Home Again

[Enko_chan]

I got back from my trip on Friday and on Saturday our parrotlet Bennu (Benny Bird) came home. I think the highlight of my trip - aside from swimming in the gulf of Mexico - was my encounter with a HYACINTH MACAW! He came to me, and perched on my arm, his name is Marcus. Freyja and Odinn fared well when I was away and they really bonded with Chris. He allowed them to get away with some things I never would, (i.e. cage possessiveness and BITING- even Freyja!) ergo there are certain behaviors that needs be amended, but I am glad he took such good care of them. They were very happy to see me, and though they have taken to chewing on my skin to excess (though its not just me, they have shredded every piece of wood in their entire cage down to shavings) they want to spend even more time with me than they did before I left.

Another development that took place while I was away is Chris, Mr. "we're not getting anymore birds", met a friendly Caique and it is now not a matter of "if" we adopt a Caique, it is a matter of "when". :rotfl Both Freyja and Odinn have passed their first hatch days and Odinn and Benny are experiencing their springtime molt. Benny is so affectionate! Freyja and Odinn only accept belly scritches- nothing around the head, but Benny likes to just sit and be snuggled and scritched. Since he has no birdie buddies, its up to us to help him preen his feathers where he can't reach. You'd never guess that Benny hadn't been here always- he settled right in! I hope that when the time comes, my three little ones will get along well! If not, they will have to continue splitting up their play times!

I also got them all a new play gym for their 1st hatch days (Odinn - May 12th, Freyja - May 16th, Benny - May 24th) - the King Cages Acrylic Play Gym. Its designed for little birds but its big.

I hope everyone has been well! I've been under the weather, but hope to get back to the board on a regular basis before too long.

[wilkiecoco]

AHEM - :pics:

Congrats on the new addition - and welcome home!!!

[LovelySydney]

welcome welcome again & remember, POST PICTURES SOON!!! We haven't seen enough photos of your flock.

[bookworm0550]

sounds like you had fun and that your bf had fun too w/ the birds. i wanna see photos too.

[Enko_chan]

http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w317/siddiajna/bennytheplet00.jpg

I have photos from the trip (incl. my encounter with Marcus the Hyacinth Macaw and a Flamingo that bit a chunk out of my wrist and tried to pull my skirt off) but they are with my dad I am still camera-less. I will take new photos of Benny and the lovies too, ASAP!

[linda040899]

Benny is really cute! Hope a friendship builds between him, Freyja and Odinn.

Hyacinths are impressive but are high maintenance pets, as they require special diets. Because of our climate here in FL, we see these beauties more often than other places in the country.

[Enko_chan]

Thanks! Benny's a real sweetheart, I think he'll fit in here just fine. It's already almost as if he were always here. Once he meets the lovies and they get to know one another, we'll see how they get along! We'll have to watch them extremely closely.

Hyacinth Macaws have long been a bird that I've wished to meet face-to-face, but there are many logistical issues that would prevent us from actually living with one. Still, what a wonderful opportunity to get to meet with, and handle one. Most of the things I had planned for the trip became impossible to do, so it was nice to have an unexpected joy such as that! Marcus was very sweet and well-trained, and his eyes were so deep and wise. It is not an encounter I will soon forget!

I showed off photos of Odinn and Freyja and everyone that saw them was in awe of how beautiful they are. I was very lonesome without my birdies, though I am glad that Chris had such an opportunity to bond with them. He was extremely busy, having both his own responsibilities (including a full and part time job, plus playing bass guitar professionally) and mine, but he made at least an hour or two every morning for the birds to play with him AND if he had time in the evening- every time we spoke on the phone he had the lovies on his person.

[Pips mom]

Hey....welcome back home! Glad that you were able to enjoy your trip! Of course....we do need pics. A trip definitely requires pics! :nyah:

[wilkiecoco]

Benny is adorable!!! :)

[Flapjack]

Welcome home! Oh- and Benny is a doll. :blush:

Caique's are awesome :happy:, but they do have different needs than lovies and p'lets. There is also a pretty good chance that it will be aggressive to your smaller birds (mine is). One quick chomp with that big beak could be fatal.
They are VERY high energy and need alot of attention. They can't be left in a cage as long as a lovie or p'let can. Boy- are they LOUD!

I am very happy I have one, but honestly, if I had gotten him first, he most likely would be an only bird. It's like having a perpetual 2 yr old. Fun and sweet, and very playful, but lots of work to make sure everyone gets enough attention while keeping them separated.

Glad you had a fun trip and you're back with your babies again. :)

[Enko_chan]

Hi Jack,

It will be years before we have a Caique...

I have experience with big needy birds like Umbrella Cockatoos... but Chris has been hanging out with a black cap caique and is absolutely in love with him. Until we have a bigger place and can put together an aviary for larger birds, we'll have to continue to dream of our galah 2, and caique etc. or otherwise play with them at a distance.

Until then, I am very happy with my Freyja, Odinn and Benny! They are very happy to not share my attention with any other birds. In fact, Benny hates it when I'm on the computer and either sits on my fingers, sits on the key board, of flies onto my head and hangs upside-down- holding the front of my hair with his feet- and preens my eyelashes whenever I'm typing for too long.

On a very happy note, my mother is adopting some new birds soon- an IRN, Sun Conure, Pionus, and Quaker. I will be happy to have so many birds to spend time with!