New Member, Tiels, Conures...and new additions

[Jenypher]

Hi All -- My name is Jen. I have three cockatiels (a bonded pair, Peter & Sophie, rescued separately) and a five-month-old baby (Melvin). I had a GCC named Charlie, who was my shadow. He was killed by my dogs in an accident that was completely my fault, and I'm pretty sure I'm never getting over it. However, he was my first bird and changed my life --> made me a bird person. I miss him every day.

We're in the process of adopting a pair of budgies, which I feel very confident about. We're also in the process of adopting a 28-year-old Double Yellow Headed Amazon name Baya and, truth be told, I'm terrified. Excited, but SO intimidated. We met him at the rescue: his back story is that his owner got sick with something like cancer, and the person who took him couldn't manage him. He stepped up immediately for me at the rescue, but was clearly EXTREMELY stressed out by the noise level. I got bitten (my fault, I didn't realize I'd taken him into an area he didn't know, and he bit me not wanting to step up again after trying to run away to a quieter, known area). After the rescue lady retrieved him, he stepped up for me again with no malice. He seems extremely sweet, I've just never owned a bird quite this size before and I want to make sure that this is his final home. I'll be stalking the Amazon forum and already read through the body language post twice (and will probably print to read compulsively).

My cousin is actually a professional bird trainer and we have an amazing local bird store (that's all they do - parrots) that has provided coaching to me and my flock. I have a good avian vet, Baya's going to have a big cage, I have stainless steel cookware...I'm just...freaked out!!

Because I mentioned them: my dogs are small (mini dachschund / chihuahua) and I'm careful about keeping them separated from the birds (again, that once accident was my fault, I didn't secure Charlie in his cage properly for the night somehow and they got him in the morning).

 

[LaManuka]

Welcome Jenypher. I’m truly sorry for the loss of your beloved Charlie.

You certainly sound like you have your hands full now but there are plenty of very wise Amazon carers here who will help. All the best with beautiful Baya and your flock!

 

[Laurasea]

Welcome. Thank you for sharing the hard truth about Charlie and the risk with dogs, you don't know how many Parrots you might help by sharing that story... definitely read up in the Amazon section, abd we have wonderful Amazon people here who will answer questions. Welcome to you and your flock! Wonderful to be a rescuer!!!

 

[itzjbean]

Welcome and thanks for posting!

I want to caution you about bringing more and more birds into your home, while great intentions, please make sure you quarantine them if you do, for the 30 day period required to ensure your other birds are safe from disease and transmission of illness from the new ones.

Also, there is no reason to rush into birds Acquiring 3 new birds at one time sounds like a handful, (perhaps impulsive?) so just be sure you aren't biting off more than you can chew, better to start off into the bird game slow and work your way up to more as time goes on.

I have a dog too, I know how you feel about precautions. Mine's 100 pounds, wouldn't hurt a fly, won't eat the birds or go after them but my main concern is him STEPPING on them. I also have two cats and cannot trust one around the bids while they're out of the cage so they get put away in their room. It's all about taking precautions.

Lots of info here and members with decades of experience.

 

[GaleriaGila]

Welcome! I am so glad you're here. You sound like our kind of folks, for sure.

I look forward to sharing your journey.

 

[TiredOldMan]

Welcome and thanks for posting!

I have a dog too, I know how you feel about precautions. Mine's 100 pounds, wouldn't hurt a fly, won't eat the birds or go after them but my main concern is him STEPPING on them.
Lots of info here and members with decades of experience.

I worry because my birds have no fear of my dogs. NONE. In fact the U2 will actively seek out the dogs to attack them. I really couldn't fault a dog for defending themselves. So far when i'm not paying as good of attention as I should, the dogs give the birds a wide berth when they see them coming. One dog is about 50lbs and the other is 65lbs. But let the Too sneak up on a sleeping dog and bite him and that dog will respond before he realizes that it's the bird.

 

[Flboy]

Welcome to you and yours! I know the pain! We lost our first Tango, also to a doxi, also my fault!

 

[jousze]

Welcome and thanks for posting!

I want to caution you about bringing more and more birds into your home, while great intentions, please make sure you quarantine them if you do, for the 30 day period required to ensure your other birds are safe from disease and transmission of illness from the new ones.

Also, there is no reason to rush into birds Acquiring 3 new birds at one time sounds like a handful, (perhaps impulsive?) so just be sure you aren't biting off more than you can chew, better to start off into the bird game slow and work your way up to more as time goes on.

I have a dog too, I know how you feel about precautions. Mine's 100 pounds, wouldn't hurt a fly, won't eat the birds or go after them but my main concern is him STEPPING on them. I also have two cats and cannot trust one around the bids while they're out of the cage so they get put away in their room. It's all about taking precautions.

Lots of info here and members with decades of experience.

My parents have a cat, my moms cockatoo bit his tail and broke it (not cut it) :/.. since then he’s scared even from cockatiels


Jose

 

[Jenypher]

Welcome and thanks for posting!

I want to caution you about bringing more and more birds into your home, while great intentions, please make sure you quarantine them if you do, for the 30 day period required to ensure your other birds are safe from disease and transmission of illness from the new ones.

Also, there is no reason to rush into birds Acquiring 3 new birds at one time sounds like a handful, (perhaps impulsive?) so just be sure you aren't biting off more than you can chew, better to start off into the bird game slow and work your way up to more as time goes on. .

I think that's great advice, and that part of why I'm freaked is that it's three at once. After reading this and thinking it over, I've asked the rescue to hold off on the Budgies for a little while. They have probably 50 right now, and there's always a need for bird homes, so I'm sure it'll keep As soon as I made that mental decision, my stress level went down quite a bit, which is good because I don't want the Amazon to feel my stress in addition to his own.

I will definitely quarantine, thanks for the heads-up!! I'll go look into the best way to do that ASAP.

 

[wrench13]

Welcome and be welcomed.

If you like bird tricks, check out Salty's videos, link below. We do it just for fun, and it makes for great bonding time. Good luck.

 

[dhraiden]

Welcome Jeny!

 

[Scott]

Welcome, Jen! My deepest condolences for your loss of Charlie. I too had a similar accident and will never forget. Seems you have a good plan to isolate your current birds from the dogs; it requires continuous vigilance to maintain safety.