Meet Mrs. Bixby!

[Anansi]

Beautiful girl!
Yes the females seem more water repellant than the males, don't know why but it takes a lot less water to soak the boys than the girls.

Thanks, Laura! I was hoping to hear your take on that. Given the size of your beautiful flock, I figured if anyone would know, it would be you.

I LOVE the bath pics! You are not yammering at all, you are a proud Daddy and I love that as well. She is really taking to her training, she must feel so safe and happy there with y'all
Please Please Please keep the pics and updates coming!

Thank you, Terry! I really am a proud Daddy! She's picking things up so quickly! And don't worry, my friend. I'll keep the updates coming.

Funny story. Before it sank home for Bixby that the training session was basically a one-on-one alternating activity, he kept flying from across the room and landing on the perch I'd indicated for Maya before she could step across to it! Hahaha! Fortunately, he got the message that it wasn't a competition after maybe the 2nd or third time. Such a showoff! Hahaha!

 

[thekarens]

I think I should hire you to train Zoe. She flies well, but only flies when she feels like it, usually when you've got your attention on something else, so she lands on your head.

 

[Birdman666]

She's beautiful, and in great feather!

 

[Kinny]

Thank you Stephen
Hahaha i agree with what everyone else has said regarding Mayas Towel Troubles looks like she's sulking to her Mummy about how horrid it was and how it messed up her beautiful plumage so she had to redo it all! So unfair!!!

She is gorgeous!!! *goes all squishy* Her eyes are so trusting and prettiful!

Thank you, Liana! And you are so right about her having to redo her plumage! I'm fascinated by how fastidious she is about her preening ritual! I guess I was used to Bixby's "ho-hum" approach. Hahaha!

And I'm sure she was telling the story to her mom, knowing she'd relate to the experience far better than I could. "They messed up the plumage, Mom! The plumage!!! You just don't mess with the 'do!" Lol!

Hahaha, us girls tend to be more of the "MY HAIR MUST BE PERFECT! Oh no.. Do these clothes match? I NEED A NEW TOP! THIS MUST BE PERFECT!" hehe

Hahahaha, she is very adorable! Loving the new photos and updates - just such a character!!! <3

 

[tab_xo]

8 days later, Tab finally finished reading all the posts :22: hahaha

Just kidding, I think it is time to post MORE photos please?!?!?

Please spam us with more and more photos of the love birds


What an amazing thread! Maya is absolutely gorgeous Interesting about the feathers though, takes longer to get them wet.. I wonder if that is similar for all different species ?


I am SOOO glad that Bixby reacted well to her, it seems that Maya is the type to go in for the kiss on the first date, but Bixby just wants to play it cool and get to know her


Very lucky that they got along though, it would have been difficult if they disliked each other !


Has Bixby adjusted to her whistling yet ?


and how do Aidan and Ryan like her ?



I look forward to watching a video of them chatting with each other.. and a video with you playing with them.. and also a video of you teaching them flight recall That isn't too much to ask right ?



You have no idea how happy I was *finally* reading through this thread and seeing all the amazing pictures!


Congratulations on the new family member! <3

 

[Anansi]

I think I should hire you to train Zoe. She flies well, but only flies when she feels like it, usually when you've got your attention on something else, so she lands on your head.

Hahaha! That's a funny image, especially considering that macaws aren't exactly petite! So Zoe is fully flighted? Does she fly to you when you're out of sight? From one room to another?

She's beautiful, and in great feather!

Thanks, Mark! You've got to see her with her wings extended! I've been trying to catch a pic with her stretching, but she only ever seems to do so when she's on my arm! She's obviously toying with me! Lol!

Hahaha, us girls tend to be more of the "MY HAIR MUST BE PERFECT! Oh no.. Do these clothes match? I NEED A NEW TOP! THIS MUST BE PERFECT!" hehe

Hahahaha, she is very adorable! Loving the new photos and updates - just such a character!!! <3

Hahaha! Yes, she is indeed a character, vanity and all. Lol! I'm glad you all are enjoying this thread and the updates. One of the best things about posting on this forum is that you don't have to rein in your enthusiasm about birds. Everyone else here is in love with birds, too!

 

[Anansi]

8 days later, Tab finally finished reading all the posts :22: hahaha

Just kidding, I think it is time to post MORE photos please?!?!?

Please spam us with more and more photos of the love birds


What an amazing thread! Maya is absolutely gorgeous Interesting about the feathers though, takes longer to get them wet.. I wonder if that is similar for all different species ?


I am SOOO glad that Bixby reacted well to her, it seems that Maya is the type to go in for the kiss on the first date, but Bixby just wants to play it cool and get to know her


Very lucky that they got along though, it would have been difficult if they disliked each other !


Has Bixby adjusted to her whistling yet ?


and how do Aidan and Ryan like her ?



I look forward to watching a video of them chatting with each other.. and a video with you playing with them.. and also a video of you teaching them flight recall That isn't too much to ask right ?



You have no idea how happy I was *finally* reading through this thread and seeing all the amazing pictures!


Congratulations on the new family member! <3

Hey, Robin!

I didn't get the chance to take any pics, yesterday, but hopefully I'll get home early enough to snap a few tonight.

Yeah, that feather difference is fascinating! I wonder if there's a functional reason? Maybe it's because she has to spend so much time stationary in a nesting cavity? Or better protection for her nestlings? I think I'll have to do some research.

Bixby's keeping it frosty, baby! (Every woman that I know always gives me a punch in the arm when I make that proclamation. I have no idea why...)

Definitely would've been difficult if they'd shown a dislike for each other. I'd probably have gone to Julie (RavensGryf) for her expertise in the matter. She has a few that wouldn't mind tearing into each other.

I think Maya is systematically breaking down Bixby's issues with her whistling. He's down to a perfunctory squawk of protest every once in a while, but she's obviously won that battle! Lol! (He still protests the heck out of my whistles, though. Smh.)

Aidan loves her and sometimes likes to participate in the training. (As playtime permits, of course! Haha!) And Ryan loves her the same way he does Bixby... from a distance. Hahaha! That boy is not trying to get bitten! Lol! They are soooo different.

Hahahaha! I'll see what I can do, my friend. I'll try to get a video, just 'cuz you asked.

Thanks, Robin! And I'm glad you enjoyed!

 

[Anansi]

Uh-oh! A few bumps in the road! Lol! Nothing Def-con 5 major, but bumps nonetheless.

For one, Maya truly is a complete sweetheart... with me! Lol!

Turns out that Lady Maya has bonded rather heavily with me. She never touches me with her beak using anything but the gentlest of pressure. So I thought this was the case overall, since I've been the one primarily handling the training sessions, and my wife usually handles her when I'm still at work.

Well, it turns out that if I'm in the room, she gets nippy with whoever is holding her... especially if I'm holding Bixby! So my poor wife has taken some relatively hard nips. Two even broke skin, thought she stopped short of drawing blood.
And my wife happens to be her second favorite! She actually lunges at my mother! [emoji54]

So increased socialization is the order of the day.

But that's not all. Bixby made it very clear that he doesn't like it when she grabs his beak all hard and aggressive. (Kind of like she's staking possession and laying down the law! Lol) But she hasn't heeded his warnings. So he gave her a shot to the back of the head out of nowhere! Crazy thing is, there was NO warning! I was there watching the whole time! No damage done, but it was a definite setback to their acclimation process.

Otherwise things are good. Proceeding slowly with flight training. (We haven't gotten to the flight part, yet, but she's targeting like a champion! Lol)

 

[Allee]

Oh my!! Lady Maya is really feeling at home, Stephen. I'm so sorry Aida found herself on the wrong end of Maya's beak. And poor Bixby, staying frosty may not be such a great idea after all, 'Keep that wicked beak to yourself, Woman'! Can't blame Sir Bixby for complaining a little. I'm guessing the ruffled feathers will smooth out soon. It can't be easy to be the newest family member. Over all I'd say you've made remarkable progress in a very short time. Good luck, and please keep adding to this wonderful thread.

 

[Terry57]

Maya sounds like she has a mind of her own...a woman after my own heart Your poor Mom, that must have been scary
I am positive that in no time Maya will be just as well behaved as the wonderful Bixby, once she has had a little more time with y'all

 

[Anansi]

Oh my!! Lady Maya is really feeling at home, Stephen. I'm so sorry Aida found herself on the wrong end of Maya's beak. And poor Bixby, staying frosty may not be such a great idea after all, 'Keep that wicked beak to yourself, Woman'! Can't blame Sir Bixby for complaining a little. I'm guessing the ruffled feathers will smooth out soon. It can't be easy to be the newest family member. Over all I'd say you've made remarkable progress in a very short time. Good luck, and please keep adding to this wonderful thread.

Thank you, Allee!

Yeah, Aida was caught off guard initially. She said that she'd gotten complacent since we've gotten past any hard nipping issues with Bixby since bite-pressure training him. But now she's "ready" for her. Lol! I guess it's on! Haha!

As for the ruffled feathers, I've decided to slow down their introduction, so while I allowed them to be close to one another, I didn't allow contact.

Thanks again, Allee! I'll definitely keep updating.

Maya sounds like she has a mind of her own...a woman after my own heart Your poor Mom, that must have been scary
I am positive that in no time Maya will be just as well behaved as the wonderful Bixby, once she has had a little more time with y'all

Yeah, Terry Blossom, I know you like that spunk! Lol! And yes, my mother definitely gets nervous around those beaks... though she would NEVER admit it. Hahaha! Even Bixby still makes her a little nervous, even though he's obviously accepted her. But I'm working on getting her more relaxed around them. (Should be easier with Bixby, since he's not actively trying to eat her at the moment. Lol!)

I'll let Maya know of your faith in her, Terr. Surely she wouldn't want to let you down!

Oh! And here's a bonus pic from yesterday.

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Check out the "floofy" on Bixby! Haha! The colors came out a bit dark, but figured I'd share, anyhow.

 

[JerseyWendy]

What a GREAT picture, Stephen!!

I cracked up laughing at Bixby nailing Maya in the head completely out of the blue. Did Maya give Bixby the look of "How dare you?" Let me guess, Maya didn't peck back, did she?

I still think you are making remarkable progress!

 

[Anansi]

Thanks, Wendy!

Maya most certainly gave Bixby a look of complete indignation! "How dare you," indeed! Lol!

I don't know if she would have pecked back, actually. She was perched on my right hand and Bixby on my left when this happened, so I separated them immediately. Wish you'd been there. Considering the experience you have with multiple birds, I'd definitely have valued your take on how serious that little event was. Perhaps I'm being overprotective? But those beaks can do a lot of damage in the blink of an eye, you know?

 

[JerseyWendy]

I'm quite proud of Bixby, actually because he told her in his terms to 'slow down already'. I can tell you that Jasper and Gemma had 'their' moments. No, there was never blood, but they had their occasional squabbles - just like in any relationship. :54: I never became fluent in 'Eclectus', but judging by the sounds coming from their beaks and their body language, they always settled things rather quickly.

 

[Terry57]

Stephen, I love the picture, but have to ask where your handsome face is???? Seems I remember you riding Tab about never showing her face in pics, and I think it may be time to return the favour

 

[Anansi]

Awww, Terry Blossom! Why, this is completely different from Tab's face-stealthy ways. Because she... well, that is, I.... uhmm...... because what I was doing was... uhhh... staging a headless protest of her headless pictures! Yeah, that's it! A protest! Lol!

And besides, she's far more photogenic than I. Hahaha!

 

[Anansi]

But wait a minute! I forgot that I was talking to one of the Forum's 3 most notorious ghost ninjas! Isn't this a case of the ninja calling the thief sneaky? Hahaha!

 

[getwozzy]

Yeah Stephen- where's YOUR face?!?

Good thing Bixby's standing his ground with her! Slow down lady!!! LOL

 

[JerseyWendy]

Awww, Terry Blossom! Why, this is completely different from Tab's face-stealthy ways. Because she... well, that is, I.... uhmm...... because what I was doing was... uhhh... staging a headless protest of her headless pictures! Yeah, that's it! A protest! Lol!

And besides, she's far more photogenic than I. Hahaha!

But wait a minute! I forgot that I was talking to one of the Forum's 3 most notorious ghost ninjas! Isn't this a case of the ninja calling the thief sneaky? Hahaha!

Ahem...WHAT? Were you actually trying to explain something here? :54:

If so, I hate to tell you, but you failed miserably. Terry AND Shirre had a VERY valid point, no matter how hard you were trying to ...do what??? Change the subject??? ATTEMPT FAILED. :21: :09:

 

[Anansi]

Hahaha! Et tu, Wendy?