lenny's growing up before my eyes! :) (208 views)

[Shelly]

well i "took" lenny out today again. and by taking him out i just mean he sits on butch cage (pics below). anyways every day i take him out and but him on the perch on butchs cage. and some days he goes back and other days i have to put him back. well today my little brave Leonard went back in his cage, did his little 'how do i get back to butch?' dance and then he came out by HIMSELF for the first time of course it doesnt mean he's really comfortable coming out because butch was there and he does have some cage around him when he comes out so he feels safer (and so he can go back). he makes me so happy

these pics were from a week ago or so of his idea of coming out i have more perches for him to safely go back;

[Casey]

im glad to hear he is starting to come out of his shell more

[Shelly]

i dont remember if i have mentioned this, but i am also teaching him 'high five'. he is doing pretty good at it though some time he just holds onto my finger at some point i will have to take videos of all his tricks and training and put them on youtube

[Casey]

oooh yes you should!

i think ive taught munch how to "nod" she does it every time now with a hand signal lol

[Shelly]

lenny will sing with a hand signal. birds are so smart in a cute way

[Casey]

i wonder if they recognize hand signs over verbal words... what is easier for most parrots do you wonder?

[Shelly]

good question i guess if it is a simple word then they are fine but when you use both hand and verbal commands they could kind of choose which one is easier to memorize. like when i want lenny to come on my finger, i have my finger straight. but when i want him to high five, i bend my finger and only put the tip of my finger in front of the foot he high fives with, which is how i got him to high five

[Casey]

it's interesting. tsuka responds only to verbal command with "kisses" if you say it he gives a kiss. munch responds to hand signals. though i find munch to be much more clever so maybe she would clue in better to those than tsuka

[Shelly]

the big question is: what kind does butch respond to? i think he is a verbal kind of guy but he will probably be a copy cat too

[Casey]

well keep trying and see what he likes better