welcoming a lilac crowned

[jeffisme]

After two months of back and forth and forth and back, we had settled on a green cheek conure when I got a call from a woman who had basically her own rescue operation. She had a lilac crowned that had been to three homes. She took her in with the idea of finding a permanent home for her. We got in contact, and she said she didn't want anything for the bird, just a nice home.

A visit and a home inspection later, and we now have what she thinks is a six-year-old LCA. She said she was pretty quiet and content but didn't play much. She likes to be around people and seems pretty calm. I have come and go around the cage with the door open. Don't see any panic when I go by, and she takes food from our hands readily. Haven't tried stepping up though. When I did at the woman's home the bird wasn't all that thrilled. She said she didn't handle her much and didn't care to be touched, so that might be a challenge. I just figured I'd give her plenty of time to adjust. I work in the same room where she is, so she'll have lots of company and should be used to my presence fairly quickly.

 

[Doublete]

I think I've heard they're pretty quiet and wonderful zons!

We love pictures (of the new birdie).

 

[jeffisme]

Here she is. She's some eater, but her feathers seem a bit rough looking. I hope to take her to the avian vet this week, and her perches should be here Monday, so she's stuck with the Prevue perch until then.

 

[Mimsy01]

She's beautiful! Probably will keep getting even better with a good home.

I don't think most birds want to be touched when they first go to a new home. Some take a lot of time to get really comfy and then gain trust in their human.

She's eating like a champ taking food from you, I would not be surprised if she maybe a lot more of a people parrot with a little time.

glad you gave her a home and a new chance at life.

 

[JerseyWendy]

Many congrats on your new companion! WOW, what a beautiful girl! :heart: What's her name?

 

[jeffisme]

I was told her name with her first owner had been "Baby," and indeed she did seemed to react a bit when we said to her "Hello, Baby." (I'm old enough to remember that big Bopper song). I don't know about that name, so we tried out a bunch of names that sounded like "baby" and came up with "Sadie."

 

[Birdman666]

So that's what they look like when they're young...

I have a 43 year old LCA that we were, I believe, the fifth home for. She wasn't what people expected. But she's a sweet little bird, and she's been very easy to work with.

Mine is extremely fond of her food bowl as well. In fact, of all my birds, she's the most food oriented. She's wild caught. She doesn't like touching. She doesn't talk much. But she can be a goofy, funny bird.

 

[Moose]

She's very pretty. Glad you were able to provide a great home for her.

 

[chris-md]

How beautiful she is. Congratulations

 

[jeffisme]

She's been mostly quiet during the day, some caws here and there, and then around 6 pm, it was like a fire alarm. Hard not to go in there and see what was happening because you don't want to reward it. I guess it was just her evening salute.

She does continue to eat but mostly just stays in one place. At one point, I sat down to eat by the cage and she started pacing back and forth and pushing her wings out and bending forward as if she wanted to fly out. I think she is used to get getting food from the table, so I gave her a slice of my banana and a piece of broccoli and she quieted down immediately.

My only real concern is allergies. I have an air purifier going but my eyes have been stinging for two days. I think my body is adjusting to some degree in the same way she will.

 

[SailBoat]

It is possible to have an isolated allergy to New World Parrot's but it is fairly rare. Assuring that your Lilac Crown has access to bathing at least twice or more a week pretty much keeps the very limited feather dust very low.

FYI, The recent nearly nationwide push of warm Southern air is more likely the cause of your allergies. A single Adult will contribute more 'dead skin' dust in a single day than an Amazon. I recommend that you clean your Air Purifier and change its filter. If you have a forced air heating system, change its filter. Neither due to the parrot, but its just time to change them.

I must admit that I have a real love for Lilac Crowned Amazons. Seems like they are hardwired to be a loving parrot. Please ensure that you read and re-read the first Thread in the Amazon Forum and work at understanding what your Amazon is communicating to you.

Amazons love being with their human family and really want to be in the center of family activities. So, if you have your Amazon in a side room with limited viewing of the family, you will receive a 'salute.' But more a: Hey, you're in there and I am stuck in here, what gives here?

 

[Ginnybird]

What a beautiful girl. Lovely, watchful eyes.

I know what you mean about the fire alarm call. I've heard it in other adults, and Ginny (8 mos) seems to be doing its precursor, especially when TV is on.

Do other birds give your eyes a reaction?

 

[jeffisme]

thanks for the allegery info. I'm clearly having a reaction. It is mostly mild, but it's there and it's consistent with what the ENT told me. I had the same reaction when we got our dogs, and it took a while for my system to adjust to them. I'm hoping it will now as well.

The air purifier is new, as is our air filter.

The oddest thing so far is how consistent animals all our pets behave in the presence of my wife, aka "The pets Stealer." Our dogs have always decided almost immediately, "I'm hers." Last night, when my wife approached the cage, the bird went to her food dish, picked out something nice and then walked it over to the side of the cage where my wife was standing and dumped it through the bars. She did that twice. She was feeding her! (better than throwing up on her). When we switched sides, just to see what would happen. the bird dumped food on the side of the cage where again my wife was standing. While the bird will often edge away from me, he walks right to her.

We haven't really tried to do anything with her but keep her company. I figure I'll give it a day or so more to get her more comfortable.

 

[SailBoat]

Glad to hear that you are aware of the need to keep fresh filters in place. In all honesty, you are rare in that regard.

My wife is much the same. Best way to defend is to be the source several primary want or need things. It just takes more effort on our part.

Look forward to hearing more!

 

[jeffisme]

It's hopeless. I can feed a pet its favorite treats 99 times; my wife once, and that's all it takes. If I had fish they would follow her around the house.

 

[Mimsy01]

My husband always has to work harder with the pets. I'm the one that they all follow around..dog, bunny and 3 birds, wherever I go. Honestly I think they know a sucker when they see one. Not saying that about your wife, could be something else..but I'm pretty sure they know for me that I'm going to give in and share what I'm eating, and try and figure out all their wants and give into them.

 

[jeffisme]

I think they like her voice. But with her help, we were able to get Sadie to step up and come out of the cage last night and today. She was well-rewarded with seeds (the bird, not my wife) and seemed to enjoy being handed from one of us to the other.

this morning it was just me. I walked her around the house and even showed her her reflection in the mirror. coming along nicely.

 

[henpecked]

Congrats on the progress. Keep showing her new things and people. Socialise, Socialise, Socialise. Try to introduce new people and situations every week. When raising babies i try to introduce at least 3new people every week. While everything is new in her world, get her out and about. Even if it's only out to th err mail box. Get her a travel cage and take her with you to the store. All the little things you can do now will help her so much later in her life. Sorry for the rant.

 

[jeffisme]

thanks for the good advice.
she has come out on my hand much more easily this afternoon, but she won't go out on her own, even though I placed some of her favorite apple pieces on top of the cage. I know she was cage bound for a while, and she tends to move very very slowly.

I picked up some stuff at our local bird store, and they have a lilac. I was very curious to see its eyes. Our Sadie has four little gold specs, two rows of two in the center of her eyes; they appear to be on the outside of it. I checked out every bird in the store today, including the lilac they have, and didn't see anything like it.

 

[henpecked]

BTW thank you for taking in an older zon. Even though at 6 she's just a teenager. Make an effort to put her in the center of attention in your home, and you'll have a friend/companion for life. I've had a hen nape as a best freind for over 40yrs, nothing finer than to be love by a good zon.