Another Bella update

[texsize]

dIf what I was told when I bought Bella was true she should be 1 year + 1 month old. She is still picking her feathers despite a cage full of toys and much out of cage time.



I want to get/make a good foraging toy for her. None of the local pet shops have anything like that. I could order something by mail but I am the kind of person that has to put his hands on an item before I can judge if it would be “right” or not. I started work on making a foraging toy out of a week-long pill container but how to mount it in the cage is stumping me.

One morning last week she spent time sitting with me and asking for scratches (instead of flying to the top of the curtains). At least I know she enjoys my company.
She has become defensive over her food dish. When I add stuff to her bowl or give her fresh water she climbs down from the upper perch and tries to “bite the hand that feeds her”. Not sure what’s up with that behavior. I tell her she is a bad girl but have not done anything more than that.

Her most notable new words are;
Poor Girl
Stupid
Wonderful

 

[trimblegirls]

Thanks for the update. I follow Bella's progress as I think I got Jasper about the same time as you got Bella. Jasper doesn't seem to be plucking but he's only grown in a few feather near his legs. He's still in love with me which makes working with him difficult. I still can't seem to get him out of the living room without him getting nervous. He likes to get on the floor but I have to watch him closely because he tries to get to the drywall. He hasn't really increased his vocabulary as much as his mimicking sounds. He does enjoy hanging out on play gym. He doesn't seem to be the cuddly type. He doesn't really like being scratched. He loves to beak my fingers. I think he likes it when I rub his beak but not his head.

 

[AmyMyBlueFront]

Wes...Bella's cloths have come a very long way,since her first picture.

whatever you are doing,is certainly working. From all of your posts,it sounds like she is very attached to you,which is marvelous
There is nothing greater,than the unconditional love of an abused/neglected parrot.

It sounds like Bella is very happy in her new "forever" home,and for you not having much ( if any?? I can't recall if you ever had a Grey) you are doing an outstanding job with her.

I love seeing updates about her..and pictures! She is a very pretty girl!
Shine on Bella!


Jim

 

[texsize]

Thanks for the update. I follow Bella's progress as I think I got Jasper about the same time as you got Bella. Jasper doesn't seem to be plucking but he's only grown in a few feather near his legs. He's still in love with me which makes working with him difficult. I still can't seem to get him out of the living room without him getting nervous. He likes to get on the floor but I have to watch him closely because he tries to get to the drywall. He hasn't really increased his vocabulary as much as his mimicking sounds. He does enjoy hanging out on play gym. He doesn't seem to be the cuddly type. He doesn't really like being scratched. He loves to beak my fingers. I think he likes it when I rub his beak but not his head.

I have been following your Jasper's status also. Because we are both in California it makes us almost neighbors

Bella is a nervous bird also but in different ways. Going from room to room does not freak her out but she does not like water except for drinking.
I would like to be able to take her for car rides but she totally freaks when I bring in the small transport cage.

For the first 2 or 3 months she was with me Bella only made sound effects no words. After that her vocabulary started to explode. I think both our situations are age related. Bella is probably older that I was told and that's why she is talking so much. Your Jasper is (I think) younger that Bella and will get to talking eventually.
All the weird noises are fun to listen to anyhoo.

take care
texsize

 

[AmyMyBlueFront]

Thanks for the update. I follow Bella's progress as I think I got Jasper about the same time as you got Bella. Jasper doesn't seem to be plucking but he's only grown in a few feather near his legs. He's still in love with me which makes working with him difficult. I still can't seem to get him out of the living room without him getting nervous. He likes to get on the floor but I have to watch him closely because he tries to get to the drywall. He hasn't really increased his vocabulary as much as his mimicking sounds. He does enjoy hanging out on play gym. He doesn't seem to be the cuddly type. He doesn't really like being scratched. He loves to beak my fingers. I think he likes it when I rub his beak but not his head.

I have been following your Jasper's status also. Because we are both in California it makes us almost neighbors

Bella is a nervous bird also but in different ways. Going from room to room does not freak her out but she does not like water except for drinking.
I would like to be able to take her for car rides but she totally freaks when I bring in the small transport cage.

For the first 2 or 3 months she was with me Bella only made sound effects no words. After that her vocabulary started to explode. I think both our situations are age related. Bella is probably older that I was told and that's why she is talking so much. Your Jasper is (I think) younger that Bella and will get to talking eventually.
All the weird noises are fun to listen to anyhoo.

take care
texsize

I can remember when Smokey first came home with me,she was about six months old. Never having a "real" parrot before her,I didn't know what to expect.
I was driving a big rig at the time,and out on the road for a few nights out of the week,but my mom was retired,and home all day mostly.
I came home one day,and mom rushed to me saying " I think Smokey is sick...she's coughing"
So I went into the living room..Smokes was on her roof top..and started to cough..JUST LIKE MY MOM!! I told mom that,and she thought and listened for a few minutes,and said OMG! she IS coughing just like me! We had a good LOL with that!

Then came the phone ringing..mom would pick it up.." Hello? HELLO???" Gee we have a crank caller,this happens ALOT! I'm sure y'all can figure out where that came from..then it was the door bell ringing..the alarm clock beeping..didn't take long for mom to figure out what was going on by then

Yep...I am still amazed at an A.G.'s ability to mimic..and speak..even to this day! Do not under estimate the cleverness of your Grey!


Jim

 

[DRB]

Bella appears to be doing her picking/plucking a bit different than Perjo. Perjo is destroying her wing feathers and struggles to fly now. Perjo doesn't pluck her white down feathers.

 

[jdlehman76]

While you are looking for a foraging toy, you can create foraging situations with little to no supplies. I move the food dish around the cage, and outside the cage, even putting it on the floor. This helps my "Bella" move around and spend more time finding and getting her food. I also put her food in cardboard egg crates on a regular basis. I pour it in in front of her and then close it and put it on a cookie sheet in her cage. She goes right to it and tears the carton up to get her food. None of these options take lots of time or things, but they are simple things that help your bird to forage for their food. I think when you have a bird that plucks, anything you can do to keep them active helps.

 

[texsize]

Unfortunately Bella never goes to the bottom of her cage.
I have tried putting things in toilet paper tubes. She either drops them on the floor or soaks them in her water dish.

When she is in my Son's room she climbs from the top of the cage to the inside of the cage to eat then back out to sit on top.

she is getting lots of exercise flying around the house. She likes to follow my Son into the kitchen.

I could hang up a Boing for her but I think it would just scare her.

I have a Tree perch for her but she will not sit on it.

 

[jdlehman76]

Be patient with the tree perch and keep trying to get her interested in it. I hold by CAG and then lean on the new perch when I am trying to introduce her. It can take a long time (record is a month for my CAG). Putting her favorite treats on it can help, but not always.

 

[PetoftheDay]

She looks so good now! Obviously being a loved bird is agreeing with her.