Celeste Update

[Jessica]

It's been about two months since we brought Celeste home and things couldn't have gone better. She was hand shy and sick when she came to us but we have gotten her well. Celeste isn't shy anymore either. She has learned to step up and loves for me to hold her up to my face and talk to her. Millet is happily eaten from my hand and is by far her favorite treat. A well rounded diet has put a little needed weight on her. She is also molting and I see feathers every where. So far only one tail feather and all the rest have been from her body. Everyone said just wait until her feathers come in because she will get more beautiful. I didn't think that was possible but it is. The best thing is that I have earned her trust and it is continuing to build. A big change from the single, afraid little lovebird in a bare cage. I am so glad I listened to the little voice saying take her home.

Thank you to everyone who has anything to do with creating and maintaining this board. I have learned so much just by reading all of your posts and enjoyed all the pictures. I know that all of you have helped me to enhance Celeste's life. For that I am grateful.

[Cathy]

'Jessica, That is great news. It sounds like you have accomplished so much in a short period of time. What a neat feeling it must be when she steps up now. How did you make such great progress?

[DebSpace]

Jessica, that is great news. Mutual love and trust is a beautiful thing and you have done well to accomplish that. Hope to see some photos of Celeste soon. Many congrats! :happy: :happy: :happy:

[Kathryn]

WooHoo Celeste and Jessica!!:lol :lol

[Jessica]

Thank you very much. I'm pretty proud of how far we've come. I have to say consistancy and luck have been two key factors. I use the same words every time I want her to do something. We started very slowly and lengthened out time together as she needed. Everytime she showed stress back to the cage she has gone. One thing I try never to do is make anyone feel backed into a corner. This has worked very well for me in the past. I think luck has been a factor because she is young and was handfed.

So far my favorite moment is when she took the leap of faith and let me scratch the back of her head. It was like a light bulb went on that I wouldn't hurt her. She relaxed and made kissing noises with a high pitched chatter. It's now a part of our good night ritual. Buying her was an impulse but I made the commitment to learn as much as I could as quickly as I could. After I heard about them selling her nest mate and all the other birds from her breeder I couldn't leave her. I knew she was in a situation that could easily create a very unhappy bird. Now she lives with us and is treated like a princess.

I'm probably too proud of the fact that she hasn't even tried to bite yet. I have a good idea of how hard she could bite though. I would imagine the prouder I get the harder that first bite will probably be:rofl:

[ottermom]

Thanks for sharing your story! Rescue stories like that keep me going. And make no mistake - even if you got her from the breeder, you did rescue her!

well done!

[bellarains]

Jessica,

I'm so so glad you and Celeste are doing well. They are wonderful little companions, and it sounds like Celeste is fitting well with your family. These updates give others proof that there is a lovie, wanting to be loved inside that tiny little body:)

[butterfly1061]

Jessica,

I'm so glad to hear such good news about Celeste. Sounds like she has found herself a keeper-family ;) Congrats!

[zlatushka]

:happy: Glad to hear the good news!

[Janie]

Jessica, congratulations! You should be very proud!!! :D

[Jessica]

She came from a store that got all the lovebirds from a breeder that worked there. They seemed much more interested in showing us much more expensive birds. I had been toying with the idea of a hook bill but wasn't serious yet. When I saw her and then held her I knew she needed out of there. She was terrified but never bit. I would have bitten so I knew she had a sweet soul. I couldn't leave her so we have rearranged our lives for this little sweetie. I love her lots and so appreciate our little parrot. I am also lucky to have a husband that loves her as much as I do. Celeste is almost as comfortable with him and I praise her for it. I figure that way we have less of a chance of her being a one person bird. I also am wondering if she is a he. Just a feeling I have so I think that I am going to have a DNA test when we can afford it. We'll go to the vet because I can't imagine pulling feathers so it will cost a little bit. It doesn't really matter because not matter what the future brings she will always be our baby.