Lisa Shea Forums Parakeets General Parakeet Chat Chicki's first earthquake living in CA

We live in CA. We had a EQ this 4:04 AM. We were up 4:am
My husband gets up early for work and we can imagine where
He was when it struck (where we least would want to be)
My Only thought was Chicki & so worried the EQ would 'make
him Not trust Me all over again' (Things have been perfect)
Persistance & Patience and UP DATE: Chicki has been fine
and happy & good bill of health. So EQ: I approached
him calmly and tried not to be 'fearful' non-intimidating
as I could. I used my (speech Bubble too) his 2 eyes
LQQING at me (his bird's eye view) 'ma-ma' (I know) AND
letting him KNOW that I WAS NOT shaking his cage OMG
and I was telling him it 's a 'EARTHY QUAKE' <-baby bird talk
Hoping I could help him by how I was reacting, smiling
and calm. He hadn't squawked or cried, but the bells were
tingling- so much all at once. He Clung to the front side
of his cage and didn't take his eyes off of me. I moved him
to the floor (in a safe area) and I was throwing on
my sweats/wallet and 'READY' Though I have his cage
reinforced ( sometimes) like when I go to the store?
So on the floor AND I lay next to him. His Blankie over
him nicely, we fell asleep. (my poor husband) I kinda
left him on his own:( <--but he checked on us both
and understood. Nice, isn't it? We all need a safe place.
I think down the road I may change chicki's dresser?
It is very High-height? The jolt& rocking as I watched?
Gradual 'increase' could be a DOOZIE! So I imagine I'll
get a different type of dresser/table ect. I have the cage
where it can't slide off? BUT Still...what if everything
flip-lifted up or fell over? (How do they say,in the city
EQ they aren't witty) None of my other birds knew EQ?
when we had a few lite ones? couldn't feel them. My other
concern and question? I'm so glad he didn't get hurt IN
the cage Thrashing & worry RE: wings & legs. Wish I didn't
have to lock him up and he could be care-free- cage free:)
Maybe do you think I should keep him un-locked/door open?
or door shut. I always would worry about him getting into
something but the EQ/cage seemed bad and he could hurt
himself IN The cage m'm So later waking up, picking him
up out of the cage and we climbed in the bed and lay an
hour 'under the cover' calm, peacful and using my bubble
I told him there may be some more shaking but ma ma
would be there for him. Then on my pillow and watched TV.
(I think he wasn't thinking about NO shaking:) he's enjoying
all the extra love:) I think I do too:) Hugs & shmishes
mwah mwah mwah I promise chicki a bath today. It's 80 degrees.
California M'M nothing will stop the EQ. Never really
get use to them? through the catastrophic 'impack of the
EQ we had here in 1994? REALLY drove me Nutty and was my
first experience ( and I didn't understand the after-shocks)
Now I think I'm better in dealing but keeping a eye on my
computer site RE: EQ ( I see there has been no after-shocks)
M'M there's a 5% chance a big one could come from this one as
it was from another fault or maybe No more ( from this one)
My chicki has been fine & happy. and was not acting up
strengely prior to the EQ. I know animals & pets detect the
'movement of the tectonic plates before the actually move?
Also storms ect. Well wondering if anyone had been in
a EQ ( with their BIRD(s) and should I keep Chicki's door
open? so he can fly OUT if we have another one? Well,
what ever!! I put extra food & water tube in his cage?
He's looking like "WOW! This is GREAT! I live UP stairs
Very HIGH up and facing WEST! I haven't the option to Move
this Year BUT all I Ever Think about! To get out of this
Place. It doesn't work for us No more & too restricting
and Not good for pets and have been here for 23 yrs. And
so HOT!!!!Of course I was 30's when i moved here? Not
thinking I'de be older one day:) Geesh I use to stay
out shopping all day:) who thought about how hot it was?
Was always on the go & tons of friends. Now My husband
and chicki are (my only girlfriends in the jungle)
<teasing> OK long Yack Yack here:) it's bath time:)

I think it would be bad to leave his cage door open, what if yu needed to flee the building. It might be hard to gather chicki up in a hurry. Just a thought.

Wow, I'm just glad you all weathered the quake none the worse for wear!
I agree with BLR about leaving him in his cage. You did the right thing and it was good you held him close in his cgae til it was over.
I would suggest you have a birdy first aid kit and evacuation supplies-extra water,bird food etc all together and kept in an easy to grab location. Ya just never know.

Way to go Chicki for being a big brave guy during your first earthquake!!! You too aadraine&chicki..you did good

or...You can come here to Canada, where earthquakes are a rarity.

Wow. This is the first time I've ever heard a personal account of how it is to be in an earthquake! I'm stunned. Oh, I know it's got to be terrible, but still.

It sounded like to me you had it together. But I agree with kk and BLR about not leaving the cage door open. And also about having emergency rations for yall and your pets.

Thanks everyone. I think I'll leave it closed. I'm pretty sure
I might have chicki sleep next to me ( for a few nights)
for a while. Actually I had been thinking of changing a few
things & and putting him on My side of the bed maybe.
I got a 'kick out of can come to canada' I chuckled:) Thanx:)
Got the bird-aid vitimin in Package/ seeds& mix and his
petamine <---all new & un-opened and with our vitimins &
medication. good to go:) I'm only concerned BECAUSE usually
there are After-shocks? And NONE this time m'm That can
mean there's bigger ones coming or Maybe None at all(unusual)
Like being a Big baby here but I want it over with already!
chicki's giving me THAT look 'lets go to the room' ha
Thanx again everyone:)

Poor Chicki. I bet he was comforted by you being there.
I live in the midwest and earthquakes are very rare, however we had one last month, around a 5. I did not feel it, it happened around 4am, but one of my birds freaked out for over 3/4 hour. Squawking, flapping/flying madly, and wouldn't calm down. I went to try to pick her up and she flew out of the cage and started flying around the room just under the ceiling so I couldn't get her. I had to wait until she tired herself out and landed on my shoulder. It took me over 45 minutes of talking softly and rubbing her tummy before she started falling back to sleep. The other bird kept looking at us like let me go back to sleep. I read online when that earthquake happened many pet birds in the area reacted similar. She scared my husband awake with her screaming and he didn't know what to do so he woke me up. Hope we don't get any more. I can't imagine having them all the time, but maybe then the birds would get used to them?

I live in the midwest as well. We have tornados, not earthquakes. I do not favor storms very well and my Jazz and my newbies have yet to experience their first thunder storm. I wonder how that will go. Eeeks!