Fig is doing very well. She will be two this spring. I anticipate she will become sexually "awakened" this year, perhaps a year earlier than a wild Crow might, because she is well fed, bonded with me, and living a relatively "stress free" existence, aside from the cat. But a predator provides some natural stress, as well as a reason to be active and attentive, so one might argue that some level of threat is actually beneficial as it exercises attention, and perception. If you have no experience with birds, or other unfixed animals...it's a challenging aspect to caring for birds, their sexual behavior. They are lovey dovey, and that can come with noise, aggression, and persistent need for togetherness. Already Fig serenades me more and more, and she wants cuddles, pets, and preening. Withholding affection for a day puts her out of sorts. Giving her affection each day sets her mood for the next. It is quite a responsibility, and she is still only a juvenile bird. Thankfully she sits quietly in my lap so I can draw, read or write if I need to. Fig also loves watching TV more and more. She will insist on coming to the living room for together time if she hears something interesting she wants to watch, though I have no idea what catches her interest yet. I wish we had the bird channel.
Fig can be cuddled and hugged around the house. She will not go to the bathroom on me, or the floor. If she needs to go she tells me, and off we go to the toitoi. Recently she loves hugs and cuddles more because it is winter. Winter is the season to do manipulation and handling training because you have the advantage of warmth. A warm water bottle, blanket, or warming your hands is useful. Fig has gotten very confident about being handled, and manipulated for tethering, nail trimming, and transport. She will sit in my lap, come in close for hugs with a hand signal, and has no stress about being embraced, held with legs tucked back, or flipped upside down for nail trimmings. She flips back over, stands back in my lap, and jumps out to my arm or a perch, or marker on the count of three without any panic. She will go to the floor, or even perch under the cat if told to.
Counting to three is a very useful technique. It creates expectation, reinforces understanding, and prevents panic and miscommunication. Fig knows if I start counting that all she has to do is wait three seconds before I direct her next move, or release her. Usually, I count while holding a hand in front of her, then direct her leap with a gesture. She has it down pat. Good communication prevents accidents; that's the name of the game with high strung, flighty, panicky, fragile, already injured animals. It has been a long two years getting Fig to this point. I so wish I could devote more time to her. She has incredible potential. Progress is slow, but steady.
I think my favorite time is playing with Fig out on her balcony. She leaps over, under, and through my limbs in all manner of playful invention. She instigates with a caw, objects with a growl, chats and murmurs under her breath, puffs up on my shoulder, and launches into strings of I love yous. Then comes into my lap for a tight warm embrace, a nice break from the snappy chill of winter, burying her face in my shirt.
Fig is talking more and more with my son, and my son now insists on taking his evening shower with Fig who runs over to playfully pull his hair if he's not paying attention, as a tease, or barrage him with extremely loud "love songs", again teasing him. He can gently shower her, which makes her happy and grateful, so her perception of him is warming over time. She will not, however, allow anyone other than me, in the house, to have her perch on their arm. It takes years to earn a passage Crow's full confidence, as Fig was raised for a full 4-5 weeks in the nest, to fledging. We will continue to work at it, and learn, and watch TV together. It's a lot of work, a lot of fun, and a long journey. Fig is young, and youngsters are hyper, and impulsive, but Fig is calming, and wising up quickly. Hopefully, once she fully grasps the toilet concept, she can transition to shoulder perching in the next year, for now though, she's a lap Crow.
Fig can be cuddled and hugged around the house. She will not go to the bathroom on me, or the floor. If she needs to go she tells me, and off we go to the toitoi. Recently she loves hugs and cuddles more because it is winter. Winter is the season to do manipulation and handling training because you have the advantage of warmth. A warm water bottle, blanket, or warming your hands is useful. Fig has gotten very confident about being handled, and manipulated for tethering, nail trimming, and transport. She will sit in my lap, come in close for hugs with a hand signal, and has no stress about being embraced, held with legs tucked back, or flipped upside down for nail trimmings. She flips back over, stands back in my lap, and jumps out to my arm or a perch, or marker on the count of three without any panic. She will go to the floor, or even perch under the cat if told to.
Counting to three is a very useful technique. It creates expectation, reinforces understanding, and prevents panic and miscommunication. Fig knows if I start counting that all she has to do is wait three seconds before I direct her next move, or release her. Usually, I count while holding a hand in front of her, then direct her leap with a gesture. She has it down pat. Good communication prevents accidents; that's the name of the game with high strung, flighty, panicky, fragile, already injured animals. It has been a long two years getting Fig to this point. I so wish I could devote more time to her. She has incredible potential. Progress is slow, but steady.
I think my favorite time is playing with Fig out on her balcony. She leaps over, under, and through my limbs in all manner of playful invention. She instigates with a caw, objects with a growl, chats and murmurs under her breath, puffs up on my shoulder, and launches into strings of I love yous. Then comes into my lap for a tight warm embrace, a nice break from the snappy chill of winter, burying her face in my shirt.
Fig is talking more and more with my son, and my son now insists on taking his evening shower with Fig who runs over to playfully pull his hair if he's not paying attention, as a tease, or barrage him with extremely loud "love songs", again teasing him. He can gently shower her, which makes her happy and grateful, so her perception of him is warming over time. She will not, however, allow anyone other than me, in the house, to have her perch on their arm. It takes years to earn a passage Crow's full confidence, as Fig was raised for a full 4-5 weeks in the nest, to fledging. We will continue to work at it, and learn, and watch TV together. It's a lot of work, a lot of fun, and a long journey. Fig is young, and youngsters are hyper, and impulsive, but Fig is calming, and wising up quickly. Hopefully, once she fully grasps the toilet concept, she can transition to shoulder perching in the next year, for now though, she's a lap Crow.
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