Zoe, my rescue is doing pretty well. She took some banana from my daughter this evening, and a bite of chicken from me. Afterwards I was holding her and I started to pet her. It wound up being about 25 minutes of her fluffing her feathers and moving her head all around where she wanted me to pet her. When I held very still she carefully rubbed her cheeks and even her closed eyes. As I pet her she got so relaxed she nearly fell asleep. She seems very content tonight. She still needs lots of work, but this was so sweet!

Aren't those the BEST moments?

Try cupping one hand around her when she's sitting on a finger and stroking her little cheeks. Clyde just LOVES that and will even demand it, and then he closes his eyes and purrs. It's so cute, unless I stop, and then I get SQUAWK and a nip.

She seemed to like a gentle finger around her neck on the sides, her cheeks. She liked a little petting on the top of her head and a bit of stroking on her beak. She decidedly did not like any rubbing under her chin. She sat with me again last night and rubbed on me like a cat. It was very weird. My daughter is petting her tonight, since we don't want her to only bond with me. She is fluffing and sitting calmly. She is really sweet.

marla loves having her hed and chin rubbed and will rub herself against my hand if I stop, just like a dog. she will sit very still for head/face/chin scratches. so sweet and cute!

t, marla and sunny

Clyde also likes having his back stroked and he does that thing that cats do, where he sticks his butt up to meet my hand as I stroke down his back, and then he'll shove his head against my hand so I'll do it again. I tried explaining to him that this is a cat behavior and not fitting for a bird, considering that cats and birds aren't exactly congenial, but he wouldn't listen.

awww so cute. xerxey does the same and he just loves to have his chin rubbed.

Zoe bows her head down and nudges you if you stop. She is kind of like our golden retreiver. I'm just grateful...people told me it may be a mixed bag with Quakers and their personalities. The person who gave her to us said she was terribly aggressive, but they admitted they never handled her. She has to learn manners...when we first got her she hissed when we walked past the cage and would strike like a cobra. She is doing much better now!

Awww, I love it when they get all cuddley Casey loves getting preened, especially when she's full of pins! Just a word of caution though, careful petting her back and wings too much, it can be sexual and therefore lead to sexual frustrations/behaviour issues (but you should be able to tell when she's getting too excited )

Thanks for the heads up. I'm not looking for birdie fornication. LOL

Where do I find info on being full of pins...Zoe may be. I need to come up to speed.

Pins are the little white, pokey new pin feathers ... the white sheath can be gently rolled off when they are ready to come off, and our fids surely do appreciate it. If you try to break the sheath on one that isn't ready, your baby will surely let you know it

You can also get more info by doing a search at the top of the forum, just search for "pins" or "molting" and you'll find a ton of related threads with great information. I found this thread, it has a cute picture of a Quaker going through quite the molt, you'll see all the pins on his head Hope that helps!

Pet away.....I just like your signature.

Theres nothing like those moments. That is when all is right with my world.