Feeding time at the zoo!

[chris-md]

who wants some??



You are getting veeeeery sleepy

 

[RavensGryf]

Oh look at them! So cute .

 

[Anansi]

Nothing like the laser focus of pets after a food item! Hahaha!

Chris, it's hard to tell due to the shadows, but even though Parker has been plucking again it doesn't seem anywhere near so bad a it was last winter. Is that really the case?

 

[chris-md]

Thanks all!

Stephen, it's just the shadows unfortunately. Poor guy only has maybe 8 feathers on his chest left. They are clumped together so it mitigates the appearance somewhat. I really need to address this humidity here.

Funny story: my partner strongly opposes the whole home humidifier because of the price tag ($750+). But even the dog has been scratching front the dry air lately. He reads something about coconut oil for dogs so decides he's going to apply some to her while bathing. Dog comes out a greasy mess!!! Three baths later she's still a little greasy looking. Lesson learned! I'm hoping this is the push he needs to get this humidifier.

 

[ThoseTwoKeets]

That parrot is beautiful! If they weren't so expensive, I'd probably have a large parrot by now.

 

[Kiwibird]

Cute photos! Not sure who looks more excited about that chip- the bird or the dog lol

 

[chris-md]

That parrot is beautiful! If they weren't so expensive, I'd probably have a large parrot by now.

I hear you! When I decided I wanted a medium sized parrot I thought I would have to wait about 2 years to save up. Parker was a craigslist rehome I got for $500, all in. Admittedly he's cost triple that in vet bills, food, and toys. But those costs have settled and it's completely manageable.

 

[Uglow]

Very cute. I love that Parker is following your hand even though the entire bag is probably an easier target. ha

 

[DexMom]

I'm so envious that you can have Parker and your cute doggie together like that. My 2 dogs are too excitable when Dexter is around for me to feel safe with them together. When Dex is out of his cage, the dogs are gated from going into the room. If I'm carrying Dexter through the main part of the house on my shoulder (on our way upstairs, where the dogs aren't allowed), I have to have my husband play dog wrangler because they try to jump up and check out my feathered buddy.

 

[chris-md]

I'm so envious that you can have Parker and your cute doggie together like that. My 2 dogs are too excitable when Dexter is around for me to feel safe with them together. When Dex is out of his cage, the dogs are gated from going into the room. If I'm carrying Dexter through the main part of the house on my shoulder (on our way upstairs, where the dogs aren't allowed), I have to have my husband play dog wrangler because they try to jump up and check out my feathered buddy.

It's not as cozy as it looks, I can promise you that. These are nervous times for sure. But it's more I worry about the dog than the bird. Dog doesn't represent a threat to the bird, she's too chickens**t. Specially lately with her anxiety attacks, all she wants to do is hide. She mostly ignores him.

Parker, however, has lunged at the dog a couple times. Granted it occurred more in the beginning, but Parker is more apt to attack than the dog (dog is only 4.5 pounds, and spacially about the bird's size. In her world that's a nonstarter). When they are out and around each other weare always within a foot of them, arms hovering to stop any potential conflict, or just herding them out of range of each other.

 

[DexMom]

Aw, sorry your puppy girl has anxiety problems. I guess it's hard to be confident when you weigh under 5 lbs LOL. She is just adorable!

My pups are a good deal larger (70lbs and 55lbs) and both are retrievers, so I'm afraid to them Dexter looks like prey. They are actually lovable oafs who normally wouldn't hurt a fly, but I can't take a chance that instinct is going to kick in at the worst possible moment. Dexter would probably peck the living ship out of them they went after him, but the chances of him getting hurt are just not worth it. So, we keep them apart, but it makes me a little sad.

 

[chris-md]

Aw, sorry your puppy girl has anxiety problems. I guess it's hard to be confident when you weigh under 5 lbs LOL. She is just adorable!

My pups are a good deal larger (70lbs and 55lbs) and both are retrievers, so I'm afraid to them Dexter looks like prey. They are actually lovable oafs who normally wouldn't hurt a fly, but I can't take a chance that instinct is going to kick in at the worst possible moment. Dexter would probably peck the living ship out of them they went after him, but the chances of him getting hurt are just not worth it. So, we keep them apart, but it makes me a little sad.

I certainly get it! You don't want to have to engineer your pets time, it's exhausting!

Sasha never had problems before with anxiety, but since we got Parker she's been off. Ish really hit the fan when we decided to keep the dog in the basement with the bird while we're at work. Something about that traumatized her, and now she's shivering scared 60% of the time, especially on weekends. Basement for her lasted a week before we gave it up. This was before thanksgiving.

Bird making noises does set it off, but half the time she starts for no reason out of the blue while the bird is quietly sleeping on his stand, or in the morning when the bird doesn't even come up.

We're at a complete loss and don't know what to do. We're contemplating meds. But if we could understand the trigger I know I could train it out of her.

 

[TamLaw72]

Chris-md , try putting coconut oil in your dogs food, not on him. It is an EXCELLENT anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and it works great for the skin, from the inside out. Just add about 1tsp. per food serving, to start out with. Our dogs will eat it straight off of the spoon, if you let them! To get the oil out of the dogs fur, you can try baby oil. I know it sounds count productive, but oil breaks down oil, so it should work. I was able to use baby oil to get Vaseline out of my daughters hair years ago. Have fun!

 

[GreatBlue320]

Food - the ultimate motivator! Love it!

 

[Laura729]

Your Parker reminds me so much of my Charlie (another ekkie rehome). I have been following along on his stories.
Have you ever tried Rescue Remedy for your dog's anxiety? It's a homeopathic option that works really well for some dogs.

 

[chris-md]

Chris-md , try putting coconut oil in your dogs food, not on him. It is an EXCELLENT anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and it works great for the skin, from the inside out. Just add about 1tsp. per food serving, to start out with. Our dogs will eat it straight off of the spoon, if you let them! To get the oil out of the dogs fur, you can try baby oil. I know it sounds count productive, but oil breaks down oil, so it should work. I was able to use baby oil to get Vaseline out of my daughters hair years ago. Have fun!

I have lately been giving it to him in his bowl. But I've been giving it to Parker often for the same reason, dry skin, and unto itself doesn't do a whole lot.

It took about 5 baths across three days to get the oil out of the fur! I will definitely keep the baby oil idea in mind in case my partner decides to attempt this again.

Your Parker reminds me so much of my Charlie (another ekkie rehome). I have been following along on his stories.
Have you ever tried Rescue Remedy for your dog's anxiety? It's a homeopathic option that works really well for some dogs.

Hello Laura! I used to use rescue remedy for myself. Once upon a time I was a moderately talented flute player In honors bands and solo projects, but my nerves had strong potential to get the best of me, so I used it to try to work on the nerves. It never really did much at all, unfortunately. Intriguing taste though!

I would certainly love to see pictures of your Charlie, if you have any!

 

[chris-md]

Food - the ultimate motivator! Love it!

Wanna see the ultimate motivator? Where's Stephen, he'll want to see this.

[ame="https://youtu.be/m4_7Ag9j5nw"]Eclectus favorite food - YouTube[/ame]

Cheese is the only food stuff he chases me down for. As you can see in the video, he is NOT interest in doing anything but sitting there. Introduce the cheese? You're his best friend! He doesn't get this out of habit, the drive is left over from his old harness training routine. But he'll get a nip on rare occasions like this where he put on a show.

 

[Scott]

Food - the ultimate motivator! Love it!

Wanna see the ultimate motivator? Where's Stephen, he'll want to see this.

[ame="https://youtu.be/m4_7Ag9j5nw"]Eclectus favorite food - YouTube[/ame]

Cheese is the only food stuff he chases me down for. As you can see in the video, he is NOT interest in doing anything but sitting there. Introduce the cheese? You're his best friend! He doesn't get this out of habit, the drive is left over from his old harness training routine. But he'll get a nip on rare occasions like this where he put on a show.

Great video! String cheese is indeed a powerful motivator. Most of my birds love it - 9 of them share a single stick weekly.

 

[chris-md]

Nice to know my guy isn't unique in this obsession!

 

[plumsmum2005]

@ chris-md Good to see I'm not alone with a parrot that wants treats and to expend the least amount of energy to get it. Wings nah don't need those.

You could have swapped Parker for Plum, just the same, exact same route he'd take, had to laugh. Thanks.