Harry's Rules Of Engagement

Allee

Well-known member
Oct 27, 2013
16,852
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Texas
Parrots
U2-Poppy(Poppy lives with her new mommy, Misty now) CAG-Jack, YNA, Bingo, Budgie-Piper, Cockatiel-Sweet Pea Quakers-Harry, Sammy, Wilson ***Zeke (quaker) Twinkle (budgie) forever in our hearts
Looks can be so deceiving!



Harry can only be a sweetie for so long, then something will push her default button and she will do something awful to make up for lost time.

Harry has several favorite tricks that she just cannot completely give up. I have successfully trained her not to bite, that was a big one for Harry, she has a taste for human flesh, especially mine.

At the top of Harry's list of favorite things to do is to lull me into a false sense of security and attack when I least expect her to.

Harry is very smart, she knows a physical assault will immediately result in a time out, occasionally she considers the crime to be well worth the punishment, on those occasions, after committing a war crime she will put herself inside her cage and slam the door, usually complaining loudly all the way.

She likes to fly to me and land upside down, clinging to my hair or clothing by her toes. She will dangle there, looking pitiful and in need of help for as long as she can. I never attempt to help her because experience has taught me that is exactly what she is hoping for. If I make the mistake of trying to help Harry right herself she considers it an open act of war and retaliates in kind, in that case she refuses to put herself in a time out because in her twisted little mind, she's done nothing wrong.

Another favorite trick of Harry's, and bless her, she saves this one for the most special of occasions. After she has done something particularly offensive to me or a flock mate but feels her actions were justified, she will fly to the top of the TV, turn her back to me, announce her intentions loudly, "pee-pee-poo-poo," and poop all over the TV screen. Harry is potty trained, she is very particular where she poops, indiscriminate pooping is always intentional, Harry's way of adding an exclamation point to a bad act.

I was wearing a hoodie the other day, Poppy's favorite hoodie, a sure way to guarantee extra snuggles. Harry landed on the bottom edge of my jacket and hung there while I pretended not to notice. She eventually grew tired of waiting for me to sacrifice a finger to satisfy her bloodlust. She crawled slowly toward the pocket of my jacket, mumbling, "be a good boy," adorable, she wants a ride in my pocket. She grabbed the soft flesh just below my elbow, grinding her beak and growling, she left a dime sized bruise to remind me who won the game. She then flew to the TV, screeching all the way, she lit in her favorite spot and turned her back. Sammy was yelling, "Stop It." For once, Harry did stop it, without pooping on the TV screen. Technically, Harry didn't cause bloodshed and therefore didn't deserve a time out.

Her newest favorite trick is, 'bowling for quakers,' she waits until Sammy is perched comfortably on my head or shoulder and flies into him, hitting him with the full force of her body weight and knocking him off his human perch. This is very unfair to poor Sammy and it must stop. I have yet to decide what countermeasures may be successful.
 

RavensGryf

Supporting Member
Jan 19, 2014
14,233
190
College Station, Texas
Parrots
Red Bellied Parrot /
Ruppell's Parrot /
Bronze Winged Pionus /
English Budgie
Allee, you know how much I love to hear about Harry's antics :D. It always blows me away how smart she is. Thinking about all of Harry's stories cumulatively, I think she is one of the smartest birds I've ever heard of in terms of actively demonstrating intelligence. She sure keeps you on your toes. I'm glad there was no bloodshed this time!
 

JerseyWendy

New member
Jul 20, 2012
20,995
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I SO agree with Julie! I love hearing about Harry! Always leaves my mouth wide open, in complete awe at her (smart) antics. Most of all, it ALWAYS has me LMAO!! Sorry, Allee, not laughing at your poor elbow, only laughing at the visuals. :D
 

Doublete

New member
Mar 15, 2015
1,242
0
Maryland
Parrots
"Loki" turquoise GCC 1/4/15 hatch date-- "Chiqui" amazon 9/2010 hatch date---- "Banner" green parrotlet hatchdate 11/22/16

RIP "pineapple" lovebird
:54:Hahahahaha...

I swear I'm not laughing that hard...
 

Christinenc2000

New member
Oct 8, 2014
3,320
4
North Carolina
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Big Bird _ Blue & Gold Macaw
I would like to hear Harrys side please.

That sweet face . You know there has to be two sides of this story. What a sweet face :)
 

Anansi

Moderator
Staff member
Super Moderator
Dec 18, 2013
22,301
4,211
Somerset,NJ
Parrots
Maya (Female Solomon Island eclectus parrot), Jolly (Male Solomon Island eclectus parrot), Bixby (Male, red-sided eclectus. RIP), Suzie (Male cockatiel. RIP)
I agree with Julie. Harry is scary intelligent! She has a bit of a mean streak as well, but amazingly smart.

Fortunately, she's met her match in you, my friend.

I just love how you tell her stories. Hilarity!
 

cnyguy

Well-known member
Apr 23, 2010
1,021
464
Syracuse, NY
Parrots
Quaker parrot, Ralph
Oh, Harry! :eek: No one looking at that sweet face would ever guess at the devilish tricks that are being hatched in her busy parrot brain. :D
 

plumsmum2005

New member
Nov 18, 2015
5,330
94
England, UK
Parrots
Lou, Ruby, and Sonu.
Fly free Plum, my gorgeous boy.
Oh Allee I'm so sorry that your little stinker has got you again.

Perhaps you will have to confiscate her favorite toy(s)?
 

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