Precious

[smile_n_cuddle]

Today I noticed Sophia and Athie on Soph's cage. Sophia was in it (although the door was open) and Athie on top. Athie's FAVORITE pellets are yellow banana ones. She always eats them first. I saw Sophia reach into her food dish and pull out a yellow banana pellet. Then she climbed up to Athie, and Athie gently took it from her beak through the bars, and then ate it. Sophia climbed back down to her food dish, got another yellow banana pellet, and went back up and gave it to Athena through the bars.

She repeated this six times! All yellow-bananas (Athie's favorite). Then she got two--a banana and a green pellet (Sophie's favorite). She brought the banana to Athie and, after giving it to Athie, ate the green one.

How amazing. Sophia somehow figured out what Athie's favorite flavor was... and they were so precious as I watched them together.

 

In other news, I think Sophia's started plucking at her leg feathers. There are a few bald patches. I've been suspecting it for two weeks now--hoping perhaps it was just irritation. A few days ago I noticed she'd pulled a few. :(

I implemented some new rules and changes: showers every single day (in case it's dry/itchy/irritated skin); 12 hours sleep (had been 9-12); no more sunflower seeds (given as treats and for training). She hates store-bought toys, so I spent four hours Monday afternoon listening to my Evidence lecture and making a million new toys. Her cage is FULL of toys, everywhere, and all her favorite types. (So is Athie's now.) It was so cute--like Christmas, they were looking and looking, trying this one and then that one... so funny.

Anyway, today I checked her back, and noticed she had five blood feathers she'd overpreened (in the past week). They are scabbed and growing funny. So... we're off to the vet tomorrow. Hopefully it will be something simple. (PLEASE LET IT BE SOMETHING SIMPLE!) And hopefully I'm nipping this in the bud early enough...

Here are some pics I took of the toys I made... Tons of toys!!!