Flight suit.... Check!

Lola had her first flight suit training today! She was fine having it next to her, was playing and biting it while it was on her perch. I picked her up and placed her on top of the suit, and she was fine. So I began scratching her neck, and carefully picked each foot up and placed it in the "holes." She was very still because I was scratching her the entire time. Once the feet were in, I pulled her wings through the holes, and velcro'd her in....all while scratching her neck. Once she was in I immediately made a big fuss about her being a GOOD girl!

She wasn't THRILLED with the idea, but tolerated it. She tried munching on her suit, but I would say "no" and redirect her attention every time. 

 

She wore it for about 10 minutes, while I fussed about how she was such pretty bird. She was very nervous when I had to take it off, because of the Velcro sound. I reassured it her the entire time, and scratched her while I unvelcro'd it. Then I spent a few minutes doing up the Velcro, and undoing it so that she can grow accustomed to the sound. Overall, she was such a good girl, and has really taken everything in stride! We celebrated 5 weeks together on Saturday!

Great weekend for Lola!

Memorial Day weekend has proven to be Lola's weekend! I had a personal emergency on Saturday, so was unable to spend much time with her. She was allowed out of her cage, but did not get any "training time" or time on her play stand since I am the only one who can bing her out of her cage,and I  wasn't home. She spent a few hours outside on Sunday, while we washed cars, BBQ'd, and enjoyed the sunshine. Lola LOVED talking to the other birds, and ruffling her feathers at the wind.

Today was Memorial Day so we were not home for about 10 hours. When I arrived home and opened her cage,  she came right out for kisses and snuggles. Than she "stepped up" on the FIRST ask, and traveled to her outside cage so she can spend some time watching the sun set with the rest of the family. This was her first time, stepping up the first time it was asked. It usually takes about 6 minutes of convincing to get her to step up from her cage. So this was fantastic!

After spending a couple of hours outdoors, she came back in to her cage. I decided to try and see if she would do her two tricks.... AND SHE DID, from her cage, with visitors over, and dogs barking, etc! She "waved" and "turned around" on command every time it was asked! She must've been very happy to see me after an exciting weekend, because she did everything when asked the first time. 

what a great weekend for Lola!!

Vomiting..?

Lola did something very strange today, she "threw up" a piece of nut that she had eaten earlier, while we were playing. She was not upset, didn't fling it around, or show any sign of distress. She simply started to pump her head up and down, and out came a piece of nut. Her behavior has been normal, lots of talking, playing, and exploring her newly re-decorated cage.

I am worried that she may not being feeling well, or that she got too many nuts. Or perhaps she is fine, and just loves me so much she wants to vomit on me. Either way, we are laying off of the peanuts for a couple of days and seeing if that may be the cause.

New diggs..

Lola's outside cage won a home-makeover! She got some new perches, a ladder, a swing. A couple of new toys, a even a small mirror. After cleaning her outside cage, and redecorating it, Lola, was given the opportunity to check it out! 

Seems like she was impressed! She was a little nervous at first, but quickly settled down. She climbed around a bit, tried out her new swing, and checked herself out in the mirror. Then she spent some time trying out all of her whistles, and some of her words. 

It was interesting to note that she didn't choose the highest perch as her favorite. Instead, she chose the large pink sandy one, which is in the middle of her cage. 

All in all, she has been with us for ALMOST a month, and really seems to be settling in quite well. I think varying her routine, and introducing her to new things constantly, helps her become a brave bird.. And increases her trust in me.

The great unknown...

On Sunday, Americans everywhere celebrated the woman who raised them, loves them, and cares for them - MOM! Lola showed her appreciation for me, by allowing herself to venture off of her cage, at HER leisure, and joining the family for a brief gathering outside to enjoy the warm weather. She has an outside cage, that is a bit smaller then "home base" and perfect to help her feel secure. Although she was little nervous about getting in, she settled down on a perch and watched as we "crazy people" used ladders to climb up high to put the canopy on the gazebo. She even fluffed up and rested a leg!

She was outside for a total of 45 minutes. She then decided she liked it out there, and was in no hurry to step up and come back in the house. Given the success of her first venture into the unknown, I have ordered some perches and toys to "spruce up" her outdoor cage which currently only contains 3, same-sized perches. I am hoping Lola can Join us for breakfast out in the gazebo on warm summer mornings!

Polly wanna cracker?

Lola LOVES unsalted crackers. So much so, that she jumped off of her cage and onto the dinner table to grab them from me. Like a child, she only likes what's not good for her!

She is still very unsure of "stepping up" from her cage. She usually goes back inside and hides. I have not been forcing the issue, and if she refuses to step up, I walk away and do something else. But today, she voluntarily stepped up even when she was hanging out on the tallest part of her open cage!

She's still not a huge fan of veggies. I am going to move her vegetable food bowl to be the highest  bowl in her cage, and see if that encourages her parrot instincts to eat some greens. 

On a much sillier note, she is talking up a storm! She coughs, sneezes, whines like the dogs, says Lola, "ok, ok bye" is a master of saying hello, and has even shouted the dogs names once or twice. None of this is prompted, and when we do ask for a word or phrase, she clams up. 

But it's funny to hear her monologues!

Coaxed..

I saw Lola ON TOP of her cage today, so with a little bribery and some coaxing, I was able to get her to step up onto my arm, for the first time in 3 days. She spent a few minutes not the couch with me, as we watched a movie, and then I decided to introduce her to the (finished) playstand!

She was a little nervous at first, and spent a few minutes just hanging out and resting her leg. After a while, she wanted to explore some of the toys!

Slight set-back

Lola's had a slight set-back, in her "stepping up" training. She is refusing. She doesn't really want to come out of her cage much either. I'm not sure what has changed for her, but she is seems happy. She is talking up a storm and plays with her toys. She just isn't too keen on stepping up from her cage. We've had visitors this week, so that may have been a little bit of a change in routine for her.

I finished her play stand, and even bought her a cage for outside. She hasn't been able to use either one yet, because of her sudden shyness. But, we are hoping that once we settle back into our routine, she will be eager to try the new toys.

Two steps forward, one step back...

Mini play-set!

As we wait for the vetwrap to come in, in order to make Lola's playstand non-slippery, I decided to build her a small table top one, using all the extra pieces. It doesn't have any toys yet, so serves more as a "perch" right now, but she seems to be enjoying it.

I cut up an old t-shirt to wrap around the PVC to provide grip. Make slits and tie. Piece of cake!

Here is Lola showing her "best side!"