Brian's tough decision

This morning, Brian had a really tough time deciding which of his two favorite activities to engage in.  Jump around while Thomas swirls a glass of Gatorade, or mug for the camera?

At the end of this video, Thomas was a bit worried that he would jump into the glass (as he's done before) -- luckily this did not happen!

After, Thomas was eating his breakfast.  Brian loves cottage cheese, but we don't let him eat it since parrots can't digest dairy well, Brian is so small that even small amounts can affect him, and he's already got a giant tumor so we're trying to keep him as healthy as possible.

Thomas had the bowl in his hand instead of on the table to prevent Brian from helping himself, but even this was no match for a determined jumping budgie (who was removed right after I took this picture, before he ate any):

Four in One

The lighting on these pictures was terrible, but for one instant last weekend, four of the parrots were harmoniously co-existing on the same stand.  This, despite the fact that another stand, exactly the same as this one, remained empty behind them.

Shortly after this picture was taken, they started chasing each other around, and chaos restored to our house.



Starting at the very top and moving clockwise, that's Stella, Max, Beeps, and Rocky.

Rocky builds another nest

Thomas recently purchased supplies to make another beer, which meant that Rocky got to enjoy one of his favorite boxes:

Though I ddin't get any pictures of it, he does frequently go entirely inside, and he will also bring some "eggs" (plastic balls) in there with him.

Thomas was taking these pictures, and after a bit, Rocky decided to come over and attack the camera instead of working on his nest:

I think he was just looking for some company, but Thomas wasn't interested.

Radishes

Bought some radishes at the farmers' market earlier this week, which were enjoyed by the parrots.  Stella looks so mean and angry head-on!

And then friendly and happy from the side:

Same with Basil:

He did actually eat the radish and didn't just pose with it!

Mirror image

We had a stainless steel pot on the table; of course Brian found it and started showing off to the budgie he saw. He was getting a little too excited, so we removed the pot after I took this picture.

Cape Parrot

Since it's been so hot, Thomas and I have a towel that we use to wipe sweat off of us after we're done running.  This towel was drying on a doorknob when Rocky found it and managed to get it to the floor.  It's an old towel; full of holes.

Rocky managed to get his head stuck in one of the holes, and then he walked around for a bit, wearing the towel as a cape.

Morning Brian

I don't keep track, but it seems like it's been awhile since I've posted about Brian.  Who would have thought he'd still be with us in Spring?

Here he is, peeking out as us from his half-covered cage while we're getting ready to run:

This morning, Max was in Thomas's lap and he was giving her head pets.  Brian was inexplicably enthralled by this.  Of course, when I tried to take a picture, he noticed the camera and ran over to mug:

I was finally able to sneak one of him watching Thomas give head pets to Max:

Not that you can tell it's Max from this angle!  Brian does not allow us to give him head pets -- he just bites us if we try.

Basil eats greens

Greens are really healthy for parrots, but to get my parrots to eat them (as opposed to throwing them around), I usually have to food process them up with other vegetables.  Not so for Basil.  I walked past his cage this morning with the container of lizard food.  For some unknown reason, I offered the dish to him to see if he'd be interested in a green.

He gave the container a weird look and foraged through a few leaves before deciding which one he wanted.  And then he ate the entire thing.

He'd eaten part of a carrot earlier which is why there's some under his beak and on his feet. He's quite the messy eater!

Nesting in the open

Rocky continues to be ruled by hormones.  He bit Thomas last week when Thomas asked him to step up, so he's using the stick a bit more (I always use the stick.)  So that he could spend more time with the family instead of hanging out underneath his cage, we put a box in the kitchen.  We weren't sure he'd take to it, but he did.

As always, a disclaimer: we've made the decision to allow Rocky to nest as it has no impact on his behavior.  (As in, his behavior does not improve if we remove nesting materials.)  Also, since he is a male, we do not need to worry about egg-binding problems.  We do not allow our females to nest.  This keeps him happy, occupied, and rather quiet.  Despite the fact that Thomas has never laid an egg for the two of them to incubate, Rocky continues to hope. 

Greys and veggies

Another CSA delivery means the greys getting in on the action.  For instance, competing to take bites out of turnips and beets:

Kind of hard to find Max among the greens:

Of course Max wasn't the only one.  Stella with her beak in a head of lettuce:

Both of them, at the same time:

Thomas has devised this wonderful recipe of cooked millet and greens, which is how we've eaten many of the greens.  Max loves it as well!

Both before it's cooked:

And after: