Story Bird: Merlin

I have had birds since I was 13(I'm now 51). Many years ago, my ex made me sell my babies. One day in a pet store, my new husband saw a baby blue and gold. The breeder said she was taken, but she had an egg. I couldn't believe it. Finally. My baby Merlin came home straight out of the egg. I had to take a 2 day all day seminar and was trying to teach my husband how to baby feed. Oops, down the wrong throat. Merlin aspirated. Thanks to the wonderful knowledge of Dr Kent Littlehale, my baby survived. He was indeed, Merlin, the Magician.  Being so sick, he received 24 hour a day care and became a loveable spoiled rotten brat. He talked and played like no other bird I know or have known. His favorite game was to take a rope toy and put it on top of his head and yell "Barbara, Barbara, Where's Merlin?" I'd yell, "Merlin is missing. Everyone look for Merlin." The dogs would run around barking, KoKo Butler (the African Grey) would get into the act. Finally, Merlin would laugh "Ha, ha, ha. Merlin was hiding. Merlin fooled Barbara." 

This favorite toy killed him. I'm never gone for more than a few hours. The last thing he said to me was "bye, bye, see you later". I took the new puppy with me having lost good ole 13 year old Toby (mutt) a week before. I came home to find him hanging with the #$@%$^^ toy around his neck. I would heartily recommend that these toys only be used when you are supervising the bird. They are perpetual 3 year olds and capable of constantly getting into trouble. There is nothing that can ever replace him. I loved him and he is gone, forever. He was one of a kind. Needless to say, I have chosen not to have any of these toys around again. Period

Note: This toy was a rope toy with about an 8" plastic top with 8 rope strands with wood blocks on each strand.  It only takes an 1-1/2" to 2" of rope strand to strangle a bird.