Amanda_Bennett
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Here are a couple pics of Zilla. They aren't very good, she doesn't like the camera, but it will give everyone a look at her for now, until I can get some better ones.
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Pics of Zilla
- Thread starter Amanda_Bennett
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JerseyWendy
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- Jul 20, 2012
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What a sweet looking girl. 
Thank you for the photos!!
She appears to be a bit on the chunky side right now, but I'm sure with the right nutrition and some exercise, she'll be 'fit' in no time.
Thank you for the photos!! She appears to be a bit on the chunky side right now, but I'm sure with the right nutrition and some exercise, she'll be 'fit' in no time.
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Amanda_Bennett
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She is a bit chunky. Her diet was almost all seed based with tons of sunflower seeds and lots peanuts, no pellets ever, then whatever her owner was having for dinner, lots of pasta, potatoes, and breads. Processed foods of all sorts. She is approx. 27 or 28 I was told by the vet, so it may be hard to get her to change her ways.
Now she gets about 40% seeds, 50% fresh fruits & veggies, and 10% whatever I'm having for dinner that is safe for her. I'm making a real effort to eat healthier so she can share my dinner with me since she really seams to enjoy that time with me.
I have introduced her to pellets, but so far all she thinks they are good for is throwing at the cats. Kind of funny, but not what I had hoped she would do with them. And the cats aren't amused, they still just ignore her.
I have cut out the sunflower seeds completely, but I am thinking they would work great for training since she loves them. She only gets 2 peanuts a day now and I am working on healthier treats. She loves the dried hot peppers, but I worry about giving her too many.
Now she gets about 40% seeds, 50% fresh fruits & veggies, and 10% whatever I'm having for dinner that is safe for her. I'm making a real effort to eat healthier so she can share my dinner with me since she really seams to enjoy that time with me.
I have introduced her to pellets, but so far all she thinks they are good for is throwing at the cats. Kind of funny, but not what I had hoped she would do with them. And the cats aren't amused, they still just ignore her.
I have cut out the sunflower seeds completely, but I am thinking they would work great for training since she loves them. She only gets 2 peanuts a day now and I am working on healthier treats. She loves the dried hot peppers, but I worry about giving her too many.
Kiwibird
Well-known member
- Jul 12, 2012
- 9,539
- 113
- Parrots
- 1 BFA- Kiwi. Hatch circa 98', forever home with us Dec. 08'
Awww what a pretty girl Zilla is Sounds like you're on the right track with diet too. Lots of fruits and veg is what a parrot needs! If you plan to feed pellets, have you considered soaking them then mushing them up? A lot of birds don't recognize hard, dry chunks as food unless they've been raised on them.
Sounds like you're on the right track with diet too. Lots of fruits and veg is what a parrot needs! If you plan to feed pellets, have you considered soaking them then mushing them up? A lot of birds don't recognize hard, dry chunks as food unless they've been raised on them.
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Amanda_Bennett
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I just heard of moistening the pellets in another post earlier today, so I am going to try it tomorrow. Maybe warm? She does like her rice and oatmeal warm.
She finally just today started playing with the new toys I bought her. I thought maybe I had made bad choices or she wasn't going to be a "player" kind of bird, but I guess she just needed some time to get more used to things here.
It will be just a week tomorrow since I got her. She is opening up more and more every day, and trusting more and more that I'm not going to bite her head off...LOL She even let me kiss the top of her head last night before bedtime. She steps up almost every time I ask her to. She likes sitting on my shoulder and getting head scratches. I have had no bites at all, the most she has done is growl and hold my finger when she doesn't want to step up or get off my shoulder. I am considering myself very lucky!
She finally just today started playing with the new toys I bought her. I thought maybe I had made bad choices or she wasn't going to be a "player" kind of bird, but I guess she just needed some time to get more used to things here.
It will be just a week tomorrow since I got her. She is opening up more and more every day, and trusting more and more that I'm not going to bite her head off...LOL She even let me kiss the top of her head last night before bedtime. She steps up almost every time I ask her to. She likes sitting on my shoulder and getting head scratches. I have had no bites at all, the most she has done is growl and hold my finger when she doesn't want to step up or get off my shoulder. I am considering myself very lucky!
Look at that sweet girl!!!! [emoji173]️
You're doing such a good job with her, Amanda!
I just about died with laughter reading about her throwing her pellets at the cats! LOLOLOL!! "Thanks mom for the ammunition!"
Does she fly? Are her wings clipped? I was thinking maybe you could start doing some flight workouts with her?
I don't mean to be a Debbie Downer with this next bit, but be careful with her on your shoulder- amazons are notorious for "displacement biting" due to over-excitement, mood change, or if they're scared by something.... If that happens, you may get bit on the ear, neck, face, or whatever is closest.
You're doing such a good job with her, Amanda!
I just about died with laughter reading about her throwing her pellets at the cats! LOLOLOL!! "Thanks mom for the ammunition!"
Does she fly? Are her wings clipped? I was thinking maybe you could start doing some flight workouts with her?
I don't mean to be a Debbie Downer with this next bit, but be careful with her on your shoulder- amazons are notorious for "displacement biting" due to over-excitement, mood change, or if they're scared by something.... If that happens, you may get bit on the ear, neck, face, or whatever is closest.
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Amanda_Bennett
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I got her wings clipped the day after I got her.
The first experience we had the day she got here (the moment the carrier was opened) was her flying into the kitchen and knocking some things over and landing in the butter I had laid on the counter to soften for baking cookies. I was so scared she had gotten hurt! Then butter everywhere because she was scared and didn't want me to wipe it off!
I was surprised at how good her aim is when tossing the pellets at the cats. She actually hits them 6 or 7 times out of 10! I think she had practice in her former home, since they do have a cat and a dog.
Good to know about the displacement biting! Maybe I will have to discourage the shoulder sitting. I was just so happy she has been opening up to me and bonding with me, I hadn't thought about that.
The first experience we had the day she got here (the moment the carrier was opened) was her flying into the kitchen and knocking some things over and landing in the butter I had laid on the counter to soften for baking cookies. I was so scared she had gotten hurt! Then butter everywhere because she was scared and didn't want me to wipe it off!
I was surprised at how good her aim is when tossing the pellets at the cats. She actually hits them 6 or 7 times out of 10! I think she had practice in her former home, since they do have a cat and a dog.
Good to know about the displacement biting! Maybe I will have to discourage the shoulder sitting. I was just so happy she has been opening up to me and bonding with me, I hadn't thought about that.
Oh my goodness!!! Landing in the butter?! Yikes!! Poor girl!! [emoji51] what an eventful first day! [emoji33] lol
Even though her wings are clipped, you could probably still do some flight exercises with her. Have her perch on your hand and briskly walk around and see if she'll flap her wings as you help her "fly" around. I believe April (Kiwibird) does this with Kiwi because he doesn't fly, so this way Zilla would still get some exercise.
Oh wow- you need to get her pellet tossing on video!! That sounds hilarious!!! LOL
I know she's probably a sweetheart, but I personally would hold off on the shouldering until you guys know each other a bit better.
Then once you know what her attitude is like once you're past the "honeymoon period", whether she's nippy or not, etc then you could let her on your shoulder.
Most people discourage shouldering birds period, just because no matter how well you know each other, accidents happen. A frightened bird can do serious damage despite being heavily bonded to their parront.
Even though her wings are clipped, you could probably still do some flight exercises with her. Have her perch on your hand and briskly walk around and see if she'll flap her wings as you help her "fly" around. I believe April (Kiwibird) does this with Kiwi because he doesn't fly, so this way Zilla would still get some exercise.
Oh wow- you need to get her pellet tossing on video!! That sounds hilarious!!! LOL
I know she's probably a sweetheart, but I personally would hold off on the shouldering until you guys know each other a bit better.
Then once you know what her attitude is like once you're past the "honeymoon period", whether she's nippy or not, etc then you could let her on your shoulder.
Most people discourage shouldering birds period, just because no matter how well you know each other, accidents happen. A frightened bird can do serious damage despite being heavily bonded to their parront.
