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Hubby and I have long been wanting to adopt a bird, and so I've been researching many different types, ranging from poicephalus to pionus to kakarikis to bourke's to crested pigeons and even glossy starlings. In the end, we decided on adopting this 3yo pearly conure, which we're told is a girl, but "she" has not been DNA tested, so we don't really know for sure, and don't really mind either way. :) So say hi to our new family member, Capri! ♡ She is currently adapting to life in a strange new place. Fortunately, she was able to move in with her former roommate/soulmate, the "bird on the other side of the mirror", so she instantly found a friend here too. :D It wasn't a long trip to get her, as the previous owner lives less than 20 minute's drive away. The drive with us was a bit scary, but there were so many interesting things to see out there, so it went well. She loves apples, and has a bit too much of an appetite for seeds (she had previously been on a mostly seed diet), so we have to work with her to introduce some more foods. She needs to eat more vegetables and grains, and less seeds, but apparently sunflower seeds are SO tasty! She also looks a bit scruffy at the moment because she's molting. Expect more (and hopefully less blurry) photos in the near future! You can see a few more pics here: https://www.instagram.com/p/Bj0irfpFITu/ :)
Category Photography / Animal related (non-anthro)
Species Unspecified / Any
Size 556 x 814px
File Size 751.4 kB
Bird!
All parrots are mechanical engineers. If you think they can't figure out the cage latch, or the hook on the box that the sunflower seeds are in, they will prove you wrong. :)
Part of their thing in the wild is to go around with their flock and find things to eat. Therefore, if you are eating something, bird will come over and try to eat it too... make sure it's OK for birds before you share. (This can also be a get-used-to-the-house game - hide food in the other rooms beforehand, then visit then with bird and "discover" the food there.)
Sometimes they will figure out that fruit juice tastes good - I used to live with a parrot that liked orange juice. This might be a step towards more fruit... pour yourself a glass, let bird have some, then you drink some.
Non-stick coated pans can be a problem for parrots. If they are overheated on the stove, some of the coating comes off, which is bad for their lungs. Some people say they are OK if you are careful to never overheat the pans, while other people don't even want it to be a possibility, so they just don't have any pans like that in the house.
Good luck!
All parrots are mechanical engineers. If you think they can't figure out the cage latch, or the hook on the box that the sunflower seeds are in, they will prove you wrong. :)
Part of their thing in the wild is to go around with their flock and find things to eat. Therefore, if you are eating something, bird will come over and try to eat it too... make sure it's OK for birds before you share. (This can also be a get-used-to-the-house game - hide food in the other rooms beforehand, then visit then with bird and "discover" the food there.)
Sometimes they will figure out that fruit juice tastes good - I used to live with a parrot that liked orange juice. This might be a step towards more fruit... pour yourself a glass, let bird have some, then you drink some.
Non-stick coated pans can be a problem for parrots. If they are overheated on the stove, some of the coating comes off, which is bad for their lungs. Some people say they are OK if you are careful to never overheat the pans, while other people don't even want it to be a possibility, so they just don't have any pans like that in the house.
Good luck!
Currently, the ONLY fruit/veg she will eat is apples/broccoli, and she prefers sunflower seeds to any of the other seeds. The previous owner didn't seem too interested in weaning her off the seed diet and introducing pellets or more fruit/veg; she just hung an apple in the cage and left it at that. She also gave her salty cheese puffs as treats. So I'm trying now (ever so slowly) to wean her onto healthier food and snacks. The mirror also has to go (which was from her previous cage, and only put into this cage to make it feel more like "home"), because she ONLY pays attention to the mirror, and nothing else; she doesn't care at all about playing with or chewing on toys, or exploring her environment. I know it will probably take her a long time to trust and like us (and even longer to want to be pet and cuddled, if ever), but we're patient. :)
These guys are awesome! I have a maroon bellied conure, which is very similar in size and everything, and let's just say the'r personality is leaps and bounds larger than they are! Mine rides around on my shoulder whenever she can, and loves to preen my hair and nibble my ear. :D
Oh btw, does yours purr too?
Oh btw, does yours purr too?
Aww! I only just got her this past weekend, so she's still scared of us, unless we have her fave food, so we're trying to work with that. :) I haven't heard her purr. (Also, she's totally obsessed with her mirror, and I heard that when they get that way, you have to remove it, and then they'll later come to like you instead of the mirror. The mirror was from her previous cage, and we only included it to make her feel more at home.)
Mirrors aren't all that good if you're really wanting to bond with her. Lots of toys though of other kinds, rope toys, those coconut fiber kind, wood, and acrylic toys are all good boredom breakers. If it's a decently safe environment then you could let her out once she becomes more settled down. Probably it's advisable to get her wings clipped initially, but once she becomes more used to the people who she shares her space with, then it's often safe enough to leave them unclipped.
What a lovely burf! Take heart, my sister had a green budgie that was too absorbed in her mirror. We had to take it away too.
Calypso ended up being VERY hand tame and would take hugs between your fingers and on your glasses. I could even lightly stretch out her wing while holding her restrained in the thumb and forefinger and she allowed it. And of course, scritches to the crown to get those annoying pin feathers off! I wish I could find more cuddly birds like her.
Give her a chance, but yes if she's 100% obsessed with her reflection, the mirror is more cruel than a enriching toy.
Calypso ended up being VERY hand tame and would take hugs between your fingers and on your glasses. I could even lightly stretch out her wing while holding her restrained in the thumb and forefinger and she allowed it. And of course, scritches to the crown to get those annoying pin feathers off! I wish I could find more cuddly birds like her.
Give her a chance, but yes if she's 100% obsessed with her reflection, the mirror is more cruel than a enriching toy.
You want other toys to distract her. Coconut husk, palm tree frond shredders, balsa wood, something to distract her that her soul mate is missing. And of course you and Sayh and kids giving her attention. She thinks her reflection is doting on her and when that other bird is no longer around, she will need something to occupy that space.
I let Panda, my Mini Rex bunny, out on the futon even if I'm just playing a game and not really trying to cuddle him as the positive space.
He climbs up to the back on the futon and sliiiides down again, dances about, shoves me into the smallest corner he can nosebump me into so he can dance on the futon, or he holds a meeting with my calico, Fiora.
Panda is the dominant one on that unusual pair.
Of course the other option is to get her a friend in time!
I let Panda, my Mini Rex bunny, out on the futon even if I'm just playing a game and not really trying to cuddle him as the positive space.
He climbs up to the back on the futon and sliiiides down again, dances about, shoves me into the smallest corner he can nosebump me into so he can dance on the futon, or he holds a meeting with my calico, Fiora.
Panda is the dominant one on that unusual pair.
Of course the other option is to get her a friend in time!
That's good. I just don't have a settled home, and my mate and I plan on a lot of traveling. I told him that until we have a house and trusted babysitters, I don't want any long lived pets that need a lot of care. Such as the Tegu we want. Animals are people to me. And they deserve the best. But you're settled with your mate and have done lots of research which is good. ..I DO want to work at a wildlife place though so I can still be around beautiful birds and other critters but not have to worry about being their caretaker permanently.
I put tri color kenwa in with the seeds along with pellets, the bird was like oh more seeds, then I mixed some fruit in the next day. I would leave the bowl in there most of the day and for the 2nd feeding I would do just pellets and seeds . I would also mix it in so he had no choice but to touch the fresh food trying to get the seeds.
It took like two weeks, mine is only 4 months so a older bird may need more time. I would also eat the fresh food and make a big deal about it with the bird on my shoulder, I would say "mmmmm" and make smacking noises wile nibbling on it and I would not offer it but hold it to the side like the bird was not there so he thinks he was sneaking a bite lol it worked with my mom's 13 yr old parrot she adopted. He will not eat pellets but he gets some fruit. It could take months even years for a older bird to learn better habits.
It took like two weeks, mine is only 4 months so a older bird may need more time. I would also eat the fresh food and make a big deal about it with the bird on my shoulder, I would say "mmmmm" and make smacking noises wile nibbling on it and I would not offer it but hold it to the side like the bird was not there so he thinks he was sneaking a bite lol it worked with my mom's 13 yr old parrot she adopted. He will not eat pellets but he gets some fruit. It could take months even years for a older bird to learn better habits.
My favorite birds are budgies. (Usually called parakeets around here.)
They are such affectionate little goofballs.
My last one had a habit of flying across the room to smack into my glasses, then promptly hang upside down over my face and nibble my lips until I opened my mouth to let him inspect my teeth...
Then he would spend hours perched on my head, preening my hair while I read books, or built plastic models.
When he got bored, it was back to hanging from my glasses and chirping happily.
I haven't gotten another bird since he passed away, but I've been thinking about it lately.
-Badger-
They are such affectionate little goofballs.
My last one had a habit of flying across the room to smack into my glasses, then promptly hang upside down over my face and nibble my lips until I opened my mouth to let him inspect my teeth...
Then he would spend hours perched on my head, preening my hair while I read books, or built plastic models.
When he got bored, it was back to hanging from my glasses and chirping happily.
I haven't gotten another bird since he passed away, but I've been thinking about it lately.
-Badger-
Aww...There are some absolutely GORGEOUS keets out there, if ever you do consider getting another. :) I totally fell in love with this silly one: https://www.instagram.com/renren_gram31/ <333
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