Week 13

The 13 week old babies continue to fly.  We are gradually trimming primary wing feathers.  These babies will likely have between 5 and 6 primary wing feathers trimmed off of each wing to keep them safely trimmed while allowing a safe and controlled glide to the ground in the event that the baby looses his/her balance or leaps off the perch. 

The birds are both still rather distracted and preoccupied with flight when we are working with them.  It limits what we can accomplish in our training sessions.  We continue to work with basic command such as the "step up" and "step down."  Harnesses and flight suits are still put on on a regular basis.  We continue to work with travel training, desensitization to new stimuli, socialization skills and cage training.

The birds are weaning quite well.  This weekend we dropped the mid day feeding.  The birds are still enjoying light morning and bedtime supplimentation with hand weaning formula and occasional hand feedings of the scenic hand weaning pellets.

Both babies are eating Zupreem fruit blend parrot pellets, a daily serving of fresh fruit, veggie, nut treats, sprouts or seeds.  This time of year the apples are so fresh and good.  The birds relish their apples!

Our playful "puppy birds" (as I affectionately call them) adore their toys and will spend hours exploring and manipulating both new and familiar objects!  It is so entertaining.  They chortle and coo like little kittens (literally sounds like meowing sometimes) when they "communicate" with "mama" (me!).  Each clutch of chicks I raise develops a unique "call" that they reserve for me, alone.  It is so endearing and such an honor that they bestow on me!   Words cannot begin to describe the awesome feeling of "connecting" so strongly with such amazing and magical creatures............even if it is for just a short time in their long lives.  This is the heart of the reason I do what I do with these birds!  I am so eager for our two families to experience the same joy when their baby comes home.

I cannot honestly say that the birds are repeating words in a clear and understandible way, yet............but both are vocalizing "clear" attempts to repeat words they hear me say frequently!  All of my family members will report that they have heard the familiar cadance and intonation of several words, (most frequently "hello.")

We continue to take the birds on small excursions individually in the travel carriers to get them patterned to travel home with their families.  I like to use a small cat carrier when I travel with the birds.  The carriers with a wire top that opens are particularily nice.  I also like to take the birds for a walk in the neighborhood in a bird backpack type carrier or in their harnesses.  The birds are safely contained and have a view of all that is going on around them. 

Personalities blossom.  We have exceptionally sweet, outgoing, playful chicks.  All three are extremely easy to work with and charming to have around.

It won't be long before both babies will be going home with their families.  Hopefully our families of these babies have been preparing for the homecoming of the new bird.  It can take weeks for a cage to arrive if you order, so keep that in mind.  These last weeks of hand raising will go quickly!   

 L to R, Sweetie, Gloria, Claude, looking majestic on top of the cage!

 

A walk outdoors in the harness!

My 9 year old (with Sweetie and  Claude) and my 8 year old with Gloria.