Wooo Hooo!

[Jag]

So I've been spending a good amount of time with Ziva..and she's been acting at times the same way she did a week ago on the table...lowering her head, leaning forward and gently fluttering her wings. Still looked to me like "Pick me up!" that the conures do. I just talked to her at first, nothing else. Then I started to reach for her a little, but if she moved away or put her head down any more then I stopped. Today she was REALLY acting like she wanted to come to me. Even when I sat on the sofa...she came to that side of the playtop perch and fluttered at me. Well, this afternoon she did it again, and when she moved away when I reached I again said "OK" and turned to go upstairs. She said "Come here!" so I went back, and she lifted her foot. So... I reached for her and she stepped up! I only had her for less than two minutes, then put her back on the playtop. However, she wasn't forced, she wasn't taking 'the lesser of two evils' as she was on her playtop. She went from where she's been perfectly comfortable to me...and she's the one who reacted if I stopped or started to walk away. I gave her plenty of opprotunity to NOT do it. I waited until she moved with total confidence, until SHE came to ME... and it was SWEET!!!

So she had some orange, and now she's settled down again to rest on her playtop. I LOVE it when progress happens with a new one! Especially if it's watching them come around and ask for interaction!

[Jagsdaughter]

Wonderful! (now when i try to put her back in her cage i may need a few fingers reattached) go mom!

[Emmilyy]

thats great progress!. She sounds like she's really settling in good. I understand how happy you are she came to you herself - i was soo happy when Cookie did the first time!

Is she letting her feathers coming in?

[TAGyourIT]

That is so awesome! Progress is always awesome... but when it is slow and you can feel like they are gaining trust in you, it is really cool.

I am very very happy for you and Ziva.

[Jag]

She more 'fluff' than when I got her, but I've seen her with fluff coming off her when she's 'preening' (?) I have seen a couple of sheathed feathers come and go...but she hasn't gone through and taken all or even 'most' of the new down out....I wish I had some experience with pluckers so I could be more clear. I'm just not sure if she's removing the one little stray feather growth because she's itchy... or if she's plucking. Too hard for me to say. She still looks pretty rough. I need to get her diet in order, itchiness under control, and bathing on a regular basis. I can't say with any confidence at all that the plucking was a result of behavioral issues until she's had time to have the other part corrected. I know her diet was bad, and I know she wasn't bathed in the last home....