Beauty Tips

I am, as I frequently remark myself, a “pretty bird!” So I thought I’d share some of my beauty tips with you today.

Preening

I have posted about preening recently, and I can’t emphasize the importance of it enough. If you do nothing else, at least remember to preen your feathers every day. Preening keeps them clean, shiny, and waterproof.

Oatmeal Mask

If you happen to get some oatmeal stuck on your beak while eating breakfast, don’t worry. The oatmeal won’t hurt you and in fact is good for your complexion. When you’re ready to wipe it off, you’ll find that your person’s sleeve is a convenient place for that. Chewing along the edge of the newspaper that your person is reading will also do the trick.

Bathing

Frequent bathing is important for the health and beauty of your feathers. If you give your person a gentle reminder (nip on the ear) while he’s washing the dishes, he’ll fill a frying pan with water for you to bathe in. If there’s no frying pan around, use whatever is available – a saucer, a glass – as long as there’s water in it, you can bathe in it. 

Beauty Sleep

A rested bird is a healthy bird, and a healthy bird is a pretty bird! So make frequent naps a regular part of your daily beauty routine. It doesn’t matter where you nap – on your perch, in your person’s hair, wherever – just as long as you nap often. 

What are some of your favorite beauty tips? Please share them in the comments.

Perches

 Perches are very important to a parrot, as you may imagine. Aside from when we’re flying, which is just a small percentage of the time, perches are where we take our place in the world. The best perch, in my opinion, is on top of your person’s head. One of my people is quite tall, and from the top of his head I get a good view of everything and can keep an eye out for predators. Other parts of your person’s body also make good perches. A shoulder is good for taking trips around the house. A knee makes a nice perch, too.

A foot is good for getting a different view on things.

A laundry rack makes a great perch. Our laundry rack fits my feet quite well, and then there’s all that clean laundry just hanging there, ready for chewing and pooping on. A mug makes a nice perch if you’re in the mood for tea.

There are lots of great perches around the house. What are your favorite perches?

Preen

My feathers may have lost some of their youthful brightness, but they are still beautiful, and it is important to keep them clean. I spend a good part of every day preening. Each and every feather has to be attended to, and I have hundreds of them. It's a lot of work, but I have to keep up my good looks!

Parrot Poetry

 I thought I'd try my claw at writing a triolet. Here it is. I hope you like it!

The Parrot in Old Age

by Shadow

High on my perch is where I safely rest

Contented just to watch the world go by

I fluff the feathers on my wings and chest

High on my perch is where I safely rest

With many years of life I have been blessed

So swiftly have these years of joy flown by

High on my perch is where I safely rest

Contented just to watch the world go by

Parrot Poetry

Evening

by Shadow

In the quiet of the evening,

In the hours before bed,

I feel nice and cozy

Perched upon my person’s head.

I survey all around me

From my fluffy perch on high.

All is as it should be –

Both my people are close by.

I take a little bird snooze

While my people watch their screens.

I’m snug and safe and cozy

As I drift off into dreams.

The Important Things in Life

 

It’s been almost 26 years since I first pecked my way out of my egg. In that time, I’ve had many experiences. I’ve lived in several places and seen many things. People and birds I’ve been close to have come and gone. Now that I have reached my golden years, I have many memories to look back on and many changes to contemplate. My feathers may not have the sheen they once did, I may not be able to fly as well as I did in my youth, but of one thing I am still certain – the importance of snuggling close to the ones you love.

Breakfast

There’s nothing like a bowl of warm oatmeal for breakfast on a chilly winter morning, and a helpful hand to lift the spoon up to your beak!