Say hello to Henry!

[dskidd]

It started some time ago. Mysterious phone calls in the middle of the night. "This is Pickles," a slightly raspy, yet somehow melodious voice would whisper. "I can't believe anyone who claims to be a bird lover would settle for something as lowly as a black-headed caique. Get serious! You need a white-bellied caique if you want to be accepted into polite society! Black-headed caique?! HAH!"

The phone calls kept coming, but started getting more insistent, and even threatening. Then there were the rocks thrown throw the windows. All of them had a note attached, reading "You KNOW what to do...signed, Pickles." However, I think it was the black "X" painted on my front door that finally caused me to cave in.

JTBirds, you can tell Pickles to cease and desist! Say hello to Henry! (Yeah, yeah, I know...Henry and Eliza...I'm never one to overlook the very, very obvious!) Henry is a New Year's Day baby: 1/1/13!

They seem to be getting along fine so far (Eliza seems to be doing a pretty good job instructing him that I'm here to pretty much see to their every whim). One funny thing: Henry is much more into head-surfing--Eliza's never really done that. Henry got on my head this morning to surf, and Eliza just stared at him as if to say "Uh...what the heck are you DOING?!"

Thanks to all--as always--for the excellent insights and advice, particularly on the idea of having two (or more) caiques. I don't think I would have done it had I not read some of the other threads here.
Derek (and the gang)

 

[MissTaz]

Oh look at those beautiful babies!!! They look like they are getting along pretty well. Thank you for sharing!!!

 

[aliray]

Congrats on the new baby. How did you introduce them to each other, and how long before they got along or was it love at first bite or sight

 

[dskidd]

Congrats on the new baby. How did you introduce them to each other, and how long before they got along or was it love at first bite or sight

Many thanks! Actually, I didn't really make the first introduction. I had been thinking for some time about getting a second caique. I absolutely love the bond Eliza and I have, but I was growing slightly concerned that the bond was getting too tight: she started getting a bit nippy towards people she usually liked, for example.

The woman who owned the bird shop where Eliza laid claim to me (they say a bird chooses its owner, and it was never more true than of Eliza!), closed the shop in March (*sniffle*) but we've kept in touch. She still had a pair of WBC's--she intended to keep the female. (She also has a few canaries and finches left, if anyone's interested!)

I went away for a few days last week. She agreed to board Eliza at her home, and basically see how she and the male WBC got along. I realize it's not perfect conditions for introducing the two--Eliza was in a strange place, first of all, but I trust this woman's judgement. She told me there were the occasional squabbles, but it's not like they were constantly fighting. She sent me that photo of the two of them while I was out of town.

I decided to take the male WBC home. It's still possible this may not work out--one never knows. But I'm being very careful with introducing them, rationing the out-of-cage times, trying to not to do too much too soon, and letting them take things at their own pace. With patience, I have every confidence this will work out...but there's still a ways to go!

Derek

 

[Pinkbirdy]

OMG TOO CUTE !!! So cool you got a 2nd one I let mine get to know each other through the cages . Im sure Elizas thrilled to have a friend.It will work out

 

[JerseyWendy]

Well HELLO HENRY!!!! WHAT a cutie pie you are!

Eliza looks quite thrilled to have a playmate now.

...and I LOVED reading your story!!!

 

[dskidd]

OMG TOO CUTE !!! So cool you got a 2nd one I let mine get to know each other through the cages . Im sure Elizas thrilled to have a friend.It will work out

Thanks! Yup, they're getting to know each other through their cages. Either that, or they're plotting my overthrow...

Here's a photo I took a few minutes ago. Yeah, yeah...I know my presence is bringing the feathered cuteness level down, but I'm too lazy to Photoshop myself out of the pic!


Derek

 

[dskidd]

Well HELLO HENRY!!!! WHAT a cutie pie you are!

Eliza looks quite thrilled to have a playmate now.

...and I LOVED reading your story!!!

Thanks! The story is continuing!
Derek

 

[Nocturnal]

Aww :3 I would totally get Onyx another caique friend (her female WB friend had a stroke and died before I brought her home), if not for the fact that they cost $1100 here o.e we have a very sweet WB male baby at the store right now too.

 

[Pinkbirdy]

Hows Henry doing ?

 

[dskidd]

Hows Henry doing ?

Thank you so much for asking--he's doing very well indeed. Eliza is slightly wary of him, but it hasn't affected her behavior (at least not so far!). She's still the same crazy girl she's always been! Most importantly, there's no overt signs of hostility on either side, and no signs of jealousies forming. Of course, it's only been a couple of days.

I'm continuing to monitor everything closely--they're never out of their respective cages unless I'm right there. Oftentimes I'll have one out and then the other, and that seems to work out fine as well.

One thing that's amusing about Henry is that--being only six months--he's not entirely completely coordinated. Granite countertops have taken some getting used to. Almost every time he's on the counter, he'll take a half-step backwards, and realize he's going over the edge. His eyes get that "AAAAUUUGHHH!" look, he starts flapping furiously...but, nevertheless, he flutters down to the floor. Once there, he'll either have a look that says "Yeah...I meant to do that--pretty good, huh?" or a look that says--quoting from Talking Heads' "Once in a Lifetime"--"Well...how did I GET here?"!

Meanwhile, Eliza looks down on him with a disdainful look that says "Rookie..."


Again, I thank you for asking. I was having my coffee this morning, with Eliza sitting on my knee preening herself, and Henry on my head (I think he was trying to style me in cornrows). All I could think was "Does life get any better than this?"
Derek