Surprise SURPRISE!! Look at Raven

[RavensGryf]

FIRST OF ALL.... I know Raven would NOT allow "me" to do ANY of this with him.

Raven is such a complete daddy's boy :31:. He's MY bird alone, not "our" bird. Daddy is only responsible for cuddles and playing with him. Still, Raven has chosen Don as "his person". Little does he realize, I'm the one responsible for his wellbeing and happiness! Oh well...

It's absolutely incredible what Raven will allow Don to do with him. Pionus typically don't like full body cuddling, and usually prefer no more than neck scritches. Pionus are usually about as hands on (or off) as your typical pet Amazon.

So with that in mind, check out this pic of Raven in his favorite person's hand. He's a bit shaggy looking from a heavy molt.



AND WEARING A HARNESS!!! :11: I would never have been able to get that thing near him in 100 years! Hopefully as he gets more used to it after a while, he'll let me try to put it on without giving me his typical offended look. (The harness is actually too big for him, but it's what I have for now. We'll practice with it and probably order a proper size for him).



At 14-15 months old, you can see Raven's new "manly" navy blue feathers coming in, finally replacing the muddy dark green baby color of the Bronze Winged Pi. This was a couple weeks ago.

 

[Allee]

Wow Julie, that's very impressive! Raven is such a handsome guy with all his new navy blue feathers, and being a perfect gentleman for his dad, the little traitor. The photos are great, I love the second one, he looks so proud of himself. Raven loves you too, Julie, he's just all grown up and wants to look cool.

 

[strudel]

Raven is such a handsome guy.... the little traitor.

HAHA that's exactly what I was going to say. He's gorgeous, but talk about rubbing your face in it, lying there like that!

 

[RavensGryf]

He can even smother Raven with both hands! That is so un-Pionus-like!

Well... I had him shipped, so we didn't meet him til he was home. THEN Raven picked his human. "No Raven, the bird person is over here!" *me waiving my hand* lol.
Don is still pretty much a newbie with birds and has a lot to learn, but he's one of those people who just have a way with animals. They just go to him like it's natural. Animals don't always like me .

 

[thekarens]

I think he's made it clear. I guess you two are stuck with each other . At least you still have Robin!

 

[Betrisher]

Aw Julie! He's gorgeous! What a character!

Don't give up on him - it took over a year for me to get in Dommie's goodbooks and even then he still has that certain reserve. He bit me a beauty today because he thought I was putting him back in his cage: I have cuts and bruises all up my arm! But mostly, we have a reasonably close relationship.

 

[EAI]

Raven is looking great, those feathers are amazing! He looks so proud of himself in the second pic, I love it <3!
Just wondering, how did your husband find out Raven is okay with being on his back?

 

[RavensGryf]

Aw Julie! He's gorgeous! What a character!

Don't give up on him - it took over a year for me to get in Dommie's goodbooks and even then he still has that certain reserve. He bit me a beauty today because he thought I was putting him back in his cage: I have cuts and bruises all up my arm! But mostly, we have a reasonably close relationship.

Thanks. He and I have gotten a little closer over the past year (since January), but he still makes it clear that I'm not his first choice lol. I think we'll become better friends in time. This is just one of those instances where he'll probably grow to like me more as time goes on (like an arranged marriage lol) but definitely not love at first sight!

I hope your poor arm heals up asap!

 

[LeaKP]

Love these pics! Sorry he is being picky but birds are so funny! One day he might just pick you too. Hang in there!

 

[RavensGryf]

Raven is looking great, those feathers are amazing! He looks so proud of himself in the second pic, I love it <3!
Just wondering, how did your husband find out Raven is okay with being on his back?

Thanks Reid . He literally just took Raven one day, manhandled him (lovingly), flipped him over, snuggled him, etc. beginner's luck I guess... He didn't know any better. He's seen that sort of thing done with a tame Macaw or Cockatoo, and he can do that with Robin my Red Bellied, so he just took for granted not realizing that you aren't supposed to do that right off the bat to a parrot (even though Raven was friendly), or that Pionus are one of the species who generally can take a while to trust, are reserved, and usually don't like to be handled, let alone like that. Surprisingly Raven just went along with it! I couldn't believe it when I first saw it. He barely likes to step up for me. There's no reasonable explanation!

 

[Bundiibird]

Aww beautiful little Raven. I just love the colour of the new feathers coming in. They are funny little creatures these birds of ours. Bundii is the same with my hubby, Anthony. He can pretty much get away with anything. Me on the other hand, not so much. Actually not much and I have the bites to prove it.

 

[RavensGryf]

Bundii is the same with my hubby, Anthony. He can pretty much get away with anything. Me on the other hand, not so much. Actually not much and I have the bites to prove it.

This is one great reason we have the forum. To remind us that we aren't the only one out there when our birds don't seem to like us much (or love other members of the household more).
When I hear about you and other members here who have a similar situation, it really keeps me encouraged and sets a great example of not giving up, and loving and pampering them regardless.

Years ago, before I knew what a forum was lol, maybe before there were any, I'd get so discouraged easily if a bird didn't love me, or wasn't easy. Even now with my experience, I still appreciate and sometimes need the community encouragement and support

 

[Kiwibird]

Look at Raven in his harness Isn't it funny who they "choose"? Joe never wanted pets, but gave in to me getting a bird "so long as I take total care of it". Ya.....and WHO did Kiwi immediately take to? Not me!:20:

I think it's nice though that Raven took to Don You still have Robin and Griffin, and Don is getting to learn just how great it is to be loved by a bird

 

[Anansi]

Raven is looking great, those feathers are amazing! He looks so proud of himself in the second pic, I love it <3!
Just wondering, how did your husband find out Raven is okay with being on his back?

Thanks Reid . He literally just took Raven one day, manhandled him (lovingly), flipped him over, snuggled him, etc. beginner's luck I guess... He didn't know any better. He's seen that sort of thing done with a tame Macaw or Cockatoo, and he can do that with Robin my Red Bellied, so he just took for granted not realizing that you aren't supposed to do that right off the bat to a parrot (even though Raven was friendly), or that Pionus are one of the species who generally can take a while to trust, are reserved, and usually don't like to be handled, let alone like that. Surprisingly Raven just went along with it! I couldn't believe it when I first saw it. He barely likes to step up for me. There's no reasonable explanation!

You know, Julie, I actually have a theory about that. I think that Don was able to do all of that stuff with Raven precisely because he "didn't know any better". I believe that parrots are extremely sensitive to our emotions, and react accordingly.

For instance, my two ekkies, and my cockatiel of 18 years before them, have all trusted me to hold them and pet them anywhere. Even to the point of allowing me to cover their heads and eyes! Yet none of them have ever been okay with allowing me to extend their wings. You'd think that would require less trust than enveloping their heads with my hand, right? So why can't I stretch out their wings?

Because I'm afraid to.

I have always been hesitant to extend a bird's wings because they seem so fragile to me. They seem so thin and ethereal, so tiny in my hands, and I just can't shake the fear that I'd just accidentally pop one off. Smh.

And I think they sense that. If the thought of extending their wings worries me, it worries them, too. "Uh-uh, buddy! Keep those man-paws off my wings!" Lol! After all, their vet manages to spread their wings without a problem.

So maybe you can't do that stuff with Raven that Don can simply because you know that you can't. Just my theory.

Oh, and beautiful pics, btw!

 

[EAI]

(Sorry, I meant to respond earlier but got sidetracked really bad)
Haha are you 100% sure? I feel like someone has secretly been training your birds behind your back !

 

[RavensGryf]

Stephen, I was kind of thinking along those lines too. That, plus the fact that Raven just has an overall preference for Don as a person. It's funny, Griffin hates him.

I think your theory is true with birds. As prey animals they're very good at reading us. I think animals in general are better at reading people's micro expressions and emotions more than we're aware of. Probably is why some people seem like Dr. Doolittle lol, and others get bit!

 

[RavensGryf]

I feel like someone has secretly been training your birds behind your back !

I wish! If that were the case, they'd be perfect angels all the time right? :54:

 

[strudel]

Just my theory.

I agree with you. I'm always bleating on for people to relax and try not to show anxiety because the animals pick up on it. It's not just birds, it's the same with horses and dogs, and cats will ALWAYS head straight for the person who "doesn't like cats" because they hate being stared at and the one who hates cats will not be ogling the cat or patting their lap or going "here, puss, puss, puss".

I can positively state from my own experience that my relationship with my birds has improved since I got to the stage where I don't feel that I'm going to kill them through ignorance or ruin them entirely by "doing the wrong thing".

There's a difference between force and assertiveness. When you are assertive, animals (including people) like it, they know where they stand, there's nothing to worry about. You aren't forcing them to do it, you are just saying "here's what's gonna happen, it's all good, nothing's going to hurt or anything and then we have fun or our treats". Usually you get an "oh, all right, gotcha" in return. You can "force" your will, but if your attitude is assertive and not "forceful" nobody freaks out.

With somebody who doesn't know better, they can have that relaxed assertiveness because they have no clue that whatever they are doing is "meant" to do this or that. It's when we anticipate "problems" that we usually get them. I tend to not only think it in my head that I'm relaxed, it's all good, nothing to freak out about, but I always talk non-stop. Soothing, confident tone tends to smooth things and everybody doesn't freak out (including me).

 

[Wvbirdlover]

Wow, is Raven ever pretty! I Love his new blue feathers. Don't give up on him either. They can learn to like others, even the hand that feeds them! Lol it's frustrating at times, but you will find lots of encouragement here, and things that have worked for others! [emoji4]

 

[Taw5106]

Raven is such a handsome traitor, lol.