Alexandrine Parakeet?

[susiequ53]

I have been offered a 6 year old Alexandrine Parakeet. Once again, the owner is deathly afraid of it and has the poor thing sitting in the basement without company for years. Does anyone have experience with such a bird and their personality? This won't be an easy transition will it? This will most likely be your typical unhandled, fearful bird that will take enormous time and energy I'm thinking. I have the love for such abandoned birds and could provide it with all the feathered comforts he/she needs and get it out of that basement environment at least! I guess I just have to be prepared that the love may not be returned. For those of you that helped me with the taming of Katie, the Yellow Naped Parrot, this would be an additional problem child to the family. Katie continues to improve SLOWLY every day but she does have those gosh awful days still! I have yet to meet the Alexandrine but I'm up for the challenge , I think. Yikes! Thoughts and ideas please??!!

[liz]

It will be very afraid. The fact that you will get it out of the basement into sunlight, feed it and talk to it will mean so much to that bird. It might not step up or come near your hands for a while but from day one it will know that you are the new beginning. Sometimes it takes a week. Sometimes it takes a year but it is very rewarding to watch the little thing blossom into your life.

All I ever wanted was for mine to be happy. They have blessed me with attention, love and companionship even to the point of holding conversations.

[Khaiqha]

Thanks for giving this bird a better life, let us know how it's going.

I have an Alex, and, well, he traumatizes easily. I don't know if this is a species thing, it's just something he does. While he was at the store, he enjoyed having us pet him. Then when we came to take him home, the store worker grabbed him and put him in a cardboard box. That was back in July.To this day he is still afraid of being petted on the head (anywhere else is ok) and he is scared of cardboard. Also, my roommate tried to pet him right after we got home, and now he doesn't like my roommate as much.

There are silver linings to this though. He definitely likes people when they don't try to pet him, and I've been target training him to be more calm when a hand is over his head. He's fine with being held and playing with my roommate for short periods of time now. Also, I use cardboard to keep him away from places he's not supposed to go (like my computer monitor/cords).

A worker at another store rescued an Alex from a bad situation. He said that she loved him for it, and they developed a bond pretty fast.

[susiequ53]

Well, the newest adopted is home. Her name is Ali. I was originally told she is 6 yrs of age but they fessed up and said she was really 12. It is true she was housed in the basement in a 18 inch wide cage! Her nails are so long they curve around into her feet. She has pulled most of her long tail feathers out and as expected not very people oriented. Once I got her home from the transporter, I just let her wonder around. She is flighted so she flew around a bit. They never let her do this, EVER! She's a bit clumsy at it but took to it well. She was kind enough to let me put her up in her new huge cage Yea! She's a very quiet girl. Does not chatter much. This morning, I opened her cage door, I coaxed her out and she climbed on top and went right back in. Guess being caged is just what she is accustomed to but that will change in time I hope. My yellow nape is out on her play pen and my ever so sweet Quaker is out inspecting everything so it's a very noisy environment but Ali seems to pay no mind to anything going on. It doesn't seem to be bothering her either. She is preening and eating so that's a good sign. Wonder what's going on in her head?? I hate to use the word "dull" but that would be the most apt description :[ But honestly after twelve years in a box in the basement, guess I would be too! Get her started on some good food and lots of love and go from there.

[pennyandrocky]

my was put into a closet by my aunt after my grandmother died for so long he was gray when my mother brought him home he even had cobwebs i think he was ready to give up at that point.he was cage bound too but after alot of work and patience he was the best out of all the birds i've had.i'll bet your new is enjoying the noise, never met a bird yet that likes a quiet house.

[susiequ53]

After a week, all i can say is this little girl is an amazing bird! I know I have reaaaaaly got lucky and blessed. Ali now comes out on her own and loves to eat everything I offer her. She choose to climb up my leg like I was a tree until she reached my shoulder. Cautious about this for sure but she only wants to nuzzle under my hair and nibble. She is loving to have her head rubbed. Yesterday, she tucked her head under a wing and snoozed while I played on the computer. I can't imagine why her previous owner was terrified of her! What's up with that? Katie, the Yellow Naped is exhibiting a teeny bit of jealousy so I have to spread the love lol! The Alexandrine is a curious and mischievous little thing and I have to really watch her. Never left out alone that's for sure! Ali is still a very quiet bird. I have never heard her make any parrot sounds at all. She does however constantly mumble and mutter so softly I can't figure out what she's saying but she is definitely coming out of her "dullness"! Her worse habit is not stepping up while attached to me. She never wants to get off so I'm adding more alone time for her on the gym to increase her outside sociability. Hope I'm doing all this right! I welcome any and all suggestions! Thanks forum! It's good to be able to bounce this off everyone!