WELCOME SNOWFLAKE to his forever home
51Spent the morning pressure washing the cage and putting in new ropes and toys and called the rescue place and told them we were ready for Snowflake. She told us she might be able to bring him over in couple of hours which she did about 4 PM. He doesn’t look happy at all but hopefully in a couple of days he will get used to his new surroundings.
- 25 comments, 50 replies
- Comment
Awww - I hope it all goes well and he starts feeling happy in his new home!
@Kyeh Shouldn’t take him out of the cage for the first week, but did pet him through the cage which he must have liked as he closed his eyes while I was petting him.
Congratulations Felton and I am sure Snowflake will settle in soon enough. So happy you found a new buddy and I cannot wait for updates
WELCOME TO YOUR NEW HOME SNOWFLAKE!
Congrats Felton and family, I know he’ll just love you guys once he settles in! How exciting for you!
Welcome home Snowflake. Congratulations on finding awesome humans to adopt. I’m sure it will be an adjustment for everyone but I hope that all goes smoothly. Please stop by regularly say hi and let us know how you and your humans are doing.
POKER! JOKER! NOT MEDIOCRE! AWESOME!
Welcome, Snowflake! May be an adjustment but you’ll be comfy cozy in no time!
Pretty little bird. I love the name. Glad you were up for adopting a new bird.
Snowflake update-thought Walter was stubborn. Doesn’t hold a candle to Snowflake. Has been staying on the top level of the cage (where the food is not) so didn’t eat anything all day even though I tried to put things near his mouth-either took what I offered him and dropped it or didn’t open his beak at all. Had to take a small water dish and tilt it so he could drink from it which he did.
Finally he took a piece of egg and a string bean and ate some of both but he seems to be a real picky eater. Have been texting the owner of the rescue place who said sometimes it takes 1 to 3 days before they eat normally but hunger usually wins out in the end and they eat.
Congratulations on a new love. He’s a good looker. Once he’s used to the new surroundings and people, he’ll start showing his personality (you may be wishing for these quiet days) and will rule the roost! Looking forward to hearing about his (and yours) adventures.
So glad to hear it finally happened, congratulations! You’ll be the best of friends in no time, can’t wait to get updates on how things are going!
Considering birds are smart I am not surprised he is upset with his life being turned upside down. Likely he misses his “people” and other things. If cats can grieve (which they do as I have seen it in mine) I am sure smart birds can and do. But I am sure as he realizes that you are his “new people” he will adjust and decide that being in your house is a good deal.
Here’s to Snowflake taking your house by
).
snowstorm (sorry couldn’t help it@Kidsandliz He had been in the rescue sanctuary for about 6 months after the person who had him living situation changed and could no longer care for him but still calls to check on him. (I have his number also) He probably drove 500 miles or more from the Panhandle of Florida to the rescue sanctuary as the closest place he felt comfortable leaving him. He had Snowflake for over 20 years.
Snowflake update-After the first day of not eating much, he seems to have not only broadened his appetite but knows where the food dishes are. Started squawking when we sat down to dinner last night, but gave him some pasta and sweet potatoes and that seemed to satisfy him. Loves head rubs by either of us through the bars and I open the cage to give him one more directly. Still seems to be more active at night than during the day.
Since he is cage is in the great room right where Walter’s play gym was, he usually sees one of us all the time, but when we leave he starts squawking either to let us know to come back or to to let us know not to forget him.
Hi Snowflake, I am the Meh forum dog, hope you join the community to keep me company!
I know it is scary when someone adopts you! You dont know where you are going or if your new hoomans are nice! They do things different. It took me a long time to trust my mom. I have talked to @Felton10 on here and he is a good guy! He took such good care of his last bird and loved him so much. You can trust me on that
You are very lucky to have him as your new dad. I promise it will be ok when you decide it is safe to trust him and Mrs Felton!!! You will love them so much.
Here is a big WOOF doggo welcome!!
Awww.
this is where we got snowflake
Let snowflake come out of the cage today with no idea how we were going to get him back in if he decided he liked it out better than in. Luckily after two hours out and loving it, he went back in for food and went in and out a couple of time and now is in with the door open so he can go out if he wants.
@Felton10 Woo-hoo! And great picture. Snowflake is a beautiful bird. Please tell him hello from an internet friend in Texas.
He likes it! Hooray.
@DTominator Maybe-we have given him food that he liked the first time we gave it to him and then never wanted it again. His three favorites so far are almonds in the shell, pistachio nuts and prime rib.
@DTominator @Felton10 I thought things like prime rib were not good for them?!
@DTominator @Kyeh Well probably not on anyone’s diet list for parrots, but the list of things we got from Snowflake’s previous owner doesn’t seem to be working. Not sure if his new surrounding have anything to do with what he will and will not eat, but at this point we are trying lots of different things in hopes he develop of routine and liking for good and healthy foods.
First day or two he didn’t see interesting in eating much at all and had to stick things in front of him to eat. At least he knows where the food and water dishes are now and we keep trying to put different things in it in hopes he will show some interest in the stuff that is good for him.
No one ever said it was going to be any easy process, but trial and error seems like the best way to go now.
@DTominator @Felton10 I see. I hope he relaxes and starts to eat better.
@DTominator @Kyeh So do I.
@Felton10 @Kyeh How did you decide on prime rib? Cooked or raw? He seems to like nuts. Maybe try different nuts (sunflower, macadamia)? So, he’s not eating the foods that he had at the rescue? Will the food that he “liked” become his mainstay food? Even if that food isn’t good for him? I understand you want him to eat, but giving him exotic foods may not be the best idea. I don’t know anything about birds, and just trying to figure out eating behaviors. Would it be detrimental to encourage picky eating?
@DTominator @Kyeh We had prime rib for dinner those nights and gave him some as we would have for Walter. Nut are high in fat so we don’t want them to become his primary food. He has never shown an interested in eating the same type of mix which they gave him at the rescue. Don’t know if one should give him just that and figure if he gets hungry enough he will eat it rather than starve. Have to ck with the women who runs the shelter.
This morning for example I tried blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, mango, snf carrots with minimal success. He took almonds, pistachio nuts and broccoli out of his food bowl by choice to eat. The rest I tried to give him by hand.
@Felton10 @Kyeh It’s a hard call to determine how best to create a feeding routine. It is progress, though, that he feels comfortable to go in and out of the cage. All you can do is what you are doing now. Do you think he would be more interested if it was moving, like bugs?
@DTominator @Kyeh Doubt if he ever ate anything that was alive and moving. He obviously felt comfortable enough out of the cage to fall asleep on top of the cage this morning for a little while.
One thing you might try for the foods he’s “supposed” to like but isn’t showing desire for currently is to vary the style of preparation. As an example, if you’re currently preparing carrot for him by slicing disks, try carrot sticks, or julienned, or shave some with a vegetable peeler. Another thing you can try is packaged frozen mixed vegetables, let them thaw over something that will catch excess liquid and put some in the dish with the other food. I’ve also had several birds like (of all things) scrambled eggs.
@Doooood Walter liked all things eggs and had some each morning for most of his life-that might have been what shortened it.
This bird is crazy. Yesterday my wife gave him a piece of an unsalted saltine cracker and he dropped it in the water dish and then ate it. Thought he did it by accident. She gave him another piece when he was out of the cage today. He took it back into the cage-dropped it into the water dish and ate it.
@Felton10
Hah! Well, you’ve found one thing he likes, huh? It’s like dunking cookies in tea or something.
@Kyeh Gave him a piece of chicken last evening that he held and gobbled up. Did the same thing with a cracker this morning-took a bite of it and when over the water dish, put it in there and then took it out and ate it.
@Felton10 Oh, good!
@Felton10 I love the photos. Keep them coming please?
@sammydog01 Here is a picture of Snowflake hanging out in his cage this morning. He perching on one talon so that means he is content.
This bird definitely has a mind of his own. He may eat something one day and not the next. Very picky as we have found out and confirmed by his previous owner. Always up for a head scratch from either me or my wife which is great as Walter would only let me pet him. Unless someone is in the great room with his he eventually starts to squawk which is loud enough to wake the dead.
@Felton10 maybe he is channeling his inner raccoon and washing his food before he eats it
@Felton10 @ironcheftoni Lmao at inner raccoon! Actually, I’ve heard that if you give bread to parrots, it should be wet for some reason, something to do with digestion, i assume, so apparently he’s not crazy, he’s smart!
As for other foods, I was thinking, if he likes eggs, maybe you could make him his own egg white so he gets some protein without all the cholesterol…? As far as the parrot mix, if he’s anything like my dog & her kibble, he’ll nibble at it when nothing better is available. I leave a bowl of hers available at all times, since it’s dry & won’t spoil. @Doooood was on the right track with different preparations, I’ve heard some prefer certain veggies cooked over raw, like the carrots, so steamed would prob be best, nutrition-wise, if you find he likes some stuff cooked.
Good luck! It’s no fun worrying about our fur & feather babies & their high-maintenance shenanigans!
@Felton10 30+ years ago I worked in a pet store. My co-worker and I went to what was essentially a pet-con. Animal vendors everywhere. We were looking for reptiles and big birds. We were admiring a particularly beautiful toucan when a loose finch flew into its cage. The toucan grabbed it, dunked it in its water bowl and swallowed it whole. You can’t unsee that.
The dunking is a thing. 
@capnjb @Felton10
Oh no! But interesting, for sure. Poor finch.
@Felton10 @Kyeh Finches are a lot cheaper than toucans
Circle of life and all that 
@capnjb @Felton10 Yeah, I know . I saw this several years ago when I was walking to my car. The hawk just swooped down and landed in front of me! It was pretty thrilling to see one so close up.
@Felton10 He’s beautiful- I want to scratch his neck.
@Felton10 @Kyeh We back to woods and have a pair of Cooper hawks that live there somewhere. You can tell when they are around when all the other birds shut up.
@capnjb @Felton10 @Kyeh Having lunch in the tree?
@blaineg @capnjb @Felton10 It intended to, I think, but some people walked up and spooked it, so it flew a short distance away and dined on the roof of a shed.
@capnjb @Felton10 @Kyeh Damn, and here i thought toucans preferred Froot Loops!
@capnjb @Felton10 @Kyeh That’s a great photo! It was so nice of him to land in such a picturesque tree!
@capnjb @Felton10
Thanks!
@ircon96
Welcome and all happiness to Snowflake, glorious cracker-dunking avian companion, and … possibly our future Goat.
May I call you @snowflakebird?
/image goat-bird
/giphy bird-goat
@f00l He was been through so many changes in the last week, I didn’t want to mention to him that at some point he may be a goat.
Hey welcome
Snowflake update-eating is still problematic-eats something one day and not the next. Bought a number of type of bird food of which I hope he will take a liking to.
Loves to bite wood. He’ll even bite off big pieces of wood from toys at the top of the cage and take the pieces into the cage and shred them some more.
@Felton10 Maybe you need to find someone who does woodworking who can supply you with scraps!
@Felton10 is the chewing a nervous habit? Digs find it calming and I wonder if it is the same for birds
@Kyeh @tinamarie1974 All the wood he destroys are from bird toys that are made specifically for birds and are non toxic. It is pretty common for birds to chew to wood wherever they find it. Walter chewed on bathroom cabinet doors in our other house and given the chance wood furniture and baseboards are a favorite of birds.
This bird has an easy life-from head scratches to wood toy destroying in massive quantities.
@Felton10 And big windows. Do you think he might shred fewer toys as he gets more used to his new home and realizes he’s not moving again? That must be hard on a bird.
@Felton10 @sammydog01 that is exactly what I was wondering. Looks like he really enjoys chewing on wood!!!
@sammydog01 Most birds like to shred wood toys as something to keep them busy-some more than others. Rather have him do that than sit there like a clump.
@sammydog01 @tinamarie1974 Yes he does. He already demolished one toy from start to finish this morning. Could get expensive.
@Felton10 @sammydog01 @tinamarie1974 Yikes! Looks like you might need to get him some logs. Or a sequoia.
This bird is becoming more confounding each day. Only wants to eat almonds and pistachio nuts and will periodically take some chicken and veggies. Tried every type of bird food with minimal luck. Turns out his previous owner didn’t feed him such healthy food after all, never taught him to step up on a stick and how he got showers is questionable (based on our texting him with ?)
To make matters worse, he has obviously taken a liking to my wife more than me. He only talks to her and comes down and does things indicating he wants to be petted. As for me he tolerates me petting him but doesn’t show me the same body language he shows her.
@Felton10 Wow! I guess now you know how she’s felt in the past with Walter. I hope Snowflake comes around to liking you too!
@Felton10 @Kyeh So, Snowflake is a ladies’ man, huh? Looks like you’ve got yourself some competition, you may need to step it up in the romance department with Mrs. Felton!
Snowflake update—
This bird is sharp as a tack and notices everything.
One night he wouldn’t go into the cage and had to chase him around the great room where he fluddered down to the floor (don’t think he really knows how to fly) and he finally climbed back onto and into the cage. Now he lets me pet him sticking a finger into the cage but not outside the cage anymore. He is wary of me now.
Our daughter came into town to visit and from the very first day has taken a liking to her and coming running when she call so she can pet him either inside or outside the cage.
Has taken anything similar to bread (crackers, cranberry walnut bread and pizza crust) and throws it into his water dish to soften it up before he eats it.
Likes pistachio, almonds, pasta and clam sauce, apples, broccoli and string beans.
Today he saw a fertilizer truck come close to the lanai and started squawking and kept it up for 10 minutes. Was told he was trying to warn us and to protect us.
Just order some ear plugs for me and my wife today.
@Felton10 Funny, he definitely seems to prefer women, huh? My cat seems to be like that, from the limited number of visitors he’s had. My brother’s beautiful cat is the opposite; she adores my brother but she’s very wary of our mother, who’s got hurt feelings about that.
@Felton10 @Kyeh
Awe, poor mom!
Snowflake eating prime rib tonight.
@Felton10 So is it okay for him to eat those kinds of people food? He looks like he’s enjoying it.
@Kyeh Well I think that eating any people food in excess probably is not the best for him. I am pretty sure that Walter eating eggs every morning hastened his demise via heart disease. Snowflake doesn’t like eggs.
Any there is some question based on the info we got that his diet from his previous owner wasn’t all that healthy. Have gotten at least 5 different types of bird food to give him with some success. He eats pistachio (non salt) and almonds in the shell before we get up and then give him broccoli, apple and string beans which he eats. Still experimenting with what he likes and will eat.
@Felton10 I’m glad he’s eating better now, then.
Snowflake update-
Well this bird is something else. He squawks loudly when he sees a golf course maintenance truck go by and any animal outside. He similarly squawks when he is left alone. He demolishes toys in less than 30 minutes. No wonder 75% of the birds in the rescue place were cockatoos. About as high maintenance as you can get.
My wife either total me it was her or the bird several times but backed off. Here is his tray to clean after just of few days of shredding toys.
@Felton10 Too bad you probably aren’t allowed to have a compost heap - that’s where all that would go here at my house.