The Return Of The Swing

Allee · Nov 14, 2014

Cockatoos are emotional beings. Not long after I brought Popeye home, I was trying everything possible to make contact. I made him a snuggle swing and he was delighted with it. Every evening he flock calls a few times, I cover his cage, we sing his nitey night song, then he climbs into his swing and sleeps all night. His swing gets vacuumed almost daily and eventually losses it's snuggliness. This is the third time I've recovered it. He was without it for two nights and we all heard about it. I gave it back yesterday evening right before his bedtime.

The look on his face was priceless.

Birdman666 · Nov 14, 2014

Why am I picturing the "Judge Whopner" scene from Rain Man?!

How do you expect me to sleep without my spot?!

Sweepea has a sleep toy. God forbid anything should happen to that thing. She quite literally wraps the toy around herself at night. She's always had a toy that drapes like that, and has always climbed inside it to sleep.

All of mine have their sleep spots too... you definitely would upset the natural order of things if someone messed with, or altered their sleep spots.

JerseyWendy · Nov 14, 2014

NNNNAAAAAWWWWW!!! :smile015: That is TOO precious, Allee.

I truly think my Ripley would love a snuggle sleep thingy since he's constantly preening all the strings he can find.

Would you mind sharing how to make sweet Popeye's AWESOME swing?

Allee · Nov 14, 2014

Haha, Mark, I love the Rain Man reference. You've spent time with a few Toos, haven't you?

Terry57 · Nov 14, 2014

Awww, Popeye is literally grinning his head off in that last pic! Love the material you used, as well

I bet you were working at warp speed to get that done for him!

Birdman666 · Nov 14, 2014

Allee said:
Haha, Mark, I love the Rain Man reference. You've spent time with a few Toos, haven't you?

The rescue I volunteered at had 350 birds... all of the usual suspects. "Problem Toos" were at or near the top of the list. As were Hot 3 amazons, Screaming variety conures, and poorly trained, cage bound, and biting macaws... (along with plucking grays and eckies.)

I'm guessing we had 40+ toos at any given time... mostly U2's, and goffins, a few M2s, and then the occasional other varieties. I had a G2 for awhile. I've fostered a couple, (usually the ones that needed medicine put on their sores until we could get them closed up and healed.) But I worked more with the biters than the pluckers.

My heart couldn't take working with the pluckers... except Casper. Casper picked me, and no one else could ever get near him. So I pretty much felt I had to...

Then he became Sarah's bird.

4dugnlee · Nov 14, 2014

Aww..too cute! I would like to make something like that for Peanut (hint, hint)..lol. Popeye sure is handsome!

Allee · Nov 14, 2014

JerseyWendy said:
NNNNAAAAAWWWWW!!! :smile015: That is TOO precious, Allee.

I truly think my Ripley would love a snuggle sleep thingy since he's constantly preening all the strings he can find.

Would you mind sharing how to make sweet Popeye's AWESOME swing?

Wendy, when I made Popeye's first swing, I thought it was a one time thing, I expected him to lose interest.

I used a 16" macrame hoop. I wrapped it in 100% cotton rope and tied it at the top so all the metal is completely covered. I use about 2 1/2 yards of fleece just to make it extra fluffy. Check the end of the bolt to be sure the fleece hasn't been treated with a flame-retardant. Most craft fleece is untreated, but I like to be sure. I use pinking shears to cut 14" strips. For the bottom of the swing, I make a loop of the strip around the ring and pull them through tight. That makes a comfortable place for dinosaur feet to rest. For the rest of the swing I just tie the fleece strips on with double knots. I added a couple of plastic chains to the sides of his new swing just to make it a little different.

If you make a swing for beautiful Ripley, please choose a better color scheme. I was in a rush to get Popeye's bed back to him. Lol, as you can see, Popeye doesn't care at all.

JerseyWendy · Nov 14, 2014

AWESOME, Allee!!! Thank you SO much for the great instructions! I'll report back how Ripley likes his once I get the 'ingredients' together and make him one.

Allee · Nov 14, 2014

You're welcome! The hardest part was finding the hoop. It would probably be easier to make your own. Looking forward to photos.

Christinenc2000 · Nov 14, 2014

That is cutest thing I have ever seen

Scott · Nov 14, 2014

Nice swing and beautiful pics of Popeye!

A few of my Cockatoos enjoy swings, but most love physical contact with inanimate objects when they're not being handled. So many times I'll notice them on a playpen with either plastic chain or a section of rope-toy draped over their backs!

Bundiibird · Nov 14, 2014

Awww beautiful little Popeye. He just loves his swing/toy/bed so much. I cracked up at the dinosaur feet.

Thank's for the instructions. I think I might try something like this for Bundii.

Allee · Nov 14, 2014

Thanks everybody! Popeye's like a toddler, he needs his blankie at bedtime.

Amanda, a large plastic embroidery hoop might work for Bundi's swing.

4dugnlee · Nov 14, 2014

Scott said:
Nice swing and beautiful pics of Popeye!

A few of my Cockatoos enjoy swings, but most love physical contact with inanimate objects when they're not being handled. So many times I'll notice them on a playpen with either plastic chain or a section of rope-toy draped over their backs!

Peanut does this all the time!...it doesn't really matter what kind of toy/chain/rope it is...she always positions herself so it is draped over her back and sometimes under her wing..lol. Glad to hear she's not the only one who does this.

Bundiibird · Nov 14, 2014

Allee said:
Thanks everybody! Popeye's like a toddler, he needs his blankie at bedtime.

Amanda, a large plastic embroidery hoop might work for Bundi's swing.

Thanks for three tip Allee. I will have to check for one next time I am at the craft store.

Scott · Nov 14, 2014

4dugnlee said:
Scott said:

Nice swing and beautiful pics of Popeye!

A few of my Cockatoos enjoy swings, but most love physical contact with inanimate objects when they're not being handled. So many times I'll notice them on a playpen with either plastic chain or a section of rope-toy draped over their backs!

Click to expand...

Peanut does this all the time!...it doesn't really matter what kind of toy/chain/rope it is...she always positions herself so it is draped over her back and sometimes under her wing..lol. Glad to hear she's not the only one who does this.

My "Peanut," a female Goffin, has the peculiar habit of attempting to place a large food object such as an almond or pellet underneath a wing - it invariably immediately falls!

Allee · Nov 14, 2014

Oh wow, Scott, I've been meaning to ask other Too owners if their birds do that. Popeye tries to tuck pellets, wood chips, paper, and other items into his feathers. Does anyone have a male Too that does that, or is it a female behavior?

Popeye's previous owner insists he was DNA tested by his breeder and she's certain he's a male, but I've had a feeling for a while now that Popeye is a she. I've seen several sources that say female U2's have brown eyes and males have black eyes. Does anyone know if that's true or a myth?

Leanna, what color are Peanut's eyes?

Scott · Nov 15, 2014

Allee said:
Oh wow, Scott, I've been meaning to ask other Too owners if their birds do that. Popeye tries to tuck pellets, wood chips, paper, and other items into his feathers. Does anyone have a male Too that does that, or is it a female behavior?

Popeye's previous owner insists he was DNA tested by his breeder and she's certain he's a male, but I've had a feeling for a while now that Popeye is a she. I've seen several sources that say female U2's have brown eyes and males have black eyes. Does anyone know if that's true or a myth?

It seems to be mostly a female behavior in my flock, though a male has done this on occasion - perhaps just an imitation? Interesting to watch, and she doesn't seem at all frustrated!! Though wild caught, she's sufficiently tame to let me touch her anywhere. I've tried placing an almond under her wing and she looks at me as though I've lost my mind!!

I've heard the same regarding eye color with many cockatoo species. My known female Goffin and Citron females have brown eyes. None of the suspected males with black eyes have been sexed, though the proven male Goffin follows this accurately.

Allee · Nov 15, 2014

Thank you so much, Scott! I've been wondering about the food tucked into the feathers for a while. Your answers have helped convince me to have Popeye DNA tested. I would have done that sooner but the previous owner was so insistent.

The Return Of The Swing

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