I have good news, bad news and news that I'm not so sure about at this point.
The Bad News: that wonderful couple that was supposed to come and adopt Hannibal flaked out on me. Now that I'm over the initial shock and dismay over how things turned out, I feel like there's a silver lining here which I will get to after I share my ...
Good News: I don't have to move in with my mother after all. I worked my butt off this past month and its payed off. I'm staying in my own place. Things are tight. REALLY tight. But not as bad as I'd initially feared.
Now for the news I'm not so sure about ...
Hannibal hasn't bitten me in several weeks now. He's not predictable by any means though and I've gotten over the shame of admitting I am scared to death of his beak. He can be just fine one moment and then lunge at me the next. He's never made contact when he lunges and I think he could if he really wanted to. I think he just likes scaring the everloving snot out of me on occasion.
He wants attention. He wants to bond. This poor bird is desperate for someone who will interact with him more than I do. Its not enough for me to just sit and talk to him or sing to him. He wants to play with someone. He goes crazy with his toys and I know he wants to play with me but I'm scared. I'm scared of his beak. I'm scared of the inevitable bite. So I keep myself out of reach and I feel terrible for him because I can just see the longing in his eyes. He wants more.
So I'm going to continue searching for a home for him and I'm going to keep working with him myself. Either I'll find the perfect home or I'll get over my fear. Because right now this is all me.
Please don't think he spends all his time in his cage being ignored. He doesn't. After breakfast I'll wheel his cage into the middle of the living room and let him out. He climbs all over the cage and I'll give him treats or talk to him as much as I can throughout the day. I work from home so he pretty much always sees what I'm doing.
I still want to try and get him a playstand but that's going to have to wait until I get more money coming in. My biggest hurdle with keeping him RIGHT NOW is the cost of food and toys. cannon farms is sending me a few toys for him (which I know Hannibal will love because he plays with his toys ALL the time) and hopefully the food I've got will last until my next paycheck.
I'm not sure how to get over my fear of his beak. I've been doing target training with him and I can see how he's improving as a result. He mimics the clicking sound sometimes. Its really cute. He also adores my 6 yr old baby sister. Whenever she comes over he'll come down to the bottom of his cage and dance for her. He's also learned to giggle so when she laughs, he laughs and they get each other going and its hilarious.
So that's it for now. I'm still looking for a home for him but its not as urgent as it was. I'd like to get over my fear and just keep him myself but I don't know how I'm going to do that. Ultimately I want what's best for Hannibal. That's what I've always wanted.
The Bad News: that wonderful couple that was supposed to come and adopt Hannibal flaked out on me. Now that I'm over the initial shock and dismay over how things turned out, I feel like there's a silver lining here which I will get to after I share my ...
Good News: I don't have to move in with my mother after all. I worked my butt off this past month and its payed off. I'm staying in my own place. Things are tight. REALLY tight. But not as bad as I'd initially feared.
Now for the news I'm not so sure about ...
Hannibal hasn't bitten me in several weeks now. He's not predictable by any means though and I've gotten over the shame of admitting I am scared to death of his beak. He can be just fine one moment and then lunge at me the next. He's never made contact when he lunges and I think he could if he really wanted to. I think he just likes scaring the everloving snot out of me on occasion.
He wants attention. He wants to bond. This poor bird is desperate for someone who will interact with him more than I do. Its not enough for me to just sit and talk to him or sing to him. He wants to play with someone. He goes crazy with his toys and I know he wants to play with me but I'm scared. I'm scared of his beak. I'm scared of the inevitable bite. So I keep myself out of reach and I feel terrible for him because I can just see the longing in his eyes. He wants more.
So I'm going to continue searching for a home for him and I'm going to keep working with him myself. Either I'll find the perfect home or I'll get over my fear. Because right now this is all me.
Please don't think he spends all his time in his cage being ignored. He doesn't. After breakfast I'll wheel his cage into the middle of the living room and let him out. He climbs all over the cage and I'll give him treats or talk to him as much as I can throughout the day. I work from home so he pretty much always sees what I'm doing.
I still want to try and get him a playstand but that's going to have to wait until I get more money coming in. My biggest hurdle with keeping him RIGHT NOW is the cost of food and toys. cannon farms is sending me a few toys for him (which I know Hannibal will love because he plays with his toys ALL the time) and hopefully the food I've got will last until my next paycheck.
I'm not sure how to get over my fear of his beak. I've been doing target training with him and I can see how he's improving as a result. He mimics the clicking sound sometimes. Its really cute. He also adores my 6 yr old baby sister. Whenever she comes over he'll come down to the bottom of his cage and dance for her. He's also learned to giggle so when she laughs, he laughs and they get each other going and its hilarious.
So that's it for now. I'm still looking for a home for him but its not as urgent as it was. I'd like to get over my fear and just keep him myself but I don't know how I'm going to do that. Ultimately I want what's best for Hannibal. That's what I've always wanted.