My Birds Enrich my Life

[SharonC]

I've just finished putting all my guys to bed. We seem to have got into a routine here, that everyone loves, including me. Fred comes off the playstand, and gets his cuddle. I have a comfy chair in the birdroom for this purpose. He's learned to love this part of the day. Tonight the doorbell rang, and he grasped my finger with his foot, as if to stop me from getting up. I didn't answer the door. When Fred is finished, Levi gets his time. He loves to sit on my shoulder and cuddle into my neck. The Budgies and Canary don't get cuddles, but they like me to sing...so I sing Amazing Grace over and over while I'm cuddling Levi. Tonight Fred tried to sing along! Most people would think I'm actually crazy for doing such things....but I come away so relaxed and happy, that I think it's as good for me as for the birds!

 

[nofearengineer]

I know what you're talking about, Sharon. You are obviously doing something right to make a cantankerous guy like Fred think about being a cuddle bunny. We sure do get addicted to our little fid sessions.

 

[SharonC]

Fred has been so sweet these last few days. I'm really enjoying his new attitude, although I do realize it may not last. He still says no sometimes, but he says it very gently. I've just been enjoying my birds so much this week...my hubby is out of town, so I've had more time to just relax with them. Life is good!!!

 

[Pheonix Rising]

That's super awesome Sharon I'm glad things are going so well with Fred and he's liking his routine
Poor person at the door lol

Sounds like my moto
let the housework wait enjoying and playing with your kids comes 1st
( no it's not a mess lol )

Njoy your snuggled and hope they continue for weeks to come

 

[lisamarie973]

I totally understand where you're coming from, it's so funny how they get SO routined. Each night, after Maui has a bit of Oatmeal or Parrot Formula (he's weaned now, but likes the warm food before bed) he goes right inside his cage to his sleep perch and if I don't put the blanket over his cage RIGHT away, he starts reaching up all stretched out and almost on his tippy toes to grab the blanket on the top of the cage through the bars all the while looking at me and chirping his question mark chirp. LOL.. YES, he has a chirp that almost sounds like he's ASKING for something. In this case, he's asking me to cover the cage!!! Then I sing him rock a bye baby under the blanket and gently rub his head at the same time. Then I tell him several times Night Night, Maui... I Love You, then... I Love you too, then, Night Night, Maui, then Night Night Mommy and so on and so forth. He LOVES this routine and if I seem to miss a step or just not get to the next step quick enough, he surely lets me know!! LOL...

I think it's amazing that Fred is trying to sing WITH you. He is so darn SMART!!! Him giving you cuddles recently is pretty amazing too!!!

 

[wildheart]

I know exactly what you mean.

 

[SharonC]

LisaMarie, Fred has come such a long way...more so than I had ever expected. He leans into me now, and rubs his face in my cheek. He loves me to preen him, and he loves to preen and "lick" me. He's learned to say "no" gently. Last night I was trying to feel his keel, to see if he may be overweight, and he took my finger in his beak gently, and moved it away. He's not the bird I brought home in June. I do think Fred was loved in his last home, but he really didn't know how to say "no" other than biting. And he didn't know how to "nip"...he just bit hard. He's changed so much in this regard...and I'm thrilled with him. Maybe Amazons aren't that complicated after all! LOL!

 

[lisamarie973]

Aw, that is just AMAZING!! It makes all the difference in the world, Sharon, that you haven't given up on him, that you continue to teach him HOW to be gentle and show him that he's forgiven if he forgets or reacts quickly to something that upsets him. What an amazing accomplishment, for you AND for Fred. I also believe that these birds do so much better when WE understand that they just simply want to be respected. If they don't want something, that we don't push it, that we give them the space they want and need. You obviously are listening and watching Fred and have come to understand what it is that's he's willing to deal with and what he's not willing to deal with. I think that it is just awesome that he can say "no" or that he can gently take you finger away when he's not comfy. Gosh, what a smart boy!

 

[Cowtown]

Sharon that is so cool. That makes me smile. Amazing Grace is my favorite song.

I know how you feel, Abby has come a long way also, she is still a baby but I can see changes in her eyes and her attitude.

Thank you for sharing.

 

[HRH Di]

Some friends of ours just rehomed their birds - a TAG and Blue-throated Macaw. This decision was mind-boggling to me. I can't imagine not having our sweet fids with us every day.

With the cooler weather Jade has gotten extremely cuddly. She'll sit on my arm or my chest then put her head down and almost roll over just enjoying being cuddled and petted. She'll close her eyes, yawn once in a while and, when she's really happy, actually lie down on her chest with her wings slightly spread out.

Ruby just wants to sit on my shoulder and coo to me. She'll put her head down and rest her beak on my shoulder so I can scratch the back of her neck. She loves when I whisper into her ear. From time to time, she'll pull up one leg, close her eyes and take a little snooze there if I'm sewing or crocheting or something. She's almost perfected whistling the Andy Griffith theme song. And she's mimicking Jade and Max noises.

Max, our grouch, has made enormous progress over the past couple of weeks. He definitely prefers men over women, but our hands-off, no touchy little guy now enjoys being petted and having his back and head stroked.

Even when they get on my last nerve, I can't imagine not having them with me. Our home would be a little sadder and more dreary without them.

 

[SharonC]

I've only considered rehoming one time...and that was Levi. Odd that a little Linnie could make life so miserable. He started screaming last Jan and he stopped last June. I kid you not! The only time he wasn't screaming was when he was asleep. There were days that I just sat and cried! I stuck it out for as long as I thought I could, and then decided to rehome to a home with a breeder. I then changed my mind...mostly out of guilt. The screaming stopped sometime in June...I expect it was hormonal. He's a sweet guy now, and I'm so glad I changed my mind.

It would be impossible for me to rehome Fred...he'd be calling me back, or crying and I'd be traumatized with guilt. He tries the crying bit when I'm cuddling Levi! I'm not sure if that's coincidence or not...I suppose it must be! My life would not be the same without Fred, Levi, Abbey, Sadie and Charlie!

 

[HRH Di]

Reading over my previous post, that first part sounds a little judgemental. There are very good reasons that birds have to be re-homed and I understand that. Even for the not so good reasons, it's not my decision to make for someone else. If the humans are just plain tired of having birds and putting forth the necessary effort to ensure the birds are healthy and happy, the birds shouldn't be in that home and the humans need to find the right home for the birds.

 

[SharonC]

I didn't think you were being judgemental at all....sometimes things happen, and people feel they have no choice. Some people just don't seem to get attached or love pets as family members. I suppose there's many reasons and factors to consider.....

I've never rehomed anything, although I'm considering rehoming my husband!