Meet Steve! (And some plet news)

[LadySaphine]

So, has many of you may or may not know, we recently got a plet. I've done some research and (Pajarita also helped) I feel that I can't take care of a scared, lonely parrotlet, let alone two (althought they won't be lonely anymore). The breeder is going to take her back in- he's in no rush to get rid of his parrots, and he can take care of her (he has four other parrotlets).

Last Saturday we met a breeder in Fayetville (2 1/2 hours from us) who bred Linneolated Parakeets (linnes) and we got a turquoise male (we think. He's 3 months old and males have more black on the shoulders and tail than females).

We got him a cockatiel flight cage, which has a great amount of room. We plan on getting him a larger cage- there's a bird fair in November half an hour from us.

So far, is is very curious and loves to explore. He loves to chew on things and pace back and forth on his perches. Unfortunately, he's clipped. The poor guy sometimes slips and falls to the bottom of the cage, and although he's fine, sometimes it looks like it hurts.

He talks to himself and sounds like a little barking dog. He's all chubby and fluffy and waddles- in short, he's very cute!

One thing, though. He is not scared of hands very much. In fact, I think he's passive-aggressive. If you stick your finger in the cage, he comes to you, but then bites you as hard as he can! He's not very scared of the hand, only if he's cornered. But it puzzles me- if he's not scared, and he seeks out my hand, why the biting?

When he's face-first in the food bowl, I can get the rare opportunity to give him some scritches, which he loves. But if I try most of the time, he bites. Actually, he climbed onto my shoulder once and messed around with my hair. He's been hand-fed, by the way, but then the breeder couldn't fit in enough time with him, so he's semi-tame (much more so than the plet, who freaks out at the sight of your hand!).


I will get some pictures in and keep you guys updated!

[Pajarita]

Lord, the way you phrased it, it sounds as if I helped you arrive to the decision of exchanging one bird for another - something I would never do. Any species can do well, same as any species might not. It all depends on the caregiver!

[LadySaphine]

Well, I'm not really exchanging her, and we still do have her, but I'm so scared that she will start to pluck or get to stressed or too lonely. I'm not saying you exactly convinced me, but a push was that we saw a lonely male parrotlet at the store the other day... all alone and bare. If I'm going to take care of her, I want to do it right and at the moment I don't think I can take care of four birds. Three is pushing it. And the poor girl is terrified of everything. She just reminds me of my first bird, a canary I named Pippin. He flew out of his cage once and I think I gave him a heart attack.

[LadySaphine]

Pajarita, I don't want to make you feel bad at all. Me and my mom came to this decision. Besides, she has already shown a bit of territorial behavior and she is still as untame as when we got her.

Anyways, here are some pictures of Steve!





Steve has shown to be a bit food aggressive but he is actually stepping up! And he loves to fly, even though he is clipped. He'll fly out of his cage and make a smooth landing (by that, I mean he skids around on the smooth floor. He hasn't hit anything yet!). He loves to be on our shoulders already! His nipping has decreased but it isn't gone, and a thing I'm worried about is that he's becoming a seed junkie. He won't eat much of his pellets, and none of the fruits/veggies I give him (kale, apples, blueberries, etc.). I'm trying to get him to like it though.

As for the plet, I try to handle her but she reminds me of a finch or canary- small, scared, untame. She is interested in Steve, however, and makes noises when I'm downstairs. She eats the fruit I give her- it seems non of the birds are interested in kale. :/

[Pajarita]

You have to keep on trying. It could take a long time but, if you keep at it, eventually, they do eat it. I've had a female Senegal for over a year now and she only started eating corn on the cob last week (and ALL parrots LOVE corn on the cob!).

Why don't you get the little lovie a husband and allow them to be aviary birds? They are much, much happier and healthier than if you make pets out of them. Parrots were not meant to be pets, you know...

[LadySaphine]

We've thought about that. We don't have a cage big enough for the both of them, nor can we afford an aviary or a cage (or another plet, and I don't mean just the bird itself). Now, I *really* wish we had an aviary, but I'm the main caretaker of these guys, and when I go to college and leave the house, I don't think my parents could take care of all the birds (besides, the HOA wouldn't allow it, I think). Also, yesterday, trying to pet Diva resulted in some bites- before, she would stay still as long as the hand approached her slowly. Yesterday, we did the same thing and she lashed out at us. We didn't corner her at all, she could've flow to a different part of the cage but she decided to fight. I'm not trying to give up on her, and I realize it takes months to tame her.

[marie83]

I'm all grumpy now, I have a cage you could have had (at least until you had saved enough to get your own) if it wasn't for the fact you live in another country.

[spiral71]

yes that is fustrating