My little guy is settling in nicely with my Chicago buddy who has been keeping up with the little booger until we return from our trip to Finland. He loves blueberries. He can fly *very* well, she says. They have a java tree perch, and while he is very skittish, he does return to the java perch after his little turn about the room...
Hopefully you guys have some tips for taming a bird who is very accustomed to being flighted? ...I don't think clipping his wings is an option here, because of his legs. But my house is very open, and it will be difficult to say the least to encourage him back into his cage should he decide to take a fly around. I don't want to chase him down. I will be taking it very slow with him, of course, to earn his trust and hopefully gain his confidence in me... but if he can jet off the moment he is out, I'm worried that I'll have no option but to be continually chasing him down to protect him from himself...
He has obviously built up great strength in his wing muscles...Is there a milder clipping option that will slow him down but perhaps not offer him full flight? Or should I not even consider it?
He was very underweight upon leaving his home...and I think I now know part of the reason why. Apart from living with a cage mate who possibly bullied him in addition to plucking him to pieces, he does not (cannot?) use his feet to hold food. I've seen these awesome platform perches with holes cut out for bowls to be placed in...and I think I'm going to have my husband help me build one. I think this will help him out with dropped food, and give him more stability while eating...
Lastly...I think I found the
perfect cage. Why is it perfect? Because I'm going to build a gym station on top of it, and it'll sit right next to Dood's cage so they can climb on both. Its not too tall inside, so any falls or stumbles should be minor, and it's stand is pretty tall itself...Though I may make a taller stand in the end, too.
And now for some pics...