I fell in love with birds when I got a baby handraised cockatiel in 2002 that I named Sisqo, as I had not done well with 'human' relationships and figured if I could stop myself from killing a bird with kindness, then I could step up to larger and more involved mammals
... He only had one single little feather on his head when I got him, he used to sleep and shower with me and would cry if I left the room when he was really small. I had to leave him for a few months when my partner (yes - and he isn't dead from love and kindness either, lol) went to the country picking fruit for a few months. I didn't realise how crucial that was in his development, and he bonded with my mum and siblings, learnt to talk and it took time to make friends again. When we moved, he got out of his cage and flew out of the apartment and I was devo'd... three days of thinking I could hear his chirping and I realised I really COULD! He found his way back to the apartment and a friend caught him - he'd had a run in with a larger bird and had a bad laceration to his head but recovered well... only to have our cat (I will never own another cat) jump on the cage and collapse it - letting Sisqo free and never to be seen again...My partner Alan bought me another cockatiel in 2005, however after only two weeks together we were broken into (there was nothing they took) and the robber left our back door open - and Bubby flew away
After a few more years together and more wonderful children, we are expecting out fourth baby around Christmas time, and am dealing with a back injury, as well as having just moved to Beaudesert away from family and friends (we don't really know anyone here yet)... Alan wanted to get me something to cheer me up... after I saw a IRN in a pet shop here I fell in love with it, but for about $250 but there was no way we could afford it. Yesterday my man hands me a pet box - with a beautiful green IRN inside... he had been able to pick her (well a 'her' for now, lol) up for $100 at the markets. The breeder told Alan that she was about 6 weeks old, is handraised and by all accounts she looks really healthy and is settling in well - we called her Ringo!
Alan thought he would see if our ultra tame pet snake Sassy would be interested in eating her (from a very far distance, lol) which is a big concern, although Sassy is so tame that she doesn't even strike her dead rats, she just gingerly eats them! We aren't taking any chances at all, she'll still be in her locked up enclosure lol.
Anyway, I have a fair bit of experience with cockatiels and nursing different native birds that we've rescued over the years - so I am hoping that will help me through the learning I am going to do with Ringo - she seems really smart, and because I am home all day she is out until sleep time with us... she hopped off the couch onto my shoulder which I am hoping is a good step! She already steps up and can eat fruit and some seed I hand feed her, and I am hoping to train her to come out and go into her cage and go from there, so here's hoping!
Take care,
Angela
