FoxersArtist
07-07-2008, 06:07 PM
Even though I have seen it time and time again, I am always amazed when I look into a parrot and in many ways they are a reflection of those around them. I truely believe that parrots pick up on our energy, our mood, our actions, our feelings, and most especially our body language. They make these things a part of who they are just like they adapt our language into their complex nature. They rely on our non verbals for a great deal of their security - and I am forever trying to explain to others how important this aspect of parrot keeping is.
Yesterday I took Peggy Sue in to Albuquerque to see a friend who trims her beak. Over the past 6 months, I have failed to have her beak trimmed by this person regularly (who is the BEST of the BEST) for several reasons. I was too sick to feel up to driving and I have two children under two years old, constantly demanding my attention. Though, anyone who knows me knows that I rarely let even things like this stop me from doing what I really need to or want to do. I had become very nervious about having Peggy's beak done because in the past, every time she has gone to get a trim, she has displayed overwhelming neurotic and anxious behavior for weeks after the procedure. Even when she settles down a bit, the trims have seemed to permanently affect her mental and emotional health as it seems like every day she is paranoid, wondering if today will be the day.
When I mentioned this to my friend months ago, she told me that I was being too neurotic with Peggy and that I spoiled her too much. To some extent, I believe this was a true statement, but I had been working with myself to allow peggy to be more of a bird and not to mother her so much and could not see an obvious connection between my bahavior and the response to a beak trim. Yesterday, midway through Peggy's trim, I brought the subject up again and we brainstormed a little bit. Together, we made the observation that as soon as Peggy was done with her trim and was released, she would bound out of my friends lap to get away from the predator who was attacking and tormenting her. Mom was always right there and came to the rescue every time. Ah ha! So my friend WAS right, I was being very motherly. So this time we changed the pattern. After Peggy's beak trim I let her watch me as I took a few steps back. My friend cradled Peggy in her lap, and even though Peggy continued to scream like she was being attacked, my friend sat with her, silently stroking her feathers in a soothing manner until Peggy released all of her stress by doing a great big feather fluff a few minutes later.
Peggy was free to go as soon as she released the anxiety she was feeling, and we have all seen a whole world of difference in her. She has been acting as if the beak trim never happened at all and she was in an amazingly pleasant mood all night last night. Peggy desperately needed reassurance from my friend, that in fact she was not out to hunt her down or torture her and this communication was accomplished with only a few quiet moments where both creatures were communicating only with body language. Peggy needed a few minutes to make peace with my friend so that harmony could be restored to Peggy's world.
I am so thrilled that we finally found the source of Peggy's anxiety and so glad that there are other people out there who understand the complex nature of parrots and their needs. Never under estimate a parrot's capacity to think and feel and learn with other creatures! Our parrots count on us for so much more than we can ever realize.
-Anna
Yesterday I took Peggy Sue in to Albuquerque to see a friend who trims her beak. Over the past 6 months, I have failed to have her beak trimmed by this person regularly (who is the BEST of the BEST) for several reasons. I was too sick to feel up to driving and I have two children under two years old, constantly demanding my attention. Though, anyone who knows me knows that I rarely let even things like this stop me from doing what I really need to or want to do. I had become very nervious about having Peggy's beak done because in the past, every time she has gone to get a trim, she has displayed overwhelming neurotic and anxious behavior for weeks after the procedure. Even when she settles down a bit, the trims have seemed to permanently affect her mental and emotional health as it seems like every day she is paranoid, wondering if today will be the day.
When I mentioned this to my friend months ago, she told me that I was being too neurotic with Peggy and that I spoiled her too much. To some extent, I believe this was a true statement, but I had been working with myself to allow peggy to be more of a bird and not to mother her so much and could not see an obvious connection between my bahavior and the response to a beak trim. Yesterday, midway through Peggy's trim, I brought the subject up again and we brainstormed a little bit. Together, we made the observation that as soon as Peggy was done with her trim and was released, she would bound out of my friends lap to get away from the predator who was attacking and tormenting her. Mom was always right there and came to the rescue every time. Ah ha! So my friend WAS right, I was being very motherly. So this time we changed the pattern. After Peggy's beak trim I let her watch me as I took a few steps back. My friend cradled Peggy in her lap, and even though Peggy continued to scream like she was being attacked, my friend sat with her, silently stroking her feathers in a soothing manner until Peggy released all of her stress by doing a great big feather fluff a few minutes later.
Peggy was free to go as soon as she released the anxiety she was feeling, and we have all seen a whole world of difference in her. She has been acting as if the beak trim never happened at all and she was in an amazingly pleasant mood all night last night. Peggy desperately needed reassurance from my friend, that in fact she was not out to hunt her down or torture her and this communication was accomplished with only a few quiet moments where both creatures were communicating only with body language. Peggy needed a few minutes to make peace with my friend so that harmony could be restored to Peggy's world.
I am so thrilled that we finally found the source of Peggy's anxiety and so glad that there are other people out there who understand the complex nature of parrots and their needs. Never under estimate a parrot's capacity to think and feel and learn with other creatures! Our parrots count on us for so much more than we can ever realize.
-Anna