Paquita the Parrotlet

[Wolf]

It has been nearly a month, 3 weeks actually, since my trip to NJ to pick up Paquita and I thought that an update was about due. I did take a set of pictures for this update but they did not turn out, she is so small that you can barely even see her, so I will try again for the pics in a couple of days and post them here for you.
When Paquita arrived she ate a seed mix, an expensive mix, but still a seed mix. She also ate a little fruit and almost no veggies. Guess what? She now likes her, home cooked bean, whole grain, vegetable and fruit mix to the point that she goes after that first thing, even if she has some of her seed mix available to her. What a difference! And she is eating fresh fruit and produce as well. She hardly touches her seed mix any more, I mean like I put in a teaspoon in her seed dish and it is at least three days before there are any hulls from the seeds at all and most of it is not touched, but she eats everything else, like she thinks that she will never have any more of it.
At first, when I opened her cage, she would come out and chitter away and wait for me to come and get her, she still does this right at first, but now, by the time I get the rest of the cages open she has either already landed on me or is in mid flight to me. She lands on me and starts to search for any thing that she can find on my hands to bite off. She has learned that there is always a few little scabs on my hands from working or usually from Kiki nipping me to protest about whatever I happen to be doing that she doesn't approve of.
Paquita is also very jealous of me and will go after either Kiki, my Senegal, or Kookooloo, my CAG, whenever one of them gets on me while she is there. I always rescue them from her, of course. But it is really funny to see her go after them, Kiki is at least four times her size and she would just be a good snack for Kookooloo, not that she cares.
All in all she is doing quite well and appears to be happy and very, very active all the time, well most of the time.

[Lady]

How wonderful Wolf. Looking forward to seeing the pictures! It is a excellent feeling when you know you are making a positive difference in the health and well being of another.

[Tman007]

Wolf That's great I just think it's amazing that you drove all that way for her. You better get some pictures up of her. How did she take the drive home?

[Wolf]

Actually since most of the 600 mile drive back home was after dark, she slept most of the way. She did really well and is a little bundle of energy with lots of attitude. She flies back and forth between my Lady and myself, just so she can keep up on what we are each doing.

[Pajarita]

Yes, as tiny as they are, they have the HUGEST personality, don't they? So glad she is doing so great, Wolf! I had no doubts it would be this way but it's still great to hear of her fabulous progress! I will copy and paste your post and email Elena and Kelvin with the news.

[Harpmaker]

How is the hunt for a mate for her going, Wolf?

[Wolf]

So far I have found one breeder about 200 miles from me that sell parrotlets for $300.00 each. None in any of the rescues that I have found, and the search continues. I will pay the price if I must but will have to save it up plus the cost of fuel to get there and back.

[Pajarita]

Well, if you are going to buy from a breeder, ask him if he has a handicapped or older bird he no longer uses for breeding - it will be cheaper and you will be rescuing it at the same time.

[cml]

So far I have found one breeder about 200 miles from me that sell parrotlets for $300.00 each. None in any of the rescues that I have found, and the search continues. I will pay the price if I must but will have to save it up plus the cost of fuel to get there and back.

Too bad Wolf, I really hope you find one soon and one that needs a home as well if possible.
Where I am at, parrotlets are quite (bordering on very) common, and you see ads from people who are giving them up very often. It breaks my heart, I've stopped looking at ads, there are soo many birds that would need rescuing and I have no space for additional birds, nor the time to care for more than our two .

[Wolf]

Hopefully, I will not be buying from a breeder, it is just distasteful to me to go that route. I am still checking other resources, such as rescues, so far the closet one is 2 hours away. I am also keeping in touch with the other animal rescues, just in case they learn of a suitable bird as well as all of the vets within 200 miles, at least the ones that I have found. I have also informed everyone that I know that I am looking for a mate for Paquita and they are helping with the search. but it did occur to me to do as you mentioned should I have to go through a breeder. Thank you for the tip, because it is beginning to look like it may be my best option.