Bit, Brat and what happened to Jaz?

Pepper bit me. HARD! I don’t even know why. He was playing on my shirt, pulling the buttons and then just turned his head and bit my lip. Very firm no again and he backed off. It is possible he just wanted to see if he could play with my lip as well, but that is not cool.

In other Pepper related events, he stole antipasto from my plate last night. Didn’t like it, but he showed an interest in it at least.Tonight he was thinking about stealing a piece of tomato. I offered him some but he wouldn’t eat it. *sigh* This getting him to eat healthy food is going to take a bit. Tomorrow I try “birdie bread” and see what he does with it.

I had to go help Mom at her work tonight. Kyra came with me, she kinda had to. Don’t exactly want my daughter running around a chicken processing plant.. but she enjoyed helping clean… yes, my 6 year old enjoyed cleaning… I don’t get it, but she did.

When I got home though, Pepper was in bad shape. I was gone just under 4 hours. I came home to a very depressed looking little bird clinging to the side of his cage perches knocked down and he glued himself to me as soon as I let him out. He perched in my hair, with a death grip on my hair clip…

Then he fell asleep sitting on my chest. I swear he’s not dead, he’s just still a baby and likes to sleep flat.. and apparently on his side….

See not dead…

Jaz on the other hand…. yeah.. Jaz doesn’t cuddle… Today though, she has been very cuddly. Kind of has me a little concerned.. Not complaining! I love my kitty! Just concerned. Maybe she is finally warming up to people though? I hope so. Right now though, bed time. I tired. That is of course if I can get Pepper to stop pacing in his cage and go sleep. Since I got home I am NOT to be out of his sight. It’s sweet but if he doesn’t sleep he will get sick (

Pepper.. and it begins

Day six of Pepper being present. He is settling in and getting comfortable finally. I think today I am starting to see signs of his true nature!

This morning during his cuddling he was doing his usual beak rubbing against my neck and then promptly bit my ear. Not hard, but I felt it. A very firm no and a time out in his cage later I got my cuddly bird back without the biting.

This afternoon however; he flat out refused to step up. AT ALL! I held my hand out and he ran away. He wanted to do his own thing thank you very much and that was final. This is not good when he is out and loose like he was today, there are cats here. It would appear he has got the concept of the very firm “no” though. No time out required. Back to very well behaved bird again… until play time this afternoon. He was happily chirping away on my shoulder when he suddenly stuck his beak IN my ear and Squawked! Very loud! No, he did not get in trouble for that one.

He wasn’t in trouble all day though. The pellet eating battle continues *sigh*. He simply does not recognize them as food yet. This morning I was watching him eat and he would pick them up and crack them open as if they were seeds. But once open he could not find the seed that should have been inside the “husk” so he spit them back out. Progress, but not there yet. I am going to try soaking some of them and see what he does with them. If I can get him to realize they are food as is, the battle should be won. Then we can work on the fresh fruits and vegetables issue.

He did play today though! He has had tons of toys since he has been with me, aside from some random climbing though nada for playing with them. Today though he was nibbling and chewing and actually playing! Right now he is attempting to chew a button off my shirt and pull the elastic out of my hair. Also playings so I am happy!

Baby steps, but we are getting there *nod* well birdie steps I suppose…..

At the Market…

Pepper has been a permanent attachment since I got him. Seriously. I have not left home without him. This is not a bad thing… just an adjustment.

Got him a small travel cage yesterday for the times he can’t be loose but there are places we go that he can be out and on my shoulder. The looks that you get from people when you have a very small (he’s small even for a lovebird) parrot on your shoulder are amazing. They almost always stop and do a double take and then say something like “Oh what a pretty bird!”.

Today was his second visit in as many days to the local farmers Market. (Anyone that is on Vancouver Island and has a chance stop by Russel’s Farm Market! It is on the Island Highway just south of Chemainus. BEST strawberries EVER!) The staff all greeted him most with a “Oh you are back! Hi Pepper!” and the other customers.. yeah.. most of them still do not believe what they are seeing.

Today I was with my mother, my nephew and my daughter. Pepper was happily perched on my shoulder looking around. One lady was there with about 6 children all younger than my daughter. As soon as she saw Pepper she pointed him out to the children. I was so proud of my little bird! Of course the children wanted to pet him so I had him step-up on my finger and held him down for them to pet. At this point I was also very proud of my daughter. I am not he most social person. Kyra immediately stepped in and very politely explained that he was a lovebird which is a very small kind of parrot and that they should pet him very gently so as not to hurt him or scare him. The children were enthralled and listened to Kyra telling them all about him. I was not aware she had absorbed so much information about lovebirds and parrots in general. Next time I have a question I ask Kyra first!

Meanwhile Pepper sat very quietly and let other people pet him! This was a first for him! He usually shies away or goes to hide under my hair. Today he was very calm and patient.

So proud of both my children!

… okay I will stop gushing now… it’s kind of sad I know.

Hi there

I can’t stand doing the “Hello World” thing. Like the world is going to read me babbling about my daughter and my cat and my bird and random things I think up…

Speaking of My daughter. Meet Kyra (aka Bratling, Beastish, Short and Trouble, the list goes on): 6 years old and full of attitude! She keeps me insane and I love her for it. You will hear about her.. a lot!

Jaz (aka Jazling, Jaz cat): Rescue cat, Polydactyl (means she has extra toes.. which she uses as thumbs) 1 year old. Also full of attitude.. (seeing a trend here?) You will hear about her a fair bit too.. and her habit of petting humans…

Pepper: Pepper has yet to have other names, or display attitude, I am sure both are coming. He has only been with me since last Thursday. 2 Month old Lovebird you will hear about him tons!

I will also babble a fair bit about plants and Matt and random things as they occur to me.. so yeah.. that’s the main topics of my life.. fun huh?

I am supposed to be sleeping…

Cause Matt said I hadda, but I couldn’t stop playing…

New fractal needed tomorrow to go with this theme I think…

Sleep now….