Diva much?

I was telling my neighbor this story earlier and she thought it was a riot. As I told her, the little booger never fails to create drama.


It was about 7:20p, which was about his bedtime so I went to change the water in his sleep cage and give him fresh food. Normally, he'll fly right into the cage without hesitation. But every so often, he decides 'dramatic'. Tonight was such a night. He flew onto the cage, but wouldn't go in. So I pursued the water change and came back and after I changed his food dish, he went into his cage. He started making his 'kissy noises' which he usually does before I cover him up at night and when I uncover him in the morning. Then after putting him to bed, I went into the living room and he started making a racket (screeching) so I figured, okay, he's not ready for bed. So I went into the bedroom to let him back out for a bit. Only he wouldn't come out. Instead, he climbed to the door and stuck just his head out and dipped it down- ie, he wanted head scratches. So, I spent about 5-10 minutes standing in front of his cage scratching his head. After he was satisfied with the scratches, I tried to see if he'd come out and he went back up on his perch and rapidly flapped his wings (his way of saying, get out and leave me alone, you served your purpose now go away). So I covered him up and went back into the living room and he went to sleep. I feel so....used. lol

I can relate.... normally Sunny knows her bedtime is coming, spends the last half hour before we put her into the cage mostly just cuddling, dozing off, yawning, then half an hour before bedtibe, shes out into the cage, she mostly eats a bit then too... jut before covering her I always chage the water (and food if needed), we do our ''good girls go to sleep now *kissy kissy*'' routine and good noghts, i cover the cage and leave the room and that's it... but sometimes she just wouldn't want to go to sleep so she climbs down, grabs onto the door with both feet and beak and just starts shaking to make the whole door ruttle and screams inbetweek a few times... some days she only wants some more scritches, but on some she demands to be let out for another 10 minutes + the whole good night routine aaallll over again...

they are like little kids that don't want to go to sleep and go all ''muuuuuuuum!!!! I just want a glass of water, I'm so thirsty!!!'' then take a small sip and talk for 20 minutes

Haha, that was Skitty’s way of reminding you that you are only a tool in his kingdom. It could have been worse, be grateful he allowed you to give him skritches, he could have called you back to get in a painful chomp. The way he dismissed you with the wingflap is priceless. Gotta’ love Skitty.

Oh yessss them Conures do perfectly know how to use us, poor hooman slaves

Aratingettar said:

Oh yessss them Conures do perfectly know how to use us, poor hooman slaves

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what's with the 'poor hooman slave'... you know you like it

Hahahahahahaha, you are all giving in?

Willing slaves and bad parenting all in one, very cute but if you let your bird manipulate you like this there will be no end to it!

(Of course if you can keep it to this bed-time occasion thats okay, but this is "how you build 'a screamer'- part one".)

While I agree with the sentiment, I actually have Skittles well trained, believe it or not. It may seem he has me trained (and he used too) but he and I actually have a pretty good communication system going on. He knows he's allowed to have some "quality daddy time" before bed and that usually involves cuddling, but last night he wanted scritches. I put him to bed without either, originally, cause my neighbor and I were going to go out for Chinese food, which we did after he went to bed. I had told her it would be after.

Normally, he and I cuddle for a bit and then he'll go in his cage automatically when he's ready and then I do the food/water change followed by bedtime. I skipped the cuddle part last night. When I 'violate' the conditions of my lease which allows me to remain living in his kingdom, I must make amends.

He knows screaming to get his way will NOT work and will get him a timeout. However, he and I also have a system in which there are ways he communicates to me what he wants/needs and it keeps the screeching to a minimum and he's usually pretty patient with it. ie, flying onto the faucet, ruffling his feathers and 'sneezing' when he wants a bath. Flying onto the corner of the fridge when he wants juice. Flying to his treat bag when he wants a treat. Its a system I have encouraged because it works for him and I. He can't speak human and I can't read minds so having a way of letting me know what his needs are works for us. He also knows to be quiet when I'm on the phone. When he's not, I put him in his cage and cover him up. He doesn't like that because he can't see me, so he tends to behave when I'm on the phone.