Day 5

okay, today was a little weird, but I place full blame on the fact that my significant other was in the room for the first 1/2 hour while i was interacting with Pico plus the fact that he went to see our avian vet for the first time for a complete check up.

Pico was very calm...almost tired-looking. this is probably due to the fact that we went for his first visit at our avian vet. we had the "new bird" check up done and all these other tests done to make sure he is healthy in every way. it was expensive (over $500), but you can't put a price on peace of mind with a new "baby".

he sat on his sleep perch as i approached. no large display of eyes and tail and no scramble to come to me as i have witnessed these past few days. it was amazing - almost alarming (healthwise).

once hubby went out, i sat down next to his cage and started talking to him softly and animatedly. i got some new parrot behavior books so i also read the first chapter of it to him - informing both of us along the way. he eventually made his way to where i was very calmly. while reading, he would look at me intently - almost mesmerized by the sound of my voice - and pushed his head to the bars of his cage to beg for me to preen him. (Cute!). absolutely no display of aggression. i know i cant really consider this a step forward, because the trauma of the vet visit probably took a lot out of him (which was about 5 hours previous to our reunion). but it was great to see him so calm.

well, after reading chapter one. i preened his head one more time and decided its time to take him out on his play stand. i stood up and he made his way not to the door of his cage, but to his sleep perch. i opened the cage and i asked him if he wanted to come out. he leaned toward me, which i took as him wanting to come out so i offered him the wooden perch and a firm "step up". he actually lifted his foot this time and placed it on the perch! usually he would attack the perch with his beak before stepping on. (calm down, its just the effects of his vet visit....) i was almost expecting him not to attack my hand this time!

well, the key word there is "almost". i moved Pico out of his cage and he then went to attack my hand. i did the perch rumble thing and gave a firm "NO". he caught his balance and quieted down so i took him to this play stand. i praised him a lot when he stepped up on the play stand after i gave the command. he looked quite calm - very little eye pinning and no tail flaying. i offered to preen his head, but he didnt want any of it so i backed off. i moved my chair about 2 - 3 feet away from him and sat next to the play stand reading (this time quietly) my book.

the book talked about passive interaction with a parrot like blinking your eyes and see if the parrot will blink back which would be a sign that the parrot is contented (a nervous, aggressive bird would stare at someone with an unwavering, unblinking look) and wow, Pico blinked after i blinked! how cool is that. also, the book had something about stretching when the bird stretches. which i did, and he was so mellow.

yeah, yeah. he expended all his energy at the vet. but to see him like that was wonderful and a big honor for me. we'll see how he is today and during the weekend while i work with him. i plan to give him a shower today. he was given a good misting at the bird shop and he just LOVED it. it was so comical and funny. Pico would open up his wings and use them to wipe his face and groom all over. anyone who has never seen a happy amazon during a bath should definitely try and witness this. its awesome and hilarious!

no more bites today to report. as soon as my injuries from his previous bites heal, i may try to get him to step up on my hand. we'll see. i should eventually do this.

in one forum, a person suggested that i try to pick up Pico while my hubby (his favorite person) is in the room. and when Pico tries again to bite my hand, hubby should be the one to give the firm "NO". Pico would probably react more profoundly to his favorite person saying "NO" than me. great suggestion, huh? i cant wait to try that out.