Another Huge Milestone for Cochise

[waterfaller1]

Wow.. we just had the best fifteen minutes yet. The girls had gone back into their cages, and it was just Cochise and I, he on his porch. The light was ON this time!! He let me start petting his head a little, then he opened his crest up and let me pet him there. Then he held it open for what seemed like forever and let me preen his feathers on his crestie!! Then when he had enough, he gave me a few kisses, then started 'preening' me, up the nose, on the chin, my cheek, my hair..lol It was great!

 

[Big.Green.Chicken]

Way to go Conchise!!

That must be fabulous to scratch those Hawkhead feathers. He must really trust you now

 

[waterfaller1]

Thank you Anna. It's been 9 months since he came home. He is doing so good. Still sometimes nervous, but he really must be trusting me now. If you could have seen how hard he was biting, and how afraid he was at first, you would never believe he could have come this far. I still can't believe it!

 

[The Cozy Nestbox]

He sounds smitten to me!

 

[Anne & Gang]

Hey that is fantastic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Way to go cochise!!!!!!!!

 

[suncoast]

Aw, I love it when they preen my nose and eyelashes. That is such great news.

Ginger

 

[Big Blues]

Awwwww Cochise, you will love the trust connection between you and mommy!

 

[Birdlover]

That is fantastic news Carole!!!! Good boy Cochise!!!!

I am laughing at "up the nose" Cashew has a fascination with that too

 

[GG.]

great news Carole, that is magnificent progress!!!

 

[waterfaller1]

Thanks everyone!! I never know exactly when the mood is going to strike him. But I cherish those moments together, and they are becoming more frequent.
The preening of the face, and up the nose was so funny.
I was laughing and apologizing for not having feathers.

 

[Stevo]

Great progress by the two of you!! Well done!

 

[waterfaller1]

Thanks Steve! It's so amazing to see a bird go from frightened, depressed...to joyful,happy. To me it is like he is blossoming into the bird he should have been all along. Cochise is such an awesome bird. I love him so much.

 

[Jadesmom]

He obviously trusts you now. That is so great. I get the hair preening and my earlobes nibbled, but I never had a nose preen.

 

[waterfaller1]

I never had a nose preen.

Thank you
I never have either, it felt tickley.

 

[Archiesmom]

Awww, way to go Cochise! I'm so glad he is starting to allow you to do that

 

[waterfaller1]

Thank you Natalie!

 

[Jan]

Congrats, Carole - it surely can take the time and well earned trust in some of these HH's. Sometimes it is better when they do it on their own in wanting to be loved and preened by their owner rather than trying to do it when they are not willing at all.

Chester has always been a nervous type and he came that way to me. I've always been able to work up to preen him if I move my hand slowly. I can pet his body and touch him all over and preen the new pin feathers in his head feathers. He is gentle with me as far as not biting.

Have fun even if it is up the nose!! LOL!

 

[TITANIS]

Great to read Cochise is doing so much better, especially after the horrid situation you saved him from.

 

[hsmoscout]

Cochise! He's so sweet Congrats.

 

[waterfaller1]

Thanks Jan, Titanis, and AJ! Yes, I also have to move slow around him. They are very keen parrots, with a sort of extra sense about them.