Caring for Multiple Birds

[jriley]

Wow, this is a very enjoyable thread to read. I love to hear how we all adapt to lives with our feathered friends. I'm also glad to hear that there are others out there who have fids that aren't tame. I tried and tried to get Tucci, my male Tucuman Amazon, to be more tame, but he is just so used to being a breeder bird and in full spring hormones, that all I got for my trouble were some very serious bites. While he isn't screaming anymore since Tammy came along, if anything he is more of a biter with her to protect. She seems more open to taming than Tucci, which is weird because she's a wild-caught import who has spent her whole time in this country as a breeder bird and Tucci was handfed before his relatively short time as a breeder. I figure I will see if they show signs of wanting to have babies and if not, I will try to tame Tammy and maybe Tucci will follow along.

Julie Riley

[CrazyforCockatiels]

Raddaughter~ I am the same way with respect to liking my birds to get as much time outside of their cages as possible. Are you planning on becoming an avian veterinarian? Sounds like you're excited! Best to you in your academic endeavors!

Cbalvino~ You're a braver soul than I. You have 56 fids??? The fact you still go away and are able to make arrangements for your fids gives me hope that there may be yet another bird in our future.

Stepht25~ I loved reading about Peanut's bond with Emily. His calling out to her is too precious! We also have those little boxes with seed treats in them. The mini cereal boxes filled with other treats is a great idea. Wrapping a treat in paper is also a good one. I am still learning tips and tricks to keep the fids happy. Thank you!

Julie~ I really look forward to hearing more about Tammy and Tucci. I love their names!

[Monica]

I've got dermatographism (not clinically diagnosed via a dr). All it means is that I'm allergic to something, and without doing an allergy test, I wont know WHAT it is. However, my skin reacts to anything when it gets scratched... doesn't matter if it's nails, toothpick, plastic end of a pen, cardboard... whatever. I've had this issue since 6th or 7th grade (around the time that I had gotten into birds, as well as gotten bit by a dog). It causes severe itchiness, that is until I get used to it... I've taken antihistamines like benadryl, and generic forms of it... although it seems to help somewhat, it's very little. The thing about it though, was that once I got "over" it in middle school, it no longer bothered me. I still had it, but I wasn't getting welts nearly as badly as I was before, so, to me, it was just something that I stopped taking notice of...

That was, until this March I had strep throat, got treated with antibiotics, got better except for a cold, went walking outside, and may have gotten bit by a bug... ever since then my allergies have inflared again... And for proof, I took pictures of my left arm after Charlie had sat on me... depending on the computer you use may determine just how "graphic" the images appear (i.e. more redder than they should be)... However, heres the pics of my arm...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/09...NFids/Arm1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/09...NFids/Arm2.jpg

And to prove that it wasn't just one thing I was reacting to, I took a toothpick and literally wrote on my arm!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/09...caNFids/SD.jpg

So think about it this way... think about the grip differences between say a cockatiel and a large parrot. A cockatiel might scratch you, however a large parrots nails can dig into the skin because they are much larger, heavier, and stronger birds. Thus, in comparison, Charlie IS the largest bird, as well as the strongest, here. He outweights Noel by 70 grams if not more. He outweights the tiels by 130 grams, give or take 20 grams. He outweights the budgies by 200 grams or less.

Noel doesn't affect me because she is weak compared to other conures. She can't fly, and she can't grip. Not only that but her nails are a mess. It's very unlikely she could cause any harm to me other than with her beak.

So you see, with my allergies it's hard to handle Charlie (without getting the urge to itch myself) when even with clipped nails they still dig into my skin... or how he has a tendancy to bite.

[catschair]

First, about Magellan... she loves watching the birds in and out of the house and has learned to imitate most all of them. IRNs are awfully smart and seem to be pretty adaptable (like I think she is learning that if she bites this earring one more time seh is going back in the cage -- yeah, right).

Monica-- your tale made me smile. I also have an overreactive immune system and when I was teaching physiology and pharmacology I used to run a fingernail down my arm to demonstrate the "triple response of Lewis"; more amusing yet -- in addition to the immediate blanch, wheal, & flare, I would often still have a welt the next day. My students almost always got that one right. I also bruise so easily that the cats leave footprints when they walk on me. Had a whole big work up when I worked at Mayo Clinic and they decided that I was perfectly healthy, just on the very far side of normal. So much for that!

[Tiki]

My birds all share one large indoor aviary so they are never bored or lonely. Some of them just like to be with other birds-some of the Tiels are like that. The two Princesses hang out together. The 3 South Americans hang out together. Everyone who wants it gets "mommy time". I just walk in there and anyone who feels like hanging out with me will come over. I can bring them into the bedroom and watch tv or go online with them walking all over me!

[CrazyforCockatiels]

Monica~ You poor dear! I sympathize with you.
Catschair~ Would love to read more about Magellan! Also, I am glad you're all right!
Tiki~ That is so neat that your fids just come to you for "mommy time."

[Monica]

The allergy is minor compared to some other things... such as osteochondroma of my left knee (which slightly disables me), and possibly a pinched nerve in my left foot... and sadly none clinically diagnosed... but I tend to get by without much issues at all! Actually, whats really been bothering me is all the viral infections/colds I've been getting lately...

I enjoy spending time with the fids. Casey's been quite hormonal so I have to completely rearrange the bird room to try and remove any places that could be used as a 'nest', which includes having to remove one cage (currently occupied!) out of the room! Even if they aren't all tame, and that I don't care for them all to be tame, I still enjoy all their antics! It's just fun to sit in the room and watch all the little birds, especially the budgies! Smurf especially has dumped his girl and is now courting another!

[CrazyforCockatiels]

Monica~ I enjoy reading about your fids. Have you tried vitamins (for yourself)?

[Monica]

If it's considered as a "non-essential", we don't have it... we used to have vitamins, but they're gone now... and I never did like them either!

[Joe&Young]

Compared to most of you, Joe and I are relatively new to the bird world. Our "bird" life started on Joe's 50th birthday, I wanted to give him a gift that would be a special, loving, forever kind of thing. Since we already have 3 dogs, two mini dachsunds, and a pomeranian, ( Afarone, Affie or Roo for short), it took much thought. So, on Joe's 50th, I presented him with a cinnamon conure. Auggie was a very extraordinary little guy. On the first night with us, he cuddled under Joe's glasses (Joe had fallen asleep on the couch, with his glasses on) and fell asleep between Joe's face and his glasses. He was a very special little guy, spending every moment with us. He even climbed into my bag and went grocery shopping with me. Never made a peep. Well one night, we were laying in bed, and watching tv with our Auggie, and fell asleep. We woke up in the middle of the night with Auggie no where in sight. We found him between the comforter and the sheets. We were devastated for weeks, both of us crying non stop, wanting to get another Auggie, and yet so scared to replace him, both of maybe losing another bird or not being able to love the new one as much. Finally we met a breeder, through a gal on this site, and purchased Yogi. We were in love all over again. I hate to sound like a dork, but we still see pictures of him and miss him the same all over again. After we purchased Yogi, the breeder said she was moving cross country and had another cinnamon that was just weaned. So, we got BooBoo. I can't tell you how much our lives have changed since we entered the "bird parenting" world. They are our children. So, we thought that was it. Two cinnamon conures. Wrong! A friend of mine called me one night, to rescure a tiel, many of you know the story of Baby. Well, we ended up falling in love and keeping her. Then it seemed she wasn't quite all that she could be.. still withdrawn a bit too much, so we got Bert, aka Bertie. Yogi and BooBoo are little pests! lol. They demand constant attention and shoulder rides. Even when typing on the keyboard, like now, I have one on each hand. But thats okay, we love them and adore the fact they love us so much. It makes it tough to go places without feeling the guilt of leaving them though. I work with Baby and Bertie constantly, usually have Boo Boo and Yogi on one shoulder, and Baby and Bertie on the other doing chores or whatever. The only time they do not get their way and ride on mom is when I am near chemicals, or cooking. I fear accidents, you just never know. Baby and Bertie are becoming more attached to me and are demanding more attention every day. And thats okay too, I have an extra shoulder. Joe and I are blessed, in that we have been able to retire early in our lives and can devote our days and nights to our 3 dogs and 4 birds. It is a zoo. I do know now however, that when we have to go somewhere and leave the babies, we feel the same guilt, and concern as we did when our children were babies. The birds and dogs have now taken our childrens places in our lives, since the kids are all young adults and on their own. I love this site and spend much time reading the different posts, and in the process, have fallen in love with many of your fids. :) I can't walk into a pet store without wanting to buy the whole lot of birds or have even considered another bird, like a sun conure. I do know however, I was blessed with only two shoulders, and I have to be grateful that I have two precious cinnamons, and two precious tiels that have decided to occupy both those shoulders. I wake up every morning at 6:30 to them calling me, and wanting out of the cages, then the day starts. Breakfast for the babies, dogs, Joe and all. Then the lunch rush, dogs, Joe, and all, lol. Then the baths for the birds, and play time. The birds are out all day long, but do not have full flight. But they have perches they can access all around the room from branch to branch, (looks like a tree forest in here, lol). The only time they are in their cages is if we have to step out for a bit. Joe and I are used to traveling, so this is a very different change for us. Now, we have to accommodate the birds as well. We won't leave them home. I have to say, it's chaos, sometimes I wonder .. what happened... But I can honestly say, I would not trade a moment with all of my babies. Aside from having our children, our children now are our blessing.