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The Finster Log
Archive — January 2009
Give Me Grass!
Posted on: 01/30/09, 21:03:30 | | link
So now, if I don't keep Ginger and Cinnamon sufficiently supplied with grass for nest building, they tear up their poop paper.
What's up with that?!? Don't they realize it's still Winter?!? Haven't they noticed we've gotten almost twice as much snow this year, as we had this time last year?!? Don't they realize it's at least 6 months until Spring?!?
I haven't had Finsters this excited about nest building since I had Zebra finches — and they're the bunnies of the finch world!
What's up with that?!? Don't they realize it's still Winter?!? Haven't they noticed we've gotten almost twice as much snow this year, as we had this time last year?!? Don't they realize it's at least 6 months until Spring?!?
I haven't had Finsters this excited about nest building since I had Zebra finches — and they're the bunnies of the finch world!
The Shower, and How Not To Get Bitten
Posted on: 01/23/09, 18:42:00 | | link
Our new bathroom is large enough for two people and a bird to be in it at the same time! So Harley's forays into the room have expanded from simple Night Time Scritches on the towel rack in the old bathroom (pop up an adorable picture), to Ripping The Aerators Out Of The Faucets, Peering Into The Medicine Cabinet And Pulling Things Out Of It, Dropping Bruce's Toothbrush Into The Garbage Can (he's good at this one!), and Looking At Your Human Because They're Crazy If They Think You'll Take A Bath In The Tub.
The bathroom is fairly modern, although not luxurious: it has two sinks, and a bathtub and a shower stall. But we had to install our own medicine cabinet, an extra towel rack, and a floor-to-ceiling tension pole for the shower that has a few wire basket-type things on it to hold shampoo and stuff. (We also had to install a toilet paper holder in the bathroom downstairs. And no, we aren't the first people to live here. What's up with that?)
Surveying Activities From The Shower's Sliding Door Frame has become another favorite bathroom activity, and one we've encouraged, since baths in the tub aren't popular, and Harley only splashes around in his water dish about once a month. I haven't noticed a change in his feathers, but the steam from a shower is supposed to be good for keeping them in good condition, so we're pleased that his daily routine now includes a sauna.
You can imagine my surprise, I'm sure, when Harley decided one day that he really wanted to be on one of the baskets in the shower stall. Particularly since his attempt to glide there from the top of the door frame landed him on the floor of the shower. While I was there. Inside. Taking a shower. Naked. Which I mention not to encourage naughty visits from complete strangers on the internets, but because MY TOES WERE NAKED TOO!
Lucky for my toes, Harley was just as startled as I was, so I managed to take him to the basket before he chomped their tasty pink goodness, and since then, this has become his preferred place to be while the humans take showers:
You'll notice I still have pink in the bathroom. Oh well, at least there isn't any blue.
Harley loves sitting on his basket, and although occasionally he'll climb down to the basket below him to toss the razors onto the floor, he's more likely to sit here, happily, long after the shower is finished. For awhile there, he was even letting me mist him, but lately he lunges and bites the spray bottle, so we're taking a break from that game.
The only problem with the basket is that it's pretty narrow for a perch. The wire is too small in diameter, and his feet are too big, for him to get a good grip with one foot. So instead of raising one foot high to "step up" onto my fingers, he holds that foot a little lower than usual, and once in awhile his longer back toe gets caught up on the basket. About a week ago, his toe got a little stuck, and in his unhappiness about being off balance he bit me.
Well, it was my fault entirely. So now I take him out of the shower stall with a stick — he may still get off balance, but he can't hurt the stick if he gets scared. I've still got to sort out that razor thing, though.
The bathroom is fairly modern, although not luxurious: it has two sinks, and a bathtub and a shower stall. But we had to install our own medicine cabinet, an extra towel rack, and a floor-to-ceiling tension pole for the shower that has a few wire basket-type things on it to hold shampoo and stuff. (We also had to install a toilet paper holder in the bathroom downstairs. And no, we aren't the first people to live here. What's up with that?)
Surveying Activities From The Shower's Sliding Door Frame has become another favorite bathroom activity, and one we've encouraged, since baths in the tub aren't popular, and Harley only splashes around in his water dish about once a month. I haven't noticed a change in his feathers, but the steam from a shower is supposed to be good for keeping them in good condition, so we're pleased that his daily routine now includes a sauna.
You can imagine my surprise, I'm sure, when Harley decided one day that he really wanted to be on one of the baskets in the shower stall. Particularly since his attempt to glide there from the top of the door frame landed him on the floor of the shower. While I was there. Inside. Taking a shower. Naked. Which I mention not to encourage naughty visits from complete strangers on the internets, but because MY TOES WERE NAKED TOO!
Lucky for my toes, Harley was just as startled as I was, so I managed to take him to the basket before he chomped their tasty pink goodness, and since then, this has become his preferred place to be while the humans take showers:
You'll notice I still have pink in the bathroom. Oh well, at least there isn't any blue.
Harley loves sitting on his basket, and although occasionally he'll climb down to the basket below him to toss the razors onto the floor, he's more likely to sit here, happily, long after the shower is finished. For awhile there, he was even letting me mist him, but lately he lunges and bites the spray bottle, so we're taking a break from that game.
The only problem with the basket is that it's pretty narrow for a perch. The wire is too small in diameter, and his feet are too big, for him to get a good grip with one foot. So instead of raising one foot high to "step up" onto my fingers, he holds that foot a little lower than usual, and once in awhile his longer back toe gets caught up on the basket. About a week ago, his toe got a little stuck, and in his unhappiness about being off balance he bit me.
Well, it was my fault entirely. So now I take him out of the shower stall with a stick — he may still get off balance, but he can't hurt the stick if he gets scared. I've still got to sort out that razor thing, though.