- Joined
- 3/27/12
- Messages
- 565
Hard to believe it's been 3 years already!!!
I got Zuya from the same breeder that I got my previous lovebird from, which was at a bird mart (before I knew better about getting birds at those). Since he died just two years later, I reached out to the same lady, who lives almost 3 hours away. There were just no other places around here that had any Fischers. I couldn't actually get in contact with the breeder directly, but through a club member, who offered to bring the bird a bit closer, to her house. So, I didn't even get to go and pick her out. All I got was this picture.
But look at that cute face! I was actually looking for a male, so the breeder said she picked this one *male*. She was right the previous time, so I trusted her. This little birdie was very friendly from the get-go, more so than any other bird I ever had in 30+ years. Even though she was not hand-fed, she wanted attention from the first day. This was her a few hours after bringing her home, wanting to come out and check things out, instead of hiding in a corner.
And by day 4 she was comfortable eating on her tree stand.
The following day I sent an update to the breeder-club-friend lady, about how amazing this little birdie was, perching on and eating out of my hands, and even letting me scratch her head.
So, with a start like that, we bonded quickly. By the time the DNA results came back two weeks later, and confirmed she was a *girl*, there was no way I could return her! I feel silly now, how I could have even though that I could never love her the same as if she was a boy. I knew what having a girl all meant, and I just dreaded those times when she would turn into a little "monster".
Well, three years later, and she is still the sweetest little thing. It took probably 6 months, while all her clipped feathers grew out, that she felt completely comfortable. And then maybe another year before we really had great routine and communication. She quickly learned tricks, and recall flying.
She is a good eater and forager. I love her messy beaks, butt in the air, and persistence with food puzzles. It took her a while to warm to shredding wood, but now she is a little wood chipper!
We never got the harness thing going, after the initial rejection. But she enjoys going on walks in her back-pack.
She follows me around, always wanting to be in the center of all the action. We do this every single morning for the last three years, and she still gets all excited to be a part of the Turkish coffee making ritual. I think she thinks it's some kind of a game, and she is the main player!
She is still very curious, and gets into things very easily. She keeps me on my toes with keeping up with her discoveries. Getting behind/under furniture, inside things like trash can, toilet, fireplace...
Of course, being a girl, she gets those urges to nest. But what amazes me is how she will let me, as long as I move slowly, grab her out of those places without any bites! With my previous female lovie, I would have lost a part of the skin if I ever dared to reach into a drawer she has claimed! We have not had any eggs yet. And even when I think I hid all the paper from her sight, she still manages to spot some even if she can only get to it in flight!
I love this cutie pie. Here is to many more years with this sweetie!
I got Zuya from the same breeder that I got my previous lovebird from, which was at a bird mart (before I knew better about getting birds at those). Since he died just two years later, I reached out to the same lady, who lives almost 3 hours away. There were just no other places around here that had any Fischers. I couldn't actually get in contact with the breeder directly, but through a club member, who offered to bring the bird a bit closer, to her house. So, I didn't even get to go and pick her out. All I got was this picture.
But look at that cute face! I was actually looking for a male, so the breeder said she picked this one *male*. She was right the previous time, so I trusted her. This little birdie was very friendly from the get-go, more so than any other bird I ever had in 30+ years. Even though she was not hand-fed, she wanted attention from the first day. This was her a few hours after bringing her home, wanting to come out and check things out, instead of hiding in a corner.
And by day 4 she was comfortable eating on her tree stand.
The following day I sent an update to the breeder-club-friend lady, about how amazing this little birdie was, perching on and eating out of my hands, and even letting me scratch her head.
So, with a start like that, we bonded quickly. By the time the DNA results came back two weeks later, and confirmed she was a *girl*, there was no way I could return her! I feel silly now, how I could have even though that I could never love her the same as if she was a boy. I knew what having a girl all meant, and I just dreaded those times when she would turn into a little "monster".
Well, three years later, and she is still the sweetest little thing. It took probably 6 months, while all her clipped feathers grew out, that she felt completely comfortable. And then maybe another year before we really had great routine and communication. She quickly learned tricks, and recall flying.
We never got the harness thing going, after the initial rejection. But she enjoys going on walks in her back-pack.
She follows me around, always wanting to be in the center of all the action. We do this every single morning for the last three years, and she still gets all excited to be a part of the Turkish coffee making ritual. I think she thinks it's some kind of a game, and she is the main player!
Of course, being a girl, she gets those urges to nest. But what amazes me is how she will let me, as long as I move slowly, grab her out of those places without any bites! With my previous female lovie, I would have lost a part of the skin if I ever dared to reach into a drawer she has claimed! We have not had any eggs yet. And even when I think I hid all the paper from her sight, she still manages to spot some even if she can only get to it in flight!
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