Rainbow, Myrtle & Cockatiels

[Wolf]

Not sure that it is the right thing to do or not, but have you considered putting some aloe vera on the dry spot on Lola?

[liz]

Until now I have not asked her for anything. This time when I let them all loose I will get a better look at her. I was thinking of that too. I am afraid that it is too dry for her feathers to come through. I can't even imagine how it happened. I will also email Margie (the lady she came from) and see if she can shed a light on it.

[liz]

Well I opened all the cage doors and waited. No one came out. Instead of grabbing them I scooped them up and took them out. Tommy and Lola stepped up. I could scoop up the others and they would perch some where on me. I was really happy when Maggie, my little breeder girl, decided she could perch on my finger and be safe.

I am not saying they will come and perch on me next time. I am just saying that I managed it once and it should be a little easier next time. Half of them went back to the cage on their own. The others let me carry them back.

Even the big flight cage is too small for 7 so I put the males in the cage Cagney and Lacy came with. This is temporary and will have to find a way to connect the two cages until I can make a bigger one.

[Pajarita]

No,dry skin doesn't affect the follicles so, if they are still there and in good condition, the feathers will grow (feathers don't 'come through' anything, the 'hole' for them to emerge from is already there). But they might not be. I've never seen it happened with parrots but male canaries would peck the hens shoulders from aggression.

And, Liz, you can't eliminate high protein sources in their diet completely...

[liz]

I attached a 24 X 30 cage to the flight cage to give them more room. I put short perches all over with toys hanging near them. With the figuration I don't have access to that cage without separating it so it is just for play. With short perches they can still fly up to them. They take turns with the different toys.

This morning Maggie asked me to open the cage door. I did just as soon as I could secure the room. She came right out, flew around for a while then went back. The others just stayed in the cage.

Pajarita, I have the lighting on schedule and have adjusted the diet. They only get 2 T of chopped nut for the 7 of them. When I turn the lights out I put seed in until they go to sleep.
My newbies are Maggie, Cagney & Lacy then Lola. Cagney and Lacy came as a mated pair and even had sex when they got here. So why is Cagney following Maggie all over the cage singing to her.

Myrtle is all upset to see Maggie constantly trying to get out of his way. Rambo is upset because Myrtle is and he is squawking too.

It is like a little Payton Place.

He has been singing to her for more than an hour.

[Wolf]

Sounds like he is either trying to get rid of her or is in the mood for a new mate.

[liz]

Sounds like he is either trying to get rid of her or is in the mood for a new mate.

They are asleep and Cagney is right beside her on the perch. That could be why she asked to come out this morning. Why is this going on? I always thought that cockatiels mated for life and only took a new mate if theirs died.

[liz]

So I have a very opinionated Rambo and a super energetic Myrtle. Then I have a Shadow, Tammy and Tommy mess. Then there is Maggie who I still can't hold but it does my heart good to watch her eat and to hear her twitters when I get near. Then I have Cagney who is trying to tame himself and Lacy, who has 3 missing toes and is afraid of everything. Lola came to me tamer than she is now since she decided she is part of a flock. And I have found that she is bald under her wings. Then...

I saw on craigslist a pair of Lutinos with a white baby. I had never had a white cockatiel or even seen one. My daughter decided that is what she would get me for Christmas at $60. Just before we leave for Durham she gets a text saying the female lutino was sold so all he had left was the white and another cockatiel way to ugly to sell. I was afraid for that little one and had Rachel offer $40 for him. We got there after dark and this man came running to the car with two little cardboard boxes and said they are not related. Rachel gave him the money before I had a chance to look in the boxes and he ran off. Yes there was a white one but not a baby. The other one was a common color but some idiot tried to trim his wings and cut one off at what would be a wrist. The poor little thing was ugly and it was for his safety that he ran from me. How can anyone do such an awful thing. The poor thing was probably scared and flapping around and the guy just continued to cut. The wound is scabbed but he is blood stained and feathers all chopped up.

I now have a white cockatiel which I named Flutter because she is not tame and she flutters even when I look at her. Then I have the little one who was injured but already knows that he is in a better place than he was and that I am being kind to him and giving him good stuff. He would probably tolerate being handled but I am afraid I might cause pain so I will wait until he heals more.
So back to Wolf's list of names since I don't know if it is male or female. I don't know what Flutter is but it will work for both genders.

[Harpmaker]

[quote="liz"] ...some idiot tried to trim his wings and cut one off at what would be a wrist. The poor little thing was ugly and it was for his safety that he ran from me. How can anyone do such an awful thing. /quote]

Ditto. Kudos to you, liz, for improving his life!

[liz]

I closed off the sunroom and opened all cage doors and left the room. When I went back in a half hour and they were still in cages. I scooped Flutter, Cagney, Maggie and Lola. They are flying circles in the room and the ones still in cages are excited but won't come out. I did not scoop Phoenix but left his door open. He has been through enough and doesn't need me telling him what to do. The same with Lacy. Something terrible happened to her before I got her. From her reaction to me I don't think Maggie went through any trauma. She was just socially neglected and run down from breeding and laying.