First Week...

NikkiD

Registered
Hi everyone, on Sunday I purchased a Alexandrine parrot from a pet store, I am calling him ‘Gizzy’ though he doesn’t know that yet! I am looking forward to working with him, and developing a great bond with him.
He is (I was advised) about 10 months old. At the shop he’d had his wings clipped (I fully intend to allow them to regrow and for him to fly as nature intended) I don’t know if it was one wing or two. He is eating (apple is a favourite) there are seed shells on the bottom of the cage so I know that he is dipping in there too. He’s drinking, I think (evidence of bits of apple in the water bowl.). He doesn’t appear to move much - always sitting in the same spot on the main perch, as high as he can be in the cage.
He appears quite calm, and the only sign of distress I can see is he breathes a bit heavier when I approach the cage. He’s not at all ‘skittish’ and I have put my hand in the cage (changing bowls etc) without causing any additional distress. I’m being careful to approach from a low height, slowly and speaking calmly to him. He is in my home office room, so I am frequently going past him while working, again carefully and without making eye contact, so he just gets used to my being there.
I’m a little worried about his lack of movement, and he hasn’t made a sound as yet either.
I would like to open the cage top in the next few days and see if he wants to venture out. I’m worried that as he had his wings clipped he may attempt to fly and may fall which may cause injury. I notice that he is missing 2 nails / claws on one foot, and obviously I don’t know where he’s been or what his life story is over the last 10 months. I am reading as much as I can, as I hope to be the very best parrot keeper I can be, and would be very grateful if any advice and tips you can offer. Sorry I’m advance, I think I may have a million questions.
Nikki (& Gizzy) x
 
Hello and welcome Nikki and Hi Gizzy it sounds got that you are away from that awful shop. We love Photos, I am pleased you want your bird to get its wings back, I just wish that clipping would be illegal, I am not too worried about missing two claws but it can make a difference to your bird (they are very adaptable) in how well it can grip especially when coming to land from flight as much needed practice is being denied him and another good reason against clipping. Gaining trust can take time and patients but you are doing ok and I am sure this birds experience with humans had not been good, You have only had him for a few days but he is studying you and your ways.
 
Hello and welcome Nikki and Hi Gizzy it sounds got that you are away from that awful shop. We love Photos, I am pleased you want your bird to get its wings back, I just wish that clipping would be illegal, I am not too worried about missing two claws but it can make a difference to your bird (they are very adaptable) in how well it can grip especially when coming to land from flight as much needed practice is being denied him and another good reason against clipping. Gaining trust can take time and patients but you are doing ok and I am sure this birds experience with humans had not been good, You have only had him for a few days but he is studying you and your ways.

Thank you Michael. I’ve managed to add a profile picture of Gizzy in his favourite spot! He’s doing ok gripping the cage bars so I’m not overly concerned about his nails, but I guess they don’t grow back, and sadly I do think it may be a sign that he hasn’t had the best of experiences so far in his life, so it’s baby steps for us while we learn all about each other. For the moment I’m just happy that he seems to be eating and drinking a little bit.
 
Birds cope well with the loss of nails and that alone is not a worry, the fact that you bird has its wings cut and hopefully they will regrow may mean it will find difficulty when landing on a smoother surface, Some birds loose confidence in wanting to fly owing to not landing properly and I will recommend getting safe branches preferable with the bark left on and replace the current smooth ones, Even when it comes to what you wear you may have to consider how smooth the material is so your bird fills safer on you. I know I am looking forwards but I have birds that have feet problems and just want to make you think of how your bird will fill safe,
 
Hi Nikki and :welcome: to you and Gizzy.
If he is sitting in the same place a lot, and yes they prefer being highest, then I recommend that you get a better perch than the dowel. Have a look at a sanded finish perch as these will help keep claws and beak in good shape. I like the Polly’s Sandwalk orthopaedic perch, as the shape changes so keeps the toes exercised.

Have a look in out training section at these posts by Roz, they will give you some ideas
https://theparrotclub.co.uk/communi...rcers-and-how-to-identify-and-use-them.29149/

https://theparrotclub.co.uk/communi...-and-parrots-who-are-fearful-of-humans.29148/
 
:welcome: from me too , hello to Gizzy.
All good advice given, what size cage does Gizzy have as the Alex is a fair sized bird and will need a large cage, good perches (as mentioned) and of course toys too keep him busy.
 
Thank you all for the comments and advice. He has got a wooden perch and hindsight this may have been better higher up. (As the pic shows he tends to sit above it) I will get another type, maybe the sanded to replace the dowel. The cage size is about 2.5ft square by 3.5ft high. I’d like him to have a larger one in the future, but I’d also like him to have a branch so that he’s not in a cage all the time.
At the moment we’re still working on settling in, so I’m not making any dramatic changes, just food & water. On Friday I will have the most time at home with him and that’s when I will open the cage top for the first time, (this also has a dowel perch so will need to look at replacing that). I’m looking forward to seeing how he reacts, but I’m also a little apprehensive! What are your opinions on mirrors in cages?
Thanks again for the help so far x
 

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I’m not a fan of mirrors.
Try him with some toys that will keep him busy....chewing toys for the beak and once he gets a bit more settled some foraging things.
 
Natural branches with the bark on are great for chewing and for sitting on - and they are free. Also, they will eat some of the bark and get minerals from that. Willow, apple and hazel might be good choices and are easy to find.

As well as having them inside the cage you could attach one to the outside of the cage. Even if it's nearly vertical it will help him climb about and feel secure and also help distract his beak from your furniture.
 
Natural branches with the bark on are great for chewing and for sitting on - and they are free. Also, they will eat some of the bark and get minerals from that. Willow, apple and hazel might be good choices and are easy to find.

As well as having them inside the cage you could attach one to the outside of the cage. Even if it's nearly vertical it will help him climb about and feel secure and also help distract his beak from your furniture.

Thank you, great idea, I’ll go in search of some at the weekend
 
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