Keeps Getting Better

[goalerjones]

Hahnzel is my 2nd parrot. I had a very unique and special relationship with George, my Jenday Conure. George came as a rescue for us and I didnt know anything about birds. When he passed at the age of 7 after being with me for 6 years, I really wasnt sure I could get another bird now that mortality and the resulting heartbreak that comes with it, was real to me.

Enter Hahnzel, my Hahns Macaw. He came to us about 1 year after George passed and will be 2 years old in July. Hahnzel, and his highly energetic, in your face personality is a huge departure from my conure (who would fall asleep in the palm of my hand as in the picture below) and the relationship has been strained at times. I will not rehome him because he is family, but I just wasnt sure what our relationship would ultimately become.

Today was a wonderful day, and a great encouragement. He and I just "worked" today. He was happy, not clingy like usual, and I really got to enjoy his company without feeling defensive and assaulted. I worked on making new toys for him. I kept him in his cage while I used the drill and jigsaw and he was perfectly content to just sit next to me in his cage while I worked. Then, after the new toys were made he got busy destroying them.

He jabbered on happily working on his toys, eating and preening while I was free to work around the house. Then, after awhile he, for the first time since I bought it for him more than a year ago, finally used his bathing setup. I know this day doesnt sound monumental in its scope, but it marked a turning point for us. I just wanted to share this for my own joy, and perhaps the person who cant see light at the end of their own tunnel with regards of their own parrot/person relationship.

The pic below is/was George and Hahnzel is on my avatar.

 

[MonicaMc]

That is such a sweet photo of George! He sounds like he was special!



And gratz on your progress with Hahnzel! Sounds like the two of you had a great day!!!!!

 

[Remy]

George sounds like a sweetie. I was devastated when Puck passed away.

Congratulations on your progress with Hahnzel! Darcy is a mini macaw, and he's great.

 

[faeryphoebe1]

Congrats on a great day with Hahnzel. When you say that he can be clingy, how does he act? I have a very "in your face" Green Cheek, so I was wondering if their behaviors were similar.

 

[noblemacaw]

That is awesome that you and Hahzel are doing so well. I think that is the first pic I have seen of your conure George. Such a cute parrot sleeping in your palm. Sometimes it is just hard to feel that tight bond when your best friend passed.

Lupe asked me the other day if I loved Valentino. I just looked at her and said "What do you think?" She told me she noticed that I seem to not be bonding with him. I was kind of shocked becasue I do love Valentino but apparently maybe still greiving for Mihijo and Diego. My Eclectus Joaquin died in 2005 and I miss him also but Mihijo and Diego are still fresh I guess.

Valentino seems to have bonded to me as he will do the RFM "meltdown" where he will suddenly start rolling on my like a puppy. He totally trusts me that I will not drop him. Now that is to say he has not surprised me and he went rolling off my chest onto my lap and almost to the floor but I have never dropped him....yet. I have been working with him teaching him to roll over on the kitchen table and the other day while we were having a snack he just threw his shoulder down and began to roll on the table. The giant freak almost rolled off the side and I had to catch him before he fell to the floor.

Sure there are annoying things Valentino does. He tends to grab with that beak while rolling all over me and grabbing my soft flesh pinching just a bit. I use to have tiny bruises all over my arms from that but using the command "gentle" has helped curb that over stimulas and help him remember that he is hurting mommy.

My favorite time with Valentino is when we are just relaxing together and he lays on his side on my belly all cuddly making his baby sounds.I cradle him with my arm and hand and use my other hand to pet his belly. Valentino is content and sometimes will fall asleep on his side on me. He does not do this for Lupe so I know it is a mommy and Valentino thing. I don't know if I will be able to continue that kind of cuddling when he become mature but for now I enjoy that special time we have.

Do you have special times with Hahnzel? Just something only you and he do together that he will not do for anyone else. That to me shows a bond that only the two of you have and he will only do for you. I think I am bonded to Valentino but I also realize it is different than with my mini macaws and my Eclectus. Each parrot was very special to me and I had different relationships with each of them. Even though I have Valentino for almost 3 months I do believe he has wormed his way into my heart.

It is hard not to love this guy.

 

[Grinder]

I think this was a monumental day for both of you. I think all of us have these type of days to some degree or another at some point in our birdie relationships.

They broaden the scope and meaning of the relationship and moving forward everything is a new moment.

 

[goalerjones]

Congrats on a great day with Hahnzel. When you say that he can be clingy, how does he act? I have a very "in your face" Green Cheek, so I was wondering if their behaviors were similar.

Clingy as in doesnt want, wont tolerate being anywhere but my shoulder. He also nips a lot more than my conure George ever did. Which we are working on, but there are times when it is a "last nerve" occurence.

He has so much more energy than George did. It is a huge adjustment, but seeing the progress is encouraging. The house, the kids and my wife, enjoy Hahnzel more because he interracts with them, can talk, and doesnt have that conure piercing call.

As for special things only we do, I just live my life with him and dont usually exclude him unless I am doing something dangerous for him like cooking.

Another aspect of this is education. I knew next to nothing about parrots when we first got George. With his death it made it clear to me just how much I didnt know. He ate something toxic when he escaped for the day. He passed away the next night in my hands and I felt helpless and kept apologizing to him in my mind after he passed.

Hahnzel has benefitted from all that. I have read extensively, interrogated vets, picked the brains of breeders and board members alike making sure that I am not the weak link in Hahnzels health or happiness. But as a nurse I can be removed from my "patients" when they are in need so I can be of more benefit, not getting emotionally involved. I am sure my relationship with Hahnzel has been adversely affected by the fact that George died. As I said earlier, the fact of death entering again has sobered me and also taken away my "Disney" type mentality of animal frienships. Perhaps its the same as a mother overprotecting the surviving child?


Here is another pic of Hahnzel.

 

[faeryphoebe1]

Congrats on a great day with Hahnzel. When you say that he can be clingy, how does he act? I have a very "in your face" Green Cheek, so I was wondering if their behaviors were similar.

Clingy as in doesnt want, wont tolerate being anywhere but my shoulder. He also nips a lot more than my conure George ever did. Which we are working on, but there are times when it is a "last nerve" occurence.

He has so much more energy than George did. It is a huge adjustment, but seeing the progress is encouraging. The house, the kids and my wife, enjoy Hahnzel more because he interracts with them, can talk, and doesnt have that conure piercing call.

As for special things only we do, I just live my life with him and dont usually exclude him unless I am doing something dangerous for him like cooking.

Another aspect of this is education. I knew next to nothing about parrots when we first got George. With his death it made it clear to me just how much I didnt know. He ate something toxic when he escaped for the day. He passed away the next night in my hands and I felt helpless and kept apologizing to him in my mind after he passed.

Hahnzel has benefitted from all that. I have read extensively, interrogated vets, picked the brains of breeders and board members alike making sure that I am not the weak link in Hahnzels health or happiness. But as a nurse I can be removed from my "patients" when they are in need so I can be of more benefit, not getting emotionally involved. I am sure my relationship with Hahnzel has been adversely affected by the fact that George died. As I said earlier, the fact of death entering again has sobered me and also taken away my "Disney" type mentality of animal frienships. Perhaps its the same as a mother overprotecting the surviving child?


Here is another pic of Hahnzel.

Trixie is clingy too. She has tons of energy, becomes easily over-stimulated and begins biting. It's a work in progress with her. I lost a cockatiel last year and the same as yourself, was not as educated and informed about the care of parrots as I am now. It's difficult not to worry constantly. By the way, I'm a nurse as well, lol.

 

[faeryphoebe1]

Goalerjones and Noblemacaw: Your birds are so magnificent. Thank you for sharing the pics.

 

[goalerjones]

Diet changes are working better now. He has gone from 130gms three months ago to 135gms now. Switching from a mix to straight Zupreem Natural pellets. Had another great day yesterday with the two of us just hanging out with no one else. He lets me know when he wants my attention rather than how he used to be unable to do his own thing. I think it might have even been affecting his eating as well.