I came home that evening, telling Max how someone else thought of him. I showed him his new toy and he was so excited! I barely was able to put the toy in the cage before Max wanted to explore it. Today, I came home and Max had made some handiwork of his own with the duck, chewing the beak and the tail end of the wood!
Peek-A-Boo!!!
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
My Supervisor is the Coolest....
There are a few people at work whom I keep up to date with on how things are going with Max. My supervisor, Pat, is one of those people. I came into work on Monday, and began telling Pat about the things Max did over the weekend. We talked for a few moments and she then said, "Oh!" and reached into her purse. She pulled out a wrapped object and told me that she found something for Max. I unwrapped the gift, and found a wooden yellow duck with several ropes tied to the underside. The ropes have multicolored beads and rings.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Another Great Day!
A proverb says, "Every day brings forth new challenges." I had two challenges that I wanted to conquer today. The first challenge was to get Max to step up. Another challenge was to get Max into his pet carrier so I could take the cage outside and thoroughly scrub and disinfect it.
I was not able to get Max to go inside his pet carrier today. His cage is disinfected as best as I can do with him being in there, and is cleaned, but not as clean as I would like. We tried bribing Max into his carrier. My boyfriend grabbed some snap peas for me, and I put them in the carrier, thinking maybe he would see them and go investigate. Boy, was I kidding myself. I think it is going to be a matter of time before Max goes back into the carrier. Perhaps, the only time he saw a carrier is when he was going to a new home. I believe I have to get Max used to the carrier and bring him around positive experiences so he isn't afraid.
However, he did fly to me today--TWICE! He saw me with the snap peas and he flew over and started turning me into a salad buffet again. He is doing a lot better with his flying and landing. Before, he would try to land, but he seemed to wipe out more than land. He actually hovers over me if he doesn't like how his landing is going to look, until I readjust my arm the way he thinks it needs to be. And he decided to climb onto my head as well. See photo below.
I did get Max to step up--only once! But it is a big step! It wasn't even intentional. Max was on the edge of the cage and had one of his feet off the edge, so I placed my arm there and said "Would you like to step up now?" And I moved my arm up under his foot, so he had to lift up a little and he got onto my arm.
Yay! One challenge completed. But tomorrow is a new day. We shall see if Max does this more often. I hope so, he has to go to the vet soon.
I was not able to get Max to go inside his pet carrier today. His cage is disinfected as best as I can do with him being in there, and is cleaned, but not as clean as I would like. We tried bribing Max into his carrier. My boyfriend grabbed some snap peas for me, and I put them in the carrier, thinking maybe he would see them and go investigate. Boy, was I kidding myself. I think it is going to be a matter of time before Max goes back into the carrier. Perhaps, the only time he saw a carrier is when he was going to a new home. I believe I have to get Max used to the carrier and bring him around positive experiences so he isn't afraid.
However, he did fly to me today--TWICE! He saw me with the snap peas and he flew over and started turning me into a salad buffet again. He is doing a lot better with his flying and landing. Before, he would try to land, but he seemed to wipe out more than land. He actually hovers over me if he doesn't like how his landing is going to look, until I readjust my arm the way he thinks it needs to be. And he decided to climb onto my head as well. See photo below.
I did get Max to step up--only once! But it is a big step! It wasn't even intentional. Max was on the edge of the cage and had one of his feet off the edge, so I placed my arm there and said "Would you like to step up now?" And I moved my arm up under his foot, so he had to lift up a little and he got onto my arm.
Yay! One challenge completed. But tomorrow is a new day. We shall see if Max does this more often. I hope so, he has to go to the vet soon.
Saturday, July 16, 2011
I Am A Salad Buffet.
Just when I think I am beginning to know and understand this little guy, I realize I don't know ANYTHING. That can be comical as well as scary. This morning, I had made Max his usual breakfast (Roudybush and Higgins World Cuisines Bistro, and added some chopped carrots and snap peas to the mix. He seemed to like his veggie selections, but instead of eating, he was more interested in playing with them and flinging them out of his cage.
I had found some millet at Wal-Mart. He seemed interested in it, but that was just about as messy as his breakfast. The last few days, I have been trying to get Max to try to step up. I haven't been able to master this yet, but it is just a matter of time. My hand was in his cage and he decided to bite me today. The bite itself wasn't horrible--my skin didn't break or anything--a hard pinch.
This evening, I made a bowl of broccoli, carrots and snap peas. I remembered to use a regular ceramic bowl, as the blue plastic ones seemed to scare Max for whatever the reason. I sat down in front of his cage, and began eating some of the veggies. I had enough for the both of us. Trying to coax him over to me, I said, "Mmm Max, this is yummy. Do you want some?" He was in his corner perch, but his eye was pining the bowl. Slowly, he decided to come down. As he stood on his lowest perch, he flew to my shoulder. I began hand feeding him the vegetables. At first, Max was more interested in my glasses, and trying to get them off my face. Then, Max decided it was more fun to fling his vegetables around than eat them. I looked like a salad buffet--I had pieces of snap peas, broccoli and carrots all over my arms and shirt.
After he enjoyed food painting me, flew to the top of his cage. I was able to pet most of his body while he was at the top of his cage. While he was there, he kept looking inside the bowl. He saw a snap pea in the crease of my elbow and decided to fly down to my arm!
I now have another food to add to the list of favorites: Snap peas. :)
I had found some millet at Wal-Mart. He seemed interested in it, but that was just about as messy as his breakfast. The last few days, I have been trying to get Max to try to step up. I haven't been able to master this yet, but it is just a matter of time. My hand was in his cage and he decided to bite me today. The bite itself wasn't horrible--my skin didn't break or anything--a hard pinch.
This evening, I made a bowl of broccoli, carrots and snap peas. I remembered to use a regular ceramic bowl, as the blue plastic ones seemed to scare Max for whatever the reason. I sat down in front of his cage, and began eating some of the veggies. I had enough for the both of us. Trying to coax him over to me, I said, "Mmm Max, this is yummy. Do you want some?" He was in his corner perch, but his eye was pining the bowl. Slowly, he decided to come down. As he stood on his lowest perch, he flew to my shoulder. I began hand feeding him the vegetables. At first, Max was more interested in my glasses, and trying to get them off my face. Then, Max decided it was more fun to fling his vegetables around than eat them. I looked like a salad buffet--I had pieces of snap peas, broccoli and carrots all over my arms and shirt.
After he enjoyed food painting me, flew to the top of his cage. I was able to pet most of his body while he was at the top of his cage. While he was there, he kept looking inside the bowl. He saw a snap pea in the crease of my elbow and decided to fly down to my arm!
I now have another food to add to the list of favorites: Snap peas. :)
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Life With Max...
I brought my feathered friend, Max, home on July 3, 2011. I have had him now for 9 days and life has not been the same since! Max loves sweet potatoes. His favorite color is yellow. And though we were told that he doesn't talk, he surprised us! He says "pretty bird" and if my boyfriend walks into the room, he'll repeat himself several times until Jon walks to the cage and pets Max's head.
Last Sunday, I had a talk with Max. I am his third owner in his short life. He is not even a year old yet. As one may expect, Max has some trust issues. He isn't sure as to what is going on or who he can trust. I sat at his cage, letting him sense my arm against his cage. I told Max that he didn't have to be scared anymore. I told him that I am his new Mommy and that I am going to take care of him and he is safe, and is at home. He seemed to understand me and relaxed.
Max is flighted, and has been able to exercise his wings inside the bedroom. Monday evening, I made his favorite treat--sweet potatoes. I peeled and boiled them, and placed them in a bowl and walked into the bedroom. Sitting down in front of the cage, I opened the cage door, and placed a perch at the door. The perch was laying on my leg, Max decided he wanted to investigate what was in the bowl and walked out of the cage, up the perch, stood on the bowl and proceeded to eat sweet potatoes.
However, something startled him. Max began flying around the room. He landed on about 5 different objects, including the door frame, the floor and the cedar chest, before he landed on my shoulder.
Last Sunday, I had a talk with Max. I am his third owner in his short life. He is not even a year old yet. As one may expect, Max has some trust issues. He isn't sure as to what is going on or who he can trust. I sat at his cage, letting him sense my arm against his cage. I told Max that he didn't have to be scared anymore. I told him that I am his new Mommy and that I am going to take care of him and he is safe, and is at home. He seemed to understand me and relaxed.
Max is flighted, and has been able to exercise his wings inside the bedroom. Monday evening, I made his favorite treat--sweet potatoes. I peeled and boiled them, and placed them in a bowl and walked into the bedroom. Sitting down in front of the cage, I opened the cage door, and placed a perch at the door. The perch was laying on my leg, Max decided he wanted to investigate what was in the bowl and walked out of the cage, up the perch, stood on the bowl and proceeded to eat sweet potatoes.
However, something startled him. Max began flying around the room. He landed on about 5 different objects, including the door frame, the floor and the cedar chest, before he landed on my shoulder.
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