I’m happy to announce that the problem of Elmo’s unhappiness has been solved!!
Elmo is broody!!!
I’d like to thank everyone for your comments on yesterdays blog post directing us towards this conclusion!!
Last night Richard placed two fake eggs in Elmo’s nest and Elmo IMMEDIATELY sat on them. It was like he has been waiting these past few weeks for Richard to lay them for him (I bet Elmo is thinking, “What took you so long?”). The only reason I originally dismissed the idea that Elmo was broody when we first started noticing his moodiness is because Elmo was attacking Richard as viciously as he was attacking me. In my mind that didn’t add up (why attack your mate?). But having now read back a few of my previous notes about Elmo being broody, this was what he did the last time he was broody. I just didn’t remember it.
I feel bad for Elmo that it took us this long to figure things out. We won’t be making that mistake again. Elmo is now sitting on his eggs and although he is still attacking me, he seems settled and content to be finally incubating. He’s no longer pecking Richard’s fingers and has been twitching happily to him. I am so relieved!!
Here are Elmo’s past broody dates:
such a silly creature! smoochies to Elmo!
Thank you, Cara Louise!! Elmo is such a darling and had us so worried that he had fallen out of love with us, so we’re very relieved that he was only broody.
Aw that is really good news
Thank you, Neil!
I am happy to see how you take care of your pets.
Thank you, Gaga!! Your pigeon, Belka, is very pretty!
I have experienced wonderment at the will to survive of this bird. I have had pigeons brought to me with paralysed legs that could only walk by manipulating their wings while lying on their backs. One time I had a call from a nearby Circuit City that found a live pigeon thrown in the garbage bin. I rescued her (local vets and pet stores give out my tel no) and I learnt many hard lessons from her sheer will to survive herhandicaps. 6 months later, she was sitting up straight and I had her “foster” some orphaned baby pigeons. She was one of the best foster moms I had.
Hi Mercedes, lovely to hear about your rescued pigeons! You do a wonderful job in caring for injured birds!! Thank you for commenting.