Bringing Home a Rehome

I know I haven't been very active lately. I've been really busy with my second year of University, work, birds, and boys, that I haven't had much time to lurk my favorite forum.

I've been really upset about the death of poor little Storm. It was completely out of my control, and it just breaks my heart to think about it. I really haven't been considering bringing another bird into my flock.

However, a girl I work with has a 15 year old cockatiel named Charlie Bird. He hasn't been getting the time and attention he needs. Everyone in the home is too busy, and he spends a lot of time alone. Everyone knows I'm the bird lady, so she asked me if I'd like to take him in. After spending a little bit of time thinking it over, I agreed to take him in.

On Thursday he's being dropped off at my house, with his cage and all of his belongings.

A little bit of info on him. He's been rehomed once before. The family he's with has had him for years, and they got him from a person who could no longer care from him. From the description I've heard of him, he's just a plain old mutation free cockatiel, a wild type color. Everyone has guessed that he's a male, he has a singing voice and strong coloration, so I'm just assuming as well that he'll be a boy.

He isn't tame. He doesn't have much outside of cage time, and they don't really handle him. Being an older bird, and not a baby like all of my other birds were, I think he'll be a bit of a challenge to tame. But at his age, I don't think I'll push him too hard, just make him really comfortable.

At his home now, he's the only bird. I don't know if he's ever had any other interactions with other birds. So, hopefully, he'll get along. If not, I can place his cage away from the bird room, where other birds will get little to no access to him.

He is coming with his cage, the dimensions being 32x67x22. Apparently he loves the cage, and I'll get to see some pictures of it and scope out whether or not it will be appropriate.
m
I think this is going to be a real adventure. Ive only tamed and handled young birds. I'm expecting to be a real long journey with him, and I'm going to stock up on bandaids. Time to take the old clicker out again

I'll keep you posted!

Good thing you are ready for a challenge, but I'm betting he won't be all that difficult! Can't wait to hear more about the new guy.

Boys, plural, eh? No wonder you are busy! :-)

I'm really happy for you - and the little bird. I think you're plan of taming him if it works, and letting him be happy if it doesn't is a really good one. I expect that he may not be sure of the other birds at first, but after he spends some time around them, he'll get used to them, and may, after time, start to enjoy their company. I'd plan on having his cage in the bird room - I can't imagine that the other birds will cause him stress, especially if he's in his "happy place" where they can't get to him. Even Caesar, after a year, has finally come around and is enjoying the company of other birds - even those she's never met before.

Today I got to see some pictures of the cage, and it looks AWESOME. It's huge, and according to her was about 500-600$. He will be keeping his old cage, and I won't have to invest in a new one. Yay!

I also met her father, and he seems really excited about me taking in Charlie Bird.

I really hope that he'll be able to move into the bird room. I'd be worried about budgies standing on his cage and mocking him, like they do to Einstein. I just want him to live absolutely stress free. This is my first time handling an older bird, so I guess I'll see when he gets here.

Good on you for taking him in, hope it works out well. Good luck!

that's terrific that you are taking him in...the world needs more people like you...i bet you will have him trained in no time, you are an old pro....have fun and send pictures as soon as you can


dusty

How about a update. Not a date,,, a update...

I'm sure he'll enjoy just listening to your current flock - it really does cheer them up to be around other birds



Hopefully he gets along well with Einstein (at least for playtime) and the budgies don't tease him too much

Charlie is coming home tonight - VERY excited

good luck and don't stay up all night playing with him...lol



dusty

You know someone has to say it -- please take pictures!!!!

So, here's Charlie!

The cage is massive and beautiful. It took me, my friend, and her dad to bring the cage up the two flights of stairs. Thought I was going to die of exhaustion.

There was a couple of toys in the cage, but they seemed really old, and unsafe. Some were held my bobby-pins. Good thing I have a bunch of extra toys. There was some wooden dowel perches, so I took those out. I had gone to petsmart to pick some up, so I was prepared.

I know I should of waited until he was more settled in to change things around, but I didn't think his set up was very safe.

As soon as they left, I took him out of his cage. He stepped right up onto my finger, and I put him on a rope perch, which according to his old owners, was his favorite. No nipping, which I was expecting.

As you can see, he seems to enjoy singing. We were singing back and forth to each other for a good while.

He's been sticking to his perch, but I've caught him preening and beak clicking.

He's got a bunch of pin feathers on his head, so hopefully, I'll fix that with a little tlc.

And if you notice one of his nostrils seems a bit swollen, apparently he was born like that. So there's nothing I can do about it. And if he's lived 15 years with it, I doubt it does him much harm.

That's quite the cage!

I would think if he's singing, he's pretty content. He got all three of mine singing back to him!

I told my friend that he stepped up for me, and she was surprised that he didn't bite me.

Can't wait to see what tomorrow will be like.

Hey girl, congratulations!!! Charlie will be one happy bird from now on having so loving feathered and human family, good for him!!!


11.42 PM and Mickey reacts immediately hearing Charlie Zaza, do you remember that Chico is in virtual love with Einstein? (and in real life with Lucky...)

i like the cage, the bird is beautiful and the video is great...good luck to you



dusty

And Charlie knows step up! Which is very exciting. I had him stepping up on my finger like a pro!

And this afternoon, he was playing with a toy (a Crystal's Bird toy to be exact).

He was also chewing on the bark of the fir wood perch I got him.

Right now he is on a brand new rope perch, preening his feathers and listening intently on Einsteins calls.

Sounds like he is settling in just fine Hopefully he gets along with Einstein and the Budgies too!

as Deb would say...more pictures



dusty

I was charging my camera last night, you will get your pictures soon!

But I've got to say, he's got a face only a mother could love. With all those pinfeathers and his weird nostril. Oh well, he's got character!

[quote="zazanomore"]I was charging my camera last night, you will get your pictures soon!

But I've got to say, he's got a face only a mother could love.



so you are saying he looks like me....lol





dusty

zazanomore wrote:

And Charlie knows step up! Which is very exciting. I had him stepping up on my finger like a pro!

And this afternoon, he was playing with a toy (a Crystal's Bird toy to be exact).

He was also chewing on the bark of the fir wood perch I got him.

Right now he is on a brand new rope perch, preening his feathers and listening intently on Einsteins calls.

Sounds already like one very happy bird!

crystalsbirdtoys wrote:

Sounds like he is settling in just fine Hopefully he gets along with Einstein and the Budgies too!

I just wanted to say exactly the same!

dusty wrote:

as Deb would say...more pictures



dusty

Yes, pretty please!!!

dusty wrote:

zazanomore wrote:

I was charging my camera last night, you will get your pictures soon!

But I've got to say, he's got a face only a mother could love.

so you are saying he looks like me....lol



dusty

Zaza, good luck with Charlie the cockatiel!

Finally, some pictures!

Wish my rehomes were this successful. :\

Issues with the lovebirds?