Feisty Times
I wrote this on September 10thI wrote this on September 10th, but forgot to LJ it., but forgot to LJ it here. Feisty will eat peas from my hand, but only if Muffin is getting peas!
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I was so proud of Feisty yesterday. As you may remember, he is as wild and untamed as the day we got him from the humane society. Yesterday he ate two peas from my fingertips. Years ago I discovered that he loved peas and always put some in his treat hopper.
Muffin had to be on probiotics back in May as the vet thought his fecal bacteria count was too high. This included Sunshine Factor. Muffin wouldn't take the syringe, so I got creative and dripped the dose over peas and he ate them from a spoon. Feisty saw this going on and would shyly come to the corner of the cage closest to me. Want peas!
His desire was mixed with fear and he wouldn't eat them off the spoon. The budgies, being untamed, kind of tolerate my hand. When I change their food or water they grip the perch with apprehension even though it's only the bird lady that grabs them.
Yesterday I was feeding peas to Muffin as a treat by hand and Feisty ventured over to the corner of the budgie cage. He fluffed up his head. Want peas!
I squished a pea open and held it through the bars. He flapped away, then flapped back, unsure. He approached it with that trepidation familiar to all budgie owners - close enough to reach, but far enough away just in case. I realized that I was part of the problem. Feisty doesn't like to be looked at. At the humane society he tried to make himself as invisible as possible :). I looked away and after a few moments, I felt a little tug.
He ate another pea, then decided that was enough for one day. I put more peas in his treat cup. I can't wait to try again :)
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I was so proud of Feisty yesterday. As you may remember, he is as wild and untamed as the day we got him from the humane society. Yesterday he ate two peas from my fingertips. Years ago I discovered that he loved peas and always put some in his treat hopper.
Muffin had to be on probiotics back in May as the vet thought his fecal bacteria count was too high. This included Sunshine Factor. Muffin wouldn't take the syringe, so I got creative and dripped the dose over peas and he ate them from a spoon. Feisty saw this going on and would shyly come to the corner of the cage closest to me. Want peas!
His desire was mixed with fear and he wouldn't eat them off the spoon. The budgies, being untamed, kind of tolerate my hand. When I change their food or water they grip the perch with apprehension even though it's only the bird lady that grabs them.
Yesterday I was feeding peas to Muffin as a treat by hand and Feisty ventured over to the corner of the budgie cage. He fluffed up his head. Want peas!
I squished a pea open and held it through the bars. He flapped away, then flapped back, unsure. He approached it with that trepidation familiar to all budgie owners - close enough to reach, but far enough away just in case. I realized that I was part of the problem. Feisty doesn't like to be looked at. At the humane society he tried to make himself as invisible as possible :). I looked away and after a few moments, I felt a little tug.
He ate another pea, then decided that was enough for one day. I put more peas in his treat cup. I can't wait to try again :)