I am happy to report that Zeba is making slow and steady progress.
I have been spending time with him, about 2x 30 minutes or so during the work week. it doesn't seem like much, but i think Zeba also enjoys his time alone; away from us strangers...
When I spend time with him, I talk, sing and eat walnuts with him. (Oh boy, does he LOVE walnuts!!). I do not let my eyes stare into his very much, especially when I can tell from his body language that he is thinking I am challenging him. When I do look at him, I get a glimpse of his beautiful eyes and then look down somewhere. He does occasionally hiss at me (I'm sure its a sign of retaliation for "stealing" him away from his beloved foster family) and he does still try to get as FAST as he can to try and bite my hands when I change out his food and water bowls.
I am trying not to make the "run to bite the nasty human's hands when it changes my water and food bowls" a habit, so whenever I see him coming, I just take out the old water/food bowl, close the door and wait till he calms down. I read a book or do something else for a few seconds. Then, when Zeba is calm, I would say "good zeba" or "hi zeba" and give him a piece of walnut. As soon as he starts chomping on the nut, i calmly go to put in the new water/food bowl. most times he will still try and reach my hands, but there was a couple times that Zeba was completely engrossed in enjoying his walnut.
Yesterday, Zeba and I enjoyed doing a sudoku puzzle. I sat in front of his cage and he came down to the bottom of his cage, nearest to me and peeked to see what i was up to. I narrated what I was doing, such as "hmmm...where does the 7 go? OH! There it goes! Yay!" and whenever I finished a line or square of numbers, i would say "yippie, yippe yippe! We finished a piece of the puzzle, Zeba!" and he would make thes cute noises. It really sounded like he was trying to say "yippe" with me. it was so cute! Then, he started talking..."Hi, Zeba!", "Hello, baby!", "Heeelllooooo".
It seems as if I excited him with that game of sudoku. I think it was a good thing and he wasn't hissing at me. :-)
When I left the room, we continued the conversation through the bedroom door. I'd say "Hello, Zeba!" and he would reply. Once I ceased to return his calls, he became quiet soon after.
He has been eating really well. By looking at his leftovers, he loves raw edamame, peas, cooked beans, and corn (what bird doesn't like corn?). He also loves to take his pellets and dunk them in water to eat them. Its interesting to watch because his food bowl and water bowl are on opposite sides of the cage. sure gives him a good exercise routine!
To Zeba's previous foster parents: He still sure does miss you! And you're right, he is a very quick bird!
I have been spending time with him, about 2x 30 minutes or so during the work week. it doesn't seem like much, but i think Zeba also enjoys his time alone; away from us strangers...
When I spend time with him, I talk, sing and eat walnuts with him. (Oh boy, does he LOVE walnuts!!). I do not let my eyes stare into his very much, especially when I can tell from his body language that he is thinking I am challenging him. When I do look at him, I get a glimpse of his beautiful eyes and then look down somewhere. He does occasionally hiss at me (I'm sure its a sign of retaliation for "stealing" him away from his beloved foster family) and he does still try to get as FAST as he can to try and bite my hands when I change out his food and water bowls.
I am trying not to make the "run to bite the nasty human's hands when it changes my water and food bowls" a habit, so whenever I see him coming, I just take out the old water/food bowl, close the door and wait till he calms down. I read a book or do something else for a few seconds. Then, when Zeba is calm, I would say "good zeba" or "hi zeba" and give him a piece of walnut. As soon as he starts chomping on the nut, i calmly go to put in the new water/food bowl. most times he will still try and reach my hands, but there was a couple times that Zeba was completely engrossed in enjoying his walnut.
Yesterday, Zeba and I enjoyed doing a sudoku puzzle. I sat in front of his cage and he came down to the bottom of his cage, nearest to me and peeked to see what i was up to. I narrated what I was doing, such as "hmmm...where does the 7 go? OH! There it goes! Yay!" and whenever I finished a line or square of numbers, i would say "yippie, yippe yippe! We finished a piece of the puzzle, Zeba!" and he would make thes cute noises. It really sounded like he was trying to say "yippe" with me. it was so cute! Then, he started talking..."Hi, Zeba!", "Hello, baby!", "Heeelllooooo".
It seems as if I excited him with that game of sudoku. I think it was a good thing and he wasn't hissing at me. :-)
When I left the room, we continued the conversation through the bedroom door. I'd say "Hello, Zeba!" and he would reply. Once I ceased to return his calls, he became quiet soon after.
He has been eating really well. By looking at his leftovers, he loves raw edamame, peas, cooked beans, and corn (what bird doesn't like corn?). He also loves to take his pellets and dunk them in water to eat them. Its interesting to watch because his food bowl and water bowl are on opposite sides of the cage. sure gives him a good exercise routine!
To Zeba's previous foster parents: He still sure does miss you! And you're right, he is a very quick bird!
posted by kate franz mickaboo.org at
8:42 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home