An update on me and my (now three) birds.

[Frumpydumple]

I don't know if many people saw the thread I made (that I'm guessing got deleted for some reason) that said I was leaving the forum, but I have been very stressed recently and things weren't going well with my birds.

Merle's screaming was really stressing me out and I thought I would have to rehome him, I didn't want to say on the forum though because I was worried people on here would think I was stupid for buying him and then giving him to another home so I thought it would be easier to just leave, but things are going better now with him, so hopefully I can fully overcome my problem with loud noises and be able to keep him.

I will probably be taking him to the beach soon in his harness, I will try to take some pictures. I've been thinking of changing his name to Burt, I think it suits him better.

Cookie has big blue primaries growing in and a few visible bright green feathers on her back, her new feathers have no bronzing. I have ordered Roudybush Rice pellets to see if they will help her.

I also got a ten month old cinnamon blue Indian Ringneck yesterday. He is not very tame but he is very beautiful and I am thinking of calling him Cloud because it suits him.

I would like some extra tips on how to gain his trust. He is calm if I don't get too close to him, but if I put my hand near him or get too close he will open his beak at me, fly or start panting. I know I obviously just got him, I just wanted a few helpful tips. He is clipped by the way.

My mother has almost got her birds on Kaytee Rainbow Exact pellets, but since they aren't that great she is going to convert them to Roudybush.

I will post some pictures of all three of my birds soon.

 

[RavensGryf]

Emily! I'm glad you posted

You know... It's normal to wonder if people will criticize our decisions or not understand them. Even though most people will say 'I don't care what others think', most people do care to an extent. It's human nature. It seems like on this site, people (for the most part) do respect and support the decisions we make, even if it might not be the same decision they'd make for themselves. Unless something is REALLY IDIOTIC (and you're not!), people would understand I think.

I'm happy to hear that Cookies new feathers are looking good!! Fingers crossed! and I'm glad that the other birdies are doing well. Cinnamon Blue IRN's are really pretty! I think you just need to give the bird time to settle in the new surroundings. Be near him, talk to him but don't get closer than he's comfortable with. See if he'll take food from your hand? If he's pretty wild or untrusting he might not at first. Little by little you'll gain his trust. Even if he never becomes really hands on, the trust will come eventually. Please give updates!

 

[Frumpydumple]

Emily! I'm glad you posted

You know... It's normal to wonder if people will criticize our decisions or not understand them. Even though most people will say 'I don't care what others think', most people do care to an extent. It's human nature. It seems like on this site, people (for the most part) do respect and support the decisions we make, even if it might not be the same decision they'd make for themselves. Unless something is REALLY IDIOTIC (and you're not!), people would understand I think.

I'm happy to hear that Cookies new feathers are looking good!! Fingers crossed! and I'm glad that the other birdies are doing well. Cinnamon Blue IRN's are really pretty! I think you just need to give the bird time to settle in the new surroundings. Be near him, talk to him but don't get closer than he's comfortable with. See if he'll take food from your hand? If he's pretty wild or untrusting he might not at first. Little by little you'll gain his trust. Even if he never becomes really hands on, the trust will come eventually. Please give updates!

Thank you.

I'm really hoping things turn out fine with Cookie. I don't know how I would survive without her.

I couldn't resist him when I saw him. They're beautiful birds.

He doesn't take food from my hand yet. I also tried a dowel perch. He bit the perch a few times and then stepped up, but he flew off after that. He is pretty calm if I just sit not too close, I move away if he starts getting too scared though.

He did fall on the floor and then surprisingly, he flew to my leg. He isn't used to hands. I think he just needs time, I don't think he will be difficult to tame. He was only fed a bad seed mix and maybe the occasional bit of fruit at the place I got him from too, but he will have a big variety of food here. He can also talk a little bit.

I will post updates often now that I'm staying here.

 

[FluffyYellowBird]

Glad Cookie is growing in beautiful new feathers. Merle is a funny bird, I think he suits the name Burt. I can't stop looking at Cloud, he is such a lovely colour. I am sure you will soon have Cloud tame, I can't wait to tickle those gorgeous feathers.

 

[Kiwibird]

Glad you were able to take a little time and figure everything out. I totally get the frustration that comes when your bird is doing something that drives you completely INSANE:52:. Screaming is an especially bad one, and it tends to get worse (as the parrot tries to push their limits) before it gets better (they learn they get no positive response). Just keep reinforcing his positive noises and actions with the attention he wants and ignoring that screaming (ear muffs in July anyone). I love the name Burt too. Very cute for a bird

And congrats on Cloud! I know IRNs are considered more aviary birds, but they can be great pets when you work with them. Our landlords have an IRN who is very sweet and tame (and has a surprisingly large vocabulary:11. Of course, with Cloud being so new to you, he will need some time to settle in and adjust, but I'm confident if work with him, you'll have a third fabulous feathered companion

 

[ruffledfeathers]

Glad you posted. Sometimes when we only know people from a forum, it's such a narrow image, like we are just peeking through a key hole at their lives, and it's easy to imagine all the ways we aren't going to measure up. In the end all of us have likely made our share of mistakes or questioned things in our lives.


I almost pride myself on being a compassionate, non-judging person but I disappoint myself more frequently than I care to say!! I particularly have a heart for animals, my own pets are ADORED, but I have had times when I wanted to scream "I CAN'T STAND YOU" because they were getting on my last nerve.


My Georgie squawked when she was younger, like that 'sun conure making your brain melt' squawking incessantly. Trust me, as much as I loved her, there were times I wondered why I ever even got her. It makes me feel sad to say that but it's just the truth. And it did get better.


Hopefully we can all be a place where you feel safe to vent your frustrations and/or get ideas how to deal with /cope with them rather than where you feel judged or intimidated.


One last thing that probably sounds funny. My 'bottom line' motto with any of my pets has been: Raise them so that if someone else ever ended up with them, they would be desired as a pet. (If anything ever happened to me, sickness, catastrophic financial situation, etc., my pets are pretty well liked and trained and would have a higher chance of finding a great home.) That's probably the best we can promise, because we never know all the details of our own future.


end of my existential blabber.

 

[Ducatimom]

Emily, I'm so glad you decided to stay! I can't speak for everybody, but I'm sure most of us have questioned ourselves and decisions we've made when our pets are being a little bratty. I used to tell our dogs when we first got them that they're lucky they're so darn cute or they'd be put outside. I'd never in a million years do that, but it kind of makes you feel better. Ducati is currently in his little bratty phase where he screams at me quite a few times during the day. I swear he hears the key in the lock and he immediately has to yell at me. So it's a work in progress lol.

That's such good news about Cookie though! My heart was breaking for you on your last update. I'll continue to send positive thoughts your way that she doesn't have another setback.

 

[FluffyYellowBird]

Thanks for everyone's kind thoughts and help and advice. You are all really lovely and understanding on this forum, I really appreciate the support and kindness you have all given to Emily.

 

[Dinosrawr]

I can understand why you would feel that way... when Avery flew away and I was running around frantically for her, all I could think is how could I ever come back and face everyone if she was gone forever, and how could I ever welcome a new bird into my life when I couldn't even take proper care of my first bird? I was just so lost in that regard, and felt ashamed of what had happened.

But, what I realized too, is that this forum has some of the most caring, genuine, and understanding people I've ever met. I don't think I'll ever encounter anyone in my life who is as passionate about birds as the people here are. I've learned so many things that I'd be lost without. I've learned so much that I think I'd be lost without this community at times when it comes to my struggles because I see that others have the same struggles too. It's hard when we can only glimpse the surface and everyone seems so perfect, but we all admit to our flaws here too. It makes us human

And I won't lie, there are times I could just lose it on Avery. Lately she's become very cage aggressive, she'll ask to come out, and just CHOMP on me. It hurts! Emotionally and physically. And sometimes I just want to get so mad at her for it, because I don't know how else to communicate my disappointment... but when I come here, and read, I understand more and more. And I learn that it's okay to be frustrated with your bird. Could you imagine raising children and never once being frustrated or upset or feeling hopeless? I definitely can't, so I relate that feeling to "raising" our birds. Never feel guilty for simply feeling emotions.

We all know your a great Birdy momma anyways I'm glad that things have picked up, though, and that you're feeling better! Don't ever be worried about being judged by us, Emily - we all know you're perfectly capable to make the right decisions for you and your birds. And we 'll stand by them with you.

 

[Frumpydumple]

Thanks everyone. "Cloud" was doing the male mating dance today. He was sitting at the front of the cage watching me and I slowly moved my hand pretty close and he didn't move away and he kept making a heart shape with his wings. I also put some apple through the bars and he ate it happily.

I'm not sure if I will definitely call him Cloud. Has anyone got any good names? I want something that sounds nice and pretty and not too common. I like interesting uncommon names. I'll post some pictures of him.

 

[RavensGryf]

Thanks for everyone's kind thoughts and help and advice. You are all really lovely and understanding on this forum, I really appreciate the support and kindness you have all given to Emily.

I really enjoy Emily being a regular part of this forum She's a lovely, smart girl and has a lot to offer here!

That's cool, mom and daughter can chat on the same forum and it's okay

 

[Frumpydumple]

"Cloud" was just being really strange a few minutes ago. I put some pellets in his cage he ate one and then he suddenly turned strange a few minutes after. He started running around like crazy, and then he jumped in his seed bowl, kicking all the seed out and doing back flips. It was hilarious.

I also gave him some shelled almonds, he was pinning his eyes while eating them.

All the birds at my house are really strange.

 

[RavensGryf]

Are you sure that wasn't catnip? LOL!
Cloud sounds like a food motivated kind of guy. That's good, it may make training easier

 

[Dinosrawr]

"Cloud" was just being really strange a few minutes ago. I put some pellets in his cage he ate one and then he suddenly turned strange a few minutes after. He started running around like crazy, and then he jumped in his seed bowl, kicking all the seed out and doing back flips. It was hilarious.

I also gave him some shelled almonds, he was pinning his eyes while eating them.

All the birds at my house are really strange.

Oh my goodness. I have a video of Shiko grabbing the clicker (he's OBSESSED with it!) and chewing on it, then absolutely bolting for it! It's SO funny. Last night he was chewing on his wood toys on my lap, got super excited and tried running/hopping with it, and he tripped on it then face planted off my lap into the bed. It was SO FUNNY! Ringnecks have so much personality. You're going to love the free entertainment!

 

[Frumpydumple]

Here he is. This is him the first day I got him. The photos make him look grey, but he is actually a lot more blue.

 

[Frumpydumple]

"Cloud" was just being really strange a few minutes ago. I put some pellets in his cage he ate one and then he suddenly turned strange a few minutes after. He started running around like crazy, and then he jumped in his seed bowl, kicking all the seed out and doing back flips. It was hilarious.

I also gave him some shelled almonds, he was pinning his eyes while eating them.

All the birds at my house are really strange.

Oh my goodness. I have a video of Shiko grabbing the clicker (he's OBSESSED with it!) and chewing on it, then absolutely bolting for it! It's SO funny. Last night he was chewing on his wood toys on my lap, got super excited and tried running/hopping with it, and he tripped on it then face planted off my lap into the bed. It was SO FUNNY! Ringnecks have so much personality. You're going to love the free entertainment!

That's funny. I want to see that.

They're great birds. I really like how the females cluck and the males do the strange mating dance.

 

[RavensGryf]

Cloud is beautiful! I love how his beak is lighter orange too. I wonder if the black ring will be lighter like a gray?

 

[thekarens]

Beautiful IRN!

 

[Frumpydumple]

Cloud is beautiful! I love how his beak is lighter orange too. I wonder if the black ring will be lighter like a gray?

Thanks. I think the ring will be black.

I will try to get some better pictures soon.

 

[faeryphoebe1]

Wow, Cloud is gorgeous! I'm so glad that you stayed.