August, thank you so much for your response. It makes perfect sense, of course! Now that we see it in black and white type I think we always had some gut feel that was going on (extra special bonding), but didn't realize it because of the 2 females.

Saffron does look quite forlorn; she actually physically dips her "shoulder" and head and just stares quitely into the cage.

However, Kate does NOT appreciate this adoration and though some times she will tolerate it, most of the time she will not, and gets whipped up trying to "get" at Saffron through the bars in the cage (trying to nip her). Kate will sometimes injur her beak or face (drawing blood and requiring antibiotics). That is why I put up the opaque silk half cover.

It does provide a "screen" between the cages, but as you indicated, they can hear each other and will whistle back and forth occasionally (the flock call is what we call it) to ensure everyone is "safe".

Sometimes Spence will sit on the perch outside the chickie girls cage door (in an attempt to keep them from bothering Kate), but he is no match for them and one attempted nip from either one and he is outta there!

For now I guess we will just have to continue to monitor the situation and keep the girls in their cage when Saffron begins to really bother Kate.

It is somewhat surprising that Saffron is so bonded to Kate, because she also has a very strong bond with Verdi. She and Verdi take care of each other and help each other out.

Another question I had for you regards Saffron's sight. Is it possible that she may have poor eyesight? She has those spooky red eyes, and seems to be afffected when the light is low. She also has more difficulty "nailing" a landing, and often uses Verdi to "buffer" her landings (something Verdi seems quite willing to assist with). In the evening she sometimes has difficulty locating the access points to her cage, and has a LOT of difficulty getting from the top of the cage to the bottom of the cage. In fact, Verdi often has to go up to the top of the cage and guide Saffron to the bottom.

If Saffron goes up to the top of the cage when the cover is on at night, she gets "stuck" up there and Spence will let us know "Saf fron uck" "not safe" and I have to go in and ask Verdi to help her down again.

Verdi doesn't really appreciate this task after she has settled in, but she dutifully performs it so that Saffron can be "safe safe".

They are amazing creatures and the highlight of our lives!

Is there anything else we can do for Saffron?

Thank you again.

I just wanted to take a couple of minutes to answer your question about my health. They were finally able to find an antibiotic (low level, but better than nothing!) that my body would tolerate for a two-week period. Between that, a nebulizer and inhalers, I got a CLEAN chest Xray last month (no signs of pneumonia) for the first time in over 2 years! Yeah!!!!! Also, I was diagnosed with IDDM (Insulin debepdent diab mell). I have been living with BCG levels well over 200 and 300 for over a year. The fever and sweating from the pneumonia was masking the symptoms of the diabetes. Since I could hardly keep food down, I missed all the signs. My asthma had taken a real turn for the worse during this time, and they have had me on prednisone which puffed me up to obesity and was another contributing factor.

It is difficult to keep my glucose under control because the prednisone inhibits the absorption of the insulin, and if they cut back the prednisone my asthma deteriorates to the point where I need oxygen to breathe.

I am SOOOOOOO much better even though the daily struggle is still there. It will take time to get the glucose levels under control. Fortunately, we live very close to the Joslin Clinic, so I am being treated there. However, I could really use an insulin pump, and of course, despite being covered under TWO health insurance plans (my husband's and mine), our insurance will not pay for an insulin pump or supplies. They don't pay for my everyday diabetic supplies (other than the insulin) because I have to order special needles and testing supplies because every time I stick myself with anything (and I'm talking 32 guage 4 mm needles and special testing strips and lancets that use minute amounts of blood) I end up with a 1 to 2" bloody bruise. I look like my husband beats me around the thighs and stomach daily with a baseball bat! That blood platelet problem I have. I never knew you could get bruises like that near on your tummy!

So anyway, I do have a lot more energy (even though it's a lot less than the average bird). I am so grateful to be able to stay awake (really felt like sleeping sickness before - wearing diapers 24/7 cuz I couldn't get myself out of bed to the bathroom and because the incontinence was uncontrollable). Alas, we are through that part and will get through the next as well!

In the interim, I insisted that Ed take a break from work and me and everything else and spend a week in Harwich on the Cape. The last day of that week his calf swelled to the size of his thigh and he couldn't walk! Turns out he had a Baker's cyst rupture (very painful). As he was limping around in pain with one of my canes I noted to him "I thought we might have matching canes someday, honey, I just didn't think it would be today"!

Gotta keep laughing. Our lovies are our saviors, We love them soooo much! They are our "kids" and the light of our lives (not discounting Eddie, of course).

I hope you are doing well and are settled in. How do you like it? What is new with you?

We did a lot of research and with the help of Angell Memorial (I'm sure you know their reputation), we found a wonderful group of avian vets less than 10 miles from our home. All 4 are all seen regularly for check-ups and for pedicures of course, though they seem to be keeping their own nails trimmed well except when the girls sit on the fake eggs and they get a little too long.

They are seen at least twice/year for well visits and sick visits when necessary - Kate is the only who has had to be seen for sick visits - we think her early months in that horrible place left her a bit neurotic, which she sometimes displays with nasty feather picking and scraping her face/beak against the bars). Kate's feather picking seems to be much better lately. We changed their diet to 100% organic (special order) food including freeze dried vegetables and fruit that they all absolutely love. Even though we were purchasing Harrison or all natural brands, the organic we now get from Altoloma farms in CA and from Drs. Foster and Smith with suppements like crushed egg shells from avian web seem to really have made a difference.

Saffron is doing better with navigation, but I feel that if she were human I would have had her she an opthamologist in her first year. She is VERY skittish by nature (a fraidy cat if you will). Verdi is willing to take on the world no matter how large, and she protects Saffron from anything she perceives to be big, bad or dangerous (as does Spence). If she does get "stuck" anywhere Spence will make a call out to me and let me know "Saff ron uck" "not safe" and I will go in and assist if Verdi doesn't handle it right away. I always wondered if her eyes being red had anything to do with her vision. I haven't personally been able to attend any visits over the past year, and though I ask Ed to discuss the issue with their vet, he has a lot to handle with four birds by himself. I will make a call to their vet tomorrow about Saffron. I just needed to know there is something to be concerned about.

Saffron is the largest of the four; she is very long and not built for smooth, efficient flight as Verdi and Spence are. Kate is a bit bottom heavy, and not that graceful, but she can stick a landing at 10.0 every time. For a while, Saffron was using Verdi as a landing pad; she is much better now, but still uses Verdi to slide into occasionally. Saffron has a long wing span to go with her long body, and has always looked a bit awkward flying. It took her quite a long time to learn how to navigate around and into spaces she wants to be in. She gets upset easily (another neurotic one) and tends to "hide" until you tell her it's ok and she's a very pretty, good good chickie girl. Verdi doesn't desire this type of praise - she responds with a look of disdain as if to say "of course I am and I know it too".

If Saffron hides where I can't see her (we have a towel in their room they love to play hide and seek in), Spence will give her up every time (I sometimes think Verdi would prefer she stay hiding for a longer period of time - sisters!). Kate is of course disgusted by most of the chickie girl behaviour and ignores them as much as possible. It stresses Spencer a bit because he has to stretch himself to try to keep track of 3 of the girls (Mr.Protector). They are just like kids with their own distinctive personality traits.

I taught them the concept of "safe" and if they don't feel "safe" they make it known (sometimes they hear "outside birdies" and have to be reminded that lovies are "inside" where it is "safe safe" and it's the same with any loud jets or airplanes that may occasionally be re-routed from Logan International due to weather or other potential air traffic issues. They complain a bit but Spence will say "air plane" "safe" and everyone calms down. He's a very responsible birdie and takes his responsibilities as "guardian" of the flock quite seriously!

We are constantly amazed at how amazingly smart these birds are, and their seemingly unlimited ability to understand, learn and retain concepts, as well as their ability to communicate with us and each other (definitely bilingual - Ed still really struggles with learning lovebird, but he's improving constantly). The only one who makes absolutely no attempt to speak either human or love bird is Kate. She relies on Spence and when that doesn't work up to her standards she sits and makes this ridiculously loud rat a tat/shrieking noise non-stop. I can always get her to stop if I ask her what she "neeeeeds" and then Spence has a chance to answer for her so her urgent needs can be met. She is after all, the Queen of Sheba and expects the human serfs to be up to her standards.

They all definitely understand the concept of "need" and will voice that quite clearly with "neeeed mom mee" "neeeed rib bon" "neeeeed ring rib bon". They are quite clear with their needs and desires. Of course, I try to keep them stocked up with everything they could want or need so they rarely have to ask for anything. I keep them stocked up with a six to nine month supply of huts, ribbon shredders, ribbon rings, cuttle bone, etc. etc. I buy in bulk to get a good deal and they have toys to last at least a year!

So spoiled. What can I say? The latino background trained me to anticipate needs and all will be happy and fulfilled - nurturing means meeting needs of those who depend upon you for safety and security and all that Maslow taught us about the heirarchy of needs!

In return you get happy, well adjusted, secure beings. Of course, we think ours are extra special - we are amazed daily at their ability to comprehend and think on their own in a conceptual manner. They are a very intelligent species! Very well behaved as well (unless something in their world is not as they feel it should be of course).

We are definitely blessed to have them in our lives.

I am glad that you are making the adjustment to your new environment. My Mom's place has a cockatiel and finches in one of the general areas near a bright grouping of windows. I feel bad for them though because they never let them out of their cages, and they haven't taught the residents not to stick their fingers or faces too close to the cages. The residents love them, but they don't appear to be the most well adjusted I have seen.

Do you think we should make a special appointment for Saffron? Again, I can their vet tomorrow (today) to see what she feels we should do, but I know they check their eyes for brightness, etc. when they are seen, but I also know that Ed has not mentioned her issues specifically. I have noticed that it seems to be an issue when the light is low or dark.

Thank you so much and look forward to your response.

Sue and Ed

Thank you, August. Saffron DEFINITELY has vision. I have watched that very closely since she was born (as I did with Verdi's leg - which by the way, you would NEVER know she had any issues as a young chickie - every now and then when she spends too much time laying on eggs she will get up and that leg is a little stiff or weak, but she rebounds almost immediately - we are sooo grateful for that).

As I joked (only half way), if she were human, I think she might need glasses! Is it possible for birds to have less than perfect eyesight (like humans)? I would think so, but what do I know!

Again, she gets around just fine - she is clumsy on the landings and not the most graceful in the air, but there are no issues getting where she wants to go when she wants to go there. I really do think she might have issues in lower level light (we have an issue with the females in my family in that we have issues driving at dusk - not during daylight or at night, but at dusk - it is very difficult for us to see - but we all have diabetes too). Again, don't know if birds suffer from the same type of ailments.

Also, I believe that her hesitancy to move around the cage and get "stuck" at bed time is partially her "scaredy cat" personality (but not entirely).

Your stories are always wonderful - such great work you do!

Wishing you and yours all the best! I will definitely check back in.

PS: did you ever get the pics I sent to you?

Well the "girls" (all 3) are busy building nests. It's a long, loving process that they take very seriously! Kate just builds them and doesn't lay any eggs and as I said before, the girls take turns, but only after they have built an ENORMOUS nest made of planet pleasures shredders and rings (I cut the shredders into 1 1/2 to 2" strips and put them on the play pen and they fly over, separate the colors and stick them in their tail feathers and fly back to the cage with them where the fashion them into a lovely nest nearly a quarter of the size of the bottom of the cage! Kate is bit neater and makes a smaller nesting area. Spence oversees the whole operation and makes sure that I keep the playpen stocked with ribbon (what we call the shredders) and ring ribbon (what we call the round rings). If I don't Spence will tell me "neeeeed rib bon" or "neeeeed ring rib bon". It's very amusing! He also takes his role as "guardian and sentry" for all the girls during this phase. Making sure that no one disturbs the process or the nesting areas. Very funny - he is a very responsible birdie!

I have been watching Saffron closely and her sight is fine but I have scheduled a visit with our vet just to be sure. I still think it is a "night vision" and far-sighted issue. I have the same problems myself!

When Saffron is in nest building mode she doesn't bother Kate anywhere near as much as when there is no clear other purpose. We have tucked in the opaque silk cover (which covers half of Kate's cage), but Saffron just goes to the open side and stares in. We keep the part of the cage with Kate's box and house and food covered and leave tje other half open, but Kate has never been a very sociable bird and she really likes her cage space to be HER space that she chooses to share with Spence.

I don't think after 2 years that we will see any change in Saffron's behavior, and all things considered, we could be dealing with much worse behavior. I think as Kate ages she may grow a bit more tolerant (or not). Time will tell. I check in often and let them fly into our room and we spend a little "siesta" time around noon (they perch on the top of our drapery rods and nap while I nap in bed). They do the lovebird cuddle and I get some rest too.

I try to check in often to shoo Saffron back to her cage so that Kate has some alone time. Kate can wear herself out getting annoyed with the whole situation. Spence will usually let me know when Saffron is really bugging Kate.

Verdi is Verdi - she is very self sufficient and goes about her business without much concern for anyone or anything else. She hangs with Saffron and can get sucked into the "let's stare at Kate and Spence" mode, but she does it more out of the need to b e part of the group than anything else.

Now that we understand the behavior we can make small adjustments, but it seems to me that this is going to be a long time issue that we need to work on with Saffron (and Kate). We tell Kate that Saffron loves Kate, but Kate';s not really interested in being loved - worshiped perhaps, but not loved.

I will keep you posted about Saffron, but she seems quite capable of finding everything she needs and wants, and like I indicated, she is a large, long bird and sometimes a bit clumsy. She is definitely not built for flight like Spence and Verdi - neither is Kate really - she is quite bottom heavy - but boy can she stick a landing! She's not very nimble. Perhaps the violet greens are more true to the original size and aerodynamics that the mixed cinnamon or lutinos????

Thanks for following up. Say hi to your girls as well!