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alexandrin
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My new Alexandrine -- Alex, 5 days at home, 2 months old...
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Betrisher
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Everyone, the OP lives in Tbilisi, Georgia (that would be in Asia, not the US), where the availability of pellets, CAVs (specialist bird vet) and proper toys is probably almost nil. If he's taking advice from a University animal department, then that's about as good as it gets.
It's OK for the bird to have seeds, but it would be far, far better if you gave him a diet based more on vegetables and edible flowers. In some places, you can buy special pellets that are designed to have everything in them that a bird needs. I am luckily able to get these pellets, but I know a lot of people in my country cannot. Believe it or not, plenty of birds can and do survive on an all-seed diet. Even though we know it's not the best thing, sometimes it's the only thing an owner can get!
Your bird is very, very young. In fact, he's probably too young to have been taken from his parents and may take some time before he learns to feed properly and to trust you. We can try to help you by answering your questions, but if he does get sick, what will you do?
I hope you will be able to find a much bigger cage for your bird. The one you have him in is likely to cause him to go a bit mad (just as you would if you were trapped in a tiny room). Alexes need a cage at least a metre high and wider than that if you can get one. My own cages are 2m x 2m x 1m, just as an example.
If a larger cage is not possible, then maybe you could allow the bird to be free in a smaller room in your house? It's easy to make an area just for him. You can make a perch from a piece of tree or hang ropes and poles for him to sit and climb on. If you keep your bird in that tiny cage forever, he will not do well. It might be OK for now while he's small, but an adult Alex would go quickly mad in such a tiny home.
I've just watched the first of the videos you posted (the other two have no picture). Your little bird looks quite fine and is very beautiful. I can't see anything odd in his breathing or the way he's perched, but he does look a bit stressed. Try keeping your voice low and soft, but speak to him all the time just as you're doing. He'll get to know you and hopefully begin to like you soon.
It's good that you're asking questions. We'll all help as much as we can. For now, I'd suggest you find out which vegetables your bird likes to eat (don't give him avocado - it's poisonous) and maybe offer him some tiny pieces of peanuts or cooked egg. My Alexes like the seed heads from the grass that grows in my garden.
It's OK for the bird to have seeds, but it would be far, far better if you gave him a diet based more on vegetables and edible flowers. In some places, you can buy special pellets that are designed to have everything in them that a bird needs. I am luckily able to get these pellets, but I know a lot of people in my country cannot. Believe it or not, plenty of birds can and do survive on an all-seed diet. Even though we know it's not the best thing, sometimes it's the only thing an owner can get!
Your bird is very, very young. In fact, he's probably too young to have been taken from his parents and may take some time before he learns to feed properly and to trust you. We can try to help you by answering your questions, but if he does get sick, what will you do?
I hope you will be able to find a much bigger cage for your bird. The one you have him in is likely to cause him to go a bit mad (just as you would if you were trapped in a tiny room). Alexes need a cage at least a metre high and wider than that if you can get one. My own cages are 2m x 2m x 1m, just as an example.
If a larger cage is not possible, then maybe you could allow the bird to be free in a smaller room in your house? It's easy to make an area just for him. You can make a perch from a piece of tree or hang ropes and poles for him to sit and climb on. If you keep your bird in that tiny cage forever, he will not do well. It might be OK for now while he's small, but an adult Alex would go quickly mad in such a tiny home.
I've just watched the first of the videos you posted (the other two have no picture). Your little bird looks quite fine and is very beautiful. I can't see anything odd in his breathing or the way he's perched, but he does look a bit stressed. Try keeping your voice low and soft, but speak to him all the time just as you're doing. He'll get to know you and hopefully begin to like you soon.
It's good that you're asking questions. We'll all help as much as we can. For now, I'd suggest you find out which vegetables your bird likes to eat (don't give him avocado - it's poisonous) and maybe offer him some tiny pieces of peanuts or cooked egg. My Alexes like the seed heads from the grass that grows in my garden.
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alexandrin
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I got here a proposal for $70 to get a custom designed cage
Size:
Wideness 80см
Depth 70см
Hight 65 см
Would it be bearable size?
Thanks a lot!
Size:
Wideness 80см
Depth 70см
Hight 65 см
Would it be bearable size?
Thanks a lot!
Betrisher
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Bigger would be better.
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alexandrin
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I would say, if asking your opinion for smallest bearable size, which one would it be?
Betrisher
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Did you see my earlier post?
I reckon you need a cage at *least* a metre in width and a metre tall. Most people use cages a metre wide and two metres tall. My cages are two metres wide and I find that gives my birds the chance to fly from perch to perch. This helps them use up the energy they get from the small amount of seed in their diet.
I know it's hard to find larger cages and they can be expensive, but honestly I've seen so many birds sicken and die in small cages. If you can't get a much larger cage, then maybe your bird can spend most of his time outside of his cage? Of course, you need to tame him first so you can handle him and teach him to stay in his place.
It doesn't matter for now, since your bird is new and it will take him a few weeks to settle in. Once he begins to explore his cage, though, and clearly wants to move (flapping his wings and climbing about the cage) - then that is the time you should try to get a much bigger cage OR allow him out for most of the day.
Thank you for being so interested and careful to find out what's good for your bird. You are a good owner!
I reckon you need a cage at *least* a metre in width and a metre tall. Most people use cages a metre wide and two metres tall. My cages are two metres wide and I find that gives my birds the chance to fly from perch to perch. This helps them use up the energy they get from the small amount of seed in their diet.
I know it's hard to find larger cages and they can be expensive, but honestly I've seen so many birds sicken and die in small cages. If you can't get a much larger cage, then maybe your bird can spend most of his time outside of his cage? Of course, you need to tame him first so you can handle him and teach him to stay in his place.
It doesn't matter for now, since your bird is new and it will take him a few weeks to settle in. Once he begins to explore his cage, though, and clearly wants to move (flapping his wings and climbing about the cage) - then that is the time you should try to get a much bigger cage OR allow him out for most of the day.
Thank you for being so interested and careful to find out what's good for your bird. You are a good owner!
OP
alexandrin
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Did you see my earlier post?
I reckon you need a cage at *least* a metre in width and a metre tall. Most people use cages a metre wide and two metres tall. My cages are two metres wide and I find that gives my birds the chance to fly from perch to perch. This helps them use up the energy they get from the small amount of seed in their diet.
I know it's hard to find larger cages and they can be expensive, but honestly I've seen so many birds sicken and die in small cages. If you can't get a much larger cage, then maybe your bird can spend most of his time outside of his cage? Of course, you need to tame him first so you can handle him and teach him to stay in his place.
It doesn't matter for now, since your bird is new and it will take him a few weeks to settle in. Once he begins to explore his cage, though, and clearly wants to move (flapping his wings and climbing about the cage) - then that is the time you should try to get a much bigger cage OR allow him out for most of the day.
Thank you for being so interested and careful to find out what's good for your bird. You are a good owner!
Very helpful indeed
<3 you guys are amazing community.Here are doubts:
1. Of course I would love giving him more time outside, but surely, only once he is ready for it, otherwise its a risk for him of doing crazy things like rush into a wall...
2. As for the cage, lets say I won't be able to figure out 1 meter x 1 meter cage here, how feasible would be for him something around 36 inch х 30 inch х 28 inch ? it will be feasable at all?
Thank you so much!
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alexandrin
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OK - Good news. I am going to get something very close to the minimum suggested here above by the dear member.
Cage will be custom designed / custom made for me by a professional cages builder here in Tbilisi.
Size will be 90cm x 90cm x 70cm so almost 1 meter on 1 meter.
Should be good I believe!
Cage will be custom designed / custom made for me by a professional cages builder here in Tbilisi.
Size will be 90cm x 90cm x 70cm so almost 1 meter on 1 meter.
Should be good I believe!
Betrisher
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Oh that's great news! Yes, a cage that size should work well for you and your bird.
I didn't mean you should allow him to spend a lot of time out of his cage yet. I meant you would wait until he is tamed and ready to play with you. At that point, he should be quite happy to sit on the back of a chair or on top of his cage for much of the day.
Today, I spent a few hours fixing the toys in my Alex's cage. They chew everything and it takes a lot of work to keep them busy. Today, I threw out their old rope and put some new rope in. I fixed their long ladder (2m long, it hangs from the roof and touches the floor) and I repaired the boing (spiral perch covered with rope). They were very happy when I'd finished!
I didn't mean you should allow him to spend a lot of time out of his cage yet. I meant you would wait until he is tamed and ready to play with you. At that point, he should be quite happy to sit on the back of a chair or on top of his cage for much of the day.
Today, I spent a few hours fixing the toys in my Alex's cage. They chew everything and it takes a lot of work to keep them busy. Today, I threw out their old rope and put some new rope in. I fixed their long ladder (2m long, it hangs from the roof and touches the floor) and I repaired the boing (spiral perch covered with rope). They were very happy when I'd finished!
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alexandrin
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Oh that's great news! Yes, a cage that size should work well for you and your bird.
I didn't mean you should allow him to spend a lot of time out of his cage yet. I meant you would wait until he is tamed and ready to play with you. At that point, he should be quite happy to sit on the back of a chair or on top of his cage for much of the day.
Today, I spent a few hours fixing the toys in my Alex's cage. They chew everything and it takes a lot of work to keep them busy. Today, I threw out their old rope and put some new rope in. I fixed their long ladder (2m long, it hangs from the roof and touches the floor) and I repaired the boing (spiral perch covered with rope). They were very happy when I'd finished!
Glad to hear I made the right choice for the cage, he expected to build it by next Tuesday ) should be a long term solution!
Happy to hear you had a chance to fix up yours
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alexandrin
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Oh that's great news! Yes, a cage that size should work well for you and your bird.
I didn't mean you should allow him to spend a lot of time out of his cage yet. I meant you would wait until he is tamed and ready to play with you. At that point, he should be quite happy to sit on the back of a chair or on top of his cage for much of the day.
Today, I spent a few hours fixing the toys in my Alex's cage. They chew everything and it takes a lot of work to keep them busy. Today, I threw out their old rope and put some new rope in. I fixed their long ladder (2m long, it hangs from the roof and touches the floor) and I repaired the boing (spiral perch covered with rope). They were very happy when I'd finished!
Glad to hear I made the right choice for the cage, he expected to build it by next Tuesday ) should be a long term solution!
Happy to hear you had a chance to fix up yours
btw, an example of his work, here one cage he created before:
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alexandrin
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Oh that's great news! Yes, a cage that size should work well for you and your bird.
I didn't mean you should allow him to spend a lot of time out of his cage yet. I meant you would wait until he is tamed and ready to play with you. At that point, he should be quite happy to sit on the back of a chair or on top of his cage for much of the day.
Today, I spent a few hours fixing the toys in my Alex's cage. They chew everything and it takes a lot of work to keep them busy. Today, I threw out their old rope and put some new rope in. I fixed their long ladder (2m long, it hangs from the roof and touches the floor) and I repaired the boing (spiral perch covered with rope). They were very happy when I'd finished!
Glad to hear I made the right choice for the cage, he expected to build it by next Tuesday ) should be a long term solution!
Happy to hear you had a chance to fix up yours
btw, an example of his work, here one cage he created before:
Its OK for parrot or .. ?
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alexandrin
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UPDATE: Decided not going ahead with custom made as it is wood made which can be a risk of the parrot would chew too much of it. I will look in stores for a regular one which would be as close as possible to the sizes mentioned !
Jottlebot
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Spock - Common Mynah,
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I'm pretty sure where ever people live fresh vegetables are available!? There's no need to buy vegetable based food, just check what vegetables are safe for parrots and give him as much choice as possible. He'll only eat a bit so you can freeze it to get it to last longer. The less you can feed seed and the more vegetables the better. It also means you can save seeds for treats when you start teaching him tricks
Good decision on the wooden cage! They're little chainsaws when they get going, a wooden cage would end up an expensive toy most probably. Are you able to buy online and have something shipped? It would open up more choice, although I guess it could get very expensive.
Good decision on the wooden cage! They're little chainsaws when they get going, a wooden cage would end up an expensive toy most probably. Are you able to buy online and have something shipped? It would open up more choice, although I guess it could get very expensive.
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alexandrin
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I am concerned, is this breathing normal? Look at his body bottom and from the above, I took video:
[ame="https://youtu.be/rqG5i3Co9O4"]Observing baby Alexandrine breathing, 3 month old. - YouTube[/ame]
[ame="https://youtu.be/rqG5i3Co9O4"]Observing baby Alexandrine breathing, 3 month old. - YouTube[/ame]
Jottlebot
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I agree, it doesn't look right. Does he breathe like that even when you are not close to him? Can you take the video to the University store who advised you about the food?
Betrisher
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I don't think his breathing looks sick, just scared. I think he's afraid. You could try putting something over one end of his cage. That would give him some 'privacy' and a place to retreat to if he's really scared. Or simply push his cage up against a wall. That way, there's one direction where he can feel safe from people coming at him.
Remeber: he's just a young baby, only out of the nest a few weeks. He probably misses the security of somewhere to hide.
Remeber: he's just a young baby, only out of the nest a few weeks. He probably misses the security of somewhere to hide.
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alexandrin
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So some news:
1. Took a taxi today to the university animals shop*
Right where I bought this baby.*
2. Talked to the animals expert there, she said that he is indeed
Looking thinner and weaker (videos I sent her).
3. She prescribed A. Since he is just 3 month barely old, make sure his food jar is always full, he never should be hungry for food, she told me to use the mix she sold me, its ideal for him per her statement, the mix she sold me is a mixture of seeds, veggies and froot palets. C. She said include for now half boiled hard egg daily in his diet. D. She sold me a small portion of premium multi vitamin powder and instructed me put a two finger chop of this powder daily on the half egg served for 10 days (if I remember correctly).*
And she said in 10 days he should be back to normal, good shape of all above instructions followed.
And final news -- I bought from them a larger cage, cost me around $150, well its not a 100 cm one but its, much better than the current one, its 50 width 50 in and around 65-70 cm hight. For least he wil fully fit in and be able to open wings without feel limited. The cage has an upper door with perch, so eventually can stand there too once he is confident being outside the cage. I will for now let him see the new cage for few days as I put the new cage near the existing... then try move him. Also bought online better perch and few toys, will arrive in 20-30 days.
Here how he is this morning, second day with egg and first morning after vitamins:*
[ame="https://youtu.be/JbeDpYtk1FQ"]Good Morning Alex ! - YouTube[/ame]
[ame="https://youtu.be/SG5N89EY0jE"]Alex eats his Sunday Breakfast 🥰 - YouTube[/ame]
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TCBhIcXiK8"] - Observing Alex - YouTube[/ame]
1. Took a taxi today to the university animals shop*
Right where I bought this baby.*
2. Talked to the animals expert there, she said that he is indeed
Looking thinner and weaker (videos I sent her).
3. She prescribed A. Since he is just 3 month barely old, make sure his food jar is always full, he never should be hungry for food, she told me to use the mix she sold me, its ideal for him per her statement, the mix she sold me is a mixture of seeds, veggies and froot palets. C. She said include for now half boiled hard egg daily in his diet. D. She sold me a small portion of premium multi vitamin powder and instructed me put a two finger chop of this powder daily on the half egg served for 10 days (if I remember correctly).*
And she said in 10 days he should be back to normal, good shape of all above instructions followed.
And final news -- I bought from them a larger cage, cost me around $150, well its not a 100 cm one but its, much better than the current one, its 50 width 50 in and around 65-70 cm hight. For least he wil fully fit in and be able to open wings without feel limited. The cage has an upper door with perch, so eventually can stand there too once he is confident being outside the cage. I will for now let him see the new cage for few days as I put the new cage near the existing... then try move him. Also bought online better perch and few toys, will arrive in 20-30 days.
Here how he is this morning, second day with egg and first morning after vitamins:*
[ame="https://youtu.be/JbeDpYtk1FQ"]Good Morning Alex ! - YouTube[/ame]
[ame="https://youtu.be/SG5N89EY0jE"]Alex eats his Sunday Breakfast 🥰 - YouTube[/ame]
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TCBhIcXiK8"] - Observing Alex - YouTube[/ame]
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alexandrin
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Another forum suggested me as extra safety do this:
For two weeks, daily put once a day 25Mg doxycycline into his water in morning. She said it won't hurt him but if something is wrong like infection etc... it will fix it, if nothing wrong it wont hurt do this.
Your feedback please if possible?
The lady from the forum also said, NO NO for Egg for Alexandrine, so I should stop with 10 days egg course I guess?
Thanks ��
For two weeks, daily put once a day 25Mg doxycycline into his water in morning. She said it won't hurt him but if something is wrong like infection etc... it will fix it, if nothing wrong it wont hurt do this.
Your feedback please if possible?
The lady from the forum also said, NO NO for Egg for Alexandrine, so I should stop with 10 days egg course I guess?
Thanks ��
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Betrisher
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I'm not a vet, just a parrot fancier. I would *never* give antibiotics to an animal unless it had been prescribed by a qualified vet. The potential to do serious harm is just too great.
A bit of cooked egg won't hurt your Alex, only I'd give maybe a teaspoonful at the most. For the rest, it seems your cage situation is as good as it could possibly be and Alex' diet seems to be pretty good as well.
He is a really, really beautiful little bird! Please tell him Trish said 'Hello' from Australia. He reminds me of my Beaks when they were little.
A bit of cooked egg won't hurt your Alex, only I'd give maybe a teaspoonful at the most. For the rest, it seems your cage situation is as good as it could possibly be and Alex' diet seems to be pretty good as well.
He is a really, really beautiful little bird! Please tell him Trish said 'Hello' from Australia. He reminds me of my Beaks when they were little.
