I just had to share this...

So, this afternoon, I went to lay down in bed for a bit and watch tv. Skittles, per usual, will sit atop the headboard or footboard and occasionally 'scope out the room' its hilarious.

While I would NEVER even attempt to let him sleep with me in bed, I'm rather fortunate in my daily naps because when I nap during the day, he won't. He's too busy "standing guard".

Anyways, I wanted to rest my eyes for a bit this afternoon so I put on my sleep mask. Skittles darted from the headboard onto my pillow pressing himself against my cheek and kept trying to get the mask off. His feathers were all raised and he was NOT gonna have it. No way was I gonna be able to keep that sleep mask on his human body property. lol.

I'm sorry, its just a riot of how protective he is of his daddy. I just love how 'safe and secure' he makes me feel. I think anyone who is an abuse survivor and from an unstable home will know what I mean by that. I know he's too small to actually protect me from danger, thats not the point. Its how much he WANTS and NEEDS to protect me, it makes me feel worthy.

so cute :heart: they really do want to protect us from any possible danger, ot's so cute and so hilarious at the same time

You are loved!

That is so awesome! We see so many posts, ‘my parrot is a monster’! Folks don’t realize they are protecting you with their lives!

Someone LOVES his daddy! Way too cute!

Skitty the ultimate in personal security! Parrots are fierce when it comes to protecting their humans.

That's so sweet!! There's just nothing like a Parrot's love.

Flboy said:

That is so awesome! We see so many posts, ‘my parrot is a monster’! Folks don’t realize they are protecting you with their lives!

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My husband takes our "pajarito" out on short errands and the instant any person starts approaching he'll run left to right on the shoulder and pick his ears a little, no hard bites, just a "watch out" nips. But he's guarding my husband big time

Its funny, because while I enjoy all the 'pros' of having a sunny, most people don't care for the 'cons', lol. But for me, most of the 'cons' are actually 'pros'. The ONLY 'con' that actually is a 'con' for me is Skittles loudness. However, he's not a noisy bird. Having him free-flighted and integrating him into my daily activities made a world of difference.


I'm of the mindset that parrots do NOT go off on vocal tantrums for 'no reason' there is ALWAYS a reason and the best way to resolve the tantrum is by addressing the cause. 90% of the time I find its one of three things with Skittles. Call to attention (flock calls in morning and evening), call to danger (perceived threat) or call to location or need (food, water, sight or bath). The remaining 10% is because he doesn't get his way, in which a timeout is given if he doesn't respond to warnings (he usually does now, but he didn't used too).

you're not wrong Skitty, for me that noise factor is a deal breaker. I met a sun once who was adorable and so cute. Then 5 minutes later I heard said sun having a "disagreement" with an Umbrella Too and this tiny little thing was holding their ground! Afraid to say that's a no from me!

Skittys_Daddy said:

Its funny, because while I enjoy all the 'pros' of having a sunny, most people don't care for the 'cons', lol. But for me, most of the 'cons' are actually 'pros'. The ONLY 'con' that actually is a 'con' for me is Skittles loudness. However, he's not a noisy bird. Having him free-flighted and integrating him into my daily activities made a world of difference.


I'm of the mindset that parrots do NOT go off on vocal tantrums for 'no reason' there is ALWAYS a reason and the best way to resolve the tantrum is by addressing the cause. 90% of the time I find its one of three things with Skittles. Call to attention (flock calls in morning and evening), call to danger (perceived threat) or call to location or need (food, water, sight or bath). The remaining 10% is because he doesn't get his way, in which a timeout is given if he doesn't respond to warnings (he usually does now, but he didn't used too).

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LOVE this post! You've done a wonderful job of integrating Skittles into your daily life. Makes all the difference in the world.

And yes, Skittles' battle with your sleep mask was hilarious! Is it the first time you've worn one around him? Or had he just decided that enough was enough? Lol! It's crazy how protective they can be. They are so filled with love for us.

Yes, it was the first time. I don't think I've ever shown it to him. I normally only wear it in the early spring when the sun rises earlier and shines into my bedroom. I don't wear it to bed nor when I nap in the afternoon cause by then the sun is on the other side of the building. But my eyes were strained the other day I just wanted to rest them. But I normally 'acquaint' him with foreign (or new) items and on the rare occasion he just won't adapt, I just don't use that item around him. I do adapt to his satisfaction when I can and its not a big deal. I don't consider that to be letting him control me. Especially since as a result, its made getting him to adapt to me when I really need him to, he does.

The thing is with Skittles, aside from what I already do, I have found something incredibly helpful when it comes to "new or unusual" behaviors. Rather than getting mad or jumping to discipline, I try to figure out WHY is he doing it. Take for example, my Serta office chair. It wasn't that old when he chewed a big part of it into pieces. I didn't get mad because I always had a towel and pad on the top of my chair in order to prevent him from doing just that. It so happens, one time I didn't have it on and thats when he did it. It was my fault, not his. I'm of this mindset: "If you don't want your dog to chew your slippers, don't leave them around where he can get them". But if they KNOW its a no-no and do it anyways, well, thats another thing entirely. But that relates more to people than to animals.

When Skittles resorts to doing things he knows he shouldn't but does them anyways, thats different. I take specific action then. But its amazing how effective using the time-outs (when I was re-training him) and setting and keeping boundaries has been.

I was FINALLY able to shut my neighbor up about one thing. There would be a few times I'd want to get something done or do something/go somewhere; neither of which were urgent or necessary and I'd tell her I didn't get around to it. When she'd ask why I might say, I was stuck in the chair cause Skittles was napping on my shoulder and I didn't want to wake him up. Or he may be cuddling inside my shirt etc and her reaction was that he "controls me" which is not true. He does NOT always get his way like he used too. I used to spoil him, but somehow putting Skittles before housework or shopping is letting him control me. If it gets done a few hours later or the next day nobody is going to die, no country is going to collapse. lol. If it were a baby, it'd be totally different with her. To me, when I look at Skittles, I don't see a "bird", I see a person and I don't think she gets that. I don't think a lot of non-bird or non-pet people do.

BTW, I've added a new 'nickname' to Skittles resume of names. lol. I've added "the burrowing bandit". I still like 'neotropical pigeon' the best though. lol.

Skittys_Daddy said:

So, this afternoon, I went to lay down in bed for a bit and watch tv. Skittles, per usual, will sit atop the headboard or footboard and occasionally 'scope out the room' its hilarious.

While I would NEVER even attempt to let him sleep with me in bed, I'm rather fortunate in my daily naps because when I nap during the day, he won't. He's too busy "standing guard".

Anyways, I wanted to rest my eyes for a bit this afternoon so I put on my sleep mask. Skittles darted from the headboard onto my pillow pressing himself against my cheek and kept trying to get the mask off. His feathers were all raised and he was NOT gonna have it. No way was I gonna be able to keep that sleep mask on his human body property. lol.

I'm sorry, its just a riot of how protective he is of his daddy. I just love how 'safe and secure' he makes me feel. I think anyone who is an abuse survivor and from an unstable home will know what I mean by that. I know he's too small to actually protect me from danger, thats not the point. Its how much he WANTS and NEEDS to protect me, it makes me feel worthy.

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Absolutely! Consuela, my QP, and I are bonded very closely. A few weeks ago I came down with a cold. I had just enough energy to get up, and give her fresh water and food and turn on the t.v. for her before crawling back into bed. She spends the day outside of her cage . . . so I wake up to find Consuela parked beside my face watching over me. That called for a head skirching session.
Long story short, I fell asleep early and Consuela spent the night next to me. This went on for 3 nights until I was feeling better and things got back to normal.
A bit extreme, yes. I am retired and live alone. It is just Consuela and I. She insists on being close to me and when she can't see me is calling for me.
And guess who likes "Dancing With The Stars"? Yep. Must be the music, the movement, and the bright colours!

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When I injured my ankle (tore ligaments), Skittles just about had a conniption fit. I remember calling my neighbor shortly after my injury and telling her he was going nuts and I couldn't figure out what it was. She said he was reacting to my injury and the pain. I told her that was ridiculous. But, I went over to him and told him I was okay and everything was alright and he shut right up. Did his little 'dance' where he slowly raises his head up and down with feathers puffed and makes his purring and kissy noises. I was dumbfounded. That injury is what got him to start 'hanging out' with me in my chair. That used to be the ONE place I could not get him to go, on my shoulder in my chair cause of the high back and his long tail being in the way. But sure enough, he had to be close to me when I was injured. lol. Now its one of his favorite places lol. When I'm in my chair (recliner) he sits on my shoulder pressed against my neck and when I'm at the computer, he climbs inside my shirt and either just hangs out or preens my chest/stomach hair and chews holes in the shirts I wear. I only wear 'white t-shirts' around the house. The $15 I pay for 11 shirts is MUCH cheaper than birdy chew toys and the shirts last longer cause it take him at least a few days to chew the shirt to the point where I can't wear it anymore. lol.