It's a pirate's life for me....: Therapy Bird....

As many of you know, Rockie, our blue-fronted Amazon, is 20 years old and was considered to be a "mean" bird. We didn't have any intentions of buying two parrots, but after much time (5 minutes) of the pet owner making us a deal, he was ours. I wasn't sure about this bird, but when I leaned down to the cage to make eye contact with this bird...He met my eyes!! I knew from the way that he looked at me that he was supposed to be ours, I wasn't sure of the reason at that time.

These are the facts that we knew about this bird.
1. He was a breeder (they are trained to be mean)
2. His breed (Amazon).
3. He hardly ever gets out of his cage
4. His diet- which consists of seed.
5. He lived in a cage with ancient toys.
6. He needed a new cage because the old one looked like he was cage trailer trash.
7. They didn't know if he talked.

Views from his old cage:

Facts about this bird AFTER he came home

1. He has a new cage.
2. The old cage and toys went in the garbage or for scrap parts!!!
3. His wings have been clipped-the most horrible job I've seen.
4. He's horribly afraid of towels....hmm...makes you wonder. Towels are usually encouraged to help reduce stress in your bird...NOT this bird!!! (Big Girl either, the keets do fine as we've had them since they were babies).
5. He has learned to play, this bird is soooo smart, We constantly have to change his toys as he gets bored easily
6. He isn't so much the "m" word as was told to us (we don't use the word mean)
7. Positive reinforcement is the key to this bird...."your such a good boy, you're fine...."
8. Desensitization is working well. We've been able to successfully get him out of his cage. We started the first month by letting him out his cage daily and allowing him to go in and out as he pleased. You've seen previous pictures of him at the table etc.
9. We have a vet visit coming up and I'm curious what else were going to find out!!!!
10. His locating call for Bill and I is ironically "hello".....
11. He and his sister Big Girl imitate the Cockatoo Benny they lived with.
12. This bird has finally learned how to "preen" himself...His skin and feathers are so sensitive because he didn't know how to take care of them....No one taught him.
13. We've progressively changed his diet from all seed to mixing more pellet as it's much healthier for him.

The biggest accomplishment came over the past week. He's really bonded to me because I believe that God sent this bird to me because we both have mental health issues. He's truly my therapy bird. He's learned to give me kisses....He actually lets me pick him up....hands around his entire body and lets me flip him over. He's snuggles up to me like he knows that's my mommy!!! Don't be fooled...my hands are still accessorized with bandaids!!!

Here are a few pictures of him right before he went to bed last night....

Notice the new toys :)

His feathers are getting so much better!!! This is the area I'm working on with him!!!

Gee...who likes the camera?!?!

Okay I'm mom, I'm ready for bed!!!

Video of the two cockatoos we own..Ha Ha...

These picture was taken just a little while ago when I had him out of his cage for the first time without the assistance of Bill...