Second Chance Birds

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If you must cripple a creature to keep it, perhaps you should reconsider its suitability as a pet.
We must never forget the one who inspired me... my precious Baby!

OMG HB, you have a mirrored image of Soleil, Jake and Kaiser.

Soleil has her links that she does the same thing with too. God forbid if it 'attacks' her back or something, she then too will 'punish' it.

Jake is our "one toe" wonder. We often get scared when he does that because he is ssoooo clumsy. Hanging upside down - what is it with Macaws acting like bats.

I find that big chunks of wood get splintered rather fast around here, but I use leather strips and a lot more wood.

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With a Broken Wing and a Dream, You oughta see Him Fly!
Now I lay me down to sleep, to dream of a home that I may keep.
Bo-Innocent & Brave ((((Diamond))))

Sonoma Spike Sadie Opus Kaiser Timmy Reagan

Bird Profile

Skippy is really hard on her toys! She also loves to drape her rope toys all around her back, under her wings and would accidentally hang herself if I didn't watch her, so here is what I do...

I only buy sisal rope (absolutely NO cotton rope for her) and I buy 2x4's. I drill all the holes in the 2x4's before cutting them into 3" lengths. I put them on the sisal and tie 2 big knots(very tight knots) after each piece of wood. I usually have 3 or 4 pieces of wood on each strand. These toys hang all over her playstand, which is 5' long. She is out on her playstand all day.

I never hang any rope toys in her cage. She doesn't need them in there because she is out of the cage all day, but occasionally I have to go somewhere and she has to be in her cage. I am soooo scared she will hang herself somehow when I am not here, so she only has her big stainless bell and wooden foot toys for when she is inside her cage.

I even made my husband take her stainless bell to work and shorten the chain because the length of it scared me. I can only use stainless steel bowls for her because she will destroy any other kind. All of her stainless bowls have beak dents in them and they aren't lightweight stainless. I let her play with stainless spoons when she is in the kitchen with me and I now have a drawer full of bent up teaspoons. We are used to the mishapen spoons, but when company comes and you hand them a bent up spoon to stir their coffee with, they get kind of weird about it. (who needs non-bird people anyway...)

The hanging by a toe is something Skippy does a lot. We have carpeting with a piece of linoleum on it and that is where her playstand is in case she falls. She falls once in a while and doesn't get hurt because of the carpeting under her stand. I couldn't imagine having her in a room with a hard floor. The weight of her cage puts big dents in the linoleum because of the carpeting underneath but it's better than a hard floor for her. She would definately get hurt because she likes to hang upside down and beat the daylights out of her hanging toys and sometimes she gets real carried away and falls. She also likes to unscrew the eyebolts that hold her toys on the playstand and falls right along with the toys, so I have to tie a short piece of sisal through the eyebolts and around her stand. The sisal is just long enough to go around the pvc and tied twice, pulled super tight with pliers.

She is very rough on all of her things. The day we got her last cage was horrible. Within a half hour of being in it she had popped all the bolts out that held the food cups and my husband had to go into work and make parts for it that she couldn't bite through. I don't remember what kind of cage it is but we got it from Drs Foster and Smith, the biggest one avaiable at the time (3 years ago) and it hasn't held up at all. She needs a new one and stainless is the only option. We got her the cage with the playtop instead of a dome, big mistake because she used to go up there and lift the second manzanita perch right out of its holes and it was heavy!

So yeah, she is rough and will destroy anything that isn't stainless steel or PVC. She doesn't try to chew up the pvc stand. thank goodness.
The only other thing she is easy on is her green bath towel. I have to wash it every night after she goes to bed and have it ready for the next morning. She feeds it and talks to it. She doesn't do that with any other towel, just that particular green one.

Before we made the PVC stand, she had a tree we cut down, dried out for about 6 months, then we bolted it right to the floor with a PVC toilet ring (flange?) It sure seemed like a good idea at the time but within a few weeks she had all the branches chewed into horrible death spears that I was afraid she would get killed on if she fell so out to the woodpile it went. It doesn't help that she only has one eye and can't see what she is heading for on the left side of her head.

I know this all sounds like a real pain in the rear, but I adore her and none of the things mentioned here bother me in the slightest. She is well worth every bit of work. Even when hubs and I spend hours and hours building things for her that don't work out, it is still worth it because she is so wonderful to live with.

Yesterday evening she was sitting on the couch with hubs and me, he was rubbing her neck and I was playing with her toes. We were watching Lord of the Rings and Frodo went wandering off, as usual, and Skippy says "Uh oh...." Seriously, how did she know it was an Uh oh part? Maybe she felt one of us tense up or something, but it was hilarious.

Oh boy can we relate to that one, lol!! Luckily, when Sammy pulls those stunts, he can just fly off instead of hitting the ground. We can also relate to the comments while watching TV. Little story: We were watching a crazy movie called "Road Trip" (Tom Green) a few years ago when a scene had the college kids flying through the air in one of the parent's station wagons after hitting a huge hill at high-speed. The station-wagon landed and seemed okay and the students looked relieved. After it rolled to a stop, all the wheels simultaneously fell off and the car hit the ground with a big thud. From the peanut gallery behind us (Sammy's living room cage where we THOUGHT he was asleep) we hear "Ohhhhhh nooooooooooo!!!" We laughed until we cried. They not only seem to have the gift of speaking in context, but a sense of humor as well!

_________________
If you must cripple a creature to keep it, perhaps you should reconsider its suitability as a pet.
We must never forget the one who inspired me... my precious Baby!

I make most of Angel;'s toys from scrap pine from the harware store. Undyed leather from a friend that sells the stuff for crafters, and does special orders... it still gets washed in vinagar and water before it gets used. She isn't bad on sisal rope or even cotten, but everything is tied around the playstand, those jumps are just too easy for her to unscrew. All but the biggest are subject to bending with that beak.
Hard plastic, like the pvc doesn't hold up to that beak either.
She's only fallem once as she is doing her spins over and around the perches.
I do keep a rubber egg to put nuts and treats in, it's the first thing that she plays with in the morning, and usually the last thing that she plays with before bed.
Her favorite thing is a 'dolly' made of wood, baby bowl and baby plastic disposable spoons... I make two a week, and she destroys it over a couple of days.
I don't keep anything in her cage that is long enough for her to get wrapped in... just never thought that it was a good thing if I'm now right there.... and never did it for the others either.

I wasn't going to reply to this post cause Harley really doesn't play. But today he found a game he likes. Its called unscrew the bowls and throw them on the floor. We have the bowls that screw onto the little posts that clamp on the cage and he was just having a blast unscrewing them, picking them up and throwing them to the floor.
We can't really use any other bowls because his is a built cage and stands 7 feet high on the base, its made of grids so the bowls have to clamp on. We have a ceramic bowl on the floor, and that gets tossed around on a regular basis, so I guess we'll just have to wait until the novelty wears off with this game. When we got him his cage had nothing in it but a breeder box and a perch, they gave us his "toy" a rawhide bone on a chain, poor darling. So we have to teach him how to play with toys. You just want to sit and cry when you hang a toy in his cage and he just looks at it and has no clue what to do with it. We can't wait for the day we have to replace his beat up toys and grumble about all the wood he goes through.

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Caesar Cleo Elby Harley Malibu Tweet


It is not only fine feathers that make fine birds.
Aesop

Got lots of ideas to add but it will have to wait until after the holidays. One item that most of my macaws like is an empty 2 liter soda bottle with the cap on. Once they get done chewing the cap off they proceed to beat up the bottle. Logan especially likes to knock the bottle around and make as much noise as he can.

Had a near hanging here too and have nixed all long ropes as well. Sisal is about the only one I'll use anymore. Goofy links are a must. The large plastic chain is also a fave.

Good luck on the bowl dumping. It's a never ending challenge around here

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x 4

Mine like to pull the stoppers out on water bottles and then unscrew the caps
The cage she was in had a perch across the middle and the rawhide on a chain too.
I think I had to teach all of them to play, Danny never did, but the rest caught onto it very quickly.
Angel-Rose went from not knowing what to do, to having her wood toys replaced every couple of days....
The chips of wood make a good fire starter!

I use the shredded wood from the too's in the garden, around the flowers. A friend of ours asked us to save the wood for her then she doesn't have to buy the expensive wood from the landscape yards. Never thought of the 2 liter pop bottles, I tried giving Harley a tennis ball and he just stood there giving it the one eye. So thats a no go with him.

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Caesar Cleo Elby Harley Malibu Tweet


It is not only fine feathers that make fine birds.
Aesop

Cowboy Loves his plastic toys, wood is not much of a hit with him. He somehow manages to destroy even heavy duty acrilic toys like they are nothing, the only ones that seems to stand up to his beating on his toys are the goofy links.....I try others and he pulls them apart and then tosses me the pieces, I have givin him the Kong dog toys and they hold up pretty well and can also be stuffed with forageing goodies.Great for those hardcore distructive beaks.

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Cowboy Buckwheat & Mandy

Drama of the day.... :cool:
Setting: the play stand
Time: about now
Charactors: Angel-Rose, and the benefactor

(Done in monolog)

Scene: Advertised as an indestructable bell, it is encased in heavy acrylic and suspended from a chain with a heavy duty clasp, on one of the several 'arms' of the stand.
Angel-Rose has finished her morning medly breakfast, and has made the journey from her cage on the arm of her benefactor to her play stand, where she will be able to wave a wing at the passing crows, seagulls, and raptors that fly low passed the windows. She is full, she has had her morning bath, and a drink of freshly mangled and squeezed orange. She is now ready to either nap, or inspect her treasures that have reappeared in her absence since the night before.
She carefully follows the pattern of the assorted perches that wend their way around the central trunk of the 'tree' to the top, where she can quench her thirst if she so chooses. At each level, she inspects the choices for the day, pausing briefly to give each thing a shake. She listens intently for a moment to each block of wood. The color, the texture, the sound as it rattles in the still morning air.
She has made it to the top perch, and pauses long enough to grab a chunk of an icecube out of her dish, and feel the crunch between her strong mandibles. She tips her head back, and lets the coolness slide into her throat, then pulls the empty bowl off it's peg and flings it to the floor, nodding her head up and down in excitement, as it hits the edge of the table top, drops, and rolls under a chair, where her benefactor will have to employ a stratagy later that she calls laying like a log on the ground and reaching.
She has made her descision about the toy for the day, and steps quickly to the lower reaches of the stand and grabs the bell that was labeled and indestructable.
Her mission: is now to prove that it's false advertising.
Grasping the bell housing, she turns it upside down, but can't get to the clapper. She chews, and chews, and chews. The bell laughs at her in it's tinkling way, knowing that it's precious clapper and shape are secure. Angel-Rose decides quietly on another stratagy. She will seperate the bell from it's hanger, so she can search more closely for the weakness in the bell's prison, and attack again.
The hook makes for a quick work of dexterity. There isn't one yet that can sustain the attack of her beak. It falls quietly to the table top, a sorrowful thunk, to remind the benefactor later of her cunning and strength.
The benefactor has gone to do dishes, so Angel-Rose knows her time alone with the bell is limited. She must work fast.
The chain offers little resistance, it's links seperating, dropping quickly to the play stand top, to be lost in the chunks of wood that litter it's surface. Each one is opened with the prescision of a jeweler, and quickly discarded so that she can get to the bell housing that has been labled as indestructable.
She hears the water shut off in the far reaches of her world, and hears the door open to the pantry. Hears the benefactor get the broom and dust pan to sweep the floor, then hears the rustle of news papers which mean that cages are next.
Angel-Rose carefully schools her face to show the look of innocent wonder as the benefactor comes towards her with the papers in hand. She offers up the bell with a careful "La?" which means that she doesn't know how this happened, she was just sitting minding her own business, when this thing seperated itself from the stand. She only picked it up, so that it wouldn't get swept away with the papers and chunks of wood. She has some unfinished business that she wants to discuss with it later.
The benefactor picks up the bits of chain, makes sure that are none under her tongue, by distracting her, forcing her to reach for that almond that is always in the pocket. Nope, nothing hiding, innocence maintained. Twenty-seven links found on the tray, the benefactor counts those things, thinks that it's necessary for some obscure reason.
Chain gone, hook that bound it to the stand gone, never to be seen again.
Bell, watch out, we have unfinished business!

CL, you should write a book! This is so vivid, and having a GW, I can easily "see" every motion!

Please keep the adventures of Angel Rose coming!

GD

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Scooter Goofy Gabby Louie Baby,BJ & Squeak & Scruffy

Emily Dickinson - Hope is the thing with feathers, That perches in our soul, and sings the song--without the words, and never stops at all.

Yes, you should write a book..........."Angel Rose, A new beginning", something every prospective GW owner should read & what every bird owner want to read!

I'll buy one!

I don't have any birds larger than a Too, & I can picture everything AR has done! Thank-you!!

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Sondra,owned by...
Powder- :U2: - Henry, Poncho- :TIEL: - Momma - :TIEL: - Higgins- :AG: - Max- :hmc:

Life is short! Break the rules! Forgive quickly! Kiss slowly!
Love truly, Laugh uncontrollably .
And never regret anything that made you smile

I admit, the thought has crossed my mind now and again about writing... Thank the Lord for spell check on the word program and 'offered' alternatives to those fractued sentences! The only excuse would be taking the time away from laughing at antics of the crew.
I would though have all of you to proof-read for me.
If anyone sees their sweeties doing thse things as they are reading, I've done well.

_________________
If you must cripple a creature to keep it, perhaps you should reconsider its suitability as a pet.
We must never forget the one who inspired me... my precious Baby!

On the way home yesterday, stopped and picked up a few bags of pellets and seeds. AR saw a toy that was like blobs of play-dough strung together, and was totally fascinated with it. Supposed to help with beaks and nails to keep them in trim, and contains minerals as well. Will see how long it takes to destroy, before putting her seal of approval on it. Also got her a new larger cement perch for her cage, the one that she usually slept on was getting pretty beat up, and noticed a crack when I washed it last. Got up this morning, and found her sleeping on her food dish.... Don't figure!

Soleil used to sleep on her food crock too. She now sleep on her lava rock perch. Much better, especially for the claws. M2Mom suggested it for the Macaw nails, and now I am glad she sells them too.

_________________
With a Broken Wing and a Dream, You oughta see Him Fly!
Now I lay me down to sleep, to dream of a home that I may keep.
Bo-Innocent & Brave ((((Diamond))))

Sonoma Spike Sadie Opus Kaiser Timmy Reagan

Bird Profile

Oh yes - the "bullet-proof" bell. I'm glad my M2 was already in bed when I read this...she hasn't thought about dethroning the bell via the hanger loop! AR - be a sweetie and keep your secret strategies to yourself!

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We are too close to ourselves, much of the time, to see our proper relation to the natural world, on which we depend for survival. Watching birds and other animals seems to clarify my perspective. Roger Tory Peterson

Drama of the day.... The saga continues
Setting: the play stand
Time: about mid-morning, yesterday
Charactors: Angel-Rose, the benefactor, and two smaller members of the benefactor's flock

(Excerpt from the journal)

The scene: Benefactor is not in a happy mode. The furry footed one that shares the first part of my name did it. She decided that she needed to check out the sound that was coming from the giant perches, and wouldn't listen to the benefactor and stay in the open space that surrounds our world.
The benefactor had to put on extra feather-things, encasements for the claws and take the light stick into the cold shower to coax the furry thing back to our world. The benefactor was not pleased to be out in the dark before the small flocks left their perches for breakfast. The rest of us didn't need to see the body language to know the benefactor was not pleased with the flock. We remained quiet for a time when the fur thing came back in. We all ate breakfast quietly, no dropping the bowls to say that we were finished. Jeremiah keeps saying that we need to talk with our inside voices until the smaller flock members start moving from their nests.
Flash forward: The small flock members are awake and fed, watching the box in the corner. The benefactor has released me from my confinement, and I am once again inspecting the new things that have attached themselves to my play stand. The bell has grown a new chain, and is hiding in fear of me, surrounded by those colored vines that grow upside down. The vines grow chunks of good wood, and twist themselves into shapes to hold that wood captive, for a short time anyway. I'll free them, and uncover that bell. It still makes the sound of happiness, thinking that it's safe. First though, I need to address those colored rocks that I saw yesterday when we got the two smaller members of the benefactor's flock.
The rocks are interesting colors and textures. They hold on to the vines by swallowing them, and somehow they have talked the vines into twisting too, so that they won't fall. I'll liberate them. A quiet 'La' to tell them that they can roll free.
They must not hear well, they don't move. Several times, I've repeated my call to freedom, but they cling to the vines. Even my ferocious 'Argh!' has not had the desired effect.
Ok, I'm through being nice. This is my stand, if they won't listen to reason, it's time to move them physically.
The benefactor and the small flock members are bringing in more wood for the heat box, so they won't notice. They are though, walking back and forth by my stand, so I have to use discretion in my mission.
The mission begins: By hanging upside down I can work on the thing that holds them to the branch. The hook doesn't have the twisty part. I can open it with only a slight pressure, but it closes again before I can lift it off. Twenty minutes later, and it still resists my efforts. Hmm, time to rethink the plan. I'll grab them one at a time, and see if I can liberate them that way. If I get one free, perhaps the rest will follow.
The chunks of wood go first. Shaving bits off, they soon become rounded some, and finally break loose from the central chain. The chain itself is welded, and heavy, I won't even try, it isn't like the chain of the bell. Two chunks of rock now sit on the play top, but they refuse to move. The vine still holds them together, but the chunk of wood is gone. No loss there, wood doesn't think. I go down to the play top, and pick them up by the vine, and fling them, hoping that they get the idea, and fly off.
It doesn't work. One lands on the table, the other hangs off the side. The benefactor's oldest one laughs, picks the vine up, and rehangs the rocks from the chain, then offers me an almond for my dilligent work. I accept gracefully, knowing that it will help to have a full crop for energy. The small one also gives me a hazelnut, not my favorite, but her intentions are good.
New stratagy: The vines shred, but I now really want the rocks gone. So I go for the first rock that hung off the edge of the table. It can't withstand the onslaught of my beak. It cowers, and begins to crumble with my renewed attack. Chunks fall to the ground. Guess it's still free, even though it is now only bits and pieces.
A second one leaves it's colors scattered on the table and on the floor, then a third and a fourth. Guess the saying, "dumb as a rock," does have merit.
New stratagy: It's been a long day. The benefactor gave me another orange slice, the smaller flock members have given me more nuts, some pasta, some peas and carrots at different times, so that I don't feint from hunger. The benefactor's mood improved throughout the day, so it will be a quiet and restful night...
Bell, we will be discussing things again, maybe today? Perhaps I'll liberate the rest of the rocks first, but our discussion isn't over. Be prepared!

Edit/Amendment: Yesterday's rocks are a thing of the past. Broken free of their confining structures, the beak has truimphed once again. Let it be heard around the world!
Bell......... let's talk.

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We are too close to ourselves, much of the time, to see our proper relation to the natural world, on which we depend for survival. Watching birds and other animals seems to clarify my perspective. Roger Tory Peterson

ROFL!
Considering that I probably have a couple of chapters here, and the subject of the book is so close to my heart, it would probably be pretty easy.

Drama of the day.... The beat goes on
Setting: the play stand
Time: about now
Charactors: Angel-Rose, and the benefactor

(monolog)

The scene Sitting on the top perch of the play stand, observing how the bell has hidden itself in the vines. Head turning this way and that, tuning in to the object of today's lesson. This is how we look at the prey, guaging the distance for the feet, guaging the strike of the beak, calculating the strike, and the force needed to attain the prize.
Bell, you are today's prize!
The strike is swift and unerring. Hidden away in the vines, yet the beak has made contact! The benefactor is hidden in the nest of poofy things and what is called the wooby . There is no response from it, so the strike has been unobserved. Now if the vines can be convinced to release the bell this mission will be completed.
Wings beat at the vines, but they tangle further around the prey. Circle things have also joined in protecting the bell, and have offered themselves to the vines for added protection. They slip and slide around and around, but the vines hold them. They are related to bell as well, the beak seems to have no effect. Balls of similar making have attached themselves to bell, they will be a sacrifice too.
One vine gives way under the onslaught of this magnificent beak. One of the balls has fallen to the table top, it should have known better. A second vine, a second ball joins it's fallen comrad. Down to the table top, to observe closely, making sure that they do not climb back and surround bell again.
No movement.
Back up to the top. There are still vines, still the circles, still one more ball.
The vines shread under the concentrated assault. The rings, and the ball don't. The circles are proving troublesome, hanging on to each other and to the bell.
New Stratagy: Somewhere in this time, the benefactor has risen from the nest, and is in the kichen. The squash smell fills the air with the scent of the red palm oil. Must be lunch. Will take a break.
Squash, pene pasta, palm oil for the entree, a bit of cheese, a couple of almonds, and some grapes to finish a feast.
Think it's nap time.
Bell, you have gathered forces, but you will be vanguished..... later

OMG, this is like reading a battle scene in Tolkien's Trilogy! The mental image is painted so throughly and with such detail.

Is Birdywood making screenplay offers yet? Hold out for AR to do herself and stunt doubles only if she requests it!

GD

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Scooter Goofy Gabby Louie Baby,BJ & Squeak & Scruffy

Emily Dickinson - Hope is the thing with feathers, That perches in our soul, and sings the song--without the words, and never stops at all.

ROFL! Maybe we should check copywrite laws? Make sure that no one tries to say that it was their GW that thought of this.... there can only be one AR... the rest can only be wannabe's.

Drama of the day.... The saga continues
Setting: the play stand
Time: Just after breakfast
Charactors: Angel-Rose, and the benefactor

(monolog)

Setting: Morning inspection of the new toys complete. Everything sounds right. The blocks that were shredded and laying discarded on the table top yesterday, have been cremated along with the news papers that were there. The benefactor must have been up late, since the trip from lock-down to playground was so short. Not even the sound of running water to say that the dishes were being done. Must have been very tired last night to not have noticed that. Cages still need cleaning, but the benefactor is in the other room making clicking sounds on the box that changes it's face from time to time.
A large branch has attached itself at the top level and the bottom level of the tree, it's worth a closer look. I can see that it has that attachment that opens, but won't allow enough time to get it off before it closes back up. It's shiney, and allows the beak to get more open/close time, without damage. If only I could get the beak and the feet co-ordinated... hmm, something to think about. It has an interesting taste and texture, and allows a short-cut to the top. Bit tougher chew though, wondering where it came from. It's also a bit swingy, not solid like the main branches, and chewy, not bland.
The benefactor turns around and can see me. Can I balance on one foot and pretend to be checking out my wing for that feather that is coming loose? It's kind of itchy, means it's worn out and a new one can grow. Getting really pretty now, the better to be admired, worshipped if you will.
Ok, the benefactor has turned away, looking at the box again. It's time to move.
Thoughts: Some of the vines have parted around the bell, leaving it open for attack. The colors they exhibit only emphasize my classic good looks. The rings still guard it, so won't mess with them. Maybe I need to though. Can reach the top of the bell and pass it through one of the rings, but the bottom of the bell gets stuck. The rings hold it firmly. By turning around the other way, and hanging over the branch, the bell can be reached, bypassing the protection of the rings, only the blocks keep the beak from total access.
Block number one has been dispatched with a few careful but swift chomps. The bits fall to the table top swiftly, and quietly. Another block joins the first, and yet another. A few of the vines are detached and fall with a small shush noise that the benefactor barely notices.
The bell has been exposed.
The chain that has appeared in a new opening at the top (wonder how that was accomplished? ) resists the beak. This is a new one, the first was too light, the second took more effort, but it's hooks succumbed eventually. This one though, has heavier links that don't appear to have any weaknesses. The rings on the ends defy the beak too. Maybe the weakness is in the larger hole that the chain slides through.
Stratagy: By grasping the bell tightly in one heavily clawed foot, and wrapping the wing slightly to balance, the beak can go to work. The new hole makes it easier to fit the top mandible's point on, and then the lower part can shave off bits, to thin the attachment. It's good in theory anyway. The remaining ball on the bottom of the bell is a bit of an irritant, but have learned how to untwist the soft vine that holds it. The benefactor will praise me for learning that.
The benefactor turns again. Pretend to wave, and turn around so that only the back is seen. Drop bell, so benefactor doesn't come out of room to check closely. Wish the bell would be quiet, obviously it is trembling in fear, it's cries are no longer sweet and quiet, but loud and fearful. It knows that it is weakening, and it's clapper is in danger of being twisted and pulled out, as well as it's sides that will bend like the origional links that held it.
Thoughts: Will today be the day? Will this enemy finally meat it's demise? Only dilligence, and perseverence will tell.