Thorsmom
New member
- Jan 4, 2011
- 3
- 0
- Parrots
- Thor, 15 yo Moluccan Cockatoo and
Fred, 7 yo Alexandrine Parakeet
Hi Everyone!
My name is Cathy and I am excited to have found this site. I live in Pikeville, Tennessee and currently have 4 feathered children.
"Thor" is a 15 year old female Moluccan cockatoo that we rescued 3 years ago. Thor was originally thought to be a male, but when "he" layed an EGG in my husband's lap ( aka "The Chosen One") last January... well, that pretty much ended the question about "Hmmm.... how do you REALLY know what sex a bird is?" When we took Thor to the vets to be tested for zinc toxicity ( positive), we also had her DNA'd, so we actually knew "he" was a "she" before the egg laying "event," but prior to that, we really had no clue. We also had no clue about just how much time a cockatoo requires... and patience... and love.... and devotion... but we adore her in spite of the fact that her only goal seems to be to turn our post and beam home into the world's largest pile of toothpicks.
Cody & Cheeko are two buddies that we adopted before Thor found us. Cody is a 5 year old Hahn's mini macaw and Cheeko is a 5 year old Black Headed Caique. When Cody was just weaned, he let himself out of his cage and went over and found a newly-weaned Cheeko... opened HIS cage door and let himself in. And they have been friends ever since. Our "original" plan was to ONLY have one parrot for "starters ( I can hear you all snickering at this "novel" thought!)," but when we went to meet "one," we quickly realized that they were best friends. On the way home, Cody and Cheeko sat on the dash of the truck, with Cody singing "Here we GO! Here we GO!" We were instantly smitten with these two. So then we had "TWO."
Then along came Thor.
Then along came Fred, a 6 year old male Alexandrine parakeet that was in the middle of a nasty divorce. The couple was fighting over Fred, but the woman was keeping Fred covered up day and night, and the husband was desperately trying to get Fred back. He had to resort to BUYING Fred back from his soon-to-be ex-wife. Then he realized that he also didn't have "time" for Fred, either. So, as usual... a poor parrot gets the short end of the stick... which is where we picked up on the story. So... Fred came home with us. Compared to our other 3 "Stooges," Fred is quiet as a mouse. But he's a very happy bird now, and has started talking, whistling, and imitating just about every digital sound he hears. On more than one occasion, I have gone to answer to phone, only to have him laugh and say "HIiiiii!" and make the phone ringing sound again. He is a lovely bird that also did not deserve the life that he didn't get to choose initially.
So... what I have learned over the past several years is that parrots do not get the credit that they deserve on so many levels. We have 14 horses, 2 mastiffs, 4 cats and various other creatures that show up from time to time that need "help." And while they all amaze us with their perception of human nature, none of them hold a candle to what a parrot percieves of their humans. I am constantly amazed at what they offer from their hearts and what they will do to express themselves... if we take the time to "listen."
Unfortunately, what I have also learned is that I cannot clone myself. I have found myself in the position of needing to find a loving home for Cody and Cheeko due to the fact that I just do not have all the time that I thought I would have for everyone. My heart is so much bigger than my ability, and I am very aggravated with myself for not realizing that earlier. But it was hard to turn away Thor and Fred, who obviously needed us. I have posted a thread in the Classifieds about Cody and Cheeko, and hope that none of you all will harbor ill thoughts towards me in doing so. Life has a funny way to teaching lessons sometimes, but I also believe that everything happens for a reason... and I have become a quick learner.
I look forward to getting to know everyone on this site, and hope that together we can make great things happen for the parrots out there that need someone to hear their cries.
My name is Cathy and I am excited to have found this site. I live in Pikeville, Tennessee and currently have 4 feathered children.
"Thor" is a 15 year old female Moluccan cockatoo that we rescued 3 years ago. Thor was originally thought to be a male, but when "he" layed an EGG in my husband's lap ( aka "The Chosen One") last January... well, that pretty much ended the question about "Hmmm.... how do you REALLY know what sex a bird is?" When we took Thor to the vets to be tested for zinc toxicity ( positive), we also had her DNA'd, so we actually knew "he" was a "she" before the egg laying "event," but prior to that, we really had no clue. We also had no clue about just how much time a cockatoo requires... and patience... and love.... and devotion... but we adore her in spite of the fact that her only goal seems to be to turn our post and beam home into the world's largest pile of toothpicks.
Cody & Cheeko are two buddies that we adopted before Thor found us. Cody is a 5 year old Hahn's mini macaw and Cheeko is a 5 year old Black Headed Caique. When Cody was just weaned, he let himself out of his cage and went over and found a newly-weaned Cheeko... opened HIS cage door and let himself in. And they have been friends ever since. Our "original" plan was to ONLY have one parrot for "starters ( I can hear you all snickering at this "novel" thought!)," but when we went to meet "one," we quickly realized that they were best friends. On the way home, Cody and Cheeko sat on the dash of the truck, with Cody singing "Here we GO! Here we GO!" We were instantly smitten with these two. So then we had "TWO."
Then along came Thor.
Then along came Fred, a 6 year old male Alexandrine parakeet that was in the middle of a nasty divorce. The couple was fighting over Fred, but the woman was keeping Fred covered up day and night, and the husband was desperately trying to get Fred back. He had to resort to BUYING Fred back from his soon-to-be ex-wife. Then he realized that he also didn't have "time" for Fred, either. So, as usual... a poor parrot gets the short end of the stick... which is where we picked up on the story. So... Fred came home with us. Compared to our other 3 "Stooges," Fred is quiet as a mouse. But he's a very happy bird now, and has started talking, whistling, and imitating just about every digital sound he hears. On more than one occasion, I have gone to answer to phone, only to have him laugh and say "HIiiiii!" and make the phone ringing sound again. He is a lovely bird that also did not deserve the life that he didn't get to choose initially.
So... what I have learned over the past several years is that parrots do not get the credit that they deserve on so many levels. We have 14 horses, 2 mastiffs, 4 cats and various other creatures that show up from time to time that need "help." And while they all amaze us with their perception of human nature, none of them hold a candle to what a parrot percieves of their humans. I am constantly amazed at what they offer from their hearts and what they will do to express themselves... if we take the time to "listen."
Unfortunately, what I have also learned is that I cannot clone myself. I have found myself in the position of needing to find a loving home for Cody and Cheeko due to the fact that I just do not have all the time that I thought I would have for everyone. My heart is so much bigger than my ability, and I am very aggravated with myself for not realizing that earlier. But it was hard to turn away Thor and Fred, who obviously needed us. I have posted a thread in the Classifieds about Cody and Cheeko, and hope that none of you all will harbor ill thoughts towards me in doing so. Life has a funny way to teaching lessons sometimes, but I also believe that everything happens for a reason... and I have become a quick learner.
I look forward to getting to know everyone on this site, and hope that together we can make great things happen for the parrots out there that need someone to hear their cries.
