The downstairs bathroom was
to be her new home for the time being. It would be a tight fit but,
after all, it was only 6 weeks. As usual chores were decided before
we reached the driveway. This was going to be a little tricky getting
her in past the other babies. I'm sure Sydney and Charlie already
warned Smoki that if we were gone for this long we were no doubt bringing
home another feathered friend.
Monday afternoon Fluffy went for her
vet check. Dr. Hall is so good with all of our babies. We are
very fortunate to have him. The birds are always at total
ease never having any fear when he works with them.
All her preliminary tests were perfect..Dr.
Hall said he saw no evidence of any problems but to still keep them separated
as much as possible. But lets face it..if they are in your home and
you have central heat and air it's impossible to keep them totally quarantined.
That's why it's an extremely good reason to buy from breeders that take
pride not only in their babies but also they surroundings (clean and disinfected).
Contrary to belief the 6 weeks flew
by. The day she was to enter the feathered world I was a bit nervous
for her. I looked at big bad Charlie cracking open a nut, Smoki hanging
by one foot mimicking the microwave as she munched on a carrot. Then
I looked at this small perfectly innocent white pile of feathers that took
on the image of a porcelain doll. How could I put her out there knowing
that the meeting of the minds with a pecking order could soon follow her
entrance.
She was safe in the bathroom..was it
that bad? She deserved more..she earned the right to be among
her friends. It was my responsibility to watch out for her safety
until she at least felt comfortable with the situation. The first
(picture at the top left) was not only her first picture but it was also
the first time she was brought to the play area. I sat her on the smaller
area for her to adjust. I guess she felt pretty comfortable because
within a few minutes she was napping....picture top right.
I guess Charlie and Smoki held the
porcelain doll image also because they never approached her. They
watched her from afar as she napped most of the day. They didn't
realize she was still a baby where sleeping and eating were her biggest
challenges of the the day.
Speaking of big.....everything on Fluffy
was very dainty except her feet..they were enormous. She was able
to wrap them around some of the larger perches made for much bigger birds.
Once she was up and around she made great use of those large feet.
Instead of walking she would hop, skip and jump her way across the play
area. Making it almost an impossibility for any of the birds to catch
the little not so porcelain doll. She was a terrible tease, taunting
them until they couldn't stand it any longer..then off she leaped across
the play set and around again eventually ending up on the other side of
her aggressors. All she wanted to do was play.
She didn't have a mean bone in her
little body. Before long the others realized she wasn't a threat
to either of them or their place on the play area. They ignored her
jumps and leaps and even the occasional protrusion of the cone on top of
her head. This ritual was the funniest of all. She would flash
her wings back, throw her tiny chest out, stick up her cone while making
a flimsy attempt to sound like a large attack bird only to stop dead in
her tracks if either of the other birds looked in her direction.
She would then retreat to her perch preening...until a well deserve nap
quietly came over her.
Fluffy is surely a Will Rogers bird..she
never met a person she didn't like. She loves to be the center attention.
She always has the sweetest disposition never attempting to bite anyone.
She loves kissing and being kissed...cuddling and being cuddled.
She is a total delight and a wonderful compliment to our feathered friends.
