Hello- newbie from oz

_Jules_

New member
Oct 10, 2015
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I'm Jules from Australia and am currently looking after my Mum's cockatiel whilst she is on holidays. It's been hand reared but has a few biting issues that I've been trying to train out of him (or her) using tips I've been finding on youtube. It's been fun! We are making progress.

Our neighbours have two baby Alexandrines that they were looking for someone to hand rear, so I've put my hand up. I'm looking forward to learning about these birds, raising them, and possibly keeping one or selling both of them. I'd love to have a pet bird but my husband is worried about the damage they will do to furniture! I think maybe one day one with a smaller beak would suit us better!?

I don't like the thought of birds constantly being in cages and never let out, so hand rearing them to make them tame is my way of helping them to have better lives.

I'm a newbie but a quick learner and I'm sure I'm going to have heaps of questions!

cheers
 

itchyfeet

New member
Nov 1, 2014
1,013
7
Middle Earth
Parrots
Ethyl the cockatiel, Henry & Clarke the IRN's, and Skittles the lovebird (my daughters)
Hi Jules :) Welcome.
Good work on training with the cockatiel - that's awesome :)
Are you talking about hand feeding? Or having one as a pet after weaning? If you're talking about hand feeding them, don't. Unless the breeder is going to walk you through every step of the way? It's not easy. It's totally finicky, you'd be able to bond equally buying a handfed baby already weaned, if you put the time in - as with all birds - and it'll save you stress and heartbreak. I reckon that would be the general consensus of most of the more experienced members on the board, although I freely admit I'm not one of those!
 

Betrisher

Well-known member
Jun 3, 2013
4,253
177
Newcastle, NSW, Australia
Parrots
Dominic: Galah(RIP: 1981-2018); The Lovies: Four Blue Masked Lovebirds; Barney and Madge (The Beaks): Alexandrines; Miss Rosetta Stone: Little Corella
OOOoooo! KEEP the Alexandrines! Both of them! You won't be sorry!

It's very simple to teach Alexes not to chomp on the house that houses them. You simply remove them from areas of temptation and provide them with plenty of chewy toys in areas where they're allowed to be. My Beaks don't chew anything inside the house because I spent the time when they were young removing them (and removing them and removing them) whenever they felt tempted to beak anything. Any bird will chew, whether it has a big beak or a little one: you should see the damage Lovebirds can do once they get a go on! My Galah (who is a damaged personality and who gets away with far more than the Beaks ever did) has chewed the architraves of a door and a window in my house until they really need replacing. Doesn't bother me, though. I just figure 'birds live here, so there will be evidence of that'. :D

I chose to keep two Beaks because I truly believe they are great company for each other and occupy themselves far more naturally than a single bird would alone. I've had no problems with the bond between myself and each of my birds and I honestly can't say there's been any down side from having a pair instead of a singleton. That's just me, though. I'm sure others could tell different stories.

If you need any help with training or feeding or other aspects of bird keeping, we're all here for you. Birds make such endearing and funny companions: they have so much to offer that other animals can't, not the least of which is choosing to sit on your shoulder when they could easily fly off somewhere else. Alexandrines are wonderful birds: they're exceptionally intelligent, great mimics and staggeringly beautiful. Have I convinced you yet? ;)

PS. Where are you in Oz? I'm in Newcastle.
 

WilliamKenyon

New member
Aug 21, 2015
579
Media
1
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Parrots
Mango: Male cockatiel, Ruby: Female eclectus
Welcome to the forum. Another oz here and great job on training your mums cockatiels. I hope your hand rearing goes well, good luck. :D
 
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_Jules_

New member
Oct 10, 2015
8
0
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hello again! It's been a while! I have been SO busy! The alex's are now about 9 weeks old. What a ride! One is flying and loud- all within the space of two days. He (I'm guessing the sex) was a little baby who was too scared to venture out of a blanket to a bird that can't sit still and wants to fly, fly, fly! I have had to cover up all my windows (the house looks pretty strange right now) as he just goes for them straight away.
The other bird is still not flying (she was always smaller and needed more feeds) but I'm sure she'll get there.
I have some questions as I am a newbie bird owner. I am contemplating keeping the bird I'm talking about. (The flying one- "Charlie")
1. I have heard keeping a bird you've hand reared may not be such a great idea, as I am "Mum" and he will want to part with me for others when he reaches a certain age.
2. He is crazy right now. Is this a developmental stage? He just tries to fly for windows all the time. I can handle him but he can't sit still so I am struggling to train him to be comfortable with me spreading his wings, just because of his excessive moving about. (My goal is to use a harness.) I also want to introduce the clippers as his nails are so sharp. But he has the attention span of a goldfish right now, lol.

That's all my questions for now. I have ordered a bird training book to learn about their behaviour.

Oh and I'm in Gippsland Vic, Betrisher :)
 

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