Am I Crazy????

getwozzy · Feb 26, 2013

Last night we adopted/rescued 2 birds; a green cheeked amazon and a yellow crowned parakeet/kakariki. Here's the story: a friend's mother-in-law has mild Alzheimer's and was no longer able to care for the birds. I think they were her husband's birds, who passed away a few years ago... The birds were moved from the living room to a back bedroom and never taken out of their cages. Because of the alzheimers I wasn't able to get any useful information about them. The largest bird I've cared for was a Quaker -MUCH smaller than the amazon!

I would appreciate any useful tips, advice, anything about these birds, how to re-train them (assume they've reverted back to wild), or any other info you think to be pertinent.

Thank you!!

SandyBee · Feb 26, 2013

Start with taking your time and building trust.
Get them on good food, change over slowly if their diet wasn't the best. Lots of good information in previous posts about health, diet and nutrition.
Respect their boundaries and watch for signs of aggression. Try and put there cages where they can see you a lot and talk to them tell them every thing is going to be fine and your happy to have them.

Ok I could write a novel here, look through the amazon section and general health care and diet sections and ask us anything you need more info on.

And Thank you for adopting birds that needed a home.
And were all a little crazy here, it helps LOL

getwozzy · Feb 26, 2013

Thank you! I plan on just letting them hang out for the next few days before I try to attempt handling them.

aliray · Feb 26, 2013

Welcome to the forum. Thank you for taking in those 2 birds. It sounds like they really needed you

And I am sorry but in answer to your question NOT YET

Sorry couldn't resist

. Good luck with your new babies

SandyBee · Feb 26, 2013

That's a good way to start.
First signs of comfort from them are eating and drinking, beak grinding and even some vocalizations.
Good Luck and let us know how they are doing.

getwozzy · Feb 26, 2013

Yes, I'm happy to have them in a better situation. Which raises another question- their cages are FILTHY and need to be pressure/power washed (not exaggerating here).... Should I do this after they've had a few days to adjust?? I feel like tryin to remove possibly cage bound birds from their cages immediately might be a bit traumatic..?

They've both been vocalizing with sounds and words; Jackie the amazon has already said about 4/5 different phrases, eating, drinking, and messing with the few toys in his? cage. Sparky, the kakariki says one phrase so far, eating and drinking and going crazy in his? cage- his cage is too small for a kakariki :/

SandyBee · Feb 26, 2013

It depends on the birds really, If they are happy to come out and you have a place where they can perch then you can wash the cages. But if they feel insecure wait a couple of days.
Sometimes when birds have been loved and then ignored they want out time and are so happy to have someone to pay attention to them. It sounds like your off to a really good start.

getwozzy · Feb 26, 2013

Well, Jackie goes to the opposite side of his cage if I stand next to it; he seems interested in me and hasn't shown any aggression, but I think he needs a couple more days.

Sparky just runs around his cage like a mad man and probably can hardly wait any longer!

BillsBirds · Feb 26, 2013

They'll show you how ready they are. Sit with the cage doors open, and if they come out, go from there. If not, wait until they do. Offer treats, and kind words of encouragement. You've done a wonderful thing for them. It just takes a little while for them to realize it. We all thank you for this!

getwozzy · Feb 26, 2013

Oh, is there any way to figure out the possible ages of these birds??

getwozzy · Feb 26, 2013

Billsbirds- ok, that sounds reasonable lol I'm slightly intimidated by the amazon; I'm mainly scared of getting bit and his beak is overgrown so it's even longer and scarier looking than normal

SandyBee · Feb 26, 2013

getwozzy said:
Billsbirds- ok, that sounds reasonable lol I'm slightly intimidated by the amazon; I'm mainly scared of getting bit and his beak is overgrown so it's even longer and scarier looking than normal

It's a valid concern but learn to read the signs. When eyes are pinning, feathers fluffed up, tail flared and/or growls don't try and handle him.
Talk nicely, see if he will take a treat from your hand.

No there is no real way to tell the age of the birds.

getwozzy · Feb 26, 2013

Thank you! All these bits of info are really helpful!!

Bummer :/ I have no idea how old these birds are... I think Jackie might be 10-15 years old but that's just from putting bits of info together from what the owner could tell me.

getwozzy · Feb 26, 2013

Ok, here's another question- my house is small, and no matter the location of the birds they are within earshot of my napping 10.5 month old. I've been covering their cages during naptime and they stay quiet other than the occasional chatter... Nap times are twice a day for at least an hour- is it ok that I'm covering them??? I've been doing it this way with our budgie and she doesn't seem affected by it.

SandyBee · Feb 26, 2013

If they don't seem stressed I think it's OK, and they don't see it as a form of punishment.
Are they noisy if you don't cover them?

Customcasket · Feb 26, 2013

getwozzy said:
Ok, here's another question- my house is small, and no matter the location of the birds they are within earshot of my napping 10.5 month old. I've been covering their cages during naptime and they stay quiet other than the occasional chatter... Nap times are twice a day for at least an hour- is it ok that I'm covering them??? I've been doing it this way with our budgie and she doesn't seem affected by it.

I normally do this with my guys when I'm dying for a nap (which is most days, but only occasionally do I get one

) I made it into something they understand. It took a few times, but telling them "Ok, it's naptime!" over and over in a quiet voice (the same voice I use for bedtime) and covering them while I napped was ok. I would immediately uncover them after I was done napping. It never seemed to bother them. My Dusky would act like it had been weeks since she last saw me when I'd uncover her. Sometimes they would be loud during my nap, but for the most part they knew the cover meant quiet time for a bit.

getwozzy · Feb 26, 2013

SandyBee said:
If they don't seem stressed I think it's OK, and they don't see it as a form of punishment.
Are they noisy if you don't cover them?

They make their normal sounds while uncovered, not too overly noisy.

SandyBee · Feb 26, 2013

getwozzy said:
SandyBee said:

If they don't seem stressed I think it's OK, and they don't see it as a form of punishment.
Are they noisy if you don't cover them?

Click to expand...

They make their normal sounds while uncovered, not too overly noisy.

Well only you can decide if covering is for the best or not, I don't think any harm is being done. But if they are not too noisy I might take the extra time to try and sit with them and bond.

BillsBirds · Feb 26, 2013

Covering them for intervals during the day shouldn't be a problem. Most birds nap on & off throughout the day. This will just organize their time schedule a bit for them. It is very difficult to guess ages of birds that you do not know any history of.

getwozzy · Feb 26, 2013

Ok, I figured it wouldn't hurt to cover them; if anything it'd give them a break from their new surroundings.

Today was their first full day here and it went pretty well... So far Jackie seems to be comfortable enough to say quite a few things...His word repertoire currently includes "it's ok", "I love you", "yeah", "go night night", "hello", "hello chuck", "what's pretty bird doin?", "pretty bird", and I'm sure there's more.... He usually would go to the opposite side of the cage if i was standing next to his cage, but with my husband he would just sit right next to him and didn't seem to mind. I'm assuming this is because he was previously a "man's bird"....?

Am I Crazy????

New member

New member

New member

New member

New member

New member

New member

New member

Well-known member

New member

New member

New member

New member

New member

New member

New member

New member

New member

Well-known member

New member

We were friends but not now

yn amazon has stopped talking

Similar threads