Play-stand!

I decided to get creative and build Lola a play stand. I researched quite a bit online and saw many built from PVC. Given that we have a PVC scissor, I figured it couldn't be so hard to build. I was right! The hardest part was figuring out what pattern or plan I wanted to use.

So I headed over to the hardware store, and bought 50ft of 3/4 inch PVC pipe for under $10. I grabbed a bunch of fittings, some rope, and 5ft of 1/2 inch PVC pipe to build a ladder. Once I was home, I cut the pipe into 1ft and 2ft sections, and I got creative. I fiddled around with the design and layout until i felt it was perfect. The best part is that I used NO glue, so the stand can be rearranged at my will.

The rope ladder was woven easily, and an additional larger rope was tied so she could climb around. I even made a rope swing, in case she ever gets the urge.

The only thing missing, now, is to create some grip with vetwrap and introduce her to it so she isn't so nervous and scared. I also need to attach a few toys. Iin the end I think it looks great and I'm very happy with the results. I think Lola is going to LOVE it!

Well - played Lola, well-played.

So Lola is settling in better than expected in the short time that she's been here. She enjoys being with people, particularly me. She "steps-up" on command about 85% of the time now, even from her cage!!

She is still iffy about vegetables. She will eat broccoli, loves sweet potatoes, and is not a fan of carrots, at all. She also prefers to be hand-fed her veggies, instead of eating them from her bowl. So that takes a few extra minutes every day to hold her broccoli while she nibbles it.

She enjoys "play time" and is allowed out of her cage for about 4-5 hours every day. Some times she chooses to perch on top of it, and flap around. Other times, she wants to come explore the house with me.

She still does her strange climbing pattern before bed every night. She ONLY does it at night. She doesn't do this at any time of the day when she is closed back into her cage. She will climb in a pattern for about 10-15 minutes before settling on her perch and preening before bed. I don't see any other signs of stress, so am putting it off to being a either a comforting release of energy, or a "tantrum" in which she doesn't quite want to go to bed just yet.

She came up to the door last night, after being closed in asking for scratches. As soon as I opened her door to give her some lovin', she ran for the hills and spent the next 5 minutes flapping around on top of her cage. She CLEARLY did not think it was bed time. Finally managed to coax her back into her cage. Gave her a few minutes to settle, and covered her up. Well-played Lola!

And here she is exploring and 7-up can after dinner last night.

Strange climbing pattern...

Lola is allowed out of her cage whenever someone is home,  which usually ends up being from 3pm until her bedtime around 8:30. Every night, for the last 4 nights in a row, she has began climbing in a specific pattern, repeatedly, after being closed in her cage for the night. I can't find any information on this anywhere, so I'm definitely curious as to why this is happening..

This went on for over 15 minutes. She has me stumped! I'm not sure how to respond, or whether to just ignore it. 

Steppin' on up!

Lola had some boot camp training with "step-up" today. After a small chase around the outside of cage, I was able to get her to come onto my arm, and spend some time at the dinner table with us. There, we worked on "step-up" with various people, and always giving her a sunflower seed as a treat. She picked that up VERY easily.

So I placed her on her cage, and asked her to step-up. She lowered her head for a scritch, so I said no and turned my back to her. After 30 seconds or so, I turned to face her again, and asked again, and she stepped up for her seed! It was a success.

And another picture of her eating broccoli, because she is the cutest!

Pellets, and Carrots, and Broccoli, oh my!

Found Lola holding a pellet with her little piggies this afternoon! Looks like the conversion to pellets isn't that difficult for her after all. I am "smooshing" them in ziplock bag with a roller, in order to mix the crumbles with her seeds in hopes of tricking her to eat them. It seems to be working! She had a few of the unbroken pellets today as well.

She also tried some steamed broccoli and was "OK" with it. She took a few small bites. Even a small step, is progress to healthy eating! The carrots weren't interesting. Not even a little bit.

Her vocabulary is increasing as she gets more comfortable with the noise and new routine. She is making all sorts of noises, and even some mumbled words!

Sweet potato!

I went to the grocery store yesterday, armed with a shopping list to appeal to Lola's distinguished taste. I brought home: kale, broccoli, red peppers, sweet potatoes, oranges, apples, and spinach and bananas.

So this morning, I made her a breakfast of broccoli, carrots, red pepper and a slice of banana. I ate bits of it (which is difficult to do at 5:30 am) to try and convince her to eat. We didn't have much luck. 2 hours later, the food was either on the ground, or untouched and in her bowl.

This afternoon, I decided to microwave a sweet potato, and enjoy it myself. I offered some to Lola, expecting the typical food flinging. Instead, I got a happy, munching, bird!! She was a little suspicious of the plate, but began to tear at the plate and eventually ate some potato!

If I could shake my tail feather like Lola, I would. but she does it best, so I will leave it to her!

Straying..

So Lola is playing it brave and is beginning to stray from her cage on occasion. Tonight, she enjoyed a short stay on my shoulder that was initiated by her. After a a half hour of riding around shotgun, she was able to be coaxed onto the kitchen table, where she found her peanut jar.

She was DETERMINED to get a peanut... Silly girl ;)

Miserable when wet.

Gave Lola her first "shower" today with a spray bottle set to mist. One squeeze of the trigger, and she squawked, ran around her cage, then fluffed up and shut up.

I ended up spending a half hour misting my face, while she grunted and squawked, before I put the bottle away and admitted defeat.

Here she is in her fluffed up glory.

Break through!

I was getting ready to put Lola to bed, a few minutes ago and was giving her our usual scratches and saying "bed time!" In a sing song voice. Well, not a second later, she climbed out and directly onto my arm, without me asking, or begging, or demanding a "step-up!"

So now, I sit here on the couch, multi-tasking between typing on my iPad, and petting the neck of a very happy and comfortable grey!

Broccoli bits

Lola is beginning to settle in and become more vocal. I let her out of her cage every morning as I get dressed and ready for work, and then bribe her in with breakfast. It works 50% of the time. The Rest of the time, I annoy her by asking her to step-up as she avoids me and my arm, and eventually escapes into her cage. I guess "step-up" is a battle for another day.

She is not speaking any words yet, but does whistle, chirp, kiss, growl, and squawk occasionally. At her old home, she wouldn't shut up. So I am hoping for the day she is comfortable enough to speak around us.

Still no luck with eating the Pellets. I've tried wetting them down a bit, but she just tosses them. I am mixing them with seed, since I am afraid she won't get any food, and don't want her to starve. Unfortunately, she picks out the seeds, and tosses the pellets. I am going to purchase a different brand of "smaller" pellets in hope that it will be easier for the princess' beak to grabbed eat, without breaking. Maybe a change of flavor or texture will open her up to trying new foods,

She did have a bit of steamed broccoli today.. And actually ate it for the fist few minutes! After about 5 minutes, she began tossing it at me. I have adopted a 4 year old child. She hates vegetables, has yet to eat any fruit, and only wants peanuts, and seeds. But I am determined!

She attended her hourly "wing-flapping aerobics" class, and accidentally jumped off her cage, landing on top of the dog. I think she frightened herself and the dog. Dog ran towards the crate, Lola climbed up my leg. When I asked her to step-up, she did so immediately and snuggled on my lap as I watched a movie. She let me scratch her neck, and left a fine coat of dust all over my black shirt.

She went to bed easily, and I covered her up for the first time today. She was VERY leary of the cage cover. But will hopefully grow accustomed to it soon.

Healthy eating vs. tasteful eating.

Lola had a good night, and is taking to preening and grooming herself. She was not very vocal today, and aside from her kissing noises and the occasional growl of distrust, not a peep was heard.

I filled her bowl with Zupreem pellets today, in hopes that she would gobble them all up and make me proud! ...well, she did gobble them up, but then proceeded to spit them out and fling them. She doesn't like pellets. Actually, she hates pellets. I tried hand-feeding, giving them to the dogs, pretending to eat them myself...nada, nothing, zip.

She thinks I am poisoning her.

Her previous owner said she was fed, "whatever was cheapest" at Petsmart. I am assuming this meant a diet of seeds, because she LOVES seeds. And peanuts. She loves peanuts.

Mission 1: healthy-eating.
Challenge - accepted!


She played in and out of her cage today, but she refuses to step up. And is a pain to put in her cage for the night. I am still not covering her cage as I don't want to upset her routine too much just yet.

Ahh, the life of birds!

Lola's HERE!!

I had to wait for my dad to go pick up Lola, because my car isn't large enough to transport her cage. We headed out, with a small dog carrier and a towel. We were hoping her trip home would be uneventful and assuring.

When we got there, I met her "girl" who introduced me to Lola. She was perched on the kitchen chair, eating an orange. Upon introduction, she whistled. It was love at first sight. After a little coaxing, and some growling, we were able to get her into the carrier safely. We loaded her cage and toys into the truck bed, and headed towards home! She was quiet in her carrier, and did not try to bite. She would occasionally make kissing noise.

Upon arriving at home, I brought her into the house, and let her out of her carrier. She immediately stepped up, and climbed up my arm, to my shoulder, tucking herself beneath my hair. She stayed there for a little while, before allowing herself to step up to my mom's arm, so that I could go unload her cage.

Once her cage was unloaded, she spent the rest of the afternoon on top of it. I didn't change anything around, as I didn't want to scare her. She perched on top, occasionally going inside if she felt a little scared. I sat nearby and read, while she watched me.

At 9:30pm, lights were turned off, and she was closed in her cage. I did not cover her cage, since her old owner never did.her first day/night was as uneventful as we could've hoped for. And I am officially a "parront!"

Lola comes home!

I'm nervous, excited, anxious, excited, nervous... Lola is coming home today!

Lola is a 2 year old Congo African Grey parrot, that is being rehomed because her owner is going away to college. I've always loved Grey's, and when I saw her picture and description, I couldn't resist. I've had birds before, and currently own 2 adorable (but loud!) lovebirds. This will be my first experience with a medium sized parrot, and I have therefore done my homework and gotten as much reading done as possible.

The possibilities, and choices are endless - clip wings or let them be flighted. Pellets, or Seeds. Shower or mist. It seems that for every argument In one direction, there are 10 equally appealing arguments in the other direction. It is a scary adventure, but I am ready!