Introducing myself

[ASMbirdie]

Hi Everyone, I just got my first bird yesterday. A male Lutono. I purchased him from a pet store I regularly do business with. This bird was in a cage alone and is now too. He was in the bird room with other cockatiels and other birds.

He would screech when his cage was opened. He doesn't do that with me. They didn't handle him much. Part of the reason I bought him was to get him out of that environment and give him a loving home.

He doesn't like to be handled. I think it will take quite a bit of time and training to get him there. I am looking for tips about how I am going to clean and sanitize his cage weekly in addition to the daily cleaning if he doesn't want to come out. I am afraid of hurting him and making him afraid of me.

Any suggestions would be welcome. Yes, the introduction. I live in Montpelier VT. I'm 44 and a college professor.

Andrea

[expressmailtome]

Welcome! Congratulations on the lutino cockatiel. They are beautiful! I clean the cages with vinegar and water. There is at least one thread on this topic that will give you other people's opinions as well. Good luck!

Matt

[ASMbirdie]

Thank you very much Matt!

[becca623]

Hello, welcome to Birdboard! Congrats on your new baby. Does he have a name yet? I think lutinos are the prettiest cockatiels.
Warm water and vinegar like Matt said are great for cage cleaning.

[ASMbirdie]

Thanks for the welcome. His name is Sunny. He is a very pretty bird.

[Monica]

Welcome to BB! And gratz on Sunny! But I must wonder how you are sure he is a male???

[JenJenna]

Welcome!

Congratulations on the new addition to your family. You sound like you're this bird's savior! You saved him from bad conditions and the questions you're asking right of the bat show that you'll be a great parent to him! :)

[ASMbirdie]

Thanks for such a nice message. I do feel like we saved him. I hope over time he will trust us and be willing to come out of his cage. We are loving him up and making sure every time we come near his cage is a pleasant experience.

Andrea

[Monica]

Lutinos are more likely to be females than males. If the father is a visual lutino, all female offspring will be lutinos. If the father is split lutino, then approximmately 50% of the female offspring (give or take, depending on other mutations as well) wil be lutinos. If the mother is a lutino, and the father is not carrying the gene, then all males will be split lutino. If the mother is a lutino and the father is carrying the gene (visually or split) then you can expect to get both male and female lutino offspring.

How's Sunny doing now? Any updates? As he been singing any? Or just doing the "same" chirp?

[Michelle & Fids]

Welcome and Congratulations on the new baby!!!