Parrot at play (picture heavy)

[SpringCottageParrot]

Casper was bored and wanted to play, here are some pics.

Latest interest is a cardboard box which I have cut some holes in (working on the theory that kids always prefer the box that their toys come in rather than the toy inside, and that Casper is very much like a child).

Triangular window by DSdriver, on Flickr
The box has been around for a couple of days but today he got brave enough to venture inside.

And a series from the other day of his play fight with a cuddly toy:

Sneaky creatures badgers, they creep up on a parrot unexpected

Badgerfight1 by DSdriver, on Flickr

Best defence is to attack the ears

Badgerfight2 by DSdriver, on Flickr

and then the nose

Badgerfight3 by DSdriver, on Flickr

Then shriek as loud as you can

Badgerfight4 by DSdriver, on Flickr

before having another go at the ears

Badgerfight 5 by DSdriver, on Flickr

I think we've got this one licked.

Badgerfight6 by DSdriver, on Flickr

 

[henpecked]

Very cute pics, very good pics. I know zons love to play with boxes,but must warn you.You might trigger some defensive nesting behavior. If he gets a little testy ,you might want to lose the box.

 

[wenz2712]

Great pics . He is adorable!

 

[antoinette]

Thanks for sharing, the pic's were absolutely awesome
Beautiful bird !!!

 

[Pookamama]

Thanks for shaing! He's beautiful. Is he a blue-front amazon?

 

[SpringCottageParrot]

Thanks for shaing! He's beautiful. Is he a blue-front amazon?

Yep, he's a blue fronted Amazon, about 20-23 years old. We've had him for six weeks now and he has really bonded with my wife Margaret, this afternoon he was lying on his back in her lap whilst she tickled his neck. Mind you, they had a fight later over who got custody of the earing he removed from her ear.
On another matter, the vet said he has to lose weight, he is over 450g and needs to get down to 400g. We have taken him off the sunflower seed and toast diet that he was on before we got him and he now has 10g of seed or pasta, morning and evening when we eat and as much fruit and veg as he likes. He hasn't lost much weight yet, maybe 5g. Can anyone tell me how much weight he should lose a week or month?

 

[Spiritbird]

Oh my is he a handsome boy. Is he a handfull??

 

[henpecked]

10% weight loss, maybe 3=4 months would be about right. Have you thought about trying to get him on pellets instead of the seeds. There are some pellets with 4=6 % crude fat which would help alot. Is he flighted? if not maybe try holding him on your arm and moving him up and down so that he flaps his wings to mimic flight.Anyway I'll bet having him out and about will help. Glad to hear your giving an older bird a second chance at happiness.I know how they can brighten and enrich your life. Good luck and keep up with the fruit/veggies. Have you tried sprouts yet ? easy enough and healthy too, better way for them to eat seeds.

 

[SpringCottageParrot]

Thanks Henpecked for the useful information.
He is flighted but there isn't much room in our cottage and also because he was not let out of a small cage for about ten years I think he prefers to climb/walk. Usually he just stands on the top of his cage or hangs off the swinging door saying "come on" till one of us goes over for him to climb on to us. We'll have to give him an exercise regime.
We tend to rotate his diet, a couple of days a week on Hawaiian or Mexican noodle mix then seed or Jungle Munchies (a mix of pellets, nuts and dried fruit). I took him a while to get into the pellets but he likes them now he has tried them.
We haven't tried sprouts yet, do parrots get flatulence?

 

[Didomum]

Great photos love his box shot, lol. So who did get custody of the earring lol. Hope his diet works for him if it does he will have to let me know the secret, I could do with lossing some weight as well

 

[henpecked]

Thanks Henpecked for the useful information.
He is flighted but there isn't much room in our cottage and also because he was not let out of a small cage for about ten years I think he prefers to climb/walk. Usually he just stands on the top of his cage or hangs off the swinging door saying "come on" till one of us goes over for him to climb on to us. We'll have to give him an exercise regime.
We tend to rotate his diet, a couple of days a week on Hawaiian or Mexican noodle mix then seed or Jungle Munchies (a mix of pellets, nuts and dried fruit). I took him a while to get into the pellets but he likes them now he has tried them.
We haven't tried sprouts yet, do parrots get flatulence?

Ha ,ha , yeah i've heard a little poot, but pretty rare. not common around my house anyway.

 

[Chaz12]

Ya, biting the stuffed badger was funny. That is cute..