So I have some questions -- sort of related and wanted to see if anyone had any insight.
Iris is super good about stepping up, actually lifting her foot when I ask her before I even get my hand to her. She also loves to ladder, like a trick -- I was told that was her "one trick" so it appears to be something she enjoys doing. I assume just letting her ladder when she's raising her foot and encouraging it is a good thing?
She also is semi-flighted, and is getting quite good at navigating around the house. But she likes to grip my hand and flap her wings like a crazy woman -- like they always used to suggest in the older parrot training books as exercise for Amazons. I think she might have been taught to do it. She seems happy and doesn't display any aggression when she does it -- and can fly away if she's not in the mood. Yet I keep reading that the flapping thing IS aggressive....but it doesn't read like that at all. No tail flairing, no flashing eyes. And she puffs up afterwards doing that fluff and rearrange feathers thing that always seems to happen when birds feel content. What do you think?
She's started being more vocal -- but no screaming really. (well, a little, but after owning a Sun Conure for a decade, it seems pretty mild) Last night she started making a purring type sound back and forth with me. It was accompanied by that leaning begging posture. When I gave her my hand, she gently beaked my fingers and stepped up on her own. Seemed like a happy sound, but since this is my first zon, I'd love a second opinion.
And mostly...does this still sound like just honeymoon period stuff or do you think she's starting to settle in? She does come out of her cage on her own as well as step up from it and on it. When she does decide to fly somewhere, if I call her, she runs to me and steps up on her own without being coerced.
Thanks for any experienced zon advice!
Iris is super good about stepping up, actually lifting her foot when I ask her before I even get my hand to her. She also loves to ladder, like a trick -- I was told that was her "one trick" so it appears to be something she enjoys doing. I assume just letting her ladder when she's raising her foot and encouraging it is a good thing?
She also is semi-flighted, and is getting quite good at navigating around the house. But she likes to grip my hand and flap her wings like a crazy woman -- like they always used to suggest in the older parrot training books as exercise for Amazons. I think she might have been taught to do it. She seems happy and doesn't display any aggression when she does it -- and can fly away if she's not in the mood. Yet I keep reading that the flapping thing IS aggressive....but it doesn't read like that at all. No tail flairing, no flashing eyes. And she puffs up afterwards doing that fluff and rearrange feathers thing that always seems to happen when birds feel content. What do you think?
She's started being more vocal -- but no screaming really. (well, a little, but after owning a Sun Conure for a decade, it seems pretty mild) Last night she started making a purring type sound back and forth with me. It was accompanied by that leaning begging posture. When I gave her my hand, she gently beaked my fingers and stepped up on her own. Seemed like a happy sound, but since this is my first zon, I'd love a second opinion.
And mostly...does this still sound like just honeymoon period stuff or do you think she's starting to settle in? She does come out of her cage on her own as well as step up from it and on it. When she does decide to fly somewhere, if I call her, she runs to me and steps up on her own without being coerced.
Thanks for any experienced zon advice!
My Hunter does the exact same thing. She gets a firm grip on my fingers and 'let's lose', meaning she's flapping wildly about with death grip around my fingers. 
