My Alexandrine and I

[Camille]

Hi,
I have been looking around on the forum for a couple of months now and I finally created an account. I bought a hand raised Alexandrine just over a month ago. I called him Floyd and he is 4 months old. I had a Sulphur Crested Cockatoo as a child and have always loved birds. Floyd is a cheeky and stubborn little thing, I can spend all day just watching him and his antics. All advice is very welcome... I'm only a beginner! Can't wait to start writing some posts

 

[Camille]

I forgot to add that I'm from Wollongong, NSW, Australia

 

[weimdog2]

Welcome Camille. I'm a newbie too and am owned by a Timneh African Grey named Penny. She will be one at Christmas and is such a joy.

Jill and Penny

 

[khaiqha]

Well, I know one of my concerns when I first got my Alexandrine was his tail. He kept bending it against walls, and it would stay bent. I was always worried that it would break because it's not a thick tail like other birds. A simple misting or his preening would always fix his tail though.

Random question, does yours hover very slowly as he's flying for the first time?

 

[Camille]

Thank you for the welcome

Well, I know one of my concerns when I first got my Alexandrine was his tail. He kept bending it against walls, and it would stay bent. I was always worried that it would break because it's not a thick tail like other birds. A simple misting or his preening would always fix his tail though.

Random question, does yours hover very slowly as he's flying for the first time?

The little guy's wings are clipped at the moment, so I can't say. But I won't be getting his wings clipped again

 

[WannaBeAParrot]

Welcome to the forum. I don't know about Alexandrines, but you'll find so many nice and helpful people to answer your Alexandrine-specific questions.

 

[Ash]

Alexandrines are great to have! : D
I have two, out of all my guys I think these two are the most gentle creatures I have met. One talk's up a storm. The other is quiet as can be. They do give off a contact call maybe once a day.

All I can say is that they are amazing! <3

I know a lot of alexandrines get very cage territorial. My two aren't but I know of lot of other members of having problems with cage aggression.
Another thing (you may have noticed already) that are very destructive! xD Love to chew, my two would prefer wooded toys over anything.

My two are pretty cuddly which is said to be odd for an alexandrine is others say there two don't like to be touched.

I can't wait to see pics of yours and here more stories

 

[gemini84]

welcome camille and congrats on your gorgeous baby. i too have a 4 month old alex and he has just started to settle in an explore the house. he is like a baby that has just learnt to walk and gets into anything he can. my baby is fully flighted but was clipped when i got him at 11weeks.

they are an amazing bird, would have to be my fave parrot.

oxy is my first baby and everyone here has been a great help.
i find oxy has his moods as to when he wants cuddles and pats or if he just wants to sit with us on the chair. he is only territorial over the top of his cage and his corn cobs...lol.

enjoy your baby and best wishes for a long life together.

 

[Ash]

Here is my girl, Yuki

I dont have a recent pic of alex though ;p


This is her at my work (Preschool). She really loves it there. : )

 

[lene1949]

Hi Camille

Welcome to the forums... I also have an alexandrine... I finished hand raising him, he learned to fly, and then I clipped his wings, because he got really cranky, when I wanted to put him back into his cage... It was a bad move, Max loved to fly, and got quite depressed without this ability...

Now his wings have grown out, he's again flighted, his ring has started to form, and he's a joy to have around...

Max is great with other birds from my eclectus to my cockatiel....

 

[Catherine_]

Welcome to the forum; only word of advice I can give is to get him used to toys now why he is young it might save your house. My Alex was a stray and I kept him after I couldn't find owner. He does not like toys and is scared of some of them. Thinking maybe didn't get them when he was young. Anyway loves chewing my walls and the furniture. Lucikly I don't rent lol. My alex is also not aggressive or territorial at all (only to the dog) he is just a funny delightful and sometimes affectionate little thing who stole my heart. Have a great time with your little one.

 

[Camille]

Thank you all for your welcomes and words of advice! Yuki is gorgeous!

Floyd is very territorial around his cage and was horrendously bitey at first, but I persisted and I think with practice and confidence (I was a little scared of getting my fingers bitten off for a while) he is much better. Still stubborn and grumpy around his cage, but I have lounge next to his cage and sit there while I'm watching tv, and have a cuppa etc and leave it up to him to make contact with me. He has come out of his shell and likes sitting on my knee or investigating whatever may be in my hand.

I also bought a small benchtop play gym that sits on the kitchen bench. This allows him to watch me cook an chew on veggies and also tear the play gym apart - haha very destructive! I think by doing this he has become a little less territorial. Floyd isnt affectionate at all, but will occasionally let me scratch him, without growling at me.

I've read a couple of books and I 'lurk' in the forum all the time, always learning new things. I must say birds are so fulfilling! So entertaining, loving, intelligent and bring so much more to my life than I ever expected!

This is such a great resource for bird guardians and I am looking forward to getting stuck in to it! Watch out for a post soon in the Alex specific section

I haven't quite mastered uploading photos, but when i do be prepared to be flooded with Floyd!

 

[wenz2712]

Welcome to the forum