What a MESS to come home to!!

[Mare]

I just got home last night, from 6 days in Baja. My hubby held down the fort, here, taking care of birds, cats, dogs, horses, garden and himself through that time. My niece was getting married and asked if I would please come and also give her a wedding hair up-do on her day. I love Baja, we have a place down there and it has always been challenging for my husband and I to go together because of the birds, mostly.
My husband had bought a fairly large outdoor cage for Amigo, in hopes that we could someday travel together and have a caretaker come in daily to help with the critters but the caretaker we had in mind, is our daughter who was a bridesmaid in the wedding, sooo...

I get home last night, 12hr. drive, exhausted, birds are already closed down for the night. Amigo has been locked in his indoor cage for six days. My husband can feed and water him, only. Amigo will not allow bodily contact, unless it's beak to flesh, so Amigo has not been out of his cage this whole time, nor, has his cage been cleaned.

HOLY MOLY! It looked like a bomb went off in Amigo's cage! I made sure his cage was clean and plenty of chew stuff to keep him busy while I was gone but I was not expecting to come home to just one perch still holding on, his rope perches are now mostly wire, his natural wood perches are all hanging against the side of the cage! His floor is littered with wood chips, torn paper, bird crap and food, dander and feathers that have been shed but not plucked, thankfully, and BOY was he happy to see me this morning!!

Sassy survived well. She loves my hubby and he had her out daily, even cleaned her cage. I'm now busy doing a re-model on Amigo's cage, he is now outside RIPPING it up!

[Honesty]

Sorry you have come home to such a mess Mare

They just dont seem to be able to cope with them the way we can

[Mare]

Wendy, my surprise wasn't that my husband wasn't able to do anything about it, because I knew he couldn't, but more the fact that this bird could produce such a mess! He's always been destructive, I believe that's a cockatoo trait, but he took down four perches, left one intact. He had flung food bowls, upended water bowls and screamed a lot! I contacted my husband two days before I got home and he tells me, "HURRY UP" and get here!, your bird misses you!!"
This is one of the down sides of having a free flying bird.

[SharonC]

Your husband sounds wonderful!!!

[Mare]

Thanks, Sharon, my husband is wonderful and puts up with a lot. He's also, and has always been, a great father to our kids. We've been fortunate to have him in our lives! I must add, though, he HAS threatened to run away from us and MOVE to Baja by himself!

[Honesty]

LOL... sounds like Amigo was missing you and was having tantrums while you were gone

I bet he was pleased to see you home?

[Pinkbirdy]

Arnt you amazed what a 2 can do . I know that look on your face you must have had [Ive experienced It too . But even though mines been the messiest [I would thrilled at the mess ] cause he didnt take any thing out on himself. You should try stick training him [so your husband can get him in and out. ]

[Mare]

Yes, I'm truly happy to see Amigo takes his frustrations out on other things besides himself, this is good. My husband had bought a pair of falconry gloves, a while back, and even though I had gotten Amigo use to them, I could handle him fine, pet him, pick him up and move him around with these gloves on, my husband got blood drawn THROUGH the glove while trying to move Amigo from outside to his indoor cage. I've tried stick training him and it just makes him angry. He loves my daughter and she can handle him as well as I, so, she is my first choice when it comes to someone helping to take care of him.

[keepsmiling]

Awww... him missed you!
They make a glove for monkey handlers that is super tough. I think that might be strong enough. It is lined with metal I believe, like what you use to protect yourself from sharks if I am not mistaken.

[roxynoodle]

I'm sorry, I can't help but laugh! Yes, this just reinforces to me that I'd really rather not be a 'Too guardian