[BarkingPup]

So, I've wanted a bird for about 8 years now. I was going to get a Linnie despite my first choice being a Conure...

Plans changed when a coworker/friend came up to me and asked

"So how bad do you want a parrot?"

".... eight years is a long time."

Turns out her roommate's girlfriend had a Maroon-bellied Conure that she was looking to rehome. Three years ago she rolled her car with him in it. Since she was at the hospital the bird ended up staying at a cops house for a few days. Because of this he absolutely hates her and started plucking like crazy.

So on Friday I brought Squeek home. I immediately corrected the spelling mistake in his name and am debating on naming him Squeakers. I moved him to my huge cage (with proper bar sizing, his previous one had 1 inch!) and added my own toys/perches to it. He aaaadores me (so far) and practically makes love to my neck when he's out, preening my hair into a tangled mess. I gotta say, I thought the bites would be worse! As it stands, I'd rather have him bite me then my rabbit

The cats were all "OMG there a parrot on yer shoulder" but with my persistence they're losing interest. Squeak, unlike the rabbit, is a No Touch At All and he's not allowed on anything because he can't fly.

But, that's not what people want to see! Instead, it's these:

His new, huge cage.

Blurry, but adorable. Super hard taking a picture in the mirror of a bird that's afraid of the camera and is determinedly cuddling as close to yer neck as possible while half covered in preened -messy- hair. :/

I'm picking some stuff up for his plucking tomorrow. Even if he can't kick the habit I'll still love him in all his fluffy, scruffy glory ^^

 

[BarkingPup]

@somebody: He's more scruffy than beautiful right now He's super comfortable, didn't bat an eyelash when he saw all the new stuff in his new cage. He hasn't played with anything yet (that I know of) but I'm crossing my fingers because I've collected a lot of stuff over eight years XD

@FlickeringHope: According to the previous owner Squeek demonstrated the same behavior whenever I visited as he does for her boyfriend, whom he adores. It was one of the reasons she let me take him There wasn't even an adjustment period! I stuck him in his cage and he immediately started pleading to escape. Then spent an hour cuddling the back of my neck.

@Purple-hops: Thanks. It helps he stayed absolutely still for the camera. It was trying to eat him, obviously.

@Nibbler: Conure's were my first choice! Specifically, Sun but they're soooo loud. I'm ecstatic to have one now! And he's 7 years old so he won't be going through the terrible two's... not sure about the teen... I'll have to check and see what years the teen years are.

 

[BarkingPup]

@Jess: Birds are definitely "unique" pets. Loud, temperamental, messy, demanding, etc. XD

Naw, Quaker's are awesome. Plucking is one of the worst habits to kick :/ I'm hoping the stuff I pick up for him helps. The closest Avian Vet is ten hours away so I'm sticking with 'habit' instead of 'allergies' or 'parasite'. If he shows any other signs (diarrhea, vomiting, itchy skin) I'll be calling them up and making some sort of long-distance vet thing. Or rather, forcing them into it because Squeak needs it.

@Elliriyanna: Thanks ^^ So am I!

 

[BarkingPup]

Lol, I still have to clip (the newly named) Necho's nails. Fortunately, one of my perches is meant to wear them down so I put it in front of his food and water (bwahahahaha).

The main reason I'll be letting his wings grow is the cats. If he is clipped it will be a short one so he can still make quick getaway's. But, of course, if he doesn't become a brat when he's flighted I'll be recall training him ^^

Oh, yeah, thanks, Purple-hops for helping me name another animal! Those lists are super handy... and the goldfish still need names... hmmm..

 

[BarkingPup]

I fully intend to use those lists for evil! I'm thinking the most complicated ones for the goldfish. I'd use my old fish's name (One-Eyed Pete the Pirate) but none of them have one eye. So impossible to pronounce names it is.

 

[BarkingPup]

No problem! I got the cage online at a sale a few years ago! The biggest issue with it is the small doors, sucky locking, and a couple design flaws that are annoying but livable.

The website says 30" high, 18" wide, 30" long but when I measure it it's more like: 35" high, 18" wide, and a little under 30" long.

It's suuuper huge compared to his first cage (and him).