Who Is The Boss?... Or... The Pecking Order Please?

It has been three weeks since Lucy came to our house. Initially, I was worried about Gracie plucking or some other destructive behavior. That [plucking] hasn't happened so far. Instead, Gracie just won't stop making noise!

She was always a chatter-box, but this is way more than that. I think she is trying to assert her importance in the flock, and making sure everyone knows she is here. Believe me, we know.

Lucy on the other hand, has become bossy when I pick her up. Biting collars, buttons, and wing flapping if I reach to touch her with my free hand, has become the regular order of things. Today, I received a pretty good bite on my right thumb while trying to give her a pine nut.

She didn't get the nut.

Even so, I did make her a new toy.

Destruction!

I have never before witnessed the destruction a Macaw can level on her toys and all things wooden! I can clearly see it may be a full time job making things for Lucy to break. Gelsa, Ginger and even Gracie pale in comparison to Lucy's need to break and chew.

I have created some home made toys [all wrecked already] and even a swing in her cage. All have ended up as scraps on the bottom of her huge cage. I know I will have to make some every week now, because I will go broke trying to buy them.

The Parrot Buffet

Every morning our parrots bet the best buffet we are able to put out. Seen here, [left to right] Monkey Chow biscuits soaking in warm water, Zupreem pellets in the white dishes [with slices of apples and shelled almonds], the rear steel dishes have lettuce, sliced apples, cannelli beans, and sweet corn nibblets. The forward right steel dishes have large Zupreem Fruit Blend Flavor, a custom seed-nut mixture, Rowdy Bush large pellets, and dried fruit.

Gelsa the Conure doesn't enjoy the pasta or rice dishes, but the other three birds do. The dry mixtures keep the birds throughout the day, and the fresh foods bowl helps keep the diet balanced.

I keep introducing new foods to all the birds, so they learn to try whatever is available; and don't become too picky. For increased calcium intake during molting periods, I make scrambled eggs with the shells crushed and mixed into the eggs while cooking. The parrots enjoy the crunchy texture, and the shells are a calcium rich supplement.





The beans are an excellent source of protein and keep well in the refrigerator for servings throughout the week. Ginger, the Senegal Parrot likes to "grind" each bean for quite a while. It is fun to watch her eat. The beak action of the Senegal seems to be different that the African Grey, the Macaw and the Conure.

It's Been a Week So Far

With just a bit more than one week in our home, Lucy seems to have settled in to our daily routine. So far, I have had no trouble at all in getting her to "step up" directly out of her cage. It seems that she enjoys her roomy cage, which is made by A&E and purchased through Peak's Parrots in Middletown Connecticut.

I was worried that Lucy may give me a hard time leaving the security of her cage, and even though I have been handling parrots for some time now; I'd be lying if I said a Macaw's beak wasn't a little intimidating. Gracie, our African Grey will let me scratch her head and under her wings while she is in her cage, but will not "step up" until she is ready. She will put a death grip on the one inch spaced bars if I try to rush her, so we have settled on a set routine: Head scratch, open door, walk away, return in one minute to find Gracie waiting on the open door to step-up.

Lucy however, seems to like coming out anytime. She will rock back-and-forth as I approach the cage, and as the door opens lifts one foot off her perch in anticipation of "up up up". After two days, Lucy began to rest her head against my chest as soon as she stepped up and perched upon my hand an wrist. She also does this with our 10 year old son and my wife. Everyone can touch her tail feathers, but only I have been allowed to pet her head and wings on a regular basis as well.

So far, no one has received a bite. There has been some defensive posturing with our home being so new to Lucy; and she gives signals that there is no use in rushing our progress. I have found that slow and steady wins the race. Parrots need time to develop trust and security. They have to build upon [a period of] good experiences in order to have trust become a natural response to their human flock members. I do not want to give Lucy the opportunity to give a bite in response to an action of ours. If she does, she may learn to use biting as a tool to get what she desires or change an action; and I do not want to be trained by my parrot.

Next, we need to schedule a "well bird" check-up with our avian doctor, so she has a baseline on our new bird. I have also thought about whether or not to begin a regular weigh in program to monitor the health of our birds.

You've Got Some 'Splainin To Do...

And the name for our new Green Wing is... Lucy! As in Lucille Ball, a fireball read-head and comedian. A fitting name I think.

So far, Lucy is fitting in with the family just right. I have been making sure that we always go to Gracie first and make sure her routines are followed; and add in Lucy second. Gelsa and Ginger have been unaffected by any change in the family or routine, so I am not really worried about them.

Greys however, are know to be upset by change. Especially change in interaction with their "chosen" person. So far, so good. Lucy and Gracie live in the same room, and their play perches are both in the family room. Their body language thus far has said that they are comfortable being in the same area. Putting them on the same play-stand is out for now.

So far, Lucy has not begun any screeching, except for when alarmed. Like with the dogs barking suddenly at a knock on the door. Her voice then is truly impressive. Today, while Gracie was running through her vocabulary and whistling away, Lucy managed a single word. "Hello" she said quietly.

Hello Lucy.

Getting Settled

OK, we are are a little more settled now. Trying to get a new rhythm in the house with our new flock member. We still don't have a name for her yet, and I guess that should be the number one priority for the moment. "Baby Green Wing" is getting used to stepping up for everybody.

Socialization is extremely important. Gracie, our Grey, won't come out of the cage for anyone but me; but still can be passed reasonably easily to all family members. Gelsa and Ginger go to anyone easily and are very friendly. I am hoping the same for Baby GW.

I have found that you just can't rush a bird. That's it. No rushing. It's all about patience and trust...and these take time, in people and in birds.

Baby Green Wing is home!

After much discussion, we finally decided to add to our flock. Now, along with Gelsa [Green Cheeked Conure 5], Gracie [Congo African Grey, 18 months], and Ginger [Senegal 8 months], comes baby Green Wing, 5 months!

It was a tough decision both financially and in greater commitment, because all of our birds are youngsters. The though being.... if they grow up together, they may all be happier and better off for it. I guess we will see about that.

More to follow.