the vacuum cleaner

[Alika]

This is something most fids are familiar with: the beast that cleans up the mess they make!

How do your fids respond to it? I know that it stimulates some to bathe.

Sam will pace her perch and begin displaying as soon as I wheel the vacuum into the room. She flares her tail, strobes her eyes, paces, hoots, and whistles the whole time I have it going. As soon as it disappears, she calms back down again. She's very funny.

She even has a squeaky wheel noise she makes when she's excited that sounds suspiciously like a vacuum being wheeled around.

The other two birds mostly ignore it, although Beeper will sometimes decide to engage in a 'who can make the most noise' contest with it. That's always fun.

[Sophiestkated2]

Oh, Ollie the CAG adores it! Even a dustbuster is enough to make him happy! He will bathe while the big vacuum is going, but just say "WHEW!!" when the little one is running.
Dazzle the B&G, well, he's pretty. He just sticks to "HIIIIIIII!!!!!!!!". Over and over and over and over..... heehee!

Jeth

[kathyellen]

I haven't noticed them doing anything when I bring it out, but while I am vacuming it's definately a game of who can make the most noise! What I discovered last time is that Baby our female B/G totally imitates Polly our yellow naped Amazon....she does her laugh and her throat noises..it's hard to describe, but at one point I couldn't tell who was who!!!

[PEANUT]

Kramer Starts Talking Non Stop With A Few Yells In Between . He Climbs And Squeals And Really Carries On. He Also Does The Same Thing When Run My Blow Dryer. He Is Silly

[kathleen]

I have a pet and it's name is Pumpkin. I feed my pet because I love him/her. Pumpkin has a pet(s) and he/she feeds them. I have ants that clean up his/her mess..who needs a vacuum???!!! HA HA!! Just kidding. Pumpkin just sits on his perch when I vacuum. It doesn't seem to faze him.

[cfulhage]

Dakota the tiel gets so excited when he sees the vaccum. It becomes a contest to see if he can be heard over the roar. He definitely can!
Ollie hates it. The first few times I got it out and see saw me pushing it, she would immediately dive off her perch to huddle in the furthest corner of her cage. I dont dare vacuum while she's out of her cage, she would probably break through the window in her haste to get away! She's a little better now (she stays on a perch) but she fluffs up and starts shaking. I'm always afraid I'm traumatizing her!!

[PyscoFalcon]

All of mine scream like crazy which in turn makes the dog howl.

[willowbirdy218]

Originally Posted by cfulhage

Ollie hates it. The first few times I got it out and see saw me pushing it, she would immediately dive off her perch to huddle in the furthest corner of her cage. I dont dare vacuum while she's out of her cage, she would probably break through the window in her haste to get away! She's a little better now (she stays on a perch) but she fluffs up and starts shaking. I'm always afraid I'm traumatizing her!!

Willow used to be the same way!! He would immediately drop whatever he was playing with or eating and climb to the back of his cage at the first sign that I would be vacuuming around his cage! Then the whole time it was running he would scream and growl as loud as he could. I don't know what made him change his mind, but he decided that it wasn't very scary and hasn't freaked out over it in more than 3 months!!

[Casa Amazona]

Most of my 'zons go right into bathing mode when I vacuum. Rico and Rosita came from a home where vacuuming must have been a daily event. All I have to do is start picking up, let alone moving furniture or getting it out, and they start imitating the vacuum.

[Alika]

Funny birds!

I think the ones that are afraid of it eventually get used to it. My specialty in training is desensitizing... which is basically what you're doing when you run the vacuum around a bird that is afraid of it. The more you do it, the better it will get.

If you're really interested in eliminating the fear quickly, I'd suggest running the vacuum every day. I would start on the opposite end of the room without getting too close, and gradually come closer and increase vacuuming time.

While you're vacuuming, pause a couple of times to turn the vacuum off, and give your bird a well-liked treat. Wait until it's finished, then vacuum a little more.

I want to hear more stories!