Woody was welcomed
into out home as our little blessing. One of Jerry's coworkers was
no longer able to care for her due to taking a second job. She didn't
want Woody spending that many hours alone. She knew how Jerry was
with his birds and hoped he would want to add another. With our situation
with Sydney the offer was a blessing. Sydney would have a mate/friend to
keep her company and hopefully off her nest.
The day that
Woody was to arrive was not without incident. Jerry wasn't
feeling well that day at work. It was extremely hot (in the
high 90's) when he left work. He drove to the coworkers house, picked
up Woody, then started for home. He realized on the way home that he was
on the verge of passing out. My sister and a friend I had not seen
in over 15 years was visiting when Jerry arrived home.
He opened the
door took one look inside and fell to the floor with cage in hand.
We thought (at first) that he was joking around about the heat and making
it home safely, but we quickly realized it was not a joke. To make
a long story short. The rescue squad was called and Jerry was
taken to the hospital. The doctors thought it was a heart attack
but turned out it was exhaustion. Jerry was back on his feet after
a few days of well needed rest.
Woody in the
mean time was fitting in perfectly. She was so sweet and gentle it
was a pleasure holding her. Especially with Sydney wanting to nest
again. Woody tried to make friends with Sydney but she was
not sure she wanted to share anything with anyone. Woody and Jacob
made friends immediately. They were inseparable. When Jacob
got home from school off they went to Jacob's room. Woody sat
on Jacob's shoulder or on the bed while Jacob did his homework. I
guess Sydney wondered what was so special about the new guest because
she soon started paying more attention to her.
Within a few
days Sydney allowed Woody to wander around the cage freely as long as she
did not sit next to her. Woody wanted to be friends so badly
that it was funny to watch the two get to know each other. Woody
put her head down for Sydney to preen, but Sydney would bite at her.
Woody kept trying until one day (I think without realizing it) Sydney started
to preen Woody, but then caught herself and bit her. It wasn't until
Sydney decided that she wanted to be preened that their relationship
started to grow, but (as always) only as far as Sydney wanted it to go.
When Sydney laid
her first egg (after getting Woody) Woody helped Sydney with all the duties.
After building a makeshift nest each of them sat on the egg.
They took turns eating, resting, and sitting. After a few days,
when the egg was removed, they both seemed relieved it was gone.
That was the last egg Sydney laid until well into next breeding season.
Then without fail she laid and laid, even Woody wasn't a deterrent.
Between all the
egg laying Woody, Sydney and Jacob were extremely close. Woody was
not laying as much as Sydney and she tired quickly of helping her friend
out with her egg sitting. During this time Woody became even closer
with Jacob and extremely attached to my granddaughter Stephanie.
I am ALWAYS a little leery and watchful when any pet
is around a small child, but Woody was so gentle and of course being raised
around all our larger parrots, Stephanie had no fear of Woody.
