Bella’s Update

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So I have made an appointment for Bella this Saturday morning.
It’s mostly for a nail trim and follow-up to her first visit to the Dr.
She does not like car rides.
Last weekend I took her in a small (what I call transfer) cage to a local drive through to get a burger.

She did like listening to the wild birds that were hanging around the burger joint. She watched the Seagulls flying by with great interest.
I think it is the movement of the car and the stop and go that unsettles her. I tried to be gentle in accelerating and breaking but the whole time we were moving she was climbing around and around her cage.

I have a somewhat bigger cage I could use that would let her sit up higher and see out better. She is more used to this cage and has spent time in it and on it, it’s just harder to move and carry.

Bella looks as though she is plucking her feathers again. I have seen lots of down feathers on the floor of her cage. Could be a result of the weekend car ride or it could be due to a change in her toys. I had to remove a toy she was playing with (small plastic chain). She was biting pieces out of it and she could swallow them if she had a mind to. I had been warned that she could backslide/relapse and start plucking again. I hope it’s just temporary.

Bella is now able to fly and actually go where she wants to go (instead of crashing into things). Her favorite destination is wherever my Son is located.

I will try to upload a picture of her tomorrow to show how her feathers are looking.

 

[Scott]

Given Bella's history, I don't imagine her progress will be linear. Probably just a bump in the road, (no pun intended) but a vet check would be a good idea. Just to see if there is anything of a medical nature affecting her behavior.

 

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picture and joke



smile

 

[AmyMyBlueFront]

Wes..Still...Bella has made leaps and bounds in progress since coming home with you...God I just LOVE the face of a Grey! AND she DOES look like she is a happy girl
It
s awesome that she seeks out your son...Is she still "ignoring" you??


Smokes was never really a traveler either. Only rides she ever really took,was to her doctor,maybe that's why?? lol.
I'd put her in one of those medium sized cat carriers,and she'd bite and gnaw at the door bars,or sulk and sit at the very back.
It took a few years of this then I guess she got used to it coz she'd chatter away and "woo" quite a bit.

More pics of Bella please Wes!


Jim

 

[Kentuckienne]

What a beautiful girl!

 

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Wes..Still...Bella has made leaps and bounds in progress since coming home with you...God I just LOVE the face of a Grey! AND she DOES look like she is a happy girl
It
s awesome that she seeks out your son...Is she still "ignoring" you??


Smokes was never really a traveler either. Only rides she ever really took,was to her doctor,maybe that's why?? lol.
I'd put her in one of those medium sized cat carriers,and she'd bite and gnaw at the door bars,or sulk and sit at the very back.
It took a few years of this then I guess she got used to it coz she'd chatter away and "woo" quite a bit.

More pics of Bella please Wes!


Jim

I can't say she ignores me. She just does not want to sit with me. When I scratch her in her cage she regurgitates for my fingers. I can pick her up and she will ride my shoulder.
I think I will try taking her into my room so she can't fly away, see if she will let me spend more time whit her.
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[GaleriaGila]

I think you're wondeful for hanging in there and loving her so much! I admire you.

 

[AmyMyBlueFront]

Wes..Still...Bella has made leaps and bounds in progress since coming home with you...God I just LOVE the face of a Grey! AND she DOES look like she is a happy girl
It
s awesome that she seeks out your son...Is she still "ignoring" you??


Smokes was never really a traveler either. Only rides she ever really took,was to her doctor,maybe that's why?? lol.
I'd put her in one of those medium sized cat carriers,and she'd bite and gnaw at the door bars,or sulk and sit at the very back.
It took a few years of this then I guess she got used to it coz she'd chatter away and "woo" quite a bit.

More pics of Bella please Wes!


Jim

I can't say she ignores me. She just does not want to sit with me. When I scratch her in her cage she regurgitates for my fingers. I can pick her up and she will ride my shoulder.
I think I will try taking her into my room so she can't fly away, see if she will let me spend more time whit her.
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Smokey was never a "get on my hand" type of bird..only if it was her last option.
From time to time,I'd bring her into the bathroom,and close the door and sit on the floor with her. She had no where to go. I'd be sitting there,chasing her around the floor with my hand to get her to step up and she'd run here,walk there,behind the crapper,ANYWHERE,but not get on my hand!
Geeez...c'mon Smokes will ya?? I'm not going to BITE you...( but she'd bite ME...give her half a chance lol)
At times,she would reluctantly raise that foot,kinda shakey,and step up,all the while telling me what a "good girl" she was But the moment she saw an escape route...flapflapflap...off she'd go..even if she was clipped and COULDN'T get anywhere too fast...she was like that til the very end..very stubborn,it was her way or the highway.


Jim

 

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I would not trade her for anything.
her latest saying

"Bingo, where are you going?"

I would tell her Where are you going when she fly's away from me. For some reason she adds Bingo's name to a lot of the things we say.
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[AmyMyBlueFront]

I would not trade her for anything.
her latest saying

"Bingo, where are you going?"

I would tell her Where are you going when she fly's away from me. For some reason she adds Bingo's name to a lot of the things we say.
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That's a Grey for you! Some times I was truly amazed on what Smokes came out with...and she would pick up words in just passing..not words or phrases that I'd try to teach her..and some words/phrases were spoken (by me) maybe one or two times.

Sighhhhh...Smokey...:02:


Jim

 

[DRB]

The improvisation of a Grey's vocalizing is so great, for me it's what inspires me to communicate with Perjo so often.

 

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I have been watching the bottom of Bella’s cage closely, trying to figure out when she does most of her plucking.
It looks like she does most of it in the morning between first light and uncovering her cage.

So what I am thinking is to set up a sleeping cage for her in my bedroom. My bedroom is set up with blackout curtains. I could have a night light for her and she would be able to “wake up” when I get up so she does not wake up alone.

At this point I am only thinking about this. There are a number of practical difficulties with this.
I would probably need to buy another cage.
What time should I have my family put her to bed?
How will she react to being put in a mostly dark bedroom and still hearing noise from my family and other birds in the house?
Would she not feel like she is being punished?

As a side not I plan on making a post this weekend on my Cockatiels.
I have not posted anything about them and I need to brag on my 3 babies (las tres amigos).