An Alex has stolen my heart:) Pic heavy

Terry57

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Hawkhead(Darwin),YCA(Dexter),VE (Ekko),OWA(Slater),BHP(Talli),DYH(Calypso),RLA(Kimera),Alex(Xander)CBC(Phoe),IRN (Kodee,Luna,Stevie),WCP (Pisces),CAG(Justice)GCC (Jax), GSC2(Charley)
We went yesterday and picked up the most precious Alex:) I am taking Trish's advice and renaming him as he came from a pretty bad home. He was in a tiny cockatiel cage when we went to pick him up and I think he spent a lot of time in there:( His big cage is pretty rusty and I need to replace it asap. He had 2 toys, one of which was a rusty bell:( We left his other toy which is dirty, but I didn't want to take everything he was familiar with and will get it cleaned tomorrow. Also added a couple of toys.He is starved for attention, and everytime he sees us yells "Hi!Hi! Pretty Pretty Bird!" He has the sweetest voice ever:)
He has been on a mostly sunflower seed diet along with pizza and hot dogs. For the first 11 years of his life he also was allowed to drink coffee all day:( He is 12 now.
He is already eating veggies like there is no tomorrow, and I am thrilled with that! His feathers are rough, so I wanted to mist him this morning with some of the aloe/water mixture, and he cried and tried to hide on the bottom of the cage when i started (of course I stopped immediately and felt horrible). I think water was used as a punishment. So his future baths will be in the sink:)

So without further ado, please meet Xander the wonder Alex!

terry57-albums-xander-alex-picture11219-xander-day-1.jpg


terry57-albums-xander-alex-picture11220-xander-day-1.jpg


His small cage he was in:

terry57-albums-xander-alex-picture11221-xander-s-old-small-cage.jpg


His big cage:
terry57-albums-xander-alex-picture11222-xander-s-big-cage.jpg
 

JerseyWendy

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What a GORGEOUS boy Xander is, Terry! I LOVE that red beak on him...and cracked up laughing at him pinning his eyes as you were taking pictures. :D

He must think he's gone to heaven in that GREAT cage you set up for him! Wait...he HAS gone to heaven. ;)

Perhaps you can try to put a shallow tray in his cage to see if he wants to take a bath on his own? Just an idea. :)

I am so happy you brought Xander home!!
 
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Terry57

Terry57

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Hawkhead(Darwin),YCA(Dexter),VE (Ekko),OWA(Slater),BHP(Talli),DYH(Calypso),RLA(Kimera),Alex(Xander)CBC(Phoe),IRN (Kodee,Luna,Stevie),WCP (Pisces),CAG(Justice)GCC (Jax), GSC2(Charley)
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A pan may be a good idea, Wendy. I will try that! I also have a crock that he may like. I will do that as soon as we move him today:) He was not impressed at me taking pictures..lol.

@NiRD - thank you! I am so happy we brought him home with us:)
 
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Terry57

Terry57

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Thank you, Karen:) I am sooo excited!
 

MomtoPercy

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Awwww, sniff!! What a sad but happy story! Poor poor baby! I'm so happy for him that he's now living with such a nice mommy. I'm sure he will be super happy!

It actually makes me nauseated to think how people can 'punish' birds! :( And I know that feeling of inadvertently doing something and then realising you're terrifying the bird because he was punished that way before :( :( Percy is terrified of anything that looks like a stick. :(

I think a crock with nice water and maybe a few goodies to nibble on may entice Xander? Some snap peas, a blue berry...
 
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Terry57

Terry57

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It took awhile for him to get over his fright. He was standing on the bottom of the cage with his head hung...I cannot tell you how terrible I felt:( It took him a little while, but he took a piece of kale form me and is back on his perch talking away. The other thing he does is flinch if I move too quickly. Poor, poor guy. These are reasons as well why I think Trish's idea of changing his name is a good one. He also gobbled up his morning veggies so that is such a relief!
 

Bundiibird

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Welcome home Xander. You have the most loving mommy and it will be no time before you will have settled in completely.

Terry he is absolutely beautiful. So glad you could take him in. :) I am sure he will love his new cage. Also with bathing, Bundii loves to bath in her water dish. Usually with the vacuum going. You could try that perhaps.

I can not wait to see further photos of Xander as he progresses. :D
 

Allee

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Oh Terry, what a sweet beautiful boy!!! I see why you fell for him. That's a shame that someone terrorized him with a mist bottle. My male quaker is also afraid at the sight of a spray bottle. He doesn't bathe as often as the others. I give him a bath dish in the bottom of his cage and let him decide. It breaks my heart that Xander huddled in the floor and cried. Maybe he will enjoy his baths in one of those high priced crocks. ��That tiny cage with no toys, no wonder he was plucking. I know a new diet will make such a difference. I'm glad he's going after his veggies already. Thank you so much for making Xander a member of your flock. Again, you're my hero!!
 

crimson

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Oh Terry, I swear you have the biggest heart around....Xander has been waiting for someone like you to come into his life and make it whole!....omg, when you are finished with him, he will be stunning....not that he isn't already :)....such a sweetheart.

don't beat your self up too much, you are learning and really have no idea what he has been thru, he will forgive you, I am sure of that.
I can't wait to hear more stories.

it gets me mad to see that tiny cage, it's not even fit for a tiny finch!!!
 

getwozzy

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What a beautiful boy he is!!! So glad you took him in! Sounds like he's been through quite a bit- poor guy :(
 

Girl4Jesus83

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All I can say is relief and thank you for taking him out of such a situation! It will be exciting to see him once he has a good molt now that he is getting such good nutrition :) Keep up updated
 

Pinkbirdy

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He looks like a neat Guy :) [What a cage he had :( ) I think you have bird fever girl ! [and I believe its not curable :)} he he
 

Anansi

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As ever, Terry, you impress me. It's always sad to see how some of these birds are treated. Pizza and hotdogs?!? Really?!?!? Smh.

But under your loving care, Terry, Xander will soon forget all about his former life. Looking forward to the updated pics as his diet and overall quality of life continue to improve. So keep those updates coming!
 

CrazyEyes

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looks like a sweet baby. i don't know how people can be so heartless.
 

DallyTsuka

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oh his story is worse than i could imagine :( soooo glad you got him out of there, he looks very sweet and looks like he really wants some good care. he is lucky and love the name!!
 

Betrisher

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Hooray!!!! Welcome home Xander! Terry, I love you! :) :) :)

Look at the poor little bloke. Alexandrines are a noble species, named for one of the great conquerors of history. They should not be reduced to moth-eaten misery in the bottom of a stingy cage not fit for any bird. Thanks to our Terry, this guy is going to flourish. I can't wait to see him in full fine feather with his proud ring and glowing greenness and shiny red beak. It won't be long! And Terry, we all expect photos - you have been warned. :D

PS. I put a baking dish of water in the cage for Barney and Madge in the hope it would allow space for The Tails. I needn't have worried. Being bolshy, they refuse to go anywhere near it, not even to drink (they prefer their nice white corningware dish). So, Mum gets to enjoy paralysis of the mist bottle finger by spraying and spraying and spraying them at bath time. Lucky Mum.
 

RavensGryf

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Jan 19, 2014
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Terry! How nice:) Xander is such a cutie.
Pizza, hotdogs, and coffee?! :eek: no wonder his feathers are a bit rough looking for now, but I know in your care he will molt out to be a gorgeous young man!!
Poor Xander with the water spray LOL, he didn't know you're just trying to help him! Yeah, maybe they punished him with spray. Sink is a great idea. :) congrats!
 
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Terry57

Terry57

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Thank you everyone for your kind words, to both me and Xander:)
He seems to be back to the way he was before I terrorized him accidentally. I made a chop mix and he is eating like a little prince:)
He is in love with Reg (of course, all the birds are!) and will step right up for him:)

And I am afraid I do have birdie fever, and no, there is no cure...and the only treatment is more birds:)

And I am sure he will look great really soon - how could he not with all of you wonderful people to help me through this??
 

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