smile_n_cuddle | Musical Names & Petey's mirror friend

We got the gender-test results back yesterday for Athie... it's a BOY! LOL. J automatically decided to change his name b/c Athie's a girl's name. So, at first he wanted to do Tristan, since the new 'too isn't used to it and it's his favorite name. We decided the new 'too would be Petey again, and Athie would be Tristan. (J wouldn't go for Matthew--Mathie..)

Then just after I got used to that J changed his mind again. Athie's going to be Phoenix. But the new 'too is already back to Petey, so I'm leaving it there. And if we ever have a child, the poor unfortunate baby (if it's a male) will probably get stuck with Tristan. LOL

Petey's really addicted to his mirror in an unhealthy way. He had one at the store, and it was his only bond--his mirror friend. The vet at first said she htought it'd be ok. But now he's becoming possessive and doesn't want to interact with anyone or anything... just his mirror friend. Even when outside, he's only ok with being outside because he can see his 'mirror friend' in the reflection on the window as he's on the rocker... Other than that, if we take him out with us, he just goes around frantically looking for his mirror friend.

His Psitticosis test results came back negative yesterday, and I talked to the vet this morning about possibly doing a light quarantine. Got some feedback from some parrot owners on a list and they felt his mental health might be a problem. I fear if he is allowed only the mirror for the next three weeks, it'll be much worse than if we take it away now. He used to chew his tail feathers, and has mostly stopped I think. If I take away the mirror and leave him in the bathroom, I'm afraid he'd be so distraught he would do it again.

Talking to the vet, I think we're going to put his cage back in the bedroom--still feeding him last, and washing hands, but allowing him vocal and visual interaction with the Phoen/Ath and Soph. During the day, today and tomorrow, he'll be with J and I most of the time, and of course evenings during the week.

A little breakthrough... last night, after I covered his mirror he cried for about an hour. I got him out. He usually just jumps from me to the ground to go around, hopping and skipping, looking for a mirror. Well, after a little while of looking, he finally came back, came up to my shoulder, and started preening my hair. I guess I'm his second choice..... waaaaay down at the bottom of his list. ;)

Without his mirror friend, he does chitter his beak in fear more frequently. I'm still debating re: whether to let him have a mirror at night while he sleeps or just go cold turkey. Any thoughts would be appreciated.