Bixby Update

It's been a while since I've given an update on Bixby, so I thought I'd get right on that. He was a little under the weather up until a day or two ago, as apparently the infection we'd treated with antibiotics a few months back hadn't been fully wiped out. My poor guy had been rather lethargic and had even lost some weight, so he needed another round of antibiotics to take care of things.

He was already looking much livelier as of yesterday, and today he even took a few flights! He'll be on this round of medication for at least another week and change, though, so I didn't let him push too hard just yet. Good to see him looking back to his normal self, though.

Oh! And in other news, he has learned to say Maya's name! Though he only does so when he thinks no one is around. Lol! (Maya can say her name as well. And does so quite often in a clear impersonation of my wife's voice!)

And here are some pics!

"You talkin' to me?!?"
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Right after today's bath!
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He is BEAUTIFUL! Glad he's feeling better

Bixby is so cute Stephen! Thanks for the update. He's very fortunate to have such a good dad and family that quickly noticed his symptoms and got that taken care of.

I bet it's adorable to hear them talk. Ekkies have such cute voices.

Stephen, I'm sorry your sweet boy needed another round of antibiotics. I'm glad he is already showing signs of feeling a little better. He looks fantastic. Clever birds, learning to say Maya's name. They are very lucky Fids to have such good parents.

Aww poor Bixby. Great to hear he's on the mend!

And he's so HANDSOME!!! *almost drools over him* So cute how he says Maya's name when he thinks no ones around, haha. A big thumbs up on everyone in your household's part. Great people make great birds! Well done on giving those two a lovely family home!

Amanda_Bennett said:

He is BEAUTIFUL! Glad he's feeling better

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Thank you, Amanda! It really is great to see him all full of energy, again!

RavensGryf said:

Bixby is so cute Stephen! Thanks for the update. He's very fortunate to have such a good dad and family that quickly noticed his symptoms and got that taken care of.

I bet it's adorable to hear them talk. Ekkies have such cute voices.

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Thank you, Julie!!! I do wish I'd been quicker to realize what was going on with him, though. After the first round of antibiotics, he was getting winded from flying far more easily. But I'd just attributed that to him being out of shape after having been sick and injured. (Some of you might remember that he'd flown into a door. Uncharacteristically clumsy and likely, in retrospect, due to his infection at the time.)It's only once he'd almost completely stopped flying at all that I realized it was more than just being out of shape. That, and his weight loss. I'm just glad we caught it in time! Things can go downhill so swiftly with birds.

And yes, ekkies do have cute voices. And Maya's mimicry of my wife's voice is scary good! The other day I thought Aida had gotten home early from shopping because I heard her calling out to Maya. Turns out it was just Maya talking to herself. Lol!

Allee said:

Stephen, I'm sorry your sweet boy needed another round of antibiotics. I'm glad he is already showing signs of feeling a little better. He looks fantastic. Clever birds, learning to say Maya's name. They are very lucky Fids to have such good parents.

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Thank you, Allee!!! Yeah, my boy is getting his spunk, back. He even flew from his tree stand in the elevated living room down to where I was sitting in the dining room, yesterday. I was checking the math for those entries that I'm still doing, and I thought I could get away with another five minutes before heading back to the living room with them. But I'd obviously underestimated Bixby's replenished energy reserves. Papers went flying everywhere, but it was good to see him flying so confidently again!

The funny thing about Bixby learning Maya's name is that I'd never have known it if I hadn't approached him in stealth mode. Haha! I'd assumed maya was simply the better talker, but now I wonder what else he can say. He only ever says "hello", "ow", and mimics my wife's laughter while anyone is in earshot. Maybe he's shy?

Kinny said:

Aww poor Bixby. Great to hear he's on the mend!

And he's so HANDSOME!!! *almost drools over him* So cute how he says Maya's name when he thinks no ones around, haha. A big thumbs up on everyone in your household's part. Great people make great birds! Well done on giving those two a lovely family home!

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Aww, thank you, Liana!!! Hahaha! It may be cute that he waits until no one is around, but it reminds me of the WB frog who could sing and dance, but would always go mute and completely still whenever his owner tried to show anyone else! Lol! (90's reference, so a lot of you might not even remember that darned frog! Lol!)

Sorry to hear that Bixby needed another dose of antibiotics, Stephen. Was Doc Mike able to tell you what type of infection he was harboring?

It's great to see him on the mend. He's looking mighty sleek!!

Thank you, Wendy!!! No, he didn't specify what type of infection. He did say that his white blood cell count was rather high (44), and that his body was fighting the infection so hard that even immature WBC's were being thrown into the fray. But he's confident that this round will take care of it.

This time we'll be doing a follow up visit with another blood test to be sure, though.

Bixbeeeee! He's so green! His greenity is almost luminous! I do love a little green birdie so. Please give Bixby my very best regards, Stephen, and those of Barney, Madge and Dominic as well. We are proud to be friends with such a paragon of greenity! Now, more pics of the lovely Maya please.

Hahaha! Dearest Trish, I'll be sure to let Bixby know of your most verdant regards!

And a Maya update will be up sometime soon.

Awww, Bixby just gets more and more beautiful! He is so lucky to have such attentive parronts who take such great care of him Can you get him saying Maya on video? I want to hear his sweet voice

Why thank you, Terr!!!

Hahaha! Not much chance of catching my personal WB frog on video, but I'll certainly try.

Bixby has finished this round of antibiotics, so I figured I'd update the update. He's much closer to his usual, energetic self. And he's started flying, again. Not just at my prompting, either. Just yesterday he flew stealthily from his tree to the back of my chair while I was absorbed in a show I was watching. (Stalker. Definitely worth seeing if you haven't, yet! But I digress.) His sudden appearance behind my head scared the living daylights out of me! Hahaha!

He is still under his normal weight, as he currently weighs in at around 370 grams. (His normal weight, when flying regularly, was between 408 and 415. Sometimes even 420. And in a more lazy week, he has even hit 442!) But the doctor said we didn't need to worry unless he dropped below 350. (Lowest he hit was 360.)

He's also begun playing his roughhousing games with me, again. Namely Finger Boxing and Eat Your Face! So I'm really happy, but I won't be fully relaxed until he goes in for his follow-up. I'll be making his appointment today.

Anyhow, what's an update without a few pics? Sir Bixby was feeling rather laid back night before last, so out came the cell cam! Lol!

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What a GREAT update on the update, my Rock!! And that photo has me cooing and cahing. Bixby looks absolutely wonderful!!! :smile015:

Stephen, that's such a precious pic of the young Sir Bixby! So cute, just look at that babyface . I'm glad to hear that he's back to feeling better and being energetic!

First a belly rub.
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Then a few sweet scritches.
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And now here's what would usually trigger a game of Eat Your Face!
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And if not that, then CERTAINLY this! Hahaha! Yeah, Bix was definitely in chill mode. Lol! Love my green guy!
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JerseyWendy said:

What a GREAT update on the update, my Rock!! And that photo has me cooing and cahing. Bixby looks absolutely wonderful!!! :smile015:

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Thank you, Wendy Love! Yeah, when I saw how these pics came out, I knew I just had to share with you all! Just hoping this time the whole mess is completely out of his system.

RavensGryf said:

Stephen, that's such a precious pic of the young Sir Bixby! So cute, just look at that babyface . I'm glad to hear that he's back to feeling better and being energetic!

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Thank you, Julie! He does have that babyface thing going on, doesn't he? Lol! And yes, I'm really happy about his return to vigor, myself. Can't wait to hear for sure that he's got a clean bill of health!

When does he go back for a recheck?

Monday at 4:30. Unless someone cancels, tomorrow. Fingers crossed!

Awww Doc! Those photos make me want to snuggle the gorgeous, Sir Bixby! What a little sweetheart and he really does have an angelic little face! Looking forward to hearing his vet visit resulted in a perfectly clean bill of health.

BTW, his feathers look immaculate!