More Cricket! (again)

Okay, so I figured I'd start him a thread of his own.

Did I tell you guys how he does a little cartwheel for me in the morning? He uses his manzanita branch and the top of his cage to do this little somersault thing. It's SOOO cute!! AND, today I think I heard him quietly say "Hi, Cricket." It was quiet, but plain as day! He is so unbelievable clever!!

When Ducki first said 'Ducki', he whispered it softly. Once he saw how much attention it attracted, he upped the volume really quick

Go Cricket!

Cricket sounds adorable.

I swear this morning I heard him say, "Damn it, Cricket!" He did NOT learn that from me!!! Time to have a talk with my mother . . .

ROTFL!!

Okay, does anyone know when or if green-cheeks get out of their "velociraptor" stage? He doesn't nip hard, but he's definitely a nippy little thing. Is this part of their personality? Just wondering, because he hates my mother, hence learning the bad phrase!

I still have scars from that stage, and even 2 or 3 fresh raptor bites. I found that giving him a designated bedtime (in a quiet room) and sticking to it calmed him down a lot (we do 8:30). Also, since he's extra nippy in the morning I now wear gloves as a preventative measure. Maybe you can get your mom some gloves.

I went through the same with Pennie when she was here. Very nippy little bird but she was disciplined with STEP UP and sometimes I would pick her up with my hand around body, holding head between my fingers so she couldn't bite me and would say to her NO BITE...eventually as soon as I would grab her she would say NO BITE before I had a chance to say it When she left here she was much better. DO NOT LET THEM AWAY WITH IT or it will continue to get harder. Andrea I had to do that to Ducki only once and he never bit me again I think I surprised him.

Good idea, Carol! I can't see Mom doing that, though. She's too timid with all of them. I talk myself blue in the face about her reinforcing the behavior, but to no avail!

Anyhow, Cricket's getting more adventurous with food, wanting to taste whatever I'm eating or drinking. Yesterday, we tried introducing Callie's favorite -- pea pods. Dad cut one in half, and I made quite a production of showing him how I split the pod open with my thumb nail. He watched everything very intently as I showed him the peas inside the pod. I put the split pod back in his dish and he came skittering across the floor of his cage, jumped up on his dish, and grabbed . . . a piece of corn.

I'll come talk to your mom

Penny the little green cheek I looked after LOVES sweet potato. Her new Mom has been emailing me with updates saying she is sure she is going to turn orange

well, if she doesn't turn orange, her poo definitely will

I may have to float the pea pod in my morning coffee. He really wants the stuff! I swear one of these days he's going to jump right in.

No coffee Cricket, caffeine is not good for birdies

I don't have morning coffee, but I have hot chocolate. Duck is definitely not allowed that. But he DOES enjoy my morning juice

Jassie likes her morning juice too

Cricket's getting much better with my mom. He still won't "step up" for her when he's in his cage, but he's very willing to do so when he's out. I actually think he's starting to prefer her over me. Of course, grandmothers always get to have fun with the kids, and moms have to do the clipping, preening, etc., so naturally the kids prefer grandma!

He talks up a storm. Right now, he's behind me saying, "Whatcha doin'?" He babbles a lot with "Cricket" at the end, whatever he's saying. Trying to get him to say, "Cricket's a good boy!" He's such a dear, little rascal!

Sounds like a fun little bugger! What other phrases does he say?

JUST NOW:!!! He said, "Hey, Cricket! Hi, Freddy! Whatcha doin'?"

awesome! What did Freddie think?

Freddy was non-plussed. Cricket doesn't impress him.