Clover update

Giggleagain

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Jul 5, 2014
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Missouri
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All my rescues: Pepita, Rocky and Eva, my Quaker Parrots Clover and Sweet Pea, YNA Willie Buttons, and TAG Coca.
It's been 9 months since i adopted Clover. Time flies! I've been reading the active topics but somehow never have time to contribute (and think that my contribution wouldn't be worth much since I'm a newbie parront). Let's see: Clover is bipolar (are all Quakers like that?). She loves you today and hates you tomorrow.

Within the family she flips from lover to lover. I don't know whether it depends on the moon, the stars, or some other quick-cycling planetary event that only Clover perceives, but she's either a sweet and cuddly velcro fuzzy, or a raging *****y Tyrannosaurus. She has made mating attempts with all my sons, my boyfriend, my grandson, and with me. One at a time.. ! :) Please! She might be flighty but she's not a bad woman :) She goes from kissing to hissing in no time flat. Unless I'm singing to her. She gets her song before going to bed every night. Sometimes she bobs along. Other times she eats my watchband or is playing Dermatologist and trying to get rid of all the things that according to her are wrong with my face. Sometimes that includes my nose.

She is finally eating peas and grapes, along with corn and of course her main course: pellets. It took a few months to get her to try grapes. Anything new is absolutely forbidden. That included water (from a spray bottle). We have graduated to showers with mommy now :) Persistence, patience and plain stubbornness (I call them the 3 P's) is what won her over.

The plucking: Her once so naked chest filled out. I don't think the neck will ever grow those nice looking Quaker feathers again. I don't blame her for ripping them out while they're growing. They take FOREVER and look like tree trunks growing under her skin :(

I made up a song for her but it's so silly I won't sing it here. Just the refrain, ok? "Stop fussing with that feather, it makes your neck look better". Well, last night she plucked it and left a bloody stump. I guess she did it just to prove she knows what I'm singing....and doesn't believe a word I say.

She also plucks the right side of her chest. Just because. "Clover.... you're a Quaker Parrot, not an Amazon, you have to keep BOTH sides of your chest covered!"

Clover is fully flighted now and in command of her own whereabouts. Besides her cage, she owns several large baskets in strategic places. She hasn't learned to fly downstairs yet .... the dogs are grateful :) You should see how she can fly (I had to teach her. Imagine me running around the house flapping my arms. Yes, It happened. My adult sons think I'm crazy).

However......the ability to be in control has made her a bit uppity, so I think a slight trim will be necessary now because....... there's another story brewing and I'll get to it as soon as I finish this one, and we must trim that Clover arrogance down a bit, just in case.....
 

SilverSage

New member
Sep 14, 2013
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Columbus, GA
Parrots
Eclectus, CAG, BH Pionus, Maximilian’s Pionus, Quakers, Indian Ringnecks, Green Cheeked Conures, Black Capped Conures, Cockatiels, Lovebirds, Budgies, Canaries, Diamond Doves, Zebra Finches, Society F
I love it! What a happy story! I love that she can fly now :) Sometimes we have to trim a little and train attitude while they are trimmed, but enough training in the mean time often makes the next trim unnecessary :) There are lots of views, but personally I see clipping as a temporary tool in most cases, be that for safety of the bird or safety of the humans lol. can't wait to hear more! And you aren't the only one who sings silly songs to their birds ;)
 

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