Rainbow, Myrtle & Cockatiels

[Wolf]

Roughly about June, I believe.

[Pajarita]

It depends on whether they are, indeed, male and female, if they are mate bonded or not and whether they are allowed to nest and lay. The more 'natural' the situation, the shorter the season is.

[liz]

They are two different species. There bond is like brother and sister. They look out for each other, teach each other and miss each other when they are separated.

Right now Myrtle is searching for Rambo. I have a shelf running the side of my bedroom level with the top of the doors. I don't know how he did it but he managed to climb up there. He calls me and she can't find him. I told him to fly. He could land on the bed or on me but he is a chicken. I guess I'll have to get a step ladder to get him.

[Wolf]

Mommy,mommy, moooommyy, come and save me! I climbed up and can't get down by myself. Mommy, save me! Help meee!

[Pajarita]

Actually, I think it's more like: "COME HERE! Look what I found: a wonderful penthouse for a nest, way above everybody else's!

[liz]

+++Rambo grew flight feathers on one wing. It looks like he is starting to grow them on the other wing. 20+, what's up with him?
Myrtle is still hormonal but at least she is a sweet hormonal.
Lola has plucked the feathers under her right wing. She isn't bored or depressed. She calls me then dances when I talk to her. What can I do to help the itchies when she grows them back in.
Phoenix's boo boo broke open again. Can I use vitamin E on it. I have some and I can stab the capsule with a needle to get a little out.
Max, Jackie and their 2 kids adjusted fast. They eat the 3 plates of food I give the cockatiels each day as if they had always had it.
Shadow and Tammy are still together.
Tommy gave up. He is staying on the opposite side of the double flight cage. He isn't back to the funny bird yet but seems to be a little happier since he gave up.
Maggie still has not bonded to any one bird but she doesn't shy away from them.
Cagney has not yet taught Lacy to trust me.
Flutter is an enthusiastic little singer.
I am exhausted by the move. I have already sent 2 truckloads down and still have packing to do. My bedroom and living room furniture are in Florida so at 65 I am sleeping on the floor with all the animals piled on me.
I still have to find time to get the little seizure bird.

[Wolf]

I really don't suggest using the vitamin E on her, I think vitamin e is fat soluable so there is a chance of her getting too much of it and that would be bad. I would use fresh aloe on it or straight 100% pure aloe vera gel from health food store.
Sounds like you are very busy, I hope you sleep well.

[liz]

I caught him picking at it. That is probably why it is bloody again.
Lola has gone beyond her inner wing. She is now picking her back. She came to me with a bald shoulder.
I have to figure out how to stop this. He is bloody. She squawks with every feather she pulls.
They all got about 3 hours of indoor free flight this morning while I stripped and cleaned cages. I thought the distraction from routine would help but it didn't.
Can you give me some ideas.

Any idea why Rambo is just now growing flight feathers? His muscles are not strong enough for lift off. I will have to work with him more.

[Wolf]

Rambo has not been living with a solar light schedule at least not until recently, I believe and this not only affect their hormones that trigger the breeding urges but also the hormones that shut the breeding cycle down and starts the molting processes. When these birds live under natural light conditions the go into breeding cycle once a year and the same with molting, they molt once and it is concentrated into a time span of a month or less. Under human lighting they remain in a partial state of breeding and so their gonads continues to grow and they remain hormonal instead of passing through it as nature intended. And again this is at work with their molting as well, they never fully go into the molting cycle because they never fully leave the breeding cycle and as a result they lose a few feathers all year long. Restoring them to a natural solar light schedule changes this to match the breeding and molting cycles that they were intended to go through. I am not going to swear to the complete accuracy of this but it is my take on it.
I think that stress is probably the major factor causing the mutilation and feather picking. The birds know that something strange is going on and has been for a while, it has them worried. They are very aware that the current activity is not the same as they were accustomed to and there has been an increase in this strange activity and they know that you were gone for some extended periods of time as well. All of these things are affecting them and causing them a lot more stress as they really don't do change very well. I use 2 oz. of alcohol free 100% pure organic aloe vera juice in 18 oz. of water and spray my birds with this. It has done a wonderful job of reducing the itchy skin involved in growing new feathers. Aloe has antiseptic qualities, so it reduces the chances of infection and it does not harm them if they ingest some of it as it is also an aid in digestion. They can drink it straight up with no harm.
The quicker that you can get this move completed and get back to something like their normal schedule the sooner that this picking and mutilation will start going away again.

[liz]

I will get the aloe today.

What you say makes sence for Rambo. It hurts to think that things have been unbalance for her all these years. I will have to work with her to build her muscles. I hope she can fly. She has watched the others and really wants to.

Thank you Wolf. You came through for me again.