Today was a pretty uneventful day for both of us. I was working like
mad from home, patiently (rather, impatiently) awaiting an apartment
repair that never happened.
Nyassa got to go outside and walk around with me today, though. I
needed a break, and Nyassa needed sunlight. I don't get enough of
that in my apartment -- none in fact. The next one I get I hope to
correct that.
While he was outside, he was the center of attention of several
children. After some teaching, they were allowed to carefully and
slowly touch him. I watched him closely, usually with a hand near his
beak just in case, but he didn't seem to mind this at all. He even
preened himself and took a little nap out in the sun, while the
children asked all sorts of questions about him.
We then came inside to work on a little problem. Lately he's been
threatening to bite and very possessive of his cage's food dish (which
makes it hard to fill it, or swap it out for a clean one) and of his
out of the cage perch. I have a fairly small apartment, and it is
hard to keep things seperate, so they were placed rather close
together.
I rearanged a bit, and moved his perch to the other side of the room,
near my computer. He is't possessive now, and doesn't make
those warning squeals like he used to when I would talk (not even
touch) him while he was on his perch or in his cage. He's back to
those happy sounding "whoop!" and wanting to be let out when I'm near.
As usual, for about a half hour in the morning and at least one
half-hour session at night is the social talk-to-each-other session.
Of course, I do the majority of the talking, but he whoops and mumbles
his way along.
And now he's back in his cage again. Tommorow sarts the moist
breakfast again, along with his vitamin suplement powder mixed in.
I'll be watching him closely in the morning to make certain he eats
it, and if so, I'll offer him a little of that daily, and seeds in a
small treat-like quantity every few days. The moist food has some
germinated sunflower seeds in it as well, so he'll get something to
crunch on too.
For reference, the moist meal consists of various sorts of cooked
beans, well chopped up veggies, and sunflower seeds. If he eats that
well, which he should since that is what he got when he was growing
up, I'm going to sneak in some rice and lower the sunflower seed
amount down.
And now he's sleeping well in his cage again, with the lights on, but
I'm going to cover him up now. He needs darkness to really fall
asleep, with head behind head, or at least quiet. Tonight he'll get
darkness, since I'm goign to be up later than usual. Or rather, going
to bed eariler than I used to -- 1-2am :)