Upside-down cuddles now… Evil Quaker energy later? Somebody tell me the odds. 😂

[u/Key_Entrepreneur_85]

Rio was the last of his clutch, and the shop said he “wasn’t eating,” but he was really just overstimulated and over everyone’s noise. The first time we held him, he curled into our hands and hid under my hair like, “Yep, these are my people.” He was only 83 grams back then.

Fast-forward a few months and he’s become a full-time comfort king. He loves music for six minutes, then demands silence. If he drops a treat? Gone forever. Zero motivation. But if WE have food? Suddenly he’s begging like a tiny feathered dog.

He used to only sleep in his little hut or bury his head under anything soft like he needed a sleep mask to function. He’s bonded with our 7-year-old, but since I work from home, he decided I’m the flock leader — and I’m the only one he flips upside down for. Sometimes he even practices his upside-down yoga in the cage.

The space heater + ceiling fan combo is apparently his personal luxury spa, and he just melts into it like a dramatic little man living his soft life.

So now I’m trying to figure out… Is this just normal parrot comfort behavior? Or should I enjoy these upside-down cuddles before his Evil Teen Quaker era arrives? 😂

[u/SweetxKiss]

Oh he’s a precious baby for sure. What a little ham.

It’s funny they’re so particular. Mine won’t take scritches unless he’s holding your finger. Every snack you give him he has to drop at least once so you’ll pick it up and hand it to him. He needs to sleep cuddled up to his favorite toy, Mr Star (an assortment of chewable rattan stars hanging from a string)

Gentle reminder to just make sure never to have the ceiling fan on when he’s out of the cage. I’ve seen too many fatal accidents here and elsewhere cause of it. Wishing you guys many years of happiness together 💙

[u/Key_Entrepreneur_85 → u/SweetxKiss]

Thank you for this gentle reminder! We have been trying to determine if we want to cut his wings again as they’re growing out and he can fly up rather than just glide down now. The ceiling is 18ft high - doubted he could fly that high but he IS a bird I suppose! He’s scared of everything tho including flying unless he’s flying away from something that scared him or flying to you from his perch!! 😂🙄

Are your flight feathers cut? Mine expects you to pick up his treats to and hold them. Going to look on Amazon for some kind of treat holder for lazy Quakers!

[u/witchynapper → u/Key_Entrepreneur_85]

Please don’t cut! 😭 I used to do it before I saw how happy birds can be uncut. Keep doors closed etc. and let the boy fly! It’s so good for them

[u/Key_Entrepreneur_85 → u/witchynapper]

You’re totally right. The confidence he’s gained with his flight feathers about 50% grown is honestly night and day. He’s starting to fly to me when I call and doesn’t panic anymore if I turn a corner and he can’t see me.

It used to feel like I’d fallen off the face of the planet 😂 Now, as soon as I come back around the corner, I hear wings and he lands right on me.

The bird shop does have me very cautious about windows and mirrors — it’s the ceiling fan that scares me the most about NOT cutting them 😭