There and Back Again: A Conure's Tail

[Sunnyclover]

I would like to invite each and every reader of this thread to come on a journey with me into the lives of the two conures who have chosen me as their caregiver and confidant. Please come along! The more the merrier.

I will use this thread or blog, if you will, to talk about my life with my parrots. I will post videos, pictures, tell stories and at times I might even ask questions. I would also be happy to answer questions in return. Now let us get to the fun bit.

In case you don't know my birdies I will give a brief description of them and their personalities, ages, ect.

Ollie: Sun Conure 1 1/2 years old
He is a really cautious little guy and will warn you with a loud scream if there are any intruders in the house or outside (like those white birds outside...darn those white birds who do they think they are anyways?). Ollie is also very loving, caring, affectionate and loyal (to me, his mommy) to a fault and loves love loves his mommy time where he enjoys getting neck and head scratches for hours a day. However, he has no problem voicing his opinion on what he does and doesn't like and will let out a noise of disapproval if needed.Ollie has yet to bite his mommy or daddy but others easily fall victim to his beaky wrath. He has a nickname, BBE, that stands for Best Bird Ever because he almost always behaves and would step up onto my hand onto a fiery volcano if I so much as put my finger anywhere near his petite little body.
He goes by the names: Ollie, Baby, Olifur, Furfur, Purpur and Furfajus

Finley: Nanday Conure 6 months old
He is a bit of a doofus, has awkwardly huge feet and can often be found tumbling to the floor because he doesn't pay attention to where he flops onto his back on his mommy's legs.He loves playing with toys on mommy's lap and just laying on his back cuddling with his foot up because being a baby is hard work! Fin is really silly, endearing and needy and much like every "little brother" he likes to follow his big brother around (Ollie) and asks him to play games and Ollie snubs him and goes about his "cool big brother business". He has a little bit of a bitting problem that we are working through and we have finally made progress on that the last couple of days, I am happy to report. He goes by the names:Finfin, Fin, Finey, Green Monster, Demon, Finnel, Finneltice, Ticetice and Finley


Me: Desi (Sunnyclover) 34 years old
I am a mother, a parrot mother, a parrot lover, a wife and a chef. I enjoy going out to dinner, cooking dinner, France and most of all spending time with my birdies and family. Other than that I find it rather difficult to describe myself so I will let you all give your own opinions over time.

I will kick this blog off with a video of Ollie and I on our way to the restaurant that kindly lets us dine there with him. I will also share some pictures of us inside enjoying our meal, Ollie had bread and he decided to not have a glass of wine at lunch (how very responsible of him). Oh and the reason I took Ollie over Fin is because he's much more well behaved and predictable and is a seasoned traveler. Ollie also doesn't get upset and pace at the bottom of his Pack-o-bird and get poopies all over himself which someone (ehem) has been known to do.


[ame="https://youtu.be/aHiK7JjZcsU"]Ollie the Sun Conure on a car ride - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Sunnyclover]

I have not added a picture of Finley yet so I thought I had better add one. Here is a pic of him in his favorite position on Mommy! haha.

 

[GaleriaGila]

I just grinned and grinned while viewing this.

A Tale of Two Conures!

Really fun. I'll look forward to following your exploits!

 

[Scott]

Lovely thread, you're off to a great start!

 

[Sunnyclover]

Thank you Scott!

Today I gave them some popcorn ball things to suck on while I made dinner. They even forgot about the white birds (darn those white birds to heck)out the window for a while which is a shocking accomplishment.
[ame="https://youtu.be/dcT0NPT88k8"]Occupied - YouTube[/ame]

 

[FlyBirdiesFly]

Where did you get those?

Looking forward to following your flock’s thread.

 

[Sunnyclover]

Thank you!

I got them on Amazon... no idea what it's called. If you can't find it let me know and I'll ask my husband because he bought them.

 

[Sunnyclover]

These moments are from today with Finey! He had a bit of a hard time tonight because I was cooking for an even I have in a few days and so I couldn't risk holding him while I was searing meat. He threw his toys on the ground in protest and then started screaming at the toys and me in protest. He then tried to investigate and nearly fell so I tried to help him and pick up his toys and he bit me! Not really hard or anything and so I was like "no bite" and he looked at me like derp derp "what?" and gave me his blank stare like he had no idea what happened. I wasn't falling for it! I marched him right up to his sleep cage, changed his water and put his butt to bed (it was only 5 mins before bedtime and not his 1st biting incident in the last hour). He was NOT pleased and screamed his head off for 3 or 4 minutes before my husband and I decided to go get him and give him a proper goodnight and tuck him in ect. Well when I got him he just wanted to hang out on the couch for a while and play. I think that's what the biting was about, he wanted me to play with him this whole time but didn't know how to say it and like a toddler got frustrated and threw a fit. I took a break and played with him for about 15 mins before he happily went to bed.

These pictures were taken after we got him back out of bed. He is so cute...I love him so much, he makes my life interesting.

 

[Sunnyclover]

Today was a challenging day with Finley. One moment he wanted to cuddle and longs to be with me and the next he seems scared and the next angry and then happy again. He did regurgitate a few times in the morning and I managed to distract him before he got to any other "activities". The more he acts out and then wants to cuddle and play with me makes me think it might be really really early hormones and puberty but he's only 6 months old. It just sounds like it with his i love you and then hate you but love you! attitude. Ollie on the other hand was a complete angel today. All he wanted to do was set up camp under my chin and lay there and get tickles. I managed to capture a moment today with Finn and Ollie getting into a little scuff while hanging out on me. I thought it might be good to kind of show what having 2 birds that aren't mates on you at the same time is like.
[ame="https://youtu.be/gHbeE2DrOpQ"]Ollie and Fin on mommy - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Sunnyclover]

Today was pretty good. Ollie was wanting more attention than usual which is nice. He is the most wonderful bird and I cannot wait to take him on vacation this summer. Fin will be staying at my babysitter/birdsitter's house 10 days while my husband, son, Ollie and I will be flying 1st to my in laws house in Wisconsin then to my family's hometown in Oregon. This is 3 flights total for us on this trip and Ollie has flown before to Oregon. Let me say that he is just a delight to have along and as quiet as a mouse on the flights. We thought about taking young Finley also but he is just too unpredictable (noise wise) and does not ride in a carrier well. He also likes to get in the bottom of the carrier and walk in poopy unlike Ollie who would never do that! Fin also would start yelling and in turn Ollie would contact call and well you get the idea. Oh well, I think when Fin is older we will try taking him solo on a plane to test the waters.

Finley has done better with his biting today, after a perfectly horrible morning with the young chap, I decided to deploy a new tactic and started putting him on the floor when he acts up and bites. So far so good, after the 2 times I did it he actually behaved for a long time! Yay! Anyways, I got Finley a new toy to keep him occupied because I thought perhaps part of the issue is he may be board. He already takes them off and with a little help has put a couple back on too.

 

[FlyBirdiesFly]

I taught Ducky the ring toss trick as well. It helps to teach him to fetch the rings to your hand first, then place your hand over the peg and pull it away right before he drops it in. Eventually, he will learn that he only gets rewarded when the ring goes on the peg.

 

[Inger]

Ooh! Ring toss! Where did you get it? Bumble needs one.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[itzjbean]

Ahhh how did I miss this thread! I love all the pictures and have been enjoying watching your two boys grow!! BTW, you're right Finley's feet are huge!! LOL

 

[Sunnyclover]

Ooh! Ring toss! Where did you get it? Bumble needs one.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks guys! I'm glad you are all enjoying my boys.

Here is the toy: Alfie Pet by Petoga Couture - Darcy Educational Woonden Ring Tower Toy for Birds https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LWLG4TW?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf

Today, let's see...Finley was a complete disaster. I was trying method of putting him on the floor for biting but he won't let go so I end of shaking him to the floor and because of that he (even clipped) took flight to the Chandelier type thing in the entrance way of the door. Well it's pretty high up so I had to get a broom stick to get him off. He saw the broom stick coming for him and freaked out and flew down. I'm sad to say after that any hope of teaching him was kind of lost today. I need to find a way to put him on the floor and not shake him but he knows I'm going to put him on the floor so it's tough. Ugggh Finley... you're killing me bro! He's so sweet sometimes it's crazy how he can be in such a bad mood and scream and bite and act scared of me but the next minute he's cute and playing on his back or cuddling. Strange. Anyways, of course Ollie the angel bird let off squawks of concern at the whole broom fiasco but then clearly was convinced Finley was to blame as he took to my neck and nipped at Finley any time the poor green guy went by. Ohhh my 2 boys, my 2 completely different boys.

 

[Carl_Power]

I really like your lil guys especially Finley. He has such character lol I cant wait to hear what he does next. At least he isnt boring x

 

[Sunnyclover]

Thanks Carl!

Well today I have the chef event I'm cooking at which means I won't be home tonight at all (I have my babysitter cone and put them to bed and hang out) so I made sure to carve out a couple hours in the morning for them by skipping my workout. I figured I'd be working pretty hard this evening so it's fine. Finley continues to bite when he's upset but now I've been taking him to a place on the floor and placing him there and walking away while saying "no bite". I hope this works! He wasn't terrible about it this morning so that was good and him and I got some play time in. Ollie and I had some one on one time also and then I played with them together.
Ollie likes to go under the blanket on my lap but Finley doesn't... unless of course Ollie is there lol. Today Fin even went all the way in Ollie's spot and walked on Ollie's head, the poor darling just made a noise of displeasure as I quickly removed Fin from his face. I tried to get it on video but only manages to get a little of it. Hope you enjoy!

[ame="https://youtu.be/F89l7YZyO5A"]Hey Finfin...that's my spot! - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Carl_Power]

Haha thats funny. Ollie is really happy chilling out under there isnt he. Finley will grow out of biting. I remember Xander doing it alot but he was always gentle lucky for me. Just consistently telling him no did the trick really. Do some more vids of Ollie and good luck with your chef thing x

 

[Sunnyclover]

Lucky for you Carl, before I let the house I made an Ollie video I wasn't planning on posting but I will since you requested more Ollie! And yes he loves just hanging out under that blanket and grinding his beak and sometimes napping. He has not shown mating behavior for a long time so I let me do it every night. I put Fin to bed at 7 and Ollie at 8 giving Ollie a whole hour of Mommy time. He really looks forward to it and hops straight to the blanket or under my chin. He's the most gentle and cute little guy ever!
[ame="https://youtu.be/EJpCSgYMbCc"]Ollie is cute and preens his Mommy - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Carl_Power]

Its not hard to see how much he loves you and what a good job you have done with him. He is very beautiful and seems really well behaved. They just cant resist chewing our ears can they x

 

[AmyMyBlueFront]

How did I miss this thread? So very cute...the three of you

Looks like you have a couple of snugglebugs Sunny...lol



Jim