What's a dad to do???

by John Nordgaard
(Reno, NV)

Howdy! We have rescued 4 birds since mid-February of this year. A 5 yo Senegal male (Cap'n Jack), an 11 yo Red Lored Amazon female (Lucy), a 5-7 yo female Sun Conure (Punkin) and just the end of June a grogeous 16 yo male Congo African Grey male (Meeko). We know the history of Jack and Meeko and liddle Punkin is just a Sweetie so it doesn't matter much.
The "issue" is poor Lucy! She was the 2nd adoptee and WE KNEW that she didn't care for other birds when we got her. She was at one end of the house and Jack was with me in the Man Cave... the den//. at the other end so it was a non-issue! She has NEVER BEEN a talker... nary a word nor has she ever been loud (she quacks like a duck and warbles some but that's pretty much IT) nor has she ever been what one would call cuddly. She would allow my wife to give her a tickle for a minute or two but only on Lucy's terms. And, we are trying to understand that sometimes... that's just the way it is with some birds. They are individuals, after all!

Since we got Meeko she has been in a near constant state of pinhole eyes and spread tail feathers whenever anyone (including my wife) comes near or tries to show her some love or attention. It's just so sad because you just know she must be starved for some contact but she refuses to allow it under any circumstances. We DID try just ignoring her for a month as the rescue people here recommended hoping Lucy would make some advances but nothing has remedied her situation.
Poor Lucy must just be beside herself wanting some love from somebody and I doubt it's very healthy for a bird to just be mad at everybody all the time?! We want her to be loved, tickled and spoiled rotten because she, like all parrots, deserves it. Might somebody offer some trick of the trade, so to speak, that we haven't considered??? Our liddle Senegal IS a little Napolean and I love that he's always into something... I have to watch him ALL the time. BUT, Jack and I go for car rides together and he's a blast to spend time with but he's strictly MY BOY... and everybody knows and respects that of him. Little Punkin is a sweetie and will go to everyone of the 4 of us and yes... she has her own agenda but we accept it and she's a little lover. Meeko is a very well readjusted boy who has picked up nearly ALL of his 50+ word vacabulary plus some new ones in a month. He eats well, and has bonded with my eife such that, if he never does "like" me... I'm OK with that because he's a very good and gentle boy otherwise and we knew he bit men going in! Our problem is do we just give up on poor Lucy bacause she will likely NEVER pull herself out of her "funk" at our home and hope she will have a rebirth in a ONE BIRD FAMILY or what??? As I say, we're OK to give her up because we are of the opinion that it's whatever IS BEST for the bird... she's got another 30-50 years to be a happy girl left, and we hope she is a very pampered, spoiled and loving girl somewhere... at some point!!!