Albirdos New Cage

[ChemESGH]

Got it in today and put it together this evening. I'll have to see how he reacts to it tomorrow, I'm going to place it nearby his current cage tomorrow while we're at work, then see what he thinks tomorrow when I get home. It's the same cage at Sweetpea's. Here are a few pics of it beside Albirdo's cage. Albirdo was already covered for the evening.....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v56/chemengineer/Albirdo/NewCage2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v56/chemengineer/Albirdo/NewCage1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v56/chemengineer/Albirdo/NewCage3.jpg

[myolive]

It looks great. I have the same one for Olive, and it's just the perfect size. She's very happy with it. I'm sure Albirdo will enjoy it too. I hope he enjoys many happy, healthy times in his new cage.

[BeakerLuvsBunsen]

Looks like a winner!

[ChemESGH]

When I took the cover off of his cage this morning he got his first glimpse of the new cage and didn't come off of his sleeping spot as quickly as he usually does. I went into the kitchen to cut up his fruits and veggies and when I came back he had come down and was sitting on his perch as usual waiting on his bowl of goodies. He dove right in and was back to his usual self pretty quickly. I'm hoping he'll take right to it and I can get him moved to his new cage soon. We'll see! :D

[chapala]

The cage looks good, nice size, like most of us have!

I would suggest replacing one or both of the dowel perches with different types, such as natural branches (bird-safe wood), rope perches, one pedicure concrete perch, latex, and a boing if you like. Dowels have no variation, and always put the same pressure on their feet. A variety of perches allows the bird to move around to find something comfortable, or with natural branches, the branch naturally varies along its length.
Reta

[ArtS]

The cage looks great! Our birds too to their cage very quickly, a few treats on - then in - the new cage helped.

Regards,

Art S.

[SweetPeasMom]

Looks great, kinda like mine!!! I am guessing you did not find any rough welds or problems?? I added plenty of toys,perches,food dishes,boing,pinata and everything from the old cage. You will love the shelf!!!

[unpoquito]

We thought of Albirdo as we put up our new HQ cage today. I was surprised it came so quickly. Emmie is already in it, and was flying, and happily chirping away, and trying it all out. I'm very happy with the cage, and love the shelf. Chem, you were right, there are no feeder doors on the HQ, but there are breeder box doors on each side at the top. There are two big front doors though. I like the little feeder cups that came with the cage - 2 sets in all - they have little perches on them, so I can hang them higher. In the old cage, her feeders were on the bottom.

[ChemESGH]

Awesome! That was very fast! I'll post some pics tonight when I get home from work of Albirdo in his new cage. He was very wary of it at first and even flew off of it and down to the ground when I first opened his old cage for him yesterday. I finally got him on top of it with some millet, but he ran back to his old cage and hid inside for a while just studying his new cage from his hiding spot. I finally got him on a perch and put him over into his new cage. He hopped off the perch, and stayed in one of the top corners for about a minute, then he was climbing all over it! I put food and seed mix in two of the feeder trays that came with it and he found them quickly and was eating and drinking. I transferred all of his toys over and he was having fun finding them all in his new bigger house! :D

I even had my hands in with him in there, and it was after 8:00. Usually once 8:00 hits he turns into devil bird and gets angry if I try getting into his cage. At 8:00 it's time to go to bed and he doesn't want to be bothered! Last night, he just sat on his rope slinky and watched me work trying to get things situated in his new cage. I think he's getting used to his new place! ;)

[SweetPeasMom]

GREAT!!! Maybe Eddie Munster will stay with the old cage.

[Sally]

Great cage. Great that are going well.

I remember being so worried about Chipper when I got her new cage. The man at Windy City said it will be fine and his birds have several cages, home, work etc. That made me feel good!

It is true. Having several cages is fun! Her old cage is her sleeping cage and also another place to play. She did fine with her move to the big cage. She was very quiet for a while, that is normal. Then she started to move and all was fine.

I can't wait to see more pictures!

[ChemESGH]

I got some shots of him in his new cage tonight...and with STRAWBERRY BEARD!!!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v56/chemengineer/Albirdo/IMG_4039.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v56/chemengineer/Albirdo/IMG_4060.jpg

THE SHADOW KNOWS!!!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v56/chemengineer/Albirdo/IMG_4067.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v56/chemengineer/Albirdo/IMG_4069.jpg

[Sally]

It is great! You know what I would add? I would put in a long rope perch and curl is around in the midde. It is just an idea. I have several really long ones all curled to acess different toys and swings. She runs up and down all the rope perches. Loves them so much. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v492/Sally11/cage700.jpg

[chapala]

The new cage looks great all furnished! And looks like he's taken to it just fine.
Reta

[ChemESGH]

I'll probably be adding some more items a little later on. I want to give him time to get adjusted and comfortable in his new surroundings before giving him any other new stuff to have to get used to. :) He's actually done a little "flying" in there, from his treat bowl to an opposite cage side, now that he has the room! I'll definitely have to look at some of your cage pics as it looks like you've got lots of neat toys in there for Chipper!

I need to find some other toys as I know there have to be some different ones that what I've found at the local stores. They all seem to be the same, or very similar.

[Houseofcritters]

Archimedes' breeder said P'lets LOVE puzzle pieces to shred. she said the kids puzzles are the best as they are safe and nice sized pieces.
You can put them on a skewer or thread them onto leather or whatever you prefer and they love to tear them apart.

[Sally]

It all looks great, I just thought a long rope perch would be fun, but really, the space is great! They really appreciate the large cages, don't they?

[raiven]

Looks like Albirdo is going to be one spoiled Bird. :) Very cute pictures.

[unpoquito]

Albirdo looks so happy! I love seeing him eat his yummy food. I wish Emmie would try some REAL FOOD (ie. fresh vegies, fruit, cooked stuff). I've tried mincing. Tried birdie bread. Nothing entices her. She only wants millet and picks out sunflower seeds from her diet. I just ordered some Volkmans and Harrisons foods to try. Some beans too. She also has a lot of new toys, and doesn't really play with any of them. She has foraging toys, shredding toys, swings, bells, beads....no interest. I don't think she had access to toys at the Petco - they had one little toy at the bottom of her cage.
She is loving her new big cage though. I wheel 1/3 of it into the sunlight and she loves that.
Boy does she hate spritz baths!

[chapala]

Unpoquito, with changing diet it's necessary to keep offering the new food every day whether or not she eats it. Consistency and patience are the keys. I would remove sunflower seeds from her diet, the millet is fine. I would also mix up a grain mix and soak it overnight for her (do a search and you'll find lots of grains to choose from, 4 kinds minimum for your mix). You could put a small amount (like 10%) of hulled sunflower seed in that mix. When she's eating that, then try adding a very small amount of finely minced fresh vegetables, every single morning.

If she hates showers with a mister bottle, take it very easy with it. Don't try to get her wet when she's so uncomfortable. Just give a little spritz or two of very fine mist above her head so it falls like gentle rain, and tell her "wow! shower!", etc. Then stop. I would do that several times a week and let her get used to it. Don't worry at all about getting her wet until she's comfortable with it. You might also try a shallow dish with some wet kale or collard or mustard greens in it to see if that will work. It doesn't with Cello, but does with other birds here.
Reta

[unpoquito]

Reta,

Thank you so much for the tips. And congratulations on being a new moderator. I really appreciate the wealth of information you've shared with me. Muchas Gracias! :D

Emmie's mom

[unpoquito]

i forgot to add that I just ordered some other foods that I saw recommended here. I ordered several kinds with the hope Emmie finds something that suits her. She does love the millet. I made plain corn bread for our dinner last night and offered some to her, but she didn't want it. I hope in time she'll come to apppreciate the fresh, whole foods offered to her.

[ChemESGH]

Have you tried sprinkling the fresh foods with millet? That's how I got Albirdo to start trying his fresh foods. Now I cut up a blackberry and strawberry, a baby carrot, corn, broccoli and cauliflower and mix it all together real well so I know he has to be eating some of the veggies even if he's just trying to get the berries! Then I take his food bowl over to his cage and show him I'm sprinkling millet on top from one of the millet sprays.

He eats a lot more of it today than he did even a week ago. I don't really hear him going to his seed bowl much anymore, just chomping on the fresh stuff mainly! ;)

[SweetPeasMom]

Great job Chem, in just a week you are able to help other parrotlet slaves!!! Cool!! Are you going to the bird show in Pensacola this weekend?? I am not going to be able to make it, my best friend just got out of hospital. Have fun if you do go.

[unpoquito]

Great idea, Chem. I'll try that tomorrow! I am officially a slave to my parrotlet! LOL

[ChemESGH]

Sweetpea, I didn't even know there was a show here in town!!! I just told my wife I want to go tomorrow. Now I have to find out when and where! :D

Poquito, just keep trying with Emmie, she'll realize how good those foods are eventually. She'll soon have a fruit beard you can giggle at! ;)