Worried :(

Nothing is WRONG. No one is sick, and all the birds are healthy.

I'm still at home. I got a text tonight from the sitter. "Einstein bit me". At first, I thought nothing of it. I mean, a lot of people confuse using their beak and biting. Like, when you ask a bird to step up, and they reach with their beak, that's not a bite.

So I asked if he seemed aggressive and if it hurt or broke skin. "Lots of blood".

But that was on the first day. Apparently now, they're friends. He's stepping up and singing and everything.

But still, he BIT someone. My baby, my sweetie, my angel, bit someone.

Then again, she doesn't really have experience with birds, or knows bird psychology or body language. No one, besides me, has ever been the one to physically take out of his cage. Maybe he's actually cage aggressive, but he doesn't show aggression towards me. Or, she could of tried to stroke his back. Or stroke him at all.

I just want to be home right now. Snuggle my little baby. The one time he bit me he was absolutely terrified. Ughhh...at least the budgies are there.

But she says he's being really friendly now. Singing and everything.

wahhhh....only a few more days

Einstein doesn't let you touch his back? I always grab Apple like a banana and give him kisses on his side or on his rump

He lets me, he just doesn't like it.

(((Zaza))) Try not to worry too much. The fact that they're getting along now says a lot. Who knows what went wrong on that first day? It could have been any number of things from cage aggression (which I doubt) to simply him being out of sorts because you weren't there (the more likely answer).

And "lots of blood"? Really? I don't want to be ugly or insulting, but not everyone has the same concept of what "lots of blood" is. My kids could have a drop of blood on their skin smear a little bit and be convinced that they're dying from blood-loss. But then again I'm a nurse... to me, "lots of blood" leaves a person passed out on the floor... so I suppose I'm kinda biased.

As far as worrying, I would try not to. But it's easy for me to say - I remember when I took JJ to Texas and left Bucky here with a sitter - I worried the whole time. From experience though, I can assure you it accomplished nothing. By the last day they were fast friends but when we got home Bucky was thrilled to have us back. I know how you're longing to get back to your babies (I know how I longed for it when I was away for 10'ish days in Sept.) and they're probably feeling the same thing to have you back. But you'll get there, everything will be fine, and your reunion will be sweet!

Hang in there. I wish I could make time pass faster for you.

I just have to laugh to myself.

"Don't worry"

I suffer from an anxiety disorder

....

Zaza, you should be proud of your baby!
It means, that Einstein loves you and only you, and he had to establish who is the boss at HIS place

After he bite her, and show her, who is in charge, he is friendly now

And seriously how many days you have to still be at your old place?

I think most birds bite at some point. One data point does not make a trend. Sometimes life seems very fragile, but it isn't , really.

My male cockatiel got me once, and lots of blood it right. I couldn't believe how badly I bled! He got me just right I guess! Esp when you look at the "but it is just a little bird!" factor, you know?



I am sure he was just scared. I am glad he has relaxed and all is good now.

Stryder doesn't let strangers take him out of his cage...he also doesn't like me to pet his back (he will let me kiss and zugert it though - weirdo!).

Einstein is with a new person, and miffed that you're not there

When you DO return, he may turn his tail at you, or come running like there's no tomorrow towards you full of normal Einstein love...I wouldn't be offended if he is a bit miffed at you upon your return in a few days.

Our boys are usually all hoity toity with us for a few days whenever we have left them with caretakers.

Hopefully your friend is generally exaggerating about the blood loss...I mean, how much blood can a cockatiel beak cause??

LOTS of blood

I don't even use gloves or anything on cockatiels, i just snatch up the breeder birds, they don't bite that hard. Sure sometimes they draw blood but i figure it's too far from my heart to hurt me. LOL

^now capt, your getting a tiel bite and an average owner getting a tiel bite (especially someone who isnt a bird person!), is hardly a fair comparison!

OOOH, 3 more post and i'll have a 1000,never had that many on a forum,usually get run off before then.

henpecked wrote:

I don't even use gloves or anything on cockatiels, i just snatch up the breeder birds, they don't bite that hard. Sure sometimes they draw blood but i figure it's too far from my heart to hurt me. LOL

Me either. But now I remember, one time Chico-tiel tried to bite me and I tried to avoid that and moved my hand. Too slow, her beak gone straight under my nail and yes, there was a lot of blood from small 'tiel.

Now considering, that it's bird sitter's first time

zaza, you have to buy Einstein toy for doing lots of blood

Actually, I'm going to Crystal's tomorrow to pick up a big order of toys

Margaret wrote:

henpecked wrote:

I don't even use gloves or anything on cockatiels, i just snatch up the breeder birds, they don't bite that hard. Sure sometimes they draw blood but i figure it's too far from my heart to hurt me. LOL

Me either. But now I remember, one time Chico-tiel tried to bite me and I tried to avoid that and moved my hand. Too slow, her beak gone straight under my nail and yes, there was a lot of blood from small 'tiel.

Now considering, that it's bird sitter's first time

zaza, you have to buy Einstein toy for doing lots of blood

Positive reinforcement?

I'm home!

And everyone is fantastic!

There's a bit of a snow storm going on right now in the City, and none of the sidewalks or roads were done. So I had to dredge through the snow with my suitcase which was exceptionally heavy, due to some books, pies, and Crystal's bird toys.

As soon as I opened the door, Einstein screamed like a crazy person. The budgies went mad. When I finally brought all my stuff up, I let them all out. Everyone flew to me (even the budgies!). Einstein is super happy. No anger or resentment. He has lots of kisses and lots of songs for me. The budgies are stretching their wings and flying all over the place.

So happy to be home

Glad to hear you arrived safely! Did you fly Air Canada? Porter? Scare Skin ?

So nice that they greeted you with such zest!

It was nice meeting you & your brother yesterday - he seemed smitten with Stryder...and aloof of Merlin Gideon is still talking about him

Now you have to start saving for a Grey!

Porter

He kept on saying that he wanted "a giant Einstein" - Merlin. He thought they were so cool, and kept talking about it and talking about it.

It was a lot of fun. I only got back a few hours ago, but I'll be putting up the new toys sometime.

VickiNumbers wrote:

^now capt, your getting a tiel bite and an average owner getting a tiel bite (especially someone who isnt a bird person!), is hardly a fair comparison!

I just sold a rosella yesterday to someone. He asked me to show him how to restrain with barehands. Little bugger got me before I could get a good grip on the head. As far as I was concerned it was just a flesh wound! The guys eyes bugged out and he commented "wow. You didn't even flinch."

zazanomore wrote:

Porter
He kept on saying that he wanted "a giant Einstein" - Merlin. He thought they were so cool, and kept talking about it and talking about it.

It was a lot of fun. I only got back a few hours ago, but I'll be putting up the new toys sometime.

Yeah!! So glad everything's fine and now you can relax.

patdbunny wrote:

VickiNumbers wrote:

^now capt, your getting a tiel bite and an average owner getting a tiel bite (especially someone who isnt a bird person!), is hardly a fair comparison!

I just sold a rosella yesterday to someone. He asked me to show him how to restrain with barehands. Little bugger got me before I could get a good grip on the head. As far as I was concerned it was just a flesh wound! The guys eyes bugged out and he commented "wow. You didn't even flinch."

That's similar to me when the macaw got me. The girl I was with is totally a macaw person, a big bird person all the way (kinda like Vikki), so I'm sure the bite wouldn't have even fazed her. But she said that the last time one of her employees was bitten at work it wasn't even half as bad as mine and the girl was sobbing even before the wound had a chance to bleed. She said the girl went straight to the doctor and took the rest of the day off! Whatever! I tried to put a bandaid on mine because it was raw and hurt when air blew on it, but the bandaid kept falling off so I gave up. Anyway, Jen said she was impressed because I didn't yell, get mad at the bird, didn't cry, or blah blah blah, so she took me to breakfast! LOL! (I think it was because we were both hungry and it was a good excuse!) When the budgies were chomping on me this morning, I told them to give up. I have scars bigger than they are.

patdbunny wrote:

zazanomore wrote:

Porter
He kept on saying that he wanted "a giant Einstein" - Merlin. He thought they were so cool, and kept talking about it and talking about it.

It was a lot of fun. I only got back a few hours ago, but I'll be putting up the new toys sometime.

Yeah!! So glad everything's fine and now you can relax.

Yay!!! I'm SOOO glad you're back home with your FAMILY and that everything's OK!!! Give everyone scritches from all of us too!!!

Glad you got home safe and Einstein hadn't turned into a saber toothed 'tiel!

Don't you just love it when they're so happy to see you like that? Glad you're home safely.

Glad you made it home safe and the birds were happy to see you!