[THORNE]

Ok, follow up to my intro post. Jewel is still a bit of a handful. Especially around bedtime. That's when she gets cranky, but because of work that's the only time I have on some days. Meaning she is alone for 8-9 hours (sometimes 12! 😭) She gets right around 12 hours of sleep though and I'm home at least 3 days a week (I'm self employed part time). So she comes out quite a bit on my off days.

Anyway, on her daytime outings she's become super managable and playful and affectionate. Here is a few stills from a video of her after she climbed into my hand and started asking for scritches.

She does this thing I've never seen my birds do before, she loves cranking her head around and upside down to get me to tickle under her beak and around her cheeks and jaws. She'll make the sweetest little donald duck noise which I'm not sure is pure contentment or annoyance cuz I'm doing it wrong. If it's annoyance she doesnt act like it. Anyone have any clue as to which is a bad croak and which is a good one?

 

[rizzie5022]

My boy makes what I call a quacking sound when I am bringing his cage into the bedroom for bedtime. That is the only time I hear it but I think he is happy,.

 

[ginziputzi]

I can’t get over how cute Jewel is!! She’s such a fresh young green - like the first leaves in the trees when they come out in the spring. Beautiful.

Your schedule is similar to the one I had with Kiwi before I retired last year. I think the crankiness at bedtime is just that she wants more time with you. Kiwi was like that, especially in the days when I was only able to get her up before I left for work and put her to bed when I got home. Actually, both of us were cranky when that happened. Haha!

Is that sound you are hearing beak grinding? They grind their beaks when they’re content. The head tilting to get you to rub the right spot on the head is one of their cutest little antics, in my view. It immediately elicits an “awwwwwww” from anyone who sees it - haha!! Isn’t it awesome that this tiny creature has that much trust in you that she can sit in your hand like that with her eyes closed! I have always been awed and honoured by that.

Great work with her! Thanks for giving us an update!

 

[Anya]

Jewel is a beauty! Just give her time - she will eventually get used to your schedule. Just a suggestion. On the long days you are at work, maybe you can give her a foraging toy (for small birds) to keep her busy!

 

[THORNE]

Jewel is a beauty! Just give her time - she will eventually get used to your schedule. Just a suggestion. On the long days you are at work, maybe you can give her a foraging toy (for small birds) to keep her busy!

I like this idea any suggestions? We have quite a few toys in her cage atm but she only really plays with one (this kind of cork thing for chewing that hangs down.

 

[Anya]

There are all different kinds. Just be careful, some of them say they are for small birds, but they are way too big. And make sure the holes/cutouts are not big enough for a small bird to get their head caught.

 

[ozzie3860]

Is behave and parrotlet allowed in the same sentence? A behaving parrotlet sounds a bit like an oxymoron.

 

[ginziputzi]

I made one for Kiwi from some little baskets I got from a craft store. I fill it with shredded paper or paper towel, different sized buttons (nothing small enough to swallow), some beads and bells I salvaged from birdie toys that had seen their day (I always save what I can from spent toys) and, of course, a treat hidden among all that like wee bunches of millet (the little balls along the stem of the millet sprig) or a few pieces of unsalted popcorn. I suspend it from the top of her cage using the plastic c-hooks I also salvaged from old toys. She used to adore playing with it - I had to reassemble it most nights - but now she just sleeps in it. And poops. 🤦🏻‍♀️ It’s an old lady thing, me thinks.

She never chews on the basket so no worries there. She is, however, harassing me mercilessly for bedtime right now (7 pm sharp and look out if you’re late) so I will leave it here! Good luck …to me….!