06/29/2010 ~ Peabody Comes Home

Sometimes the things that happen to good folks just aren't that good. Such was the case with Peabody, my new (to me) Blue Crowned Conure, and his mom and dad. Judy and Rich raised him from a 10 week old baby, but when Peabody was 10 years old, they were forced to make the difficult decision to re-home him.

Rich's health isn't so good right now, and Peabody is ... well .... loud and demanding, as Conures typically are. While Rich was looking for a quiet corner to rest, Peabody was looking for attention from him and Judy and screaching if they didn't have the time or energy to give it to him.

So they looked for a home that did, and that home ended up being with me.

Judy and Rich will always be a part of Peabody's life ... they've raised him for 10 years and (if you have any clue how smart a parrot is you will understand) he will never forget them. And that's just as it should be.

Peabody knew something was going on as they helped me load his belongings in my small car. A big daytime cage, a small "nighty-nite" cage, blankie, bags of toys, food, shower perch ..... my little car was jammed to the roof. He rode 'home' (to my home, not his home.... yet!) in his small cage, on the front passenger seat, watching out the side window and muttering "uh oh" every few minutes. I was close to crying for him, but instead kept telling him in a happy voice how I was going to be sure his new life would be wonderful, how he was going to live on "Old McDonald's Farm". (If his mom or dad asked him where the chickens lived, he'd respond with a rendition of Old McDonald's Farm.)

Peabody is settling in well given the few days he's been here. While he still eyes my two dogs warily ... he's taking treats from my hand, stepping up on my hand, riding around on my shoulder all quite happily. He's had a shower (one of his favorite things!) and when I offered him a grape, he licked it, thought a minute and spit it right back out at me. I guess he's not afraid to tell me off!

While he's not "talking" yet, he certainly has a lot to say in other ways. I think another day or two, as he gets more familiar and comfy with his new surroundings, he'll start talking. But the bottom line is even if he never says another word to me (in English, not Conure lol!) it'll be OK as long as he's happy. And I promise Peabody, Judy & Rich that he will be.