Just for the fun of it...

The morning routine here is always the same. Just before the sun comes up I get out of bed, put on my bird clothes, check the email and Pigeons Angels and then I wake the birds up.
As soon as I turn on the lights, Sammy jumps off his perch...bows, circles dragging his tail and coos...I bow back and say...good morning my love. I know better than to touch him because he will peck the heckout of my hand leaving what remains looking like some exotic pox marks. Still...I love that bird more than I can express.
Romey flies out of the nest box to the table and promply poops in the garbage can and flies back to the nest box and her pretend eggs.
None of the other birds show much interest as I change their water and refresh their food...not at least until I open the bag of whole grain bread and then I have their interest. I turn on NPR for them before I break off quarter sized pieces for everyone and they mob the table where I have put their treat. For the most part they tolerate me, even when I say...good morning babies, I love you.

This morning I wondered, what must these birds be thinking when I wake them up in the morning? I could almost hear them say...... HOLLY COW...doesn't she have the oddest looking feathers you've ever seen? I wish she would preen them or something.... isn't she ever going to molt? Why can't she let us sleep in?...

Sammy loves me for who I really am. Sammy takes the time to bow and coo.

Share your morning routine. How do you think your birds see you....just for the fun of it.

Charis, that is too funny! Them waiting for you to molt. And I totally hear ya, on donning your "pigeon clothes". LOL. Didn't take long for me to learn about having pigeon clothes. I don't know as I'd want to know what mine think of me. I'll have to come back tomorrow and post on that. Thanks for posting this. It really gave me a laugh.

Thanks, Owl.
They must think I'm one funny lookin Pigeon.

I am so sick, I have just spent half an hour typing a story and it's just disappeared.

loved your story Matilda, will try mine again some other time !

Janet

jamy wrote:

I am so sick, I have just spent half an hour typing a story and it's just disappeared.

loved your story Matilda, will try mine again some other time !

Janet

I know that's maddening. I happened to me alst week too.
I really want to read your story so please write it again.

The first thing I do after rolling out of bed is I put on my bird jacket, grab my purple basket, and head out to the loft. I fill the basket the night before. It has 2 large jugs of water, 1-2 containers of food, newspapers, cleaning materials, etc. I clean the loft, feed, and give fresh water with Misty on me demanding attention the whole time. I set up a fresh bath in the aviary and sometimes put some treats out there like greens or millet sprays. I put new nesting materials in various places. I make sure everyone is eating and acting normally and that none of the males are being too rowdy and then I go inside to the bird room and clean cages, feed and water. After that is usually laundry, vacuming, or mopping, etc. I then head to the 7-11 around the corner to grab a 24oz. hazelnut coffee with lots of creamer, right now it's pumkin pie spice. I sit down at the computer with coffee and something to eat. On work days I do the above and then head to work at 5pm (work evenings).

My birds see me as any one or more(or all?)of the following:

1. cook (most important part is to avoid boredom and not too much junk food)
2. maid (my birds are very good at getting poop in all the little nooks and crannies, I guess they think I like the challenge)
3. mom (take your medicine like a good bird now )
4. wife (up till recently I had 3 boys courting me, now it's mostly one since 2 have mates now but they all still get very jealous of any birds on me. Having 2 birds fighting on your head is not fun )
5. police (bad boys get a time out in the lockdown cage :For Shame: )
6. security (I make my rounds with a flashlight 2-3 times every night to keep the scary things away)

Jenaka wrote:

The first thing I do after rolling out of bed is I put on my bird jacket, grab my purple basket, and head out to the loft. I fill the basket the night before. It has 2 large jugs of water, 1-2 containers of food, newspapers, cleaning materials, etc. I clean the loft, feed, and give fresh water with Misty on me demanding attention the whole time. I set up a fresh bath in the aviary and sometimes put some treats out there like greens or millet sprays. I put new nesting materials in various places. I make sure everyone is eating and acting normally and that none of the males are being too rowdy and then I go inside to the bird room and clean cages, feed and water. After that is usually laundry, vacuming, or mopping, etc. I then head to the 7-11 around the corner to grab a 24oz. hazelnut coffee with lots of creamer, right now it's pumkin pie spice. I sit down at the computer with coffee and something to eat. On work days I do the above and then head to work at 5pm (work evenings).

My birds see me as any one or more(or all?)of the following:

1. cook (most important part is to avoid boredom and not too much junk food)
2. maid (my birds are very good at getting poop in all the little nooks and crannies, I guess they think I like the challenge)
3. mom (take your medicine like a good bird now )
4. wife (up till recently I had 3 boys courting me, now it's mostly one since 2 have mates now but they all still get very jealous of any birds on me. Having 2 birds fighting on your head is not fun )
5. police (bad boys get a time out in the lockdown cage :For Shame: )
6. security (I make my rounds with a flashlight 2-3 times every night to keep the scary things away)

Jen...you are one bad bird.

Jenaka wrote:

My birds see me as any one or more(or all?)of the following:

1. cook (most important part is to avoid boredom and not too much junk food)
2. maid (my birds are very good at getting poop in all the little nooks and crannies, I guess they think I like the challenge)
3. mom (take your medicine like a good bird now )
4. wife (up till recently I had 3 boys courting me, now it's mostly one since 2 have mates now but they all still get very jealous of any birds on me. Having 2 birds fighting on your head is not fun )
5. police (bad boys get a time out in the lockdown cage :For Shame: )
6. security (I make my rounds with a flashlight 2-3 times every night to keep the scary things away)

I love seeing you from a bird's eye view, Jen.

My day starts around 5:30 when my 22 lb cat, Reese, climbs on my chest wanting his chin scratched. That process goes on for about 2-4 minutes as I ask him what his plans are for the day.

As I get up I'm greeted by our much smaller cat Sadie (weighs in at 7 lbs).

The three of us head to the kitchen and I get their breakfast fixed and served. I get my coffee ready and then wait until Sadie is finished eating (She's a very little eater and Reese likes to help her finish. )




Then I take my coffee and head to the back room (our office), turn on the computer and do my daily check in.

Every once in a while I have to stop and console Reese. He and Sadie get to chasing each other and given his size Sadie ducks into her favorite hiding place (where Reese can't fit). He will then start to walk down the hall all the while I can hear his 'rejected' cry.

Anyway around 7 Reese will come to the office door and meow a couple of times, telling me it's time to go feed the birds.

While they are eating I come back and do a little more checking on the computer and then Reese again comes to the door and meows. I look at the time and it's about 8. Yep! time to go clean the aviary.

Although he does seem to know when things are supposed to be done, I'm sure he reminds me of my chores because he knows he's going to get a snack when I'm finished.
I know it seems like all he does is eat, but he sleeps a lot too.

As far as how my birds see me, I would have to say they see me as a waitress and maid for sure.
I would also have to include Jen's # 5 police (bad boys get a time out in the lockdown cage :For Shame: ). At least in Dolly and Malio's eyes.

:lol!: I love it, Cindy. reese sounds like quite a character....a crazy Pigeon Cat!

My morning routine is pretty boring...
I get up early let dogs out wait for our youngest puppy to got potty so I can carry her in to wipe her butt, she had to have an operation when she was just days old because she didn't have an anal opening and even with the operation she needs help keeping clean.
After all 5 dogs have been out I come in get a cup of coffee and check out emails & forums.
by the time I finish this the sun is up and/or the lights are on and I can review my listof extra chores to do along with the everyday chores.

Charis I sing to our doves they seem to wait for the song as if its a signal to start the day.

EgypSwiftLady wrote:

My morning routine is pretty boring...
I get up early let dogs out wait for our youngest puppy to got potty so I can carry her in to wipe her butt, she had to have an operation when she was just days old because she didn't have an anal opening and even with the operation she needs help keeping clean.
After all 5 dogs have been out I come in get a cup of coffee and check out emails & forums.
by the time I finish this the sun is up and/or the lights are on and I can review my listof extra chores to do along with the everyday chores.

Charis I sing to our doves they seem to wait for the song as if its a signal to start the day.

What do you sing, Robin?

Matilda wrote:

:lol!: I love it, Cindy. reese sounds like quite a character....a crazy Pigeon Cat!

He has got a personality that just won't quit.
Like some who have hand raised pigeons, there is a special bond, I hand raised (bottle fed) Reese. He is my shadow.

Matilda wrote:

What do you sing, Robin?

I usually start out with 'Good Morning to you...' and then what evers in my head.
As long as it's a sing song melody they seem to like it.

Thoroughly enjoyed reading the morning routines of all you guys Charis you seem to have a knack of starting the most enjoyable threads

Mine begins at around 5 am when my kitten Lucky starts to scratch the door and meows to be let out of his room (i put him in a separate room for the night as he has this fascination to attack our legs, faces, hands when he sees us asleep :For Shame:) I have a new scratch mark everyday...just got a nasty one today on my nose
So yeah...i then pull myself out and fix his breakfast. I then keep him distracted for a while as the rest of the family is still sleeping and his temptations to take a swipe at them doesn't end. It is usually 6 by when i leave him in the balcony to gaze and unsuccessfully pounce at squirrels and pigeons (we have the balcony covered).

I then go and clean the water bowl of the feral flock that i feed, fill in fresh water and put their food out. The first set start to arrive by around 6am. After that it's back to the usual routine of coffee, breakfast etc
I feed my pijjies at 6, then again at 11, then right through the afternoon till about 6 pm. I guess by about 6 in the evening they settle down for the day.

Cindy: Was amazed to see how your cats are so cooperative with your pigeons. How did you train them to do that? Is it because you have hand raised them from the time they were very very young and they have grown up watching them? Mine is ever ready to pounce on them :For Shame:
Infact it gets very difficult if i have to rescue any pigeon. I need to make sure that I keep it in the balcony away from Lucky's sight. I then hand it over to Dev. I wonder all the time, if in future I need to take in any pijjies, how am i going to manage both the cat and them? Any ideas?

priya wrote:

Cindy:
* Was amazed to see how your cats are so cooperative with your pigeons. How did you train them to do that?

Is it because you have hand raised them from the time they were very very young and they have grown up watching them?

Mine is ever ready to pounce on them :For Shame:

** Infact it gets very difficult if i have to rescue any pigeon. I need to make sure that I keep it in the balcony away from Lucky's sight.

*** I then hand it over to Dev. I wonder all the time, if in future I need to take in any pijjies, how am i going to manage both the cat and them? Any ideas?

Hi Priya,
* Reese grew up with Mikko. My son found him in the gutter when he was about 3 weeks old. There were no other cats around and Sean just couldn't leave him behind. Mikko arrived a couple weeks after.

There was actually no training. Reese was obviously curious and I did have to detour his attention from time to time.
Before we acquired more rescues, Mikko had his flight time in the AZ room. During this time we closed the door between the dining room and AZ room. When Mikko was in his cage, Reese was allowed access to AZ room.

Gradually he got used to him. By the time the other pigeons began to arrive, he paid no attention to them. However . . . To this day I still won't allow Reese or Sadie to be in the same room with any bird if it's not secured, even if I'm in the room.

** When I would receive a rescue, the cats were not allowed in the AZ room until the bird was examined, secured, and settled in.

*** I think a lot depends on the space you have to work with.
Make sure Lucky has lots of toys that will lure his attention as much as possible from any birds.
If you acquire a special needs bird that is able to fly, you need to make provisions for him to have some flying time daily.

Do you have only 1 cat? Is that Lucky in your avatar? He's adorable.

Here is a picture of Reese meeting Mikko



And Reese watching Mikko's grandbirdies
Dolly and Dumpling.

Yes that's Lucky in my avatar
Bless Sean for getting Reese in...kittens suffer a very bleak future Glad Reese could get a loving home.
And Reese and Mikko's pics are so cute Just look at him watching them so intently Lucky does the same whenever he spots any birds outside. Is Reese also orange and white? Mine is nearly of the same colour

Yeah i guess as you suggested, space is of utmost importance in deciding how to manage this situation. I have to ensure the birds are not let free in Lucky's presence. Lucky has to get used to at least tolerating them inside cages...i think i should first aim to achieve that. Having a small pad doesn't make things better but these hurdles shouldn't come in the way of any rescues.

Sometimes Lucky gets on my nerves He gets bored of his toys by playing with them once or twice...i need to invent something new for him everyday...also his food...he wants a different cat food every other week :Rolling eyes: A total spoilt brat

Here he is sleeping with the least care in the world

Some more
(Waiting to pounce on pigeons that he happens to see out)

priya wrote:

* Is Reese also orange and white? Mine is nearly of the same colour

** Yeah i guess as you suggested, space is of utmost importance in deciding how to manage this situation.

I have to ensure the birds are not let free in Lucky's presence. Lucky has to get used to at least tolerating them inside cages...i think i should first aim to achieve that. Having a small pad doesn't make things better but these hurdles shouldn't come in the way of any rescues.

Hi Priya,
* Yes, Reese does have the coloring that Lucky has.




** If it's possible to set a cage near a window where the bird could look out, that would be ideal.

Pigeons that have been injured to the point of not being able to fly make wonderful pets for those who live in apts.
Their living quarters need to be spacious enough for them to be able to exercise their wings without hitting the sides of the cage.

My two flightless birds do wonderfully.

Fancyfeathers wrote:

aww he looks so adorable in the kitten stage...doll baby

Fancyfeathers wrote:

** If it's possible to set a cage near a window where the bird could look out, that would be ideal.

Pigeons that have been injured to the point of not being able to fly make wonderful pets for those who live in apts.
Their living quarters need to be spacious enough for them to be able to exercise their wings without hitting the sides of the cage.

My two flightless birds do wonderfully.

agree with you...hoping to be able to provide caring homes in the future for any rescues that I might get

priya...is Lucky the kitten rescued as a feral?

Matilda wrote:

priya...is Lucky the kitten rescued as a feral?

Charis,

Yeah, Lucky was rescued by Priya. She keeps feeding few feral cats those visit her apartment and one of those cats had given birth to Lucky. Lucky was very playful even when he was a month old, he used to get inside cars at parking lot Since we dint want anything bad to happen, we decided to get Lucky to home. I know Lucky gets bored too quickly with any toys that are given to him. Priya is having hard time with keeping Lucky busy

Fancyfeathers wrote:

Wow.. Such a cute kitten Just love it..

spdevanand wrote:

Matilda wrote:

priya...is Lucky the kitten rescued as a feral?

Charis,

Yeah, Lucky was rescued by Priya. She keeps feeding few feral cats those visit her apartment and one of those cats had given birth to Lucky. Lucky was very playful even when he was a month old, he used to get inside cars at parking lot Since we dint want anything bad to happen, we decided to get Lucky to home. I know Lucky gets bored too quickly with any toys that are given to him. Priya is having hard time with keeping Lucky busy

I thought this was the one. He's very cute.

Hey Charis..yep Dev is right. Plus Lucky's mother was the one we lost at the hands of that negligent vet I feel miserable to this day. We are continuing our search for her though it's going to be nearly 2 months now. I just don't want to give up hope. I loved her so much I still feel we may spot her some day...

No...don't give up hope. I thought that was the kitten.