Pictures tell the story....

[Clueless]

Secret is an old Amazon, contrary and whips her head to nail me even from the bird cage while in between bars. Granted, she's getting softer since MC passed away.

Someone asked a while back so here's how we handle skritching outside the cage (and keeping my fingers).

I have a baby blanket on my lap and a T sick turned upside down:




See how quick the head snaps up?



But if you do it right.....



Then the quick response that I missed a spot so she scratches with her foot:

 

[faislaq]

Beautiful pictures! I can almost feel her feathers.

... now if I could just smell 'em. I hope to experience the 'zon smell at least once in my life!

 

[Clueless]

Beautiful pictures! I can almost feel her feathers.

... now if I could just smell 'em. I hope to experience the 'zon smell at least once in my life!

The smell is awesome.....MC did it often. Secret? Not so much. But..... the bird beak grinds a LOT!

 

[faislaq]

I love beak grinding.

 

[flyzipper]

Reminds me of this...

http://instagr.am/p/CaNZsGllkFh/ ​

 

[Clueless]

@flyzipper very very true!

 

[Greylady1966]

Beautiful pictures of Secret. Someday I hope to have Billy on my lap. It will be worth the wait. I would never have believed a parrot could smell as good as Amazons do! Howard smells like lavender, Billy like baby powder. It's very addictive.

 

[Clueless]

Can you get Billie away from his cage at all?

That helped with MC and Secret both.

MC would only go BY HIMSELF to his treestand, then I'd roll him away and he was love.

Secret has a low treestand and I move it close to me on the couch. Then you can see when she's interested.

 

[Sodapop&Co.]

Aww what a darling bird

 

[Teckechick]

Secret is such a beautiful bird. What a great idea with the T-stick!!!

 

[Greylady1966]

Billy will climb all over his cage but won't step off of it. I took a play stand in by him and each day moved it a little closer to him. He was reaching for it but stopped right before his foot was on it. One day I had Howard in the kitchen while I was cleaning his cage and pushed it next to Billy without thinking about it. I came back in and he was on top of Howard's. Lol little stinker.

 

[macawpower58]

OMG that is too funny!
It takes a fully crazy parrot person to totally understand and find this endearing.
Made my day, co-workers had to check out why I laughed....blank looks on their faces!

 

[Clueless]

One day I had Howard in the kitchen while I was cleaning his cage and pushed it next to Billy without thinking about it. I came back in and he was on top of Howard's. Lol little stinker.

See? There's HOPE! GO FOR IT!

 

[Tyrion]

Great Pics

 

[Greylady1966]

How would you recommend to get him from the top of the cage to the t-stick or arm? He saw the t-stick for Koko and did the Amazon roll.

 

[Clueless]

How would you recommend to get him from the top of the cage to the t-stick or arm? He saw the t-stick for Koko and did the Amazon roll.

If he is on a lower play stand, or a travel cage placed on a rug because you can SLIDE a rug slowly for instance, you gently get him away from his cage/ safe place.

Treats would be good (for a few days) to let him know it's fun to be there.

WHEN HE SEEMS INTERESTED in more than that, you'll know.

I try not to force the stick. He's going to get hungry and thirsty after being away from food bowls. Then he'll be willing to step onto the stick to be transported back. I ALWAYS hold the T stick at about the level of the top of their leg or so. Birds always want to step UP and that's the word I use.

Remember there's also circles that are wrapped with rope if he HATES a T stick.

 

[Clueless]

Slow is the main word. Always slow.

 

[Greylady1966]

We've been bringing Billy out in the kitchen more to sit by Howard. I pushed a chair up by his open door and he really thought about getting on it but stopped.

 

[Clueless]

So you're moving his entire cage?

 

[Greylady1966]

Yes.