We got a new pet last weekend, and when I decided to share some photos of her I realized I've never mentioned my other pet, either. So this is the "Meet the Pets" post.
This is Captain, a kakariki, a type of small parrot native to New Zealand. I've had him for about 10 years and got him as a baby, so young that we still had to hand feed him from a bottle for the first little while we had him. He used to be a very personable bird, who would come out of the cage, sit on your hand, and run around on the floor. Then he reached sexual maturity, which results in an extreme mood alteration in many male birds, and Captain was no exception. He is now quite the biter and doesn't like to be handled. Still, he's very amusing, constantly active, and occasionally speaks his version of the phrases "Hello there", "Good morning", and "Good boy"....the last of which he picked up while staying at a dog groomer's while my family was on an extended vacation.
This is Captain, a kakariki, a type of small parrot native to New Zealand. I've had him for about 10 years and got him as a baby, so young that we still had to hand feed him from a bottle for the first little while we had him. He used to be a very personable bird, who would come out of the cage, sit on your hand, and run around on the floor. Then he reached sexual maturity, which results in an extreme mood alteration in many male birds, and Captain was no exception. He is now quite the biter and doesn't like to be handled. Still, he's very amusing, constantly active, and occasionally speaks his version of the phrases "Hello there", "Good morning", and "Good boy"....the last of which he picked up while staying at a dog groomer's while my family was on an extended vacation.
The newest addition to the family is a one year old chinchilla we adopted last weekend. With Captain not being very hand friendly, it was time to add a furrier companion. Chinchillas are native to the Andes mountain range in South America, and as such prefer cooler temperatures. Wouldn't you know it, as soon as we bring her home, we get temperatures in the 80s for a week. She seems to be doing okay, though, and the cool breeze we get through the open doors and windows down here on the water seems to help.
Since they are native to montane habitat, they've developed a unique behavior of bathing in volcanic dust instead of water. It helps to keep their fur soft and in good condition, and is something you have to provide for them at least a few times a week to keep a chinchilla healthy and looking good. Here is our little pet in her "chinchilla bath house"...I never thought I would be buying one of those!
There is a disagreement as to what to name her, so as of now she has not officially been named. I have a feeling the result of the Stanley Cup Playoffs might be the deciding factor, as a wager has been placed as to who will win the series, and the winner may just get naming rights. So, go Penguins!
