Raising Valentino

Time has flown by because I realize Valentino will be two years old in August. It feels like I have had him with me for way longer than just little over a year.

Valentino has passed so many milestones over the winter. Recently his appetite has picked up and what I was feeding him was not enough. I had to add more courses to his meals. LOL Even though he got cabin fever during the winter he did get enough flying time in my two story town home. Valentino is very confident flying and I feel if he ever escaped out of the home and flew out the door I believe I would be able to recall him successfully. Although I practice recall every day I do feel all bets are off if he were to suddenly be "free" outside flying. Now that the weather is warmer I will have to take him outside to reorient him to the surroundings in case he ever does escape. We do have a redtail hawk that lives across the street and raises a family every year and that will always be a concern to me if Valentino ever were to escape.

Valentino is also starting to talk in sentences. He is pretty much to the talking talent my Eclectus Joaquin had. Valentino is speaking words I never say to him. Either Lupe is using the phrases and words or he is learning them from TV during "momma time". One thing I noticed that none of my other parrots did is his like to "pounce my face". Valentino loves to run up my chest quickly to get to my face. He will then do either tongue me to death, grab my nose and pump, take a small amount of soft flesh like from my cheek or neck into his beak and lightly nip it, exhale breath forcefully and laugh. He is one weirdo for sure. Apparently these games Valentino likes to play are normal for RFM's. The "face games" I have concern for when he grows up so I do not allow much play there. Actually the things I describe I am not comfortable with because it is too close. I worry if he was to be worked up that "gentle" would go right out the window so I do tamp down activities involving my face.

Valentino does read my emotions and moods very well. He is pretty much bonded to me so he is very in tune with how I am doing. When I am feeling sad he will try to comfort me. He will get really close to my face and say "I love you" or rub his face against my cheek and trill. Valentino is still very cuddly and affectionate. When I am happy or excited he will fly around the house so fast I always think he will fly into something but he never does. While I watch him sometimes it looks like he is intoxicated because he will zig zag and bob and weave with the flying looking very erratic. His flying skill surpass any of my boys and I am always so amazed with his skills. Valentino has his laugh down pat to sound just like mine. He giggles! I never had a parrot that giggled.

Although Valentino and are experiencing some hard times he really is my rock. When I have to leave the house to do something unpleasant (like getting a mamogram...yuck!) I come back home to a affectionate interactive parrot. Once I came home very upset and my instinct was not to interact with Valentino taking him out of cage to pet and love him I stood by his cage and told him "Hello" and he hung on the bars closest to me and told me "Take me out". I took a couple of deep breaths and did as he asked. He wanted cuddles and to be held and really comforted me.

I also started taking Valentino out on play dates. On this form I met another bird lover that lives in the town next to mine so we took our conversations off line and got to know one another. After taking the time to get to know each other we thought it would be a good idea if I brought Valentino over to meet their BTM. We know macaws can be naughty right? Well I was very pleased that Valentino was well behaved. He sure is not shy about talking in places he is not familiar because the moment I took him out of his carrier he was a chatterbox. I am happy for these opportunities to socialize him.

On the other side of the coin and as every parrot owner knows it is not always smooth sailing with raising Valentino. We have clashed and butted heads more times than I can count. I believe at times my training methods do not mesh with the personality of Valentino. Maybe he feels like I am too controlling? Maybe we are not in sync during that session. I have not figured out why but what I do know is Valentino is the most intelligent and challenging parrot I ever had. With that intelligence comes a great responsibility and I do fear I don't meet his needs there. I really think I should get more involved in the bird community here so I can continue to educate myself with all aspects of parrot care. Sure I can research on the internet and read about things in books and what not I also need to talk to people who have experiences like my own to bounce ideas of of them.

Even with my challenges there is so many rewards that I experience with Valentino. He is not just a pet to me but a member of my family and my companion. Now that I have to return to the workforce and be gone all day five days a week I hope I can continue to keep Valentino happy and healthy while I have to work.

There is going to be a lot for challenges for us in the upcoming months. I think our relationship can weather these challenges and we will get though them.

Valentino the day I brought him home



Valentino less than a month ago


*raises glass* Here's to many more years with Valentino!

He's still got a long way to go. His oranges are just starting to come in... and he still has a green in that tail!

Sweepea is 12 now, and she STILL doesn't have her full adult colors. Each time she molts she changes a little...

Hi Birdman!!

That is only from the back. Valentino is throwing orange feathers all over his chest and belly with a few orange tips on his wing coverlets. Mostly near the bottom of the belly the feathers are a bright red. His socks are bright red with pure white down. He is BEAUTIFUL. Valentino's father is 20 years old and is a very beautiful RFM.

I will have to have a photo shoot with Valentino soon. Need to get some pictures of much color he as bloomed. I want to get video of him speaking as well. So many things I want to do.

Awww, what a handsome boy, and we are glad he is so loved! You should soooo nominate him for Pet of the Day!

Awww, he is handsome. It is clear you both love each other. Maybe I as reading too much in Valentino's face but he seems to have a look on his face that looks like he is just so proud of you.

Thank you all for the kind responses. Valentino is a handsome boy and he KNOWS IT. LOL. Now that the weather is getting warmer and the sun is out stronger and longer his personality is more upbeat. He chatters every day while I work in my office upstairs. Today he kept yelling "LOOK AT IT...LOOK AT IT!" I started laughing loudly because just yesterday I was showing something to Lupe and told her to LOOK AT IT in a enthusiastic way and now today Valentino is saying it during his chatter time. I could not help but laugh. Then he would say "What?" I was cracking up for about 5 mins because it was just so funny to hear him talk like that. Valentino then started to respond to my laughing and began saying "good parrot", I love yooooou" drawing out the you part then demanding "Come HERE!" He always makes my day.

I am very very blessed that Valentino does not say any bad words. I know I heard him say "shut up" during a chatter time and that was a wake up call for me big time. It really saddened me because of the realization he said it because I would tell him that when frustrated and angry. In time I will help him work that phrase out of his vocabulary because I think that is important. But more important is to give him a reason not to have to say it.

Since Valentino is not shy about talking and expressing himself I would like to get some video of him talking. I think it would be interesting to film him and then upload the results for you all to watch.

oh he's so beautiful! Great story! Would love to see more pics of him!