Elmo update

[momo]

Hi All,
So a few things have been happening with elmo for the past few months and I have a few questions about it. :)

1. I went away for two weeks to visit my boyfriend and his parents prior to christmas and my mother took care of Elmo the whole time. Every night and every time she would come home he would run straight to her lap and she would bring his toys and let him play there, which sometimes would turn into hours. I knew they would bond but I didn't think they would bond THIS much over two weeks. It took me months and months to get elmo to bond with me as much as he/she has with my mother. :x I'm not jealous, I'm glad he's had a fantastic time with my mum, it's just a big strange for me. Has this happened to anyone else?

2. I have decided to try to get some pellets (roudy bush) into Elmos diet. Which has been aided by his new love for my mum as I put them on her lap and he started to chew them instantly. He was destroying them whether he was eating them is another question, but I have been watching him eat out of his food bowl and he does chew at them at times in between his seed. His poop has now turned more white than anything? I assume that he's just producing more urates. He has green in it but it's just smothered in white. Is this normal? His actions seem perfectly fine, still playing, running around.

3. Have some of you found that your lovies are like children when it comes to drinking water? Mum found that when she put his water bowl up to him he would take 3 or 4 sips of water, and he would only ever drink out of his water bowl after he ate. She said to me it's like children, you need to remind them to drink water!:rofl:

Elmo now has all of his adult feathers.. he's got the peach, which looks like red, on the top of his head. One of his flight feathers have now come through from where his wings were cut. The baby has now grown up. :very_sad:

[lemonypickett]

I was sad when Eddie's baby stage was over, he went through a few phases and is now the wonderful friend I always dreamed of :blush:

1. Eddie really bonded with Jeff, and usually prefers him if we are both home. If Jeff is not home, he is all over me (user ;)). This had bummed me out originally, even though I was happy he liked Jeff because that helped Jeff like him. I just told myself that he sees me as his mother, the one who teaches him right and wrong, makes him eat yucky veggies and picks up his clothes (poops). Jeff is the "fun" one, who does nothing but offer warm hands (the reason I think he really prefers him) and treats.

2. Eddie LOVES Roudybush. Being the plainest, colorless pellet that it is I was surprised. He prefers it to ALL others, and I have tried all of them. I still rotate all my pellets to keep him guessing. As to the urate rich poops, my birds' poops sometimes go through a few days of looking a little different. I wouldn't worry unless it doesn't return to normal soon. If there is still green in there, then it sounds ok. Eddie had some light brown ones that were of a firmer consistancy once for a few days that had me concerned, but quickly returned to normal.

3. Eddie always takes a sip of water too. I think it is their way of being polite ;) They don't want to insult us. lol

[bookworm0550]

sorry can't really answer your questions. But any new photos of momo then? awww, that's sweet that he really likes your mom. ain't that just the way it is sometimes? you work so hard to get them to like you and then they go and like someone else. Sounds like high school all over again if you ask me :rofl:

[momo]

bookworm its def like high school.. you try to win your way in.. oo look shiney new play gym.. shiney new toy.. but nothing hahahahaa. He prefers me mum.

Elmos New Cage (http://img381.imageshack.us/img381/3732/dsc00276pc9.jpg)
** I am trying to hunt down some more natural branches for his cage, I just came back from holz, so I gotta start searching :)**

cheers lemony, i was so amazed he seemed to take to roudy bush so quickly... i actually got the wrong size.. he's meant to be a petite but i bought the small one. it seems to be all the same just the size in pellets, he sure does make a mess of it!
everytime my mum gives him water he will take a sip but will only take a sip from me 80% of the time hahaha. I am waiting for him to do the clicky dance for her..:x:x:x I will truly be heart broken then! hahahahaha.

i knew elmo truly became her bird this morning when I had to ask my mum for advice on how to get elmo out of his cage. because previously he would just jump on the rope straight away, but mum said sometimes he just likes to sit and play in his cage for a while and then will squawk to you when he wants out, but be careful because sometimes he will squark for you to just come in the room and keep him company..

It took me 6 months for elmo to love me, it took my mum two weeks....:x:x:x:x

[linda040899]

It took me 6 months for elmo to love me, it took my mum two weeks
You did the hard work! You helped Elmo trust humans, which he didn't when he first came to live with you. He's known your mom lived in the same house so the transition was easy! Make no mistake about it. Had you not bonded with Elmo first, the scenario would have been quite different.

[LauraO]

Elmo's new friendship with your mom is pretty normal. Tamer lovies who are social really do build new bonds, friendships, mates, etc. when given the chance. I remember reading a great article a couple of years back about parrots who develop crushes on people other than their owners and how it's often difficult for owners to accept but is a sign of a really healthy and social parrot:):).

[Pips mom]

Elmo's new friendship with your mom is pretty normal. Tamer lovies who are social really do build new bonds, friendships, mates, etc. when given the chance. I remember reading a great article a couple of years back about parrots who develop crushes on people other than their owners and how it's often difficult for owners to accept but is a sign of a really healthy and social parrot:):).
I'm sure it's just because you've shown Elmo so much love, and he knows how good people are now to bond with! It's a sign of how great a job you have done with him! He's just a very loving lovie! Pip doesn't ever seem to play favorites or like anyone better......he just spreads the love equally between everyone and everybirdy! Oh, and he always take a drink for me whenever I bring him fresh water! I actually see Pip drink quite a bit, maybe a few times each day. My cockatiels drink the least I think......I rarely see them drink, maybe once each day. I think some drink alot at one time and then hold off for a while, where others will drink a little and then go back more often just drinking a little at a time. I think Pip drinks the most out of all my birds! he's not a real big eater though, I rarely see him make time to eat. He just seems to eat when he happens to cross paths with food, he'll take a nibble along the way......too busy playing.....he never stays put at a food dish for long!

[momo]

aww thank you all for your kind words.. its sort of ease the pain! hahahaha.

wow lauraO.. having a parrot develop crushes on people hahaha.. too cute!!!

the most gulps ive seen elmo take would have been about 5/6... of course this was after a long play session where elmo didnt bother to get water for himself!..

[michael]

Elmo likes Roundybush?.......Good deal!......I thinks its one of the best pellets around. Goof used to only chew on Kaytee Exact mini crunchies, until one day after feeling little frustrated over his eating habits, I sat back and started eating them myself. Sure enough, it didn't take long for him to join in. He now prefers the Roundybush mini pellets and won't touch the Kaytee exact. This has worked on a few other foods too.

I think its a blessing that Elmo likes being around your mom......:)......As if only my own mother were around, I would gladly allow Goof the chance to bond with her......Well, at least until after I eat something besides pellets and raw veggies.

[bookworm0550]

Goof used to only chew on Kaytee Exact mini crunchies, until one day after feeling little frustrated over his eating habits, I sat back and started eating them myself. Sure enough, it didn't take long for him to join in.


Michael, you really ate a pellet?! what did it taste like? Yummy? Would you eat it again? LOL, I almost dared myself to take a bite the other day cuz I got to wondering how it tasted and decided not to...hehehe. Seriously, I'm tempted to taste their Beak Apetit sometimes too. Ok, I did nibble on a tiny bit of the Cinnamon Sunrise and I couldn't stand the smell or sight of it for a whole week :blush:

[momo]

LOL.. yeah michael how does it taste???

He was really into the roudybush on the first two days of having them at the moment he doesn't seem that into them. He will eat them if you place them on your lap when he's playing there, but I am afraid i am going to spoil him too much and he's going to get really fussy when it comes to eating.

Is it just me, or does roudybush kind of smell like dog biscuits?

Its good that elmo has bonded with mum as well because we can pass him over from one to another when one of us wants to do something.. generally my mum ;)

[michael]

I've tried many different kinds of foods for not only parrots, but dogs, cats, and other pets too. I do draw the line though at farm animals even though some are considered pets. And yes, just as well I skip the reptiles too. One of my all time favorites was Purina puppy chow. Darned cats were always getting into it, so I had to find out why. The dogs on the otherhand, only wanted the cats food out of jealousy. For Parrot food.....The Roundybush and Goldenfeast do in fact seem to be about the tastiest. (to me they don't really smell like dog bisquits) I also like many different eggfood varieties too. The Harrison's and Lefeber's weren't bad either. I do admit to kind of favoring the Harrison's pellets about the best. Matter of fact, Harrison's has out their own birdybread mix thats well worth a try (for your parrot/s that is!)....... I've tried many of the pellets listed for food value in the "Lovebird Resource Library". For the most part many taste somewhat earthy and will generally not entirely break down or dissolve. Some of the cheaper chain store varieties will, whereas i'm always suspicious of that. Also, those fancy bright colourings and dyes are usually not found in the foods of most parrots natural environments, and may indicate the use of sweeteners. I think they tend to do better remaining on the store shelf.

I suggest not trying the Beak Appe'tit out on yourself.......its absolutely awful!.......:x........Also, some of the birdybread you may want to be careful as the smell can be deceiving.

[Z28Taxman]

I've tried many different kinds of foods for not only parrots, but dogs, cats, and other pets too. I do draw the line though at farm animals even though some are considered pets. And yes, just as well I skip the reptiles too. One of my all time favorites was Purina puppy chow. Darned cats were always getting into it, so I had to find out why. The dogs on the otherhand, only wanted the cats food out of jealousy. For Parrot food.....The Roundybush and Goldenfeast do in fact seem to be about the tastiest. (to me they don't really smell like dog bisquits) I also like many different eggfood varieties too. The Harrison's and Lefeber's weren't bad either. I do admit to kind of favoring the Harrison's pellets about the best. Matter of fact, Harrison's has out their own birdybread mix thats well worth a try (for your parrot/s that is!)....... I've tried many of the pellets listed for food value in the "Lovebird Resource Library". For the most part many taste somewhat earthy and will generally not entirely break down or dissolve. Some of the cheaper chain store varieties will, whereas i'm always suspicious of that. Also, those fancy bright colourings and dyes are usually not found in the foods of most parrots natural environments, and may indicate the use of sweeteners. I think they tend to do better remaining on the store shelf.

I suggest not trying the Beak Appe'tit out on yourself.......its absolutely awful!.......:x........Also, some of the birdybread you may want to be careful as the smell can be deceiving.


I don't know about that other stuff, but nutriberries (especially the fruity ones) are quite tasty. And Linda's birdy bread recipie is really good stuff. :whistle:

But Ditto gets mad when I eat it. :rofl:

[momo]

oh my gosh, I can't believe you ate dog food! hahahahaha.....

Now I'm kind of tempted to taste the roudybush! hahaha.

[michael]

oh my gosh, I can't believe you ate dog food! hahahahaha.....

Now I'm kind of tempted to taste the roudybush! hahaha.

Where I come from poeple used to live on dog food, and they weren't all poor either. I'll bet if you were able to get a closer look at what some folks eat you would find this is really quite common, especially with the canned foods. Out of curiosity, I have tried a few of the canned pet foods. Can't say they were really all that good. One of the worst though, was those pouches of Tender Vittles for cats. I quickly switched back to Dads dry and even the cats were happier!

Now those nutriberries like Dave mentioned I haven't tried yet. Wonder how good those popcorn ones are?.....You know, i'm pretty sure Dave just bought some for Ditto........At least I think they were for Ditto........:rolleyes:

Oh...go ahead and try those Roundybush pellets already! It really can help with the bonding you know. And who knows, you might just like them!.....Just make sure your bird doesn't get pissed off about it.

[momo]

And who knows, you might just like them!..

Thats what I'm afraid of!:rotfl

There were jokes in Australia that pensioners and elderly people would eat dog food because it's cheaper than getting real meat.. but I didnt think people ate it voluntarily.

[Z28Taxman]

Now those nutriberries like Dave mentioned I haven't tried yet. Wonder how good those popcorn ones are?.....You know, i'm pretty sure Dave just bought some for Ditto........At least I think they were for Ditto........:rolleyes:

.

Those popcorn ones are darn good!!!! :whistle:

[bookworm0550]

lol, you guys are hilarious. if i ever dare to try a pellet, i'll def keep you guys posted. Sometimes I want to try seeds.....but i won't.

[momo]

bookworm i will eat a pellet if you eat some! hahahaha

[lemonypickett]

ha ha

I like the mango and papaya in the Tropical Nutriberries. I like the popcorn ones too, but they get stuck in my teeth! lol

The things we do to get our lovies to eat healthy!

[bookworm0550]

ohmigod, i just tried a pellet momo. LOL. Your turn. It's not that bad. Tastes like a crust of bread. Let me know what you think. And Ill stop there w/ my bird food tasting.