The Continuing Capers of Companion-ing Cotton

[Cottonoid]

I bought an evaporative humidifier that arrived yesterday. Set it up last night before bed, and in 12 hours the room has gone from 21% humidity (which was an improvement from the 15% the rest of the house is) to 55%! That was fast! And seems to have worked for the dining and kitchen space too, judging by the steamy windows

It feels SO nice in here!

Cotton is currently doing his morning inspection of all his toys before breakfast. He loves foraging for treats and eventually I bet he'll really like having to search for all his food. He just found a little walnut piece and is beeping while carrying it around

 

[SailBoat]

Take great care to ensure that the filter is cleaned or replaced regularly as they 'can be' a source for Mold.

Remember that Humidity is like a wedge in that it is highest at the source and lowest the further one is from the source.

Frost on windows can be a sign that your home /apartment has or is reaching its maximum ability to hold any additional moisture in the air. You may have to target a bit lower level to mitigate the development of mold.

Try 50% as your target level.

 

[Cottonoid]

Take great care to ensure that the filter is cleaned or replaced regularly as they 'can be' a source for Mold.

Remember that Humidity is like a wedge in that it is highest at the source and lowest the further one is from the source.

Frost on windows can be a sign that your home /apartment has or is reaching its maximum ability to hold any additional moisture in the air. You may have to target a bit lower level to mitigate the development of mold.

Try 50% as your target level.

Thank you! I had the target at 50% and didn't expect it to get that high - but I had the fan running low all night; I've switched it to Auto mode now. My windows are 1953 single pane with very little glazing left, so they are prone to morning condensation in our current weather, but this morning's steaminess is certainly due to indoor humidity. I'll have to play with the settings to find the sweet spot.

My lungs are very sensitive to molds (and I certainly don't want it in my plaster walls) so I made sure to get a model that is easy to clean regularly.

Thank you for the tips! Very helpful!

 

[Cottonoid]

Cotton performing morning calisthenics or the yoga pose known as Wing In Foot in Mouth

 

[Cottonoid]

@Laurasea I have to thank you for writing such a detailed journal when Penny and then your whole flock was sick. I'm SO glad I read it early on; your knowledge and observations are 100% the reason I noticed Cotton had nare feather staining in the first place.

 

[Cottonoid]

I have a random TV show on while reading, and just heard a strange growl from Cotton

I looked up just in time to see eye pinning and VERY LOUD RINGNECK ALARM CALL!

Tons of crows on the TV screen!!

Good bird!!! He got lots of Good Bird, Thank You from me and a walnut piece. He was so brave! He stayed right up front on my side of the cage and let me know! Then as soon as I got up to fast forward he moved back to his safe spot.

What an awesome sound, though! I've heard it from IRN that were scared of my hat at a store, and on YouTube, but WOW!

Not cool he had to experience that, especially when fighting illness, but, wow! And first time I've seen eye pinning like that in him.

He's incredible. What a freaking gift.

 

[Laurasea]

Eye pinning!!!!!!!! Yippee!!!! I think so cool ringneck s do this ( others species too) but ring neck seem to eye pin like crazy!!
He is feeling better!!!!! So glad my sick flock thread and journey is helping others.
Yeah Alarm call! Yeah bravely protective of Mom and his new territory!!!

 

[Cottonoid]

You know how your brain sometimes forgets who you know from where and just fills in the blanks?

I just waved and said "Hi Al! Thank you!" to a gentleman outside the pet store letting me cross - in a convertible with sunglasses, a jaunty cap, sweet mustache, smoking a pipe ?!?! Substitute pipe for parrot and it could've been wrench13's doppelganger, I'm sure of it!

Whoops! He pretended not to notice and gaily smiled and waved back.

It's officially Spring in Minnesota, is what!

 

[Icca]

Not impressed with new cage decor of broccoli carrot and pepper

Refused to go on his favorite perch and made a big point of going to the very top of the opposite side of his boing and staring pointedly at his perch

And more pointedly at me

View attachment 37850

Cotton is so cute!

 

[kme3388]

Here's a video about Indian Ringnecks/training. They have the most adorable sounds!!!! BirdTricks has some really neat ideas on how to train birds in general, and they are great with behavioral advice as well.

 

[Cottonoid]

Here's a video about Indian Ringnecks/training. They have the most adorable sounds!!!! BirdTricks has some really neat ideas on how to train birds in general, and they are great with behavioral advice as well.

Thanks for sharing that! I always get excited when they have new ringneck content - I hadn't seen that one yet!

 

[Henderbird]

This thread is so detailed and heartfelt. I really like it! Can't wait to hear new updates!

 

[Henderbird]

Omg the updates are here now! I didn't see the most recent replies until now haha.

 

[Cottonoid]

I offered treat sticks and spray millet and peanut butter in addition to his normal food yesterday and Cotton ate all the millet. Oh and walnuts he's been finding in toys.

This morning he didn't go straight to his bowl like he normally does, and I ate my breakfast and drank my coffee in the room with him like I usually do. Around noon I tried to get him out to feed him some baby bird formula for extra calories and I couldn't catch him - he started hopping from perch to perch! Athletic little nugget! I got stressed and he was stressed.

I hung out reading like I do for a chunk of time on weekends. He was just quieter than usual and I was getting worried.

Then I realized he's not wanting anything to do with me. I put on YouTube parrot videos and went into the other room. Within 10 seconds he was talking and chatting to the TV birds and playing with toys and eating. He was talking for a good 20 minutes!

Of course he's lost trust, and silly me was just going about my normal day instead of checking in with his comfort level.

Keeping my fingers crossed that keeping myself busy in other rooms is what he needs for the moment and that syringe feeding can wait

 

[Henderbird]

I offered treat sticks and spray millet and peanut butter in addition to his normal food yesterday and Cotton ate all the millet. Oh and walnuts he's been finding in toys.

This morning he didn't go straight to his bowl like he normally does, and I ate my breakfast and drank my coffee in the room with him like I usually do. Around noon I tried to get him out to feed him some baby bird formula for extra calories and I couldn't catch him - he started hopping from perch to perch! Athletic little nugget! I got stressed and he was stressed.

I hung out reading like I do for a chunk of time on weekends. He was just quieter than usual and I was getting worried.

Then I realized he's not wanting anything to do with me. I put on YouTube parrot videos and went into the other room. Within 10 seconds he was talking and chatting to the TV birds and playing with toys and eating. He was talking for a good 20 minutes!

Of course he's lost trust, and silly me was just going about my normal day instead of checking in with his comfort level.

Keeping my fingers crossed that keeping myself busy in other rooms is what he needs for the moment and that syringe feeding can wait

Sometimes it happens and all we can do is know where we went wrong and act accordingly with it! Which is exactly what you're doing!

 

[Laurasea]

Apples and naturalized flock

 

[Cottonoid]

Apples and naturalized flock

That was fun!

 

[Cottonoid]

This morning I gave Cotton his breakfast and turned on the light then went back in the other room and watched him on camera haha. He spent 20 minutes playing and talking.

Photo from across the room - his left nare staining has always been worse than the right and looks worse because it's blurry/shadowed, but his eyes are definitely more clear now I think.

 

[Henderbird]

This morning I gave Cotton his breakfast and turned on the light then went back in the other room and watched him on camera haha. He spent 20 minutes playing and talking.

Photo from across the room - his left nare staining has always been worse than the right and looks worse because it's blurry/shadowed, but his eyes are definitely more clear now I think.

View attachment 38459

Awwwww! Reminds me of golden hour

 

[Cottonoid]