After ringing the pet store many times yesterday and getting frustrated I couldn't get through, I tried again twice today (early then afternoon) and finally the lady answered!
She told me she got my message and that she's actually closed on Wednesdays - oops! Apparently things have changed a lot since I volunteered there (in regards to opening times and such
).
She told me that since me and Andrew had been so insistent that we were coming back she decided to get Charlie dna'd (He's a boy, but we knew that!) and that she'd been keeping him for me. :21:
So today is Andrew's payday (and he's getting a bonus too. aka. Charlie loan to me!) so I'm literally waiting for that money to hit his account so I can go racing out the door and across the country to go and pick him up! The reason I'm not already there and waiting is just in case he doesn't get paid today (even though we've been told it's today).
I'm sat here, dressed (it's not a work day, I never get dressed!) eagerly waiting on that phone call. Cat carrier ready (with a perch in), small low dish ready, bagged up bit of parrot food (he'll be on harrissons as soon as I can get him on it!) and me dancing around like a fool with eagerness.
Merlin is upstairs having a whinge that I'm not sat with him, but he's doing okay. Last night he was good as gold for me and I thought "do we really need Charlie?" then I thought - it wasn't that we NEEDED Charlie anymore, it's we WANTED Charlie.
I'm still absolutely terrified, he's going to be a big commitment and his health and background are going to be questionable (despite seeing him for long lengths of time twice and checking him over myself). We're worried about the stress of the move bringing something out. Although he was only recently moved to the pet store (end of Feb.)
Spoke to our Avian Nurse yesterday about Charlie before we decided it was official that we were bringing him home and told her all our concerns and queries. She said that behaviourally, we were on the right idea. As long as we're content with two birds who might never be best friends - if we try and do things such as interact with Merlin first, always. etc then we should end up in a somewhat balanced flock.
Healthwise she said that she trusts my judgement in regards to feaces and discharges, head bobbing, etc so that to "bring him home" is okay. She wants him quarantined for at least 4 weeks though just in case stress does bring something out and then after he's settled with us, THEN to bring him in for an check up with out Vet. She said she doesn't see the point in us bringing him in so soon (aka. stressing him out) if he appears health and fine to start with. But of course, to bring him in if I've got any concerns.
Having got sick birdies, physically, with a splayed leg and things such as chronic conditions I think she's trusting my judgement instead of demanding we have the full works done immediately before we let him near Merlin.
ANYWAY, doom and gloom of potentially bringing home a sick birdy - we're bringing home a birdy!
He's going to be (hopefully at least!) a 30+ year commitment. I'm terrified, birds are terrifying! With my rabbits I know that in around 6-15 years they'll have passed away. But birds... wow they live long. Andrew chimed in though and said that Merlin is younger so technically a longer commitment and I didn't bat an eyelid at that haha! But I didn't "plan" on Merlin so to speak, this waiting game and knowing exactly who I'm bringing home and when is terrifying!
I'm so terrified, anxious, excited and more anxiety. I can't wait to get him home and I hope he's as sweet as he was in the store. & furthermore I can't wait for quarentine to be up so they can at least see each other! It's going to drive Merlin mad hearing another bird in the house that he can chat to but not see!
So scared!
She told me she got my message and that she's actually closed on Wednesdays - oops! Apparently things have changed a lot since I volunteered there (in regards to opening times and such
).She told me that since me and Andrew had been so insistent that we were coming back she decided to get Charlie dna'd (He's a boy, but we knew that!) and that she'd been keeping him for me. :21:
So today is Andrew's payday (and he's getting a bonus too. aka. Charlie loan to me!) so I'm literally waiting for that money to hit his account so I can go racing out the door and across the country to go and pick him up! The reason I'm not already there and waiting is just in case he doesn't get paid today (even though we've been told it's today
).I'm sat here, dressed (it's not a work day, I never get dressed!) eagerly waiting on that phone call. Cat carrier ready (with a perch in), small low dish ready, bagged up bit of parrot food (he'll be on harrissons as soon as I can get him on it!) and me dancing around like a fool with eagerness.
Merlin is upstairs having a whinge that I'm not sat with him, but he's doing okay. Last night he was good as gold for me and I thought "do we really need Charlie?" then I thought - it wasn't that we NEEDED Charlie anymore, it's we WANTED Charlie.
I'm still absolutely terrified, he's going to be a big commitment and his health and background are going to be questionable (despite seeing him for long lengths of time twice and checking him over myself). We're worried about the stress of the move bringing something out. Although he was only recently moved to the pet store (end of Feb.)
Spoke to our Avian Nurse yesterday about Charlie before we decided it was official that we were bringing him home and told her all our concerns and queries. She said that behaviourally, we were on the right idea. As long as we're content with two birds who might never be best friends - if we try and do things such as interact with Merlin first, always. etc then we should end up in a somewhat balanced flock.
Healthwise she said that she trusts my judgement in regards to feaces and discharges, head bobbing, etc so that to "bring him home" is okay. She wants him quarantined for at least 4 weeks though just in case stress does bring something out and then after he's settled with us, THEN to bring him in for an check up with out Vet. She said she doesn't see the point in us bringing him in so soon (aka. stressing him out) if he appears health and fine to start with. But of course, to bring him in if I've got any concerns.
Having got sick birdies, physically, with a splayed leg and things such as chronic conditions I think she's trusting my judgement instead of demanding we have the full works done immediately before we let him near Merlin.
ANYWAY, doom and gloom of potentially bringing home a sick birdy - we're bringing home a birdy!
He's going to be (hopefully at least!) a 30+ year commitment. I'm terrified, birds are terrifying! With my rabbits I know that in around 6-15 years they'll have passed away. But birds... wow they live long. Andrew chimed in though and said that Merlin is younger so technically a longer commitment and I didn't bat an eyelid at that haha! But I didn't "plan" on Merlin so to speak, this waiting game and knowing exactly who I'm bringing home and when is terrifying!
I'm so terrified, anxious, excited and more anxiety. I can't wait to get him home and I hope he's as sweet as he was in the store. & furthermore I can't wait for quarentine to be up so they can at least see each other! It's going to drive Merlin mad hearing another bird in the house that he can chat to but not see!
So scared!
