longest outing yet

[steptoe91(tozie)]

yup. it was quite the outing. we left the house a little after 1 and didnt get home til 4:30 or so. it was great! skittles was a bit snarky about putting the harness over his head, but once we got it on, he was fine. let me put it under his wings just fine. this time i was smart. i packed: paper towels, a baggie of grapes, and a stuffed doggie. we played outside and inside walgreens. we met lots of new people. we stopped for snacks. he talked to people, til he got tired. the he cuddled with me. i only had to back 3 people away from him. and one lady said to me "you must be trying to socialize him."  she then told the child who was with her "you can look at him but dont get close. they get very nervous around strangers and they bite very very hard."    i was like 'yay! someone with a clue!' i had a backyard breeder go on and on about her lovebird that is laying eggs and how she's looking for a mate for it so the eggs will be 'worthwhile'.  :silence:  but skittles had a blast and is getting better. he talks more, he tolerates people in his "bubble" better, and he's figured out that the store is not a place he can poo -- he waits til we go outside. when we got home he went straight for the bowl of pellets and now that he's had his snack he's up on his swing napping. taking the grapes was perfect, he quite obviously got thirsty while we were out. his toenails ripped my arm to shreds, they need rounding out, and he bit the shewalagans outta my arm but i am happy he's doing well.    i'm hoping that someday he'll sit on something besides me! lol!

[Debz]

awww... all these happy fiddies going on outings...how nice. 

[wishforabird]

yay!!! an afternoon with mommy!!!

can you wrap vet wrap around your arm? I was going to say a sock with the end cut off, but it would scoot all over.. why did he bite you?

  <--the lady with the kid

 :bruce:<-- the lady with the lovebird  

he is geting used to people, which is awesome because it is obvious he loves to be a social butterfly...er...macaw.

I AM SO GLAD YOU TRIED AGAIN!! WOOHOOO!!!

  very inspiring

[Sondra]

Sounds like he's doing really well!
Make him a fleece blanket to take with you on your Walgreen outings, lay it across a cart and see if he'll sit on the covered handle of the cart. This way if he poops it won't be on the cart, plus you will be close enough to him that he can lay his head on you if he gets scared. To get him used to the blanket use it as a daytime cage cover - covering part of the cage top and back of his cage, or drape it across a corner of his cage.
You can use a spray bottle to give him a drink, it's what we use when we do the long walks in the summer. Powder loves a gentle spray into the mouth and when he's had enough he lets it all dribble out all over the ground, giggling like a little kid!

[Ditty]

Grapes is a fantastic idea!  I wish I could get HW to eat anything while out.  Maybe Skittles can give him some pointers?  That is great that you all enjoy yourself so much while out.  FUN!!!

[steptoe91(tozie)]

wishy, he bit my arm when i was first putting the harness over his head.

Sondra, not a bad idea, but skittles is terrified of squirt bottles.  he plays with towels and blankets all the time. but that's not the problem. he's just too insecure in the unfamiliar places to get off me. i'm his security blanket. lol!

ditty, skittles often uses fruit, particularly grapes, instead of water even at home on his cage. so it was kinda a normal thing for him to use the grape for liquid. and it was quite hot outside. we kept having to go in to cool off cause he actually started panting.

[Sondra]

I know about birds being afraid of squirt bottles. Powder is absolutely terrified if them yet I am able to get him to drink from one. It took a long time and it's the ONLY place I can squirt him with it. If I pick it up and he sees me he either goes as high as he can or hides in his box and he goes so fast several times he's fallen off of it. Before I pick it up I MUST ask him if he wants a drink. When we walk I have to carry it on my waist on the opposite side he sits on. Crazy, or what?

Grapes are an excellent source of water. Have you tried ice cubes? Dump a couple in his water bowl when you fill it with water and watch the fun! 

[vistosmommy]

I have travel water bowls for the dogs when we go on outings.  they come in different sizes, you might try those.