My new Alexandrine -- Alex, 5 days at home, 2 months old...

[alexandrin]

Hello Dear Friends,

5 days ago I bought a new family member, Alexandrine, Alex his name. He is 2-3 months old.

Today I decided to open his cage's top side and try and make him step up on my hand, he finally did, but then he took a flight to another room, hit his nose into the window, I took him... then he stood up on my hand until we got back to the room where his cage stands, here he again took a flight into the window, fallen to the floor, refused to step up on my hand from the floor.

So I took him softly with both my hands around his back, to bring him back into the cage before more "accidents" happened, I think it was already too much for the first time outside the cage.

When I tried get close / touch him shortly after while he is inside the cage, he was very scared, didn't want me get close, seems as he is highly stressed as his whole body slightly bumps up/down every second.

Would appreciate suggestions!

Thanks,
Rom

 

[Flboy]

Hi and welcome!
They can be real skittish! For now, find something to cover the windows! This will only be temporary, he will learn!

 

[alexandrin]

Hi and welcome!
They can be real skittish! For now, find something to cover the windows! This will only be temporary, he will learn!

Okay, will keep windows covered, how about now? how much time to wait until try and approach him again? since now it feels like he sits in cage, angry/stressed/sad, whole body jumps slightly every second as his heart is bitting strong or something....

Also should i keep her cage covered with something to make it "darker' for her to relax ? or keep her cage un covered to regular light while he is relaxing?

Also from the window accident, his nose got some thing... see attached photo..its OK? it will get over? does it hurt?

Thanks a lot!

 

[GaleriaGila]

Hi! Here's some stuff you may enjoy... I'm glad you're here, and reaching out!

Here's some reading on bonding for you.
http://www.parrotforums.com/general-parrot-information/49144-tips-bonding-building-trust.html
General Parrot Information - Parrot Forum - Parrot Owner's Community
http://goodbirdinc.blogspot.com/2012...n-parrots.html


Most of us swear by our avian vets in the event of health concerns.
Certified Avian Vets
https://abvp.com/animal-owners/find-an-abvp-specialist/
If none are near you...
Avian Veterinarians
http://www.aav.org/search/custom.asp?id=1803
In my opinion, any of the vets listed here should be better than a regular vet.
International contacts, too.

 

[alexandrin]

Thanks a lot~ I would really appreciate if you guys could feedback me on my last reply above with the photo - truly appreciated <3

 

[alexandrin]

** Just went out and bought for him parrot food for small parrots, he wont eat yet from the plastic box (he stopped since today's accident, still in stress) but he did eat those from my finger - which is good I believe **

Btw here I made video how it looks after the crash, like an hour later: https://t.me/alextheparrot/2 posted in telegram channel i create especially for Alex.

The store told me he is 2-3 month old, but frankly looks like he might be older, isn't it? He is eating alone from the cage, dry food that the store sold us, in that food there is also sunflower seeds.

Btw: since the accident he is fluffy
And doesn't eat, yet, he eat from my finger ....
So I believe he still in a pain of shock...
So should be better in a day or two.

Right?

 

[Ellie777Australia]

Hi and welcome!
They can be real skittish! For now, find something to cover the windows! This will only be temporary, he will learn!

Okay, will keep windows covered, how about now? how much time to wait until try and approach him again? since now it feels like he sits in cage, angry/stressed/sad, whole body jumps slightly every second as his heart is bitting strong or something....

Also should i keep her cage covered with something to make it "darker' for her to relax ? or keep her cage un covered to regular light while he is relaxing?

Also from the window accident, his nose got some thing... see attached photo..its OK? it will get over? does it hurt?

Thanks a lot!

Do you have a pre-window hit pic of Alex's nose for comparison?

 

[Betrisher]

I'm so sorry your poor bird has hurt himself! Alexandrines depend greatly on their power of flight and will fly off mindlessly when frightened. At this state of your bird's training, it's probably best to cover the windows either with some light curtains or a roller blind or even just a bed-sheet tacked up. Or, you could put some stickers or even just stick some paper to the window so Alex can tell he can't fly through it.

When my birds were new, I walked them around all the windows and held them close to the glass every time I got them out of their cage. I let them feel the glass with their bodies and beaks. In that way, they learned very quickly that the clear glass was hard. They never did fly into a window, although once Madge flew into a mirror and scared herself badly.

Try and imagine what it's like for a tiny bird suddenly brought to your house and kept in a strange cage and in strange surroundings. He has no way of knowing you won't hurt him and expects danger from every direction. Only time will fix that. While he's learning that your house is not the Pit of Death and that you are not an evil dragon who wants to eat him, he'll need peace and quiet so he can learn to feel calm. It's probably best not to take him out of his cage for a week or two while he learns to relax.

Always move slowly and quietly around the cage and don't allow anyone else (eg. children) to run or move quickly about him. Try to keep the noise level down too, as sudden noises will scare him. Maybe a radio playing softly in the background might help to cover up other noises (traffic, machines, loud voices).

You could put your hand in the cage each day and offer him a treat. He might even come to the door of the cage to take it from you, once he learns you won't make him step up or grab him suddenly. Training a bird takes a very long time and you can't make the bird do things like stepping up. If you do, he'll hate it and may come to bite in order to defend himself from you. All you can do is ask him nicely to come to you and reward him when he does. In time, he'll learn to like the reward and to like you. He'll come to you when he's ready.

Alexandrines are wonderful companion birds, but you have to interact with them a lot to keep them happy and tame. They love to fly, so you might be able to allow yours to fly about your house when he's been with you for a few months. They also love to chew things, so try to give Alex things like wood or cardboard or cork or bamboo to chew on. Don't give him plastic stuff because you can't know whether it will poison him. Give him the biggest cage you can (small cages cause the long tail to get damaged and break off) and make sure he has some toys, like a swing, hanging rope, plastic ball (one that can't be bitten). Avoid bells, because Alexes can bite them open and swallow the tiny bead inside.

This is too much information for now, I know, so I'll stop. But do feel free to ask questions. We all want you to have a great time with your baby Alex and look forward to some happier pictures of him.

 

[alexandrin]

Good News!

Waking up this morning, just now, taking him back to the main room where sun light is there, waiting 10 minutes and the baby is EATING from the food can in the cage, woohoo! Certainly a sign - he is recovering from the first flight accident shock!

I also bought calcium vitamines and put him a little bit in his water, to help his beak with better and easier recovery, is it good idea?

Doubt:
I see he is like breathing heavily, not that I hear it..no... but his whole body is like slightly goes up/down, thats could be part of yesterday's shock? or its normal?


Here attached his beak, before and after yesterday's accident & how he was eating now on his own:

 

[Cardinal]

Hello Dear Friends,

5 days ago I bought a new family member, Alexandrine, Alex his name. He is 2-3 months old.

Today I decided to open his cage's top side and try and make him step up on my hand, he finally did, but then he took a flight to another room, hit his nose into the window, I took him... then he stood up on my hand until we got back to the room where his cage stands, here he again took a flight into the window, fallen to the floor, refused to step up on my hand from the floor.

So I took him softly with both my hands around his back, to bring him back into the cage before more "accidents" happened, I think it was already too much for the first time outside the cage.

When I tried get close / touch him shortly after while he is inside the cage, he was very scared, didn't want me get close, seems as he is highly stressed as his whole body slightly bumps up/down every second.

Would appreciate suggestions!

Thanks,
Rom

Are you from the Indian subcontinent? I am curious because only here, because a 2 month old bird is just too young. But if we go by wild bird breeding season- by July- the birds would be about at least 4.5 to 7 months old at least.

 

[Ellie777Australia]

Good News!

Waking up this morning, just now, taking him back to the main room where sun light is there, waiting 10 minutes and the baby is EATING from the food can in the cage, woohoo! Certainly a sign - he is recovering from the first flight accident shock!

I also bought calcium vitamines and put him a little bit in his water, to help his beak with better and easier recovery, is it good idea?

Doubt:
I see he is like breathing heavily, not that I hear it..no... but his whole body is like slightly goes up/down, thats could be part of yesterday's shock? or its normal?


Here attached his beak, before and after yesterday's accident & how he was eating now on his own:

Gee Rom, that's a big difference in the before and after window-hit pic of the beak. Or, camera lens to my view makes it appear as a huge difference. Birds have nerve endings in their beaks so if it is cracked your bird will have pain. Are you able to take this darling to a CAV for a checkup?



Also, cuttlebone or mineral blocks are great rather than add anything to your bird's water. You never know how much is ingested in water and your bird's water needs changing at least twice a day or more frequently. My birds get their water changed 3-4 times a day because I am at home and can do that. If you are using a water bottle then pleased use our search on same to look up risks in using same.

 

[alexandrin]

Good News!

Waking up this morning, just now, taking him back to the main room where sun light is there, waiting 10 minutes and the baby is EATING from the food can in the cage, woohoo! Certainly a sign - he is recovering from the first flight accident shock!

I also bought calcium vitamines and put him a little bit in his water, to help his beak with better and easier recovery, is it good idea?

Doubt:
I see he is like breathing heavily, not that I hear it..no... but his whole body is like slightly goes up/down, thats could be part of yesterday's shock? or its normal?


Here attached his beak, before and after yesterday's accident & how he was eating now on his own:

Gee Rom, that's a big difference in the before and after window-hit pic of the beak. Or, camera lens to my view makes it appear as a huge difference. Birds have nerve endings in their beaks so if it is cracked your bird will have pain. Are you able to take this darling to a CAV for a checkup?



Also, cuttlebone or mineral blocks are great rather than add anything to your bird's water. You never know how much is ingested in water and your bird's water needs changing at least twice a day or more frequently. My birds get their water changed 3-4 times a day because I am at home and can do that. If you are using a water bottle then pleased use our search on same to look up risks in using same.

Hi,

Actually, the difference isn't that major, the beak was not broken, nor fractioned, its just that brighter area at the top, you can see it has a superficial crack.

Good thing is he drinks, he eats - all looks much better than yesterday, also now he is cleaning him self again...

Here in Tbilisi, no parrot vets, if I want get parrot vet I need go to the national Zoo in the city, but at least we have a vet there

Here another shot, might help to see?

 

[Ellie777Australia]

Good News!

Waking up this morning, just now, taking him back to the main room where sun light is there, waiting 10 minutes and the baby is EATING from the food can in the cage, woohoo! Certainly a sign - he is recovering from the first flight accident shock!

I also bought calcium vitamines and put him a little bit in his water, to help his beak with better and easier recovery, is it good idea?

Doubt:
I see he is like breathing heavily, not that I hear it..no... but his whole body is like slightly goes up/down, thats could be part of yesterday's shock? or its normal?


Here attached his beak, before and after yesterday's accident & how he was eating now on his own:

Gee Rom, that's a big difference in the before and after window-hit pic of the beak. Or, camera lens to my view makes it appear as a huge difference. Birds have nerve endings in their beaks so if it is cracked your bird will have pain. Are you able to take this darling to a CAV for a checkup?



Also, cuttlebone or mineral blocks are great rather than add anything to your bird's water. You never know how much is ingested in water and your bird's water needs changing at least twice a day or more frequently. My birds get their water changed 3-4 times a day because I am at home and can do that. If you are using a water bottle then pleased use our search on same to look up risks in using same.

Hi,

Actually, the difference isn't that major, the beak was not broken, nor fractioned, its just that brighter area at the top, you can see it has a superficial crack.

Good thing is he drinks, he eats - all looks much better than yesterday, also now he is cleaning him self again...

Here in Tbilisi, no parrot vets, if I want get parrot vet I need go to the national Zoo in the city, but at least we have a vet there

Here another shot, might help to see?

Eh Rom, sounds like the 'superficial crack to beak' is not interfering with his eating and drinking???? How is his breathing now? Everything ok?

 

[alexandrin]

Updates, beak status today, the next day after accident:

 

[alexandrin]

Gee Rom, that's a big difference in the before and after window-hit pic of the beak. Or, camera lens to my view makes it appear as a huge difference. Birds have nerve endings in their beaks so if it is cracked your bird will have pain. Are you able to take this darling to a CAV for a checkup?



Also, cuttlebone or mineral blocks are great rather than add anything to your bird's water. You never know how much is ingested in water and your bird's water needs changing at least twice a day or more frequently. My birds get their water changed 3-4 times a day because I am at home and can do that. If you are using a water bottle then pleased use our search on same to look up risks in using same.

Hi,

Actually, the difference isn't that major, the beak was not broken, nor fractioned, its just that brighter area at the top, you can see it has a superficial crack.

Good thing is he drinks, he eats - all looks much better than yesterday, also now he is cleaning him self again...

Here in Tbilisi, no parrot vets, if I want get parrot vet I need go to the national Zoo in the city, but at least we have a vet there

Here another shot, might help to see?

Eh Rom, sounds like the 'superficial crack to beak' is not interfering with his eating and drinking???? How is his breathing now? Everything ok?

1. Drinking normally as before it seems.
2. Eating pretty actively, I see him going to the food jar pretty often, as he used to do before accident.
3. Above in my post, attached 3 new photos from today.
4. Breathing - I am not 100% sure was like this before or not, but his whole bodys seems to be elevating slightly and going down and vice versa, due to his breathing, I cant remember if it was like this before accident... can someone suggest if its normal? maybe due to stress from yesterday?

I took two videos, you can see on 2nd video especially when I look from his back, how he moves up/down:
https://1drv.ms/v/s!AoV4qj_8dsnieF5IritqlbPkpPA?e=d77xa8
https://1drv.ms/v/s!AoV4qj_8dsnieX0r70tF6XGB4ps?e=tsCph2

Here I just gave him a treat fresh fruit, he eats with a joy:
https://1drv.ms/v/s!AoV4qj_8dsnievp9EHeU6I5mh9A?e=6XMVPW

Thanks!

 

[alexandrin]

He was eating and drinking and eating... and now he sits like this with head behind....its OK?

P.S. she already back to normal poze and eating again

 

[Jottlebot]

I can't see the videos, but no, moving when breathing is not normal. He could be very stressed and as you say is probably scared of you in which case they can kind of pant and you would see movement, but if you can look at him from the doorway or something when he doesn't know you are there and he is still moving when he breathes it could be that he's having to work hard to breathe and I'm afraid you should take him to a vet.

Eating and drinking is a good sign, but doesn't mean he's fine.

I think he does look 2 or 3 months old as you were told. He has baby eyes and still has the darkness to his beak of a very young bird. He's probably just just about old enough to be away from his parents/being reared. You have to be very careful with him, he is incredibly delicate at this age. I don't mean physically, but if he gets sick.

The cage is far too small and you HAVE to get him some toys!! Even if it just gives him something to hide behind and feel safe. Avoid fruit and seeds and nuts as the main diet. I believe pellets and fresh vegetables and pulses etc are the best diet, but other people disagree.

Give him space and slowly, slowly start to sit closer to the cage. I mean over days at least. Talk to him as much as you can from a distance if the panting is stress wait until he stops breathing like that before you move closer. Put food and toys is whenever you need to obviously, but move slowly and then give him space straight away.

Whether you let him out again is tricky. Personally I did. Long long before I could handle my Alexandrine I would still let him out every day, I just only fed him in his cage so he'd have to go back in and I'd shut the door.

 

[Jottlebot]

He was eating and drinking and eating... and now he sits like this with head behind....its OK?

P.S. she already back to normal poze and eating again

This is normal, they sleep like this, but I think in this instance he is preening

 

[alexandrin]

I can't see the videos, but no, moving when breathing is not normal. He could be very stressed and as you say is probably scared of you in which case they can kind of pant and you would see movement, but if you can look at him from the doorway or something when he doesn't know you are there and he is still moving when he breathes it could be that he's having to work hard to breathe and I'm afraid you should take him to a vet.

Eating and drinking is a good sign, but doesn't mean he's fine.

I think he does look 2 or 3 months old as you were told. He has baby eyes and still has the darkness to his beak of a very young bird. He's probably just just about old enough to be away from his parents/being reared. You have to be very careful with him, he is incredibly delicate at this age. I don't mean physically, but if he gets sick.

The cage is far too small and you HAVE to get him some toys!! Even if it just gives him something to hide behind and feel safe. Avoid fruit and seeds and nuts as the main diet. I believe pellets and fresh vegetables and pulses etc are the best diet, but other people disagree.

Give him space and slowly, slowly start to sit closer to the cage. I mean over days at least. Talk to him as much as you can from a distance if the panting is stress wait until he stops breathing like that before you move closer. Put food and toys is whenever you need to obviously, but move slowly and then give him space straight away.

Whether you let him out again is tricky. Personally I did. Long long before I could handle my Alexandrine I would still let him out every day, I just only fed him in his cage so he'd have to go back in and I'd shut the door.

Thanks for the tips, well, so far he LOVES seeds and this is the diet that the store suggested for him, this is not regular store, its actually animals store inside university that teaches about animals etc.. so the store people are also those who make lectures there too, Maybe now you can see the video? See how he slightly moves when breathing?

https://1drv.ms/v/s!AoV4qj_8dsnieX0r70tF6XGB4ps


btw, this food is good for him? see attached photo.

 

[Jottlebot]

Sorry, I can't see the video because I don't want to download the app I need to view it!

I strongly disagree with the advice regarding seed that you have been given unless it is just while he is so young and growing? I am very surprised an experienced store would tell you that. Seeds are very high in fat. Most parrots will love them, but it is like me eating crisps and chocolate all day, I love it, but it's not good for me at all! Alexandrines are usually very food motivated and do get fat easily. I have lost a 13 year old parrot that should have lived into at least her 50's because she was on a seed diet her whole life. We had her for about 2 years before she became ill, we tried to change her diet as soon as the vet explained how bad it was, but it was too late and she didn't survive the illness.

I'm sorry, I don't think that is a good food. It's for budgerigars which can tolerate a far higher seed diet than larger parrots and eat a lot of millet. Although he is small his food intake is more similar to a large parrot than a budgerigar.