Tricky Kakariki

[Loz]

As I type, Chocobo is attempting to chew through the 3x6cm section length of wood I've used to block the narrow gap into the innards of the sofa.
A week ago I would have been certain that she is wasting her time but I'm no longer confident that there are any limits to her capabilities.
I've offered her a place she can nest, somewhere on the floor where Squeak is most unlikely to go. After initial interest in the structure, Chocobo moved back under the sofa. I'm hopeful though she'll return to it though, if she does give up on the sofa.

[Loz]

Chocobo oversees my work while I clean the TV screen. Why was I cleaning the TV screen? Well, Chocobo poo is nothing like budgie poo, let's leave it at that.



I have employed a structure which I hope Chocobo will use instead of ... well, anything else she might use as a nesting site. She showed it some interest at first but is ignoring it now.





That fireplace is sooooo tempting ...



I was nailing-in the bit of 3x6 I used to block off one of the access points to inside the sofa. You can see the wood I was nailing in the pic, and where Chocobo was standing whilst I hammered in the nails. She wasn't in the slightest bit disturbed by the hammering and I had to use a matchbox to distract her, in case she took a closer look at the nails I was using. Fearless.

[Loz]

In other news, Chocobo has learned the sounds of a plastic tub of sweetcorn being opened in readiness for sprinkling onto the forage gym floor. She literally turns up ready for it.

[tweetiepiesmom]

My little Buddy does similar things. He loves his baths. I typically put the 'tub' in the cage and then bring the water over. As soon as he sees the tub, Buddy hops in and then looks around, "where's the water?"

[Loz]

Managed to rescue Chocobo today!

She had some of the ticking from underneath the sofa wrapped around her foot. Again. It didn't seem to be interfering with her mobility but it had to be removed. I had a little think about how to catch my girl - the butterfly-net method is not practical as she is far too good a flier.
First thing - I checked under the sofa. Absolutely no access to the ticking there, my handiwork is holding, so it must have been a bit of loose stuff that lingered somewhere hidden from the last such incident.

I decided on the good old box, stick and string trap to capture my girl. I used a small notebook as bait, Chocobo loves small notebooks. Well, the first thing Chocobo did was to land heavily on the box and trip the trap. Marvellous. Chocobo hopped all over the box, trying to work out where the notebook had gone.
I gave my head a little wobble then and simply tilted up one side of the box with my hand. Chocobo duly obliged, hopped in underneath and I dropped the box on her. I slid a cover underneath the box to hold her inside and inverted the box carefully. No signs of panic from inside the box.
Gloves on, hand in the box and I had hold of Chocobo. She wriggled and my, she is strong, but I managed after a very near escape to hold her safely. I'm not even sure whether she tried to bite me, I don't think so! Some scissors got rid of most of the fluff and a managed to tease the rest off of her foot. Then I let her go free, anxious for signs that she was hurt in any way.

Chocobo flew away just fine and ended up at the Forage Gym for some comfort-corn. She wasn't unduly nervous of me and stood for a picture - she loves having her picture taken, in case you hadn't noticed.



Tune in tomorrow for more tips on keeping chocobos as pets.

[ladybird]

I might just have to sneak into the aviary in our local park and 'borrow' the Kakariki they have there……..it fascinates me , especially knowing how clever they are….and very beautiful 😍😍

[Loz]

Kakarikis are tremendous fun but a lot of work, if you choose to have them live alongside you rather than in a large, self-contained aviary.

If I had such an aviary ... I would still have Chocobo living with me as an integrated part of the household. She's very rewarding (in addition to being a great deal of work)!

[Marianne Marlow]

The adventures of Chocobo continue

Penny had to have a bundle of droppings cleaned away today, so husband put on plasters and picked her up, while I prepared to pull the droppings off. The bundle just dropped off on it's own. Bit of an anti-climax!

[skysmum]

I do love a little peek at your tales of Chocobo, she certainly seems to be one jump ahead of you for the most part

I was reading about Kakariki's the other day and was interested to learn that they don't actually make much noise in fact i think it was described as a sheep bleating.

Her antics do make me laugh

[Loz]

It's not far off a sheep bleating.
She's less noisy than the male budgies for sure but she is chatty and she often speaks to me

[Marianne Marlow]

What does her talking to you sound like? I'm imagining a mix of high pitched loud and small squeaks. But I have never heard what a Kakariki sounds like!

[Loz]

Chocobo makes these kind of calls but she also makes that crying sound I've posted previously.

She's becoming much chatter as time goes by and I'm certain she talks to me as well as make general comments to the world at large.

[ffiscool]

A very different sound, almost in my mind like it could go into a giggle

[Loz]

That's great, now I believe Chocobo is laughing at my efforts to maintain some form of control!
🤣

[Marianne Marlow]

Those are some odd noises. a chattering squirrel and a squeaky wheel.