Nerves of Steel

[steptoe91(tozie)]

Each nite i have a routine at bedtime. I'm sure most of ya'll do too. Part of the routine is 'tucking' each fid into bed. In caleb's case, that is singing to him thru the bars...and lately scritching him on top of the cage before he goes in his room, too. Now caleb likes to 'clean' the cage. As he runs his beak across the bars, he will make the noise of a vacuum, of something abrasive rubbing the metal, and the sound of water dripping. He's "scrubbing his cage".    He also "scrubs" me. He will run his beak up and down my arms and hands as he adds his own sound effects. If my hand isnt in a spot or angle he wants it to be, he gently picks up my hand using my thumb as a 'handle' and put it where he wants it. He has also started this thing where he will hold my fingers, hand, arm in his beak. i can feel the sharp bottom mandible, the three points on his beak, and his little tongue on my skin. THis is where the 'nerves of steel' come in handy. I must trust that he wont hurt me. if he gets a bit excited and starts to put too much pressure on my tender flesh, i say calmly "hey now, that's alive, take it easy." and he lightens the pressure. I get the feeling he's not only exploring my hand and arm but he's exploring my temperament.  I feel like its a 'what if i do this?' kinda thing.

[lorek]

awww you are both earning trust in each other!!! how cute! 

[YoshiMike13]

LOL! He is testing you! You definitely have nerves of steel, that would somewhat scare me. Those kind of moments are where you should keep your cool, because if you snap, it will scare them and they might bite really hard and such . . . . . I think? Am I correct?

[steptoe91(tozie)]

not only do you have to act calm but you have to BE calm, mike. Cause they can sense/feel/see your fear. so if you're scared or even nervous, they know. you have to BE calm and have faith that they wont hurt you.

[YoshiMike13]

wow, they are like ghosts!! ghosts live off of fear. lol

[Ditty]

that is so cool!  Yep exploring boundaries, he has no idea how much pressure will hurt till you tell him.  And I love "that is alive take it easy" 

Maybe he should have a chat with HW...He still nips hard sometimes.   

Yep Mikey they DO feel your energy but ya gotta remember they also see in UV light so they SEE our capillaries in our face and skin flush when scared, excited, angry, when we don't see it.

[Sondra]

Love the routine, you should set up a camera so we can see and hear his routine.   
I love their tongue when they do that! Just keep your mind clear and NEVER think about being bit, I swear they can read our minds.

[BuffaloParrot]

Very cool.  Yeah, like little kids, always pushing to see how far they can go 

[wishforabird]

WOW...

[YoshiMike13]

Yep Mikey they DO feel your energy but ya gotta remember they also see in UV light so they SEE our capillaries in our face and skin flush when scared, excited, angry, when we don't see it.

I definitely did NOT know that, and that is very interesting and useful information! Thank you ditty!

[wishforabird]

do you own parrots for dummies?    there is a lot of cool info in there! 

[YoshiMike13]

No but I have read it cover to cover. If that was in there i must have forgotten that part.