noblemacaw
New member
- Sep 23, 2011
- 1,056
- 3
- Parrots
- Valentino - Red Fronted Macaw - Hatched August 12, 2012
Time has flown by because I realize Valentino will be two years old in August. It feels like I have had him with me for way longer than just little over a year.
Valentino has passed so many milestones over the winter. Recently his appetite has picked up and what I was feeding him was not enough. I had to add more courses to his meals. LOL Even though he got cabin fever during the winter he did get enough flying time in my two story town home. Valentino is very confident flying and I feel if he ever escaped out of the home and flew out the door I believe I would be able to recall him successfully. Although I practice recall every day I do feel all bets are off if he were to suddenly be "free" outside flying. Now that the weather is warmer I will have to take him outside to reorient him to the surroundings in case he ever does escape. We do have a redtail hawk that lives across the street and raises a family every year and that will always be a concern to me if Valentino ever were to escape.
Valentino is also starting to talk in sentences. He is pretty much to the talking talent my Eclectus Joaquin had. Valentino is speaking words I never say to him. Either Lupe is using the phrases and words or he is learning them from TV during "momma time". One thing I noticed that none of my other parrots did is his like to "pounce my face". Valentino loves to run up my chest quickly to get to my face. He will then do either tongue me to death, grab my nose and pump, take a small amount of soft flesh like from my cheek or neck into his beak and lightly nip it, exhale breath forcefully and laugh. He is one weirdo for sure. Apparently these games Valentino likes to play are normal for RFM's. The "face games" I have concern for when he grows up so I do not allow much play there. Actually the things I describe I am not comfortable with because it is too close. I worry if he was to be worked up that "gentle" would go right out the window so I do tamp down activities involving my face.
Valentino does read my emotions and moods very well. He is pretty much bonded to me so he is very in tune with how I am doing. When I am feeling sad he will try to comfort me. He will get really close to my face and say "I love you" or rub his face against my cheek and trill. Valentino is still very cuddly and affectionate. When I am happy or excited he will fly around the house so fast I always think he will fly into something but he never does. While I watch him sometimes it looks like he is intoxicated because he will zig zag and bob and weave with the flying looking very erratic. His flying skill surpass any of my boys and I am always so amazed with his skills. Valentino has his laugh down pat to sound just like mine. He giggles! I never had a parrot that giggled.
Although Valentino and are experiencing some hard times he really is my rock. When I have to leave the house to do something unpleasant (like getting a mamogram...yuck!) I come back home to a affectionate interactive parrot. Once I came home very upset and my instinct was not to interact with Valentino taking him out of cage to pet and love him I stood by his cage and told him "Hello" and he hung on the bars closest to me and told me "Take me out". I took a couple of deep breaths and did as he asked. He wanted cuddles and to be held and really comforted me.
I also started taking Valentino out on play dates. On this form I met another bird lover that lives in the town next to mine so we took our conversations off line and got to know one another. After taking the time to get to know each other we thought it would be a good idea if I brought Valentino over to meet their BTM. We know macaws can be naughty right? Well I was very pleased that Valentino was well behaved. He sure is not shy about talking in places he is not familiar because the moment I took him out of his carrier he was a chatterbox. I am happy for these opportunities to socialize him.
On the other side of the coin and as every parrot owner knows it is not always smooth sailing with raising Valentino. We have clashed and butted heads more times than I can count. I believe at times my training methods do not mesh with the personality of Valentino. Maybe he feels like I am too controlling? Maybe we are not in sync during that session. I have not figured out why but what I do know is Valentino is the most intelligent and challenging parrot I ever had. With that intelligence comes a great responsibility and I do fear I don't meet his needs there. I really think I should get more involved in the bird community here so I can continue to educate myself with all aspects of parrot care. Sure I can research on the internet and read about things in books and what not I also need to talk to people who have experiences like my own to bounce ideas of of them.
Even with my challenges there is so many rewards that I experience with Valentino. He is not just a pet to me but a member of my family and my companion. Now that I have to return to the workforce and be gone all day five days a week I hope I can continue to keep Valentino happy and healthy while I have to work.
There is going to be a lot for challenges for us in the upcoming months. I think our relationship can weather these challenges and we will get though them.
Valentino the day I brought him home
Valentino less than a month ago
*raises glass* Here's to many more years with Valentino!
Valentino has passed so many milestones over the winter. Recently his appetite has picked up and what I was feeding him was not enough. I had to add more courses to his meals. LOL Even though he got cabin fever during the winter he did get enough flying time in my two story town home. Valentino is very confident flying and I feel if he ever escaped out of the home and flew out the door I believe I would be able to recall him successfully. Although I practice recall every day I do feel all bets are off if he were to suddenly be "free" outside flying. Now that the weather is warmer I will have to take him outside to reorient him to the surroundings in case he ever does escape. We do have a redtail hawk that lives across the street and raises a family every year and that will always be a concern to me if Valentino ever were to escape.
Valentino is also starting to talk in sentences. He is pretty much to the talking talent my Eclectus Joaquin had. Valentino is speaking words I never say to him. Either Lupe is using the phrases and words or he is learning them from TV during "momma time". One thing I noticed that none of my other parrots did is his like to "pounce my face". Valentino loves to run up my chest quickly to get to my face. He will then do either tongue me to death, grab my nose and pump, take a small amount of soft flesh like from my cheek or neck into his beak and lightly nip it, exhale breath forcefully and laugh. He is one weirdo for sure. Apparently these games Valentino likes to play are normal for RFM's. The "face games" I have concern for when he grows up so I do not allow much play there. Actually the things I describe I am not comfortable with because it is too close. I worry if he was to be worked up that "gentle" would go right out the window so I do tamp down activities involving my face.
Valentino does read my emotions and moods very well. He is pretty much bonded to me so he is very in tune with how I am doing. When I am feeling sad he will try to comfort me. He will get really close to my face and say "I love you" or rub his face against my cheek and trill. Valentino is still very cuddly and affectionate. When I am happy or excited he will fly around the house so fast I always think he will fly into something but he never does. While I watch him sometimes it looks like he is intoxicated because he will zig zag and bob and weave with the flying looking very erratic. His flying skill surpass any of my boys and I am always so amazed with his skills. Valentino has his laugh down pat to sound just like mine. He giggles! I never had a parrot that giggled.
Although Valentino and are experiencing some hard times he really is my rock. When I have to leave the house to do something unpleasant (like getting a mamogram...yuck!) I come back home to a affectionate interactive parrot. Once I came home very upset and my instinct was not to interact with Valentino taking him out of cage to pet and love him I stood by his cage and told him "Hello" and he hung on the bars closest to me and told me "Take me out". I took a couple of deep breaths and did as he asked. He wanted cuddles and to be held and really comforted me.
I also started taking Valentino out on play dates. On this form I met another bird lover that lives in the town next to mine so we took our conversations off line and got to know one another. After taking the time to get to know each other we thought it would be a good idea if I brought Valentino over to meet their BTM. We know macaws can be naughty right? Well I was very pleased that Valentino was well behaved. He sure is not shy about talking in places he is not familiar because the moment I took him out of his carrier he was a chatterbox. I am happy for these opportunities to socialize him.
On the other side of the coin and as every parrot owner knows it is not always smooth sailing with raising Valentino. We have clashed and butted heads more times than I can count. I believe at times my training methods do not mesh with the personality of Valentino. Maybe he feels like I am too controlling? Maybe we are not in sync during that session. I have not figured out why but what I do know is Valentino is the most intelligent and challenging parrot I ever had. With that intelligence comes a great responsibility and I do fear I don't meet his needs there. I really think I should get more involved in the bird community here so I can continue to educate myself with all aspects of parrot care. Sure I can research on the internet and read about things in books and what not I also need to talk to people who have experiences like my own to bounce ideas of of them.
Even with my challenges there is so many rewards that I experience with Valentino. He is not just a pet to me but a member of my family and my companion. Now that I have to return to the workforce and be gone all day five days a week I hope I can continue to keep Valentino happy and healthy while I have to work.
There is going to be a lot for challenges for us in the upcoming months. I think our relationship can weather these challenges and we will get though them.
Valentino the day I brought him home
Valentino less than a month ago
*raises glass* Here's to many more years with Valentino!
