Hungry Birds

Mr. and Mrs. Bird are two beautiful parakeets we have introduced into our home over this past year. Mr. Bird came to our family first in the spring and proved to be more antisocial than we hoped. I do believe he is a chicken - - not a parakeet! As his cage is approached, Mr. Bird darts around, working as hard as he can to hide somewhere - - anywhere -- so as to not be removed from the perceived safety of his home. 

He is also extremely particular regarding the food he eats. The small round millet seed has, from the start, been the only food he will touch. And of course that food is not what is best for him. It is like candy, providing little to no nourishment for his growing body. My husband has even taken the little green bird out of the cage, made a special pellet mash, and placed the nutritional food down Mr. Bird's throat - - only to have him spit it right back up like a little child.

Stubborn, stubborn bird.

Despite multiple attempts to increase his sociability and feed him properly, we finally decided this summer to introduce a female companion in hopes that the two of them would mate. Perhaps if there are little parakeet babies, we can train them to be hand-fed social creatures that completely trust us and receive the proper nutrition.

Introducing Mrs. Bird into the family shortly after our own wedding this summer was the right decision, because although the two of them haven't decided to procreate yet, they do greatly enjoy each other's company. They groom, speak to, and care for one another. It is really sweet. Mr. Bird has seemed happier, and has even started eating a second type of seed from his food because he has observed his wife eating it. That is progress at least.

Mr. Bird (left) and Mrs. Bird (right)

"Try the red ones honey! I promise they're yummy too!"

(She says to him as she supervises from above)

Since the two lovebirds haven't decided to do the deed quite yet (although they're getting closer thankfully,) we haven't given up on their social training. Some time ago, we decided that in order to increase the likelihood of having both birds trust us as their masters, we would cease putting the candy-like food inside their cage dishes. The nutritional pellets are there, and Mrs. Bird just today of all days as I'm writing began snacking on it!

To ensure the birds stay healthy and don't squawk at us continuously demanding to be fed, we open up the door, hold our hand out, and let them step up to us to get their food. It is good when a parakeet comes to his master - listens to him, freely steps up onto his hand, and trusts him. If the birds aren't very hungry, they do the dart around, hide and ignore us trick. Tonight though, both birds freely came to me because they were genuinely hungry. As their master, I was pleased. They trusted me, and they were blessed with full bellies. I even returned them to the safety of their cage home because I knew, as their parent, that's what they wanted. I love those sweet little birds.

You know what? I really am just like my parakeets! Especially Mr. Bird. I'm often scared and prone to darting around everywhere in my little world - - sincerely afraid to trust my Master. How silly of me since He is the One with the exact food I need. He opens up His perfectly capable and loving hand and feeds me just what I need. Admittedly, especially recently, I am not always returned to the safety of my cage home! But He is feeding me in the ways He knows I need to be fed. There is peace in the spiritual safety He is providing for me, even though the circumstances haven't exactly been ideal. No doubt about it, my Master has got it because He loves me. His intent is never to harm me, just like I would never intentionally harm these sweet beautiful little parakeets. Same goes for how He feels about you.

The song below is a beautiful reminder of how God is the one who feeds those of us who are spiritually hungry. Please consider closing your eyes to listen and worship.

After observing the behavior of our birds, I am convinced that God has put those two creatures in our home to show me exactly how weak and out of control I am and how incredibly strong and capable of feeding me God truly is.

Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. Psalm 34:8