Well, I discovered last night China does not consider me to be the most evil/scary thing in the house. Apparently the kitchen is.
She didn't want to go in her cage and took off down the outside and across the floor. Under my chair and found herself in the kitchen. She stopped dead, turned around and saw me leaning over to get her and decided I wasn't that scary after all.
She took my finger gently in her beak, hopped on my hand, scampered up the other arm and around my back onto my opposite shoulder (I know, I know but trust needs to start somewhere) all before I realized what she was doing. I was bent over when this happened and all I could think was what a site that must have been having a featherless monkey-bird spiraling up me, lol.
She rode as far over on my shoulder as she could without falling off as I took her home then I was so giddy I woke up Hubby and told him. She hasn't been quite so anxious if I get too close to her as she usually is.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Sunday, January 11, 2009
A little more about China
I've posted about China on a couple forums and copied most of my posts to this blog but this sums up China's story best. It may repeat already posted things but here it is in it's entirety.
My Mom got involved with adopting rescued birds about 1-2 years ago. Her flock is a story for another time but I would go with her to pick some of them up. I just love being around them and have the bite scars to show for it. I have very little fear of any animal and am not afraid of being bit.
Anyways, I kept saying how much I love the birds and she started watching for a parrot for me. I have to be a bit fussy with 3 kids, one only 6 and just as eager to be with the birds as I am.
I refuse to buy my pets. Very rarely have I bought pets and that was mainly when I was in my late teens/early 20's and didn't know what I do now.
Mom knows several registered rescuers that she works with and one woman that Fosters. The one that Fosters is the one that had China.
Apparently the woman she works with found out or was contacted by the police about a bird that was kept in a Crack-House
They abused her, kept her in the room they did drugs in and she was plucked bare. China is about 4 years old and that's all she ever knew.
The woman kept her for a couple months to detox (not sure how that's done but I guess she was exposed to crack fumes so often she had DT's). Mom's friend then had her for another month before I got her.
She worked with her trying to ease her fears of women (they suspect the women were the main abusers given her reaction to them). She doesn't mind men and absolutely adores children. Mom's friend wasn't making headway until her niece and nephew came over. I guess that was the first time China showed any interest in anybody around her.
Well, she didn't like me at all at first but I'm patient. The kitten I rescued lived in the back of my closet only coming out to eat and potty for over a year before she'd willingly let me approach her.
We've had her with us for 9 days now and it's like she's never been not here. She adores my 6 year old and is in love with my Hubby. She tollerates my oldest (son) and is still trying to make up her mind about my middle (daughter). I think she is trying to decide if my middle is a child or adult (she's almost 12) but is leaning towards liking her.
She was growing her downy feathers back and now has a full body of fuzz. She has 2 tail feathers and the feathers around her legs are coming in. She's beautiful.
She will say "Hi, China" and a few other things that aren't clear and we can't figure out yet. She has learned to dance. My youngest loves singing and dancing and China would watch her intently then copy her. Nothing funnier and cuter than a near-naked 'Too doing the Chicken Dance! Wing flapping, butt shaking and all!
She would prefer I didn't approach the cage but has learned that if she wants to come out, I have to since I'm being very strict that I will be the one to let her out, clean her cage and feed her. She is learning that at night "bedtime" means it's time to go in for the night. If she won't follow verbal commands, she will let Hubby put her in. After a long scritching of course!
I think her and I will become friends soon enough. She already gets excited when I put my coat on or leave the room for too long.
My Mom got involved with adopting rescued birds about 1-2 years ago. Her flock is a story for another time but I would go with her to pick some of them up. I just love being around them and have the bite scars to show for it. I have very little fear of any animal and am not afraid of being bit.
Anyways, I kept saying how much I love the birds and she started watching for a parrot for me. I have to be a bit fussy with 3 kids, one only 6 and just as eager to be with the birds as I am.
I refuse to buy my pets. Very rarely have I bought pets and that was mainly when I was in my late teens/early 20's and didn't know what I do now.
Mom knows several registered rescuers that she works with and one woman that Fosters. The one that Fosters is the one that had China.
Apparently the woman she works with found out or was contacted by the police about a bird that was kept in a Crack-House
They abused her, kept her in the room they did drugs in and she was plucked bare. China is about 4 years old and that's all she ever knew.The woman kept her for a couple months to detox (not sure how that's done but I guess she was exposed to crack fumes so often she had DT's). Mom's friend then had her for another month before I got her.
She worked with her trying to ease her fears of women (they suspect the women were the main abusers given her reaction to them). She doesn't mind men and absolutely adores children. Mom's friend wasn't making headway until her niece and nephew came over. I guess that was the first time China showed any interest in anybody around her.
Well, she didn't like me at all at first but I'm patient. The kitten I rescued lived in the back of my closet only coming out to eat and potty for over a year before she'd willingly let me approach her.
We've had her with us for 9 days now and it's like she's never been not here. She adores my 6 year old and is in love with my Hubby. She tollerates my oldest (son) and is still trying to make up her mind about my middle (daughter). I think she is trying to decide if my middle is a child or adult (she's almost 12) but is leaning towards liking her.
She was growing her downy feathers back and now has a full body of fuzz. She has 2 tail feathers and the feathers around her legs are coming in. She's beautiful.
She will say "Hi, China" and a few other things that aren't clear and we can't figure out yet. She has learned to dance. My youngest loves singing and dancing and China would watch her intently then copy her. Nothing funnier and cuter than a near-naked 'Too doing the Chicken Dance! Wing flapping, butt shaking and all!
She would prefer I didn't approach the cage but has learned that if she wants to come out, I have to since I'm being very strict that I will be the one to let her out, clean her cage and feed her. She is learning that at night "bedtime" means it's time to go in for the night. If she won't follow verbal commands, she will let Hubby put her in. After a long scritching of course!
I think her and I will become friends soon enough. She already gets excited when I put my coat on or leave the room for too long.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Poor Hubby, lol
She has latched onto Hubby big time! He can't go anywhere near her cage without giving her attention. She won't let him pick her up but she will go onto his shoulder if he presents it.
I'm so happy she took to someone (although I will admit I'm a bit jealous!)
I learned last night that her breed are escape artists. I guess they can even pick the cage locks that some cages have. Although I'm almost always home, I'm going to pick up a padlock for when we are away for her own safety.
Right now she has a "fuzz". They are feathers but they are down feathering. The full feathers are starting to grow back but it will take time. She has a full head of feathers since she can't reach them with her beak. She was completely bare with wounds when first rescued as I understand it.
My Mom got into adopting rescued birds a while back and has birds ranging from little parakeets up to large parrots. China is my first bird larger than a 'tiel but I have lots of experience with Mom's birds. As well as mishaps
Maggie, one of Mom's parrots pealed the top of my finger back today because I let my attention wander for a moment while playing tug-of-war with her. She's a biter anyways but she didn't do it this time on purpose. It may have been less severe if she had!
She was biting and tugging more than she would have if just biting! She thought she had the rope but had missed. As soon as she realized what was happening she let go but she's a big bird with a big bite. She nicked the blood vessel that runs across the top of the finger and I had a hard time getting it to stop bleeding.
I'm so happy she took to someone (although I will admit I'm a bit jealous!)
I learned last night that her breed are escape artists. I guess they can even pick the cage locks that some cages have. Although I'm almost always home, I'm going to pick up a padlock for when we are away for her own safety.
Right now she has a "fuzz". They are feathers but they are down feathering. The full feathers are starting to grow back but it will take time. She has a full head of feathers since she can't reach them with her beak. She was completely bare with wounds when first rescued as I understand it.
My Mom got into adopting rescued birds a while back and has birds ranging from little parakeets up to large parrots. China is my first bird larger than a 'tiel but I have lots of experience with Mom's birds. As well as mishaps
Maggie, one of Mom's parrots pealed the top of my finger back today because I let my attention wander for a moment while playing tug-of-war with her. She's a biter anyways but she didn't do it this time on purpose. It may have been less severe if she had!
She was biting and tugging more than she would have if just biting! She thought she had the rope but had missed. As soon as she realized what was happening she let go but she's a big bird with a big bite. She nicked the blood vessel that runs across the top of the finger and I had a hard time getting it to stop bleeding.
Friday, January 2, 2009
China made a friend!
China has decided that there is one person on the planet, after all, that can pet her. Hubby. So now Mr. I-Don't-Like-Animals is all gushy over her
She gets in the corner and trembles if I get close to the cage but she watches me carefully when I'm in the room and responds to my talking as long as I'm not right at the cage. She also watches carefully how I interact with my other birds and that does seem to have an influence on her.
I'm going to take things slow and steady. Aside from the kids giving her treats, I will be sole food provider and caretaker so she learns I'm the one that she needs to rely on and trust for food and water.
It took over a year for Ginny, the rescue kitty we took in, to come into the room with the kids out here and let me really handle her so I'm not afraid to give China all the time she needs.
I'll get pics when I feel she can handle that attention. She is extremely nervous right now. I was going to move her to a different room that wasn't quite so busy but I think she is actually enjoying all the action. She watches EVERYTHING with great interest. She even tries peeking around things in her way to see what's going on!
She gets in the corner and trembles if I get close to the cage but she watches me carefully when I'm in the room and responds to my talking as long as I'm not right at the cage. She also watches carefully how I interact with my other birds and that does seem to have an influence on her.
I'm going to take things slow and steady. Aside from the kids giving her treats, I will be sole food provider and caretaker so she learns I'm the one that she needs to rely on and trust for food and water.
It took over a year for Ginny, the rescue kitty we took in, to come into the room with the kids out here and let me really handle her so I'm not afraid to give China all the time she needs.
I'll get pics when I feel she can handle that attention. She is extremely nervous right now. I was going to move her to a different room that wasn't quite so busy but I think she is actually enjoying all the action. She watches EVERYTHING with great interest. She even tries peeking around things in her way to see what's going on!
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Introducing China
She's home! She LOVES kids! Her name is China. She says "Hi China". She sounds and looks like a little china doll.
She is just infatuated with Abby. Any of the rest of us approach her cage and she moves to the other side. Abby goes towards it and she comes right over and gives Abby her undivided attention. Abby held a wedge of apple through the bars and instead of taking it like they normally will, she ate right out of Abby's hand.
I don't want to spook her too much so I want to give her a couple days before taking pics. We suspect one of the abusers may have been female since she shies away from females but doesn't seem to mind males.
She is just infatuated with Abby. Any of the rest of us approach her cage and she moves to the other side. Abby goes towards it and she comes right over and gives Abby her undivided attention. Abby held a wedge of apple through the bars and instead of taking it like they normally will, she ate right out of Abby's hand.
I don't want to spook her too much so I want to give her a couple days before taking pics. We suspect one of the abusers may have been female since she shies away from females but doesn't seem to mind males.
Getting a Goffin's Too
I'm on my way to pick up a Goffin's Cockatoo. She's a rescue (surprise, surprise, lol). I'm getting her from a woman that does rescue and needs a home for her. She's originally rescued from a crack house and was terribly abused. She has no feathers. She gets kinda nervous at times but she's been around kids. She did better after the woman's nieces started talking with her so it looks like she likes kids.
I'm hoping this will be her forever home but I will do what's right for her and if it doesn't work out, she has a home at Mom's.
I'm hoping this will be her forever home but I will do what's right for her and if it doesn't work out, she has a home at Mom's.
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