Life With Milton...

[Pat H]

What’s worse? The tail or the biiiites?

The bites... they take time to heal up...

 

[Pat H]

"The Tail" is funny...DA BBBIIITTTEEESSS are a corrective measure administered from a Teacher...

"The Tail" is funny...DA BBBIIITTTEEESSS are a corrective measure administered from a Teacher...

YES!! Abby [our Umbrella] is helping... I'm still 'in training'...

 

[Pat H]

No offense to any guys, but Bailey is a boy! There's a special whistle I use with the teils. They all recognize it. When I start it, every single boy of the tiels all start whistling it. Then they stop, do a little beak smacking and go back to whistling. Sad to see a single runt boy who has no lady to whistle to - I usually whistle to him but he's a "hands off" bird.

That's what I try to do w/ all my birds-- have a special whistle that they all know! So if they happen to get loose outside, I can call them... !

 

[cassiesdad]

That's what I try to do w/ all my birds-- have a special whistle that they all know! So if they happen to get loose outside, I can call them... !

Tiels are special birds!
I love them just as much as their big cousins...Cockatoos...

 

[Pat H]

I don't know, Bob... honestly... I find cockatiels to be kind of stupid. Cockatoos... oh, NO... certainly NOT!

 

[cassiesdad]

I don't know, Bob... honestly... I find cockatiels to be kind of stupid. Cockatoos... oh, NO... certainly NOT!

Tiels have a different kind of intelligence...and a much different attitude towards us crazy humans, IMO.
Tiels have this unique ability to tolerate us better than other species of avians...they also forgive our foibles better than 'toos...again, that's my opinion...based on close observation...

 

[cassiesdad]

Interaction with Milton this morning...
Milty has two new wing feathers coming in!
I have the distinct honor of preening them. Years of careful training have made me a good preener.I know exactly where to go...and how gentle I must be...so...
Me: You want under the wing, Bird?

Milton: "OK"... (lifts his wing)

I put my one finger underneath his wing...didn't rub. Milton reached back and beaked my thumb. ( not hard)

Me: That's not right , Bird...

Milt let go immediately... and I gently touched him on the beak with my nose.

Milton: " OK...I GOOD BIRD..."

Me:Yes, you are... ( I continued massaging the new feathers.

Now...Milton and I have been together for more than 10 years...we KNOW each other...well. Boundaries are boundaries...and we both respect them.
This is NOT normal behavior with any wild animal...I know the risks involved!
Still, it is cute...

 

[scrape]

Oh Milton. Has he bitten you for preening him wrong before?

 

[finchly]

I don't know, Bob... honestly... I find cockatiels to be kind of stupid. Cockatoos... oh, NO... certainly NOT!

Hubby and I were just talking about how incredibly SMART tiels are!

 

[SumitaSinh]

Hubby and I were just talking about how incredibly SMART tiels are!

Yes, tiels are smart...they're also more tolerant than other birds. That's why they spare us the 'punishment '

 

[cassiesdad]

Oh Milton. Has he bitten you for preening him wrong before?

Yeah...years ago. They weren't hard bites, just tm"teaching" ones
I learned (quickly) how and where to preen those new tender shoots!

 

[finchly]

Hubby and I were just talking about how incredibly SMART tiels are!

Sorry, @Pat H I wasn't slapping at you. There was supposed to be an LOL after that.

 

[Pat H]

Sorry, @Pat H I wasn't slapping at you. There was supposed to be an LOL after that.

Not a problem! Interesting how bird people have their many likes and dislikes...

 

[Pat H]

Yeah...years ago. They weren't hard bites, just tm"teaching" ones
I learned (quickly) how and where to preen those new tender shoots!

Yes, they definately let you know what NOT to do-- otherwise ALL FEATHERS EVERYWHERE on a Cockatoo are open for human help preening!
Let me ask you a question-- years ago, a prominate bird person rebuked me for preening their Cockatoo, saying it would lead the bird to feather plucking... I have NEVER found that to be! Bet you agree w/ me...

 

[cassiesdad]

Yes, they definately let you know what NOT to do-- otherwise ALL FEATHERS EVERYWHERE on a Cockatoo are open for human help preening!
Let me ask you a question-- years ago, a prominate bird person rebuked me for preening their Cockatoo, saying it would lead the bird to feather plucking... I have NEVER found that to be! Bet you agree w/ me...

Feathers need tending!
Whether from another bird, or by the bird themselves. Milton has trained me to do his bidding...a clever bird he is!
Milty's problem is that he's sensitive...like most Cockatoos are. He's chosen my as his "mate"... which is a PIA, I assure you.
To non-bird people, it looks cute...but it isn't.
The result is a very abnormally thinking wild animal.
So I have to respect that...every day.
He was raised that way (unfortunately) and in spite of all my efforts, remains that way.
IMO, a very undignified way for a beautiful animal to live...

 

[Pat H]

I am thankful that our Abby likes both of us, tho she is more forgiving of Steve than me! I am still in training, though I've come a long way.

 

[cassiesdad]

This morning... while wife was uncovering Milton...

Wife: (to Milton) Why did you yell at me last night? (he did, for about an hour, in Miltonese)

Milton: "YOU BAD!"

Wife: What did you say?

Milton: " YOU KNOW YOU BAD!"

Never, NEVER get on the wrong side of Milton da Too...

 

[Nancy B]

Hey was wondering how everyone is! Happy New Year!

 

[Pat H]

Staying safe and warm! Yesterdays morning temp was minus 5*... today much better-- getting up to low 30's today... Feel like asking Steve to grill something! No... really!