Let me introduce myself. My name is Linda. I am 49, I live in Seattle WA with my wonderful husband Bill, (62), two little dogs (Contessa and June Bug), and 2 birds - a Java Rice Finch (Piper) and a Canary (Conolli).
I am getting my IRN today!! I am so excited! I have SO much to learn!
We live in a retirement home called The Viewpointe. We are the youngest here so we have the most energy (on a good day!). We have a large 2 bedroom apartment and take 2 meals a day in a community dining room. We have a full kitchen in our apartment so there isn't any problem storing and preparing fruits and veggies for the birds.
The Viewpointe management decided to buy and stock a display Aviary and asked if anyone was interested. I was the only one. So, I set about learning of finches and helped buy and stock a very nice Aviary of 10 finches, one Diamond Dove and one canary. It is in the Social Room where folks can come in and get a cup of tea or coffee and set a spell, and watch the birds! I check on them each day and make sure they have seed, veggies and water. I do the vitamins, clean the cage, everything except change the papers - which is done by the night staff.
My background in birds is limited to breeding English Budgies as a teenager and owning various pet budgies on and off. My concentration in life before I became disabled was in horses.
My parents had a pair of lovebirds but I have never owned a parrot before. I have done TONS of research and I think I am making the right choice for my situation.
Now, a little about the bird -- she is about 1 year old, and Lutino. She has been named Banana and is called Nana for short. She doesn't have a ring yet. A breeder friend of mine had her for sale for a friend.
She is gorgeous, of course! Unlike most parrots, and most IRNs I think, she actually likes to spend time in her cage and playtop, but doesn;t like to go all over the house so much. I am told she likes to sit on your shoulder and nuzzle up against your neck, but other than that she isn't very cuddly. She is very quiet. She doesn't talk and makes only occasional "beeps".
My main concern was not getting a bird that absolutely MUST be handled for several hours each and every day or it suffers - like a Macaw. While I absolutley love the female Eclectus, after researching thoroughly I decided I would not make a good Mommy for an Ekkie because their interaction needs are similarly high.
My disability, though mild, involves a lot of fatigue and I do have the occasional day when I just can;t function well. On those rare days I let my DH care for the doggies! If the companion bird I chose would suffer because of this, it isn't the right one.
And, I don't think I'd be happy with a love bird or a conure, pretty as they are. They tend to really screech. Not that IRNs don't screech on occassion - But I am assured that little Nana is a quiet girl.
I think the IRN is the right breed of bird. More important, I think this individual is the right bird for me. While I truly love the blue IRNs the best, I like the yellows second best. But, a blue with the wrong personality would only make us both unhappy, so...
Now my question
- I absolutely hate the name Banana. I am not fond of Nana either. I know with dogs and horses one can change their name and I know how to go about it. What about IRNs? Can I change her name at 1 year of age? If so, how should I go about it properly?
Oh, I have tended to run on, haven't I? (I am a writer - could you guess?) Sorry for the long post
Thanks for reading all this. I am very glad I found this place!
Linda D in Sunny Seattle
Edit: Last name removed from post
These are some awesome birds but can be a handful. You can change the name to one that can suit you better. Just keep repeating the new name do not mention Banana around her/him
