Barking Mad

We just adopted a beautiful, loving medium-size dog from the local county shelters. We call her Tilda, and in less than a week she learned that name. She’s smart, loves to cuddle and lick her people, doesn’t bother the birds, but still isn’t sure how she feels about the cat. Luckily the cat is outside and Tilda is inside.

Thankful Flock

I couldn’t begin to cover all the things and people and circumstance in my life for which I am thankful. I need more than one day, or even a four-day weekend, to cover it. I am so blessed and hope I can give back in many ways at every opportunity.

No Means Keep Trying

The basics of training any creature, even goldfish, requires the use of a reward in exchange for a learned behavior properly performed. Animals are driven by a need for food and mammals and birds also need companionship and approval. Not sure about goldfish or reptiles.

Peculiar Parrot Tricks

Remember the bit on a certain TV show called Stupid Pet Tricks? Well, my birds aren’t stupid, but their “tricks” are kinda peculiar. I’ve mentioned several times that my toeless Congo African Gray parrot, Bobo, likes to hang by her beak from the top of her cage. Not really a trick, because she won’t do it on command. Only when she wants extra attention.

A Cozy Afternoon

Doubtless, people wonder why I share my life with so many birds. True, it’s a lot of work cleaning, feeding, and watering so many cages. And my special needs birds take extra attention. The parrots are noisy, messy, and many are too scared of people to be held and loved. But I love them anyway.

That was Close!

Living with a lot of birds means you are going to lose some through old age, accidents, or illnesses. And then there are the times when you think, “Wow! That could have ended badly!” Unfortunately, these close calls don’t always make us more careful after a couple days of no repeated incidents.

Delivering a Baby Part 3

As you can probably tell by the first two parts of this story, I really became attached to the baby Congo African Grey that I called Digger. My husband Mike was also sad to see the baby go. But from the start, I knew this kid had a bigger role in life to play than to just entertain us.

Delivering a Baby Part 2

On Sunday, I wrote about the African Grey parrots, or CAGs, that live in my house and the advent of a baby CAG to be handfed. After promising Bobo that the baby would only stay for one week, I had to apologize when Digger got to stay for a few more weeks.

Delivering a Baby, Part One

I expect that title is a bit misleading. You see, I had the amazing pleasure of hand feeding and weaning an African Grey chick. I called him Digger due to the habit he had of scratching at the bottom of the cage. He did this mostly when he wanted to get out and see me.