The Continuing Capers of Companion-ing Cotton

[Cottonoid]

He accidentally dropped the millet but took a walnut I'd left in the bowl, and another walnut in the hanging toy (he took that one for the road back up to the platform) and now he's back on his boing beak grinding and happy!!!

Also - you all!!!! - this table is like only THREE FEET from where I'm sitting and he was RIGHT THERE !!! While I was facing him!

 

[Laurasea]

Woot woot!!!! He did it!!!! Yippee!!!! Awesome so awesome!!
You made a great set up for him and now that he is a millet addicted
Fantastic out of cage, enrichment, and you

I love tbe earlier photo of him sizing up the obstacles to his sweet millet! You could see the wheels turning!

He being so happy just makes me feel so happy!

 

[Cottonoid]

Cotton came out for dinner tonight! Motivated by a walnut he had to search for in the pineapple

He's now marching around the top of his cage destroying balsa blocks

 

[Icca]

That's a serious march! So much personality

 

[Cottonoid]

That's a serious march! So much personality

He was very proud of himself!

 

[Cottonoid]

I think Cotton's coloring is more vibrant now.

My coworker saw a new photo of him today and exclaimed at how blue his head is - she hadn't even noticed before.

So even if he's still eating mostly his seed and just picking at the pellets and fresh foods, the seed mix I bought from the parrot store really is a good one!

 

[Laurasea]

I think Cotton's coloring is more vibrant now.

My coworker saw a new photo of him today and exclaimed at how blue his head is - she hadn't even noticed before.

So even if he's still eating mostly his seed and just picking at the pellets and fresh foods, the seed mix I bought from the parrot store really is a good one!

I was thinking same thing! Still has one chest feather yippee!
So confident!!! Great job mommy!

 

[wrench13]

THe more you can get Cotton to spend time playing/destroying toys, the less time he will have to devote to plucking. Slow, slow process.

 

[Cottonoid]

THe more you can get Cotton to spend time playing/destroying toys, the less time he will have to devote to plucking. Slow, slow process.

That's a great point. I am SO happy he already likes toys and I think I'm starting to figure out the types he spends time on so that I can rotate appropriately. I'm hoping that the mental stimulation of figuring out how to get to treats and toys outside his cage will help keep him occupied too.

So far he has really surprised me in that he's not scared of any new object I put in or around his cage - just me

How long did it take Salty to learn to walk on the chain? So far Cotton chooses anything that looks like cage bars or natural wood to walk on, so I think I'll have to take baby steps. I was thinking of stringing some across his cage, taut so it doesn't move as much, with his favorite cork toy nearby. Then slowly increase the "give". Him being able to walk on and climb that would be a game changer for his mobility!

 

[wrench13]

Honestly he took to the chain in a day or 2 and got gradually more confident on it. Helps that his daytime feeding station is suspended from it. Gotta get to the black berries!!!

 

[Cottonoid]

Sassy little bird watching me watch him climb under the heater, poking his head out to make sure I notice

 

[Icca]

That's a great point. I am SO happy he already likes toys and I think I'm starting to figure out the types he spends time on so that I can rotate appropriately. I'm hoping that the mental stimulation of figuring out how to get to treats and toys outside his cage will help keep him occupied too.

So far he has really surprised me in that he's not scared of any new object I put in or around his cage - just me

How long did it take Salty to learn to walk on the chain? So far Cotton chooses anything that looks like cage bars or natural wood to walk on, so I think I'll have to take baby steps. I was thinking of stringing some across his cage, taut so it doesn't move as much, with his favorite cork toy nearby. Then slowly increase the "give". Him being able to walk on and climb that would be a game changer for his mobility!

That's amazing! He's very brave to not be scared of new objects. I'm sure that will be helpful in the long game.
Anything new for The Rebel has to start out across the room so she can give a good stare down.
By the way I love seeing him out of the cage. You're wearing him down it's only a matter of time before he's a Velcro bird ❤

 

[Cottonoid]

A little early morning balsa sculpting and toy flinging At one point the balsa looked like a heart and I'm so disappointed I didn't get that photo, ha

 

[StormyPica]

A little early morning balsa sculpting and toy flinging At one point the balsa looked like a heart and I'm so disappointed I didn't get that photo, ha


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The backround looks like a sunset!!! He's so cute, how are you doing in terms of taming him?

 

[Cottonoid]

The backround looks like a sunset!!! He's so cute, how are you doing in terms of taming him?

It's coming along very very very very slowly

 

[StormyPica]

It's coming along very very very very slowly

Welp, that's bird taming for ya. Seems like he's doing well, though, destroying stuff is always a good sign.

 

[Cottonoid]

Welp, that's bird taming for ya. Seems like he's doing well, though, destroying stuff is always a good sign.

He might take a very long time to think it's safe to step up, given his species and likely history before he was purchased at 9 months by his previous family. But he's taking obvious steps toward being comfortable interacting with me every day, which has really surprised me! I bet within a year he'll be stealing food off my plate

 

[HeatherG]

A little early morning balsa sculpting and toy flinging At one point the balsa looked like a heart and I'm so disappointed I didn't get that photo, ha


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What a cute little bald guy.

 

[Cottonoid]

I think I've watched that video of Cotton playing and growling at the ball 100 times now. I just can't believe how many new things he's tried in such a short time!

He's such a delight.

My son and I were sitting on the couch yesterday morning when his girlfriend came out and sat down by Cotton's cage. She was talking to him and said, "Oh Cotton you have a couple of feathers, good job!" and at the same time my son and I whisper-yelled "Don't tell him!" in the same tone of voice as each other She thought we'd lost it and then we couldn't stop giggling about it.

 

[Cottonoid]

Dinner time

I've been making myself a salad with Cotton supervising and then we eat together. In the morning same with granola + pellets. He *always* eats with me and I love it so much!

Tonight he went straight for his bowl and ate enough that I think he got some veggies too! I'll have to investigate when he's done. After that he beelined straight for his tree outside the cage and is eating seeds (and maybe pellets) that he's probably been eyeing all day.

I'm just in total awe that he's out and about and interacting with me this much already!