (or alternatively someone attempting this kind of play with a new/unbonded/untrained bird) may see it as either cruel/the bird hates it OR the bird attacks them because trust hasn't been established yet.

Kiwi is pretty good with my husband in regards to giving warning nips before really lacing into him (he hasn't given Joe a bad bite in I can't even remember how many years). I have to be a little more aware of his body language, but he's definitely developed different preferences in the way he interacts with both of us. That's fine though, he still interacts with both of us (and is starting to interact with strangers with some encouragement).

You should post some pics of Sally snuggling you. She is such a sweetie

Pinkbirdy · Jun 5, 2015

Love the kisses and hugs

Birdman666 · Jun 5, 2015

I can't get anyone to take any... my daughter won't do it.

And it's pretty hard to take a selfie with a bird stretched out with her head upside down on one arm, while scratching said head with the other hand...

My feet and toes are just not that coordinated...

Kiwibird · Jun 5, 2015

Christinenc2000 said:
I love it . Great pictures. I have such a fear of Zons . Not sure why . These pictures are priceless.

Don't fear zons! They just have a bad reputation (on occasion they do need to be put in their place though). After growing up with 2, I couldn't imagine life without an amazon!

Kiwibird · Jun 5, 2015

Doublete said:
Chiqui is getting to snuggle mode with me... Today she really wanted head scratches and was talking directly to me... I think she was saying something I say to her all the time but it wasn't clear. Then she started climbing around her play stand like it was a jungle gym.

Love your pics

Just keep at it with Chiqui. It sounds like you've already made good progress with her

Kiwibird · Jun 5, 2015

Birdman666 said:
I can't get anyone to take any... my daughter won't do it.

And it's pretty hard to take a selfie with a bird stretched out with her head upside down on one arm, while scratching said head with the other hand...

My feet and toes are just not that coordinated...

Well, tell your daughter that a lot of people want some pics of you and your birds and she's grounded if she doesn't

RavensGryf · Jun 5, 2015

Kiwibird said:
I think to someone who doesn't understand birds (or alternatively someone attempting this kind of play with a new/unbonded/untrained bird) may see it as either cruel/the bird hates it OR the bird attacks them because trust hasn't been established yet.

I agree! Don obviously didn't realize that when he started picking Raven up when he was new, and just going in and (gently) grabbing him and snuggling him close and with both hands. Raven was actually okay with it! I looked like this ->

. Not only was he new and that's not the way to go about it with a bird, PLUS being a Pionus who are not usually cuddly and too hands on... I just could not believe it!

I, on the other hand... am Raven's "real" owner, yet he will not tolerate me nearly as far as he will with Don. He's gotten better with me over time, just as Kiwi had with April, but I am not his chosen favorite and he'll let me know that!

Don is not an experienced bird person BUT... He is like Dr. Doolittle with animals. At the bird store he can pick up birds that the staff warns about, and to their amazement they like him lol. Robin is a typical Poi and for most of his life could not tolerate other humans... that is until he met Don. Lol! I still cannot figure it out for the life of me. Animals can just 'sense' something!

Christinenc2000 · Jun 5, 2015

Kiwibird said:
Birdman666 said:

I can't get anyone to take any... my daughter won't do it.

And it's pretty hard to take a selfie with a bird stretched out with her head upside down on one arm, while scratching said head with the other hand...

My feet and toes are just not that coordinated...

Click to expand...

Well, tell your daughter that a lot of people want some pics of you and your birds and she's grounded if she doesn't

I second that !!

Kiwibird · Jun 5, 2015

RavensGryf said:
Kiwibird said:

I think to someone who doesn't understand birds (or alternatively someone attempting this kind of play with a new/unbonded/untrained bird) may see it as either cruel/the bird hates it OR the bird attacks them because trust hasn't been established yet.

Click to expand...

I agree! Don obviously didn't realize that when he started picking Raven up when he was new, and just going in and (gently) grabbing him and snuggling him close and with both hands. Raven was actually okay with it! I looked like this -> . Not only was he new and that's not the way to go about it with a bird, PLUS being a Pionus who are not usually cuddly and too hands on... I just could not believe it!

I, on the other hand... am Raven's "real" owner, yet he will not tolerate me nearly as far as he will with Don. He's gotten better with me over time, just as Kiwi had with April, but I am not his chosen favorite and he'll let me know that!

Don is not an experienced bird person BUT... He is like Dr. Doolittle with animals. At the bird store he can pick up birds that the staff warns about, and to their amazement they like him lol. Robin is a typical Poi and for most of his life could not tolerate other humans... that is until he met Don. Lol!

Isn't that ALWAYS the way it goes? Joe didn't even want pets, but conceded to letting me get a bird. Kiwi took to him quickly and forced me to earn his trust over years of working with him. So essentially, I got to feed and clean him (and watch out for his beak!) while Joe got to play with him the first few years:31:

thekarens · Jun 5, 2015

We need video! Great pics!

JerseyWendy · Jun 5, 2015

So agree with Karen on the video version(s)!

LOOOOVE the pictures. Got a huge grin on my face now.

You know, there really ARE people who think Amazons don't actively 'play'. I truly wish they'd see these pics. They speak volumes! And in my head I can hear the noises happy Kiwi is making while playing rough and tumble.

Amazons RoCk!!

Kiwibird · Jun 5, 2015

I wish I could get video, but I have had so much trouble with it in the past, I don't even bother anymore.

And anyone who doesn't think amazons are active and interactive has never met Kiwi (or any other of the numerous zons on this forum)!

RavensGryf · Jun 5, 2015

Kiwibird said:
Isn't that ALWAYS the way it goes? Joe didn't even want pets, but conceded to letting me get a bird. Kiwi took to him quickly and forced me to earn his trust over years of working with him. So essentially, I got to feed and clean him (and watch out for his beak!) while Joe got to play with him the first few years:31:

Yeah, if Don ever gets a bird of his own down the road, it will really be "our" bird and I will most definitely have a say in what kind of bird because we KNOW it will be ME who will be left to feed, clean, and entertain the animal when he's too busy, not in the mood, etc! ...and my hands are pretty full already with my life and the birds. I've already said absolutely NO to Cockatoos lol!

Terry57 · Jun 5, 2015

That Kiwi steals another piece of my heart with every picture you post. I can't believe how far he has come since you have had him,and it is an inspiration to me.
And as for your beautiful hair, my hair doesn't look that good when it is supposedly neat and tidy!

Anansi · Jun 6, 2015

Love the rough housing pics! And I really am often struck by Kiwi's beautiful plumage.

You know, April, I often reference your posts when discussing with my wife her ongoing issues with Maya. They've made some progress, but Maya still likes to give her a good chomp from time to time. (And what makes it worse is that she shows virtually no sign. Just BAM!)

So pics of your progress with snuggling Kiwi, especially after acknowledging that it took a few years to get there with him, can be quite encouraging for her.

Kiwi gets 'roughed up' by his human (pics)

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