What Happens When Two Parrot Lover from the Forum Get Together?

[GreatBlue320]

You have a GREAT time!

I met with Laura (labell) today for my hand feeding lesson. Wow! How lucky am I to have someone with such a wealth of bird experience just an hour away?! And, someone who is really just an all-around, AMAZING person.

If any of you have a chance to meet up with another forum member, I hope you will do so. There was something very rewarding and satisfying about being able to see each other and talk in person - not to mention getting a chance to meet Meegosh, Willow and Brady!

In fact, we were having so much fun chatting about all kinds of things that we completely neglected to take photos! Bad, bad forum members, I know.

THANK YOU, LAURA! Not only for sharing your knowledge of birds with me, but for welcoming me, my son and Birdie into your home.

 

[JerseyWendy]

Isn't she the best????

Now boo-hoo-hooooo for not taking a single photo.

 

[Kiwibird]

Sounds like a wonderful day! I have met up with a couple members, but they were brief meetings. I wish I lived closer to a few members who I'd really like to meet/meet their flocks

Now, as for not getting us any pictures:58:

 

[labell]

I know..I know I wasn't thinking pictures until after either. We had a lovely time. Her son is just the most polite, bright 11 year old boy ever! In person Baxter is the cutest! He kept playing with stuff and rolling over on his side while playing.
The lesson went great and Baxter has one amazing mommy!!!

 

[JerseyWendy]

Ladies, please DO tell....did Baxter want to be fed?? How did that go???

 

[Birdman666]

I know..I know I wasn't thinking pictures until after either. We had a lovely time. Her son is just the most polite, bright 11 year old boy ever! In person Baxter is the cutest! He kept playing with stuff and rolling over on his side while playing.
The lesson went great and Baxter has one amazing mommy!!!

The macaw "flop over" is one of the great joys in life...

 

[GreatBlue320]

I would say that Baxter would want the feeding really for comfort at this point. Laura first gave him some formula with the syringe which he took but I don't think his baby feeding response was all that strong (correct me, Laura, if I'm wrong about that).

She then used the bent spoon and he took a little more - was drinking it more than anything.

That's about all he was interested in and I made sure not to give him is bigger meal in the morning so that he would be a bit hungry when we arrived at Laura's.

I'm going to give him some formula using the spoon tonight and see what he does. It has been so long since he was force weaned (grrrrr ) that he might be past the point where he is really wanting the formula.

He's eating his pellets and crazy corn (kind of a birdie mash - that's what he was getting at the store) like a champ. I'm going to make him some home made chop this weekend so that will be the end of the crazy corn! I'm also weighing him every morning to make sure he is maintaining his weight.

I just hope the force weaning and waaaaaay too early clipping doesn't have any long-term effects on him!

 

[labell]

His initial response was great and he took a little from the syringe but then backed right off. I think he will take some off the spoon for comfort which at this point can't hurt and will make mommy much more comfortable than the syringe.

I wouldn't worry too much about the fast wean and early clip the spoiling he will get from here on out I am sure will make up for it. As long as he is now offered a great variety of foods and given the formula for comfort I think he will be just fine.

He was flapping here and I think even with the clip if he is encouraged to exercise his wings and chest muscles that will work out as well once his feathers grow back in.

 

[GreatBlue320]

Thanks, Laura!

He was flapping up a storm later this afternoon - on and off for about 5 minutes, each "flapping session" about 5-10 seconds. Glad to see he is doing that!

 

[JerseyWendy]

I just got goosebumps reading both your responses!! :smile015:

Shawna, Baxter is in PERFECTLY capable hands, and I know the love you and your family will be showering him with, will be MORE than enough to make up for the early weaning and early clip. You just wait and see....he'll be flying around your house before you know it.

My Ripley (GW) was also clipped long before he ever fledged, and he came to me when he was 18 months. He had never been allowed to fly, was always kept clipped at the store. You should see him now. And my dude is not lacking confidence any longer either. :54:

 

[Allee]

Yayyyy! This a fantastic update! I'm glad the lesson went so well, but how could it not? Excellent teacher and student. Baxter is very fortunate to have such a wonderful mommy. I admit I was just a little jealous, I would have loved to have been there. Pictures would have made me feel much better, but I'll forgive you since all of you had a good time.

Shawna, I agree with Wendy, I think Baxter is going to thrive with you!

 

[Doublete]

So much fun to meet truly wonderful online friends in person!

 

[Aquila]

Would love to meet some fellow parrotpeople, looking at you JerseyWendy! Have to let me know if you ever come into Philly.

 

[JerseyWendy]

Would love to meet some fellow parrotpeople, looking at you JerseyWendy! Have to let me know if you ever come into Philly.

HA! We're only an hour from Philly. My hubby was born and raised there! If you ever come to my neck of the woods, please stop by!!

 

[Anansi]

This lucky guy was fortunate enough to have met both Wendy AND Laura in person!!! Whoo-hoo!!! And as if that wasn't great enough, I also got to meet their amazing flocks and even got to see their artistic passions in person!

Laura's artwork is even more impressive in person, and my jaw dropped as I took in all the art in her studio! Particularly the Lennon painting and the one of her son. Wow!

And Wendy's garden is breathtaking! The photos, as beautiful as they are, don't even begin to do it justice! (Kinda hard to go back to your own yard after that. Sigh. Thanks, Wendy. Lol) Wendy also got to meet my Bixby, too! (And was sweet enough to parrot-sit him for over a week!) I'm glad she got that chance.

Shawna, I'm so glad you took the time to learn about hand-feeding the right way, and you couldn't have found a better teacher. And I agree with Allee. Baxter is in very good hands. I look forward to seeing his growth and development... through LOTS OF PICTURES! (Forgetting to take pics is a near capital offense, hereabouts, but we'll forgive you... this time. Lol!)

 

[labell]

My son's painting is still here that doesn't get delivered to him until September, the big Lennon painting is gone to the new owner but I am working on the smaller version so that was in the studio. I asked her son if he knew who it was and he said someone from the Beatles or Rolling Stones...I was impressed!

 

[GreatBlue320]

Thank you, everyone, for your kind words. I'm glad you all have faith in my parronting skills! I know that Baxter will teach me so much and that I can always turn to all of you for help and advice.

I want to second what Anansi said about Laura's art... it is truly AMAZING! I, too, was blown away by her talent. One of my favorites was a smaller (maybe 10 x 10?) portrait of a cow - just its face. The detail was incredible. I NEED to have one of her painting in my home!

I have to admit I was shocked when my son "kind of" knew that John Lennon was a member of the Beatles (or maybe the Stones - haha). My husband and I are big music lovers, and I know my son has heard many Beatles songs, but I have to wonder how many photos of them he has actually seen.

 

[June2012]

My my! You must've had a blast! (But, one must realize the great offense of no pictures... :28: muahahahahaha)

I'm honestly very jealous of such an account. And how is Baxter? Would love at least one more update pic of him.

 

[GreatBlue320]

We did have a great time!

I'm away visiting family and find it hard to post pics from my iPad. Promise to post more Baxter photos when I get home!