I visit Chipper every now and then and help rub out his pinfeathers over a conversation. He tweets and peeps, scolding me when I touch a sensitive one. We’re old pals, Chipper and I…in fact, it was my experience with him that made me decide on a lovebird before I purchased Scooter!
Chipper’s getting along in years. He went through two owners before coming to The Birdhouse for his role as store mascot. I don’t know how long it was between his hatching and his becoming a store employee, but he’s at least twelve years old. A healthy lovebird can live up to 20 years, so he may have plenty of time left in him. He did, however, have an unfortunate incident this year which resulted in a nasty fall. We figure he had a minor stroke which caused him to lose balance. To this day, he’s lost his equilibrium somewhat and leans to his right. He walks sideways too. That disability hasn’t stopped him from his duties as the store ambassador, however!
If you ever find yourself at The Birdhouse, stop and say hello to Chipper. He may not be as willing to let people pick him up these days due to his balance problem, but he’s still very friendly. Maybe you’ll just see him curled up in his coconut half-shell, beak tucked away in his feathers. But hopefully he’ll be there for years to come, providing smiles to new customers and old friends alike!