Severe mood swings

[Dawnsfall]

My severe, Cody, is either an angel or a little demon. He can go from one to the other at lightning speed. This is actually one of the qualities that our family usually finds so endearing (probably says more about what kind of psycho-bi-polar family we are than anything else ). Cody is our first bird, until we got him we have been a largely reptile/invertebrate/hedgehog/cat kind of family. Those pets sure don't prepare you for having a very smart little hard-headed ball of feathers with a sharp little beak!! We are so amazed at how much it is like having a baby in the house again. Pooping, messy meals, sweet cuddle times, endless games of peek-a-boo, and ill-timed temper tantrums. It makes me laugh everytime I have to ask one of my daughters to take the bird and entertain him so I can get stuff done. My husband is a stay at home dad so Cody pretty much is out of his cage and hanging out with someone from the time he wakes up until he goes to bed.

Cody definitely thinks that I am his woman and when he came to live with us it was clear that he definitely did not see any reason to keep my husband around. He gave John several nasty bites, but John slowly built up a relationship with him and they have a great time together now when I am not home. Even when I am home, he has gotten to the point where he will tolerate John touching me (usually) and just voice his displeasure rather than going for the throat. He will step up for John now when I am in the room if he thinks John is going to bring him to me.

I have read a lot that says that Severe's are really one person birds and aren't great family pets, but Cody will go to either of my daughters- they can even take him from me. He really does seem to enjoy spending some time with all of us- and has come up with specific games that he only really likes to play with the person that invented them with him. The games he plays with John are the most hilarious because they are rough and tumble games of tug, throwing his ball, and catch the finger mouse under the towel. Cody will start out laughing, move to belly sounding laughs, and end up squealing like a little piggy. He won't play rough with me though- so I guess it is their form of male bonding.

[debbielabella]

sounds like your doing a great job of socializing. His initial behavior with your husband is the reason they have a rep for one person birds. You and your husband have done a great job of teaching him to be more accepting of your husband. My zon, Tiki is also bipolar but still a big favorite. The jealous/possessive quality comes out when they are so devoted to people they don't want to share. That hard headed stuborness and strong character is something I admire in a bird.

[jenseits]

Some birds or types of birds may *tend* toward being "one-person birds" but no birds *should* only like one person. It's not healthy. So it sounds like you are doing a really fantastic job socializing Cody and going about it the right way. It's terrific that everyone can handle him and that each family member has special games they like to play together. Sounds like you've got a great flock dynamic going.

[Dawnsfall]

Three weeks after we got Cody he got sick and had to have medicine every 12 hours. At this time he still wouldn't step up for my hubby. I tried coming home at lunch to give him his meds, but that just upset the bird because he didn't understand why I was only home for 10 minutes- 5 of which was spent giving him yukky meds. So John stepped up and figured out how to give Cody his morning meds. The real breakthrough with them happened when I had to go out of town for the first time. Cody was still on medicine when I left. John had to take him to the vet to see if the infection was clear before I got home. the struggle to get Cody into the carrier was an epic battle- fortunately John was smart enough to start an hour before the appointment! But they made it and the vet said no more meds. By the time I got home Cody would let John carry him to the window.

The next time I left for a trip Cody and John had settled into a routine where John would carry Cody around the house and let hin look in every room to see I wasn't home, then they would go downstairs and Cody would play on his Boing while John was on the computer.

One other thing that helps is that Cody's cage is in the dining room. We keep his food bowl swung out and have a perch on the outside of his cage so that he essentially sits right between my daughters at suppertime. We feed him his supper when we eat ours so that the whole flock eats together. Cody gets involved in the dinner time conversations, shares our veggies with us, occasionally threatens to fly onto the table. After dinner we often squawk at the neighborhood cats right along with Cody. He seems to enjoy family squawking sessions.

[debbielabella]

Cody sounds like a very lucky bird to find a family that is so devoted to him! Severes need truly devoted people like yourselves.

[jenseits]

Originally Posted by Dawnsfall

Three weeks after we got Cody he got sick and had to have medicine every 12 hours. At this time he still wouldn't step up for my hubby. I tried coming home at lunch to give him his meds, but that just upset the bird because he didn't understand why I was only home for 10 minutes- 5 of which was spent giving him yukky meds. So John stepped up and figured out how to give Cody his morning meds. The real breakthrough with them happened when I had to go out of town for the first time. Cody was still on medicine when I left. John had to take him to the vet to see if the infection was clear before I got home. the struggle to get Cody into the carrier was an epic battle- fortunately John was smart enough to start an hour before the appointment! But they made it and the vet said no more meds. By the time I got home Cody would let John carry him to the window.

The next time I left for a trip Cody and John had settled into a routine where John would carry Cody around the house and let hin look in every room to see I wasn't home, then they would go downstairs and Cody would play on his Boing while John was on the computer.

One other thing that helps is that Cody's cage is in the dining room. We keep his food bowl swung out and have a perch on the outside of his cage so that he essentially sits right between my daughters at suppertime. We feed him his supper when we eat ours so that the whole flock eats together. Cody gets involved in the dinner time conversations, shares our veggies with us, occasionally threatens to fly onto the table. After dinner we often squawk at the neighborhood cats right along with Cody. He seems to enjoy family squawking sessions.

You just put such a smile on my face. I especially loved the description of the squawking sessions... the neighbors and their cats must think you're silly, but Cody is lucky to have such a great family!

[kellywess]

I have always said that Severes suffer with "Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde" syndrome.
Your story in endearingly familiar.

[Dawnsfall]

Originally Posted by jenseits

You just put such a smile on my face. I especially loved the description of the squawking sessions... the neighbors and their cats must think you're silly, but Cody is lucky to have such a great family!

The really funny part is that it turns out some of the neighbors didn't realize we had a bird, they thought we were just making all the noise ourselves...

[Dawnsfall]

Here is a picture of our little monkey.

[Alan]

What a pretty little one you have. Loved reading about Cody. I am waiting on my own little severe. She will be here in Feb. I have a great breeder and can't wait to get her home.