Rainbow, Myrtle & Cockatiels

[liz]

Tweet has been setting on a nest under a table. It is about a month now that I have been cleaning around him. Then I noticed that some eggs had been kicked out. I candled the 7 eggs and none were fertile. He has been separated from the flock too long to be sitting on eggs that are not viable. I took them away and destroyed the nest so it could not be made again. We have not really bonded yet so he took off and hid in the flock.
This morning he seemed happy as if saved from his burden but still did not want to be near me. I am happy that he can be happy again now that he is mixed back into the flock.

[Pajarita]

Sometimes, you have no choice but to take matters into your own hands...

[liz]

Cagney has passed. I found him just like Lola. He was on the floor up against a wall. What could scare them bad enough to hit walls. Lacy, his mate, has not really joined the flock but just followed Cagney. I hope she can get over this fast. Cagney had started tweeting to me when I would go in the room. I had such hopes for him. He was one of the cockatiels that would visit Gimpy before Gimpy could fly.

That makes 4 passing in a little over one year. Max escaped the night we got here. I don't know how he did it. I was following a Cockatiel I could hear at a distance and trying to bring it in. I did not know it was my Max until I counted them. Retweet died while sitting on a community nest. Lola and Max were both healthy and happy the last time I saw them alive. The way I found them could only have been caused by fright. Other than Flutter making them all fly I can't imagine what scared them enough to fly into a wall. I know that the hawks have been coming to the window. Any scare at all and they all take flight.

[Pajarita]

Oh, I am sooooo sorry, Liz! But it might not have been a fright, it could have been just plain old age catching up with him.

[liz]

Since he was a rescue who was not cared for properly they could not even tell me how old he was. They did tell me that Tweet and Retweet were 2 years old when I got them with their parent birds last year.

Even with so many little individuals it is hard to loose one. Cagney was a sweet boy and a good mate to Lacey. I feel so sorry for her.

[Pajarita]

Yes, I bet the poor thing is missing him something terrible! Maybe she will hook up with Gimpy now...

[Wolf]

sorry to read that you lost Cagney, maybe Lacey will get together with Gimpy, that would be a good thing, I think.

[liz]

I don't think Gimpy can pull off mating.
There are only two pair in the flock (Shadow & Tammy and Maggie & Andy.) The rest are both male and female singles.
Tommy has not claimed another mate and would be good for Lacy. She is still very shy but he is far from it. When I go in the room he runs to me for kisses. The rest of the flock is amazed and they all watch what Tommy does.
Jackie has not come to me since Lola died.

[Pajarita]

Yes, I have found that tiels can be picky as to which bird they choose as a mate and would, sometimes, stay on their own even when there are eligible birds of the opposite gender... but only when they are in a flock like yours are, Liz. It seems to me that the flock is enough for them as long as they don't 'find' their 'other half'.

[liz]

It does seem that way. They all like being in the flock. New ones hide in the flock but come to me when they are ready.

I had Maggie, the breeder rescue, for a few years before she allowed Andy to sit with her. I have not seen them mate but Andy has broken through her fear and is a friend.

Lacy is being comforted by the other birds. Jackie is with her most of the time. Jackie has lost her mate and one of her kids. So she knows how Lacy is feeling.