I just spent $40+ dollars on my dang cockatiel.

I've had Da Vinci longer than my husband.  In fact, he once belonged to an old boyriend, and when we split up he let me keep the bird because I'd pretty much taken over his care and we were bonded.

Da Vinci has never been any trouble at all.  As he's gotten older he has become a bit less sociable, and he doesn't like to come out of his cage anymore.  But he still talks and whistles and seems to like us.  But lately he's started this compulsive behavior of shrieking and pulling out feathers.  Now, all the experts say he could have a parasite and I should have him checked by a vet.  But my instincts tell me this is an obsessive/compulsive disorder, as he clearly does it when he wants attention.  If I give him a spray of millet, he'll be quiet for hours.

So today I went to Petco and I bought him a bunch of new toys and treats.  I'm guessing since he doesn't come out of his cage, he needs some "enrichment" activities.  So--toys, mirrors, treats.  He has a cardboard box that he has to shred to get to the treat inside.

I also bought a book on cockatiels, and I've found out everything I've been doing wrong all these years!  Like, I'm supposed to be washing and sanitizing his water bottle every day.  Every day?  Oh, dear.  I usually scrub it out once a week, and I don't believe I've ever sanitized it.

And food.  He's supposed to be eating stuff besides seed.  But as I recall, when he was a young bird I offered him all kinds of alternatives and he wouldn't touch any of it. 

Well, I must be doing SOMETHING right, as he's survived 20 years, which is getting pretty old for a cockatiel.  We'll see if his new toys have any effect or if I'm really going to have to take him to the vet.  (He stopped yanking feathers a while back, but he still goes though the motions and shrieks.)

I took my MOB synopsis to critique group today, then we ate at Le Peep, which is a place where they have really good egg dishes.  I got this mess o' potatoes, bacon, cheese and onions with two eggs on top--it was massive and I ate every bite, knowing I was going to feel so ill afterward.  why do I do things like this?

I did no work on RELUCTANT PARTNERS (formerly HIS FIRST MATE) today, so refer to yesterday's Page-O-Meter if you want to know my progress.

See you again soon,

Kara