So, I am hand-feeding her. I named her Dustbunny -- she looks just like one (not that I would know
). And what a joy she has been! Every morning she loudly demands her breakfast as soon as I enter the bird area. She flies out of her cage onto the papertowels where I feed her and then, after she eats, wants to chirp (beep?!) softly to me and ride around with me while I feed the other birds. She normally gets sleepy before I finish so, on a whim, I put her in the pocket of my pajamas and she liked the warmth and closeness -- it must feel like a parent's wing over her -- and dozed until she felt like getting out and riding around on my head or my shoulder again.
Now it is a daily ritual (and God help me if I forget to wear a pair of pajamas or a shirt without a pocket) -- then she wants to be carried when she gets sleepy.
She's not afraid of me at all and her boldness is really funny sometimes. I understand, now, why people like their zebra's so much.
I think I'm a convert.
Michelle