FINCHforum

I couldn't stand looking at Kuri be depressed every day.. wondering if she was sick. She just sits there looking out the window occasionally calling. So I wen't and got a zebra boy.. the only one in my area... actually the only zebra finch in my area. Hopefully it's a sign that it's meant to be and not that he is the one finch with 8000 diseases. I am a little upset because I can't help but feel like it's too soon for me to go replacing Shadow.. but.. he can't be near Kuri for a while anyway... so I will get used to Shadow being gone. He is a fiesty little guy though... was trying to escape from the box while in the car. I always hold the boxes as I am driving to minimize them slipping around.. and he was jumping up and down trying to get out, lol. Poor little guy... he was in a big flight with canaries, shaft tails, societies, stars, cordons, 2 OC's and some other weird little finch the size of or smaller than the waxbills but a weird muddy brown-yellow color with white spots on its breast? I dunno what that one was... couldn't figure it out. I didn't realize they had SOOO many birds there. I was surprised they had the amount they did.. and variety! In the front they had a bunch more cordons, goldfinches, canaries, stars, etc. But only ONE zebra!! Please let this be a good omen!!!! I am still struggling with my emotions.. cried again today after watching a video of Shadow! I just hope this little guy and Kuri end up liking each other otherwise I have another bird in another cage! But I guess I do have 4 girls for him to choose from!!

Also... Nanajennie I think I will name him Charlie.. and Ginene I had promised to let Lil Joe pick out a name if he wanted too! So he can choose one after I upload a pic if he wants.. to be a first or second-first (middle) name, lol.

I can't sleep!! Have been waking up every half an hour to an hour because I am of course worried about my new boy but he is doing such a great job! I am so proud of him!! He flew around a bit hectic when I turned the lights off but the tv is on so he isn't in the dark and none of my birds ever are but he hasn't made the slightest peep! And he's 3 feet from me right now! I am anxiously anticipating when they all wake up! I can hear a few of them snacking already!! I must sound like a crazy person, lol. Talking to myself.. posting a bunch of times alone... staying up all night watching a sleeping bird. I just want him to be ok and happy.. and I hope he and Kuri well eventually get along. I don't want her depressed anymore.. she is so lonely!!

Here I go again taking to myself! So all my usual babies started their usual routine.. Terminator started first with the meeping.. and then once the sun started to rise they all started up. Little boy was silent! I went to change all their water and they were more boisterous then usual.. I am assuming they heard his quiet meeps last night it sensed him somehow. Was up and about for a good 15-20 minutes and climbed back into bed and suddenly, "bee-beep bee-beep bee-beep!". He's a cutie! He definitely has a more typical zebra song.. I moved him within view of Kuri for now and they both seem interested! He's singing away to her. He's very flighty and twitchy though.. Terminator is the only other one that gets like that occasionally. I am thinking maybe Kuri and Shadow were hand fed or handled a lot when they were young because they were certainly more docile. I hope the little guy settles in and eventually gets used to me!! I was very fortunate to have Shadow... he loved interacting with humans.

fhgwgads
Congrats on finding Charlie, Ashley!!! I will talk with Lil Joe about a cute middle name for him...he will LOVE that!!! I'm so sorry that you are struggling with sadness...I still get very sad when my new flock acts flighty and afraid, as my original flock was sooo calm and enjoyed my presence. I especially miss my societies, of coarse...and my hand fed babies. But they are all together in heaven with Charlie, Shadow and all of the other birds that we have all lost... . Sending you BIG HUGS!!!!

Hi fhgwgads,

There's nothing wrong with getting a new bird. It represents continuation for you - and company for your other birds, esp. if they were bonded and had babies.

After I lost my STar finch, Fruit, I was devastated, but I ended up getting a Zebbie, to bring my flock back to 3. I love Beaky - and he's such a sweetie. Give your Charlie time to get used to you - and the routine. Good luck with him


Zebrafincher
Proud owner of:
“Kevin the King”, groutchy canary – 12 years
Beaky the Zebbie – 6 months
Merlin “Merl” the Starfinch – 2 years

I felt for you as I read your story. Sorry about your little lost boy Shadow. I know what it feels like to lose a feathered companion. I lost Baby last spring and it was heart breaking. She was a beautiful lovebird whom I hand raised cause her mom tried to kill her. She was with me for 18 years. Now however my life has been taken over by Luciano (my canary boy), Teddy and Timmy (you guessed it, my my two little Zebra boys) and just lately, Petey and Pauly (two sweet society boys) And now I cant imagine life without these little rascals. I'm sure you girl Kuri and Mr Charlie new kid on the block, will hit it off like Romeo and Juliet. Good luck and.best wishes.

Ginene thank you!! And I can't wait for my name from Lil Joe!! Even though our babies are at peace it is still heartbreaking. Charlie is nothing like Shadow and even though he is cute right now it is a reminder. I have a feeling I won't be as close to Charlie because he is wilder than the rest.

@Zebrafincher I appreciate the kind words. I really do hope Charlie will settle down! I am rather new to zebra finches and have never had one as wild as him. As I mentioned my others must have been hand fed or something as they were used to interacting with humans.

@lovezebs thank you! And we all have experienced loss one time or another. I am sure you gave Baby a wonderful life! As far as Kuri and Charlie.. they seem interested in one another.. Charlie is already putting random bits in his water dish presumably to build a nest! I just hope his inherent wild nature doesn't cause her to become distant towards me and less accustomed to human interaction.

Well, if Charlie is already starting to work on setting up house, than now you have a 'hen session' with Kuri. You know, the girl tp girl chat, pointing out all of his good points, how handsome and hard working he is etc. LOL. Do let us know how the romance progresses.

Hi fhgwgads,

Finches (and canaries definitely!) are all individuals and you might find Charlie is a lot flightier, at least at first, when you are around. Beaky definitely was at first - he's a lot better now. I let my birds out of the cage all the time when I'm home, and they flit around the back room. All 3 birds went through a similar process of being very alarmed to start with, to the point how they will sit near me when I'm changing the cage and talk to me first thing in the morning or whenever I'm home. Kevin my canary starts calling in the morning as he wants to have the cover off, and be let out. Sometimes he starts at 6 or 7am which is not conducive to someone like me who is NOT an early riser generally.

I use the top of an old cage to encourage them to go back in their cages if needed, but mostly they will fly back into their cages when needed. Occasionally they will be naughty and fly up the top where I can't get them - esp. when I need to put them away!!! Just like small children!

It sounds like your birds are definitely all individuals ie Terminator! I have a remaining star finch, Merl, who is the smallest of the bunch and causes all the problems with the others by picking fights! I have to keep him separate from the others! He's a happy little Chap tho!

Cheers


Zebrafincher
Proud owner of:
“Kevin the King”, groutchy, cranky canary – 12 years
Beaky the Zebbie – 9 months old – a real, real cutie!!!
Merlin “Merl” the Starfinch – 2 years – and “bossy as anything for such a small fry!”

Hi fhgwgads,

Finches (and canaries definitely!) are all individuals and you might find Charlie is a lot flightier, at least at first, when you are around. Beaky definitely was at first - he's a lot better now. I let my birds out of the cage all the time when I'm home, and they flit around the back room. All 3 birds went through a similar process of being very alarmed to start with, to the point how they will sit near me when I'm changing the cage and talk to me first thing in the morning or whenever I'm home. Kevin my canary starts calling in the morning as he wants to have the cover off, and be let out. Sometimes he starts at 6 or 7am which is not conducive to someone like me who is NOT an early riser generally.

I use the top of an old cage to encourage them to go back in their cages if needed, but mostly they will fly back into their cages when needed. Occasionally they will be naughty and fly up the top where I can't get them - esp. when I need to put them away!!! Just like small children!

It sounds like your birds are definitely all individuals ie Terminator! I have a remaining star finch, Merl, who is the smallest of the bunch and causes all the problems with the others by picking fights! I have to keep him separate from the others! He's a happy little Chap tho!

Cheers


Zebrafincher
Proud owner of:
“Kevin the King”, groutchy, cranky canary – 12 years
Beaky the Zebbie – 9 months old – a real, real cutie!!!
Merlin “Merl” the Starfinch – 2 years – and “bossy as anything for such a small fry!”

I gave my two boys (Kevin the canary and Beaky the Zebbie) fake nests to play with (Merl, bless him, is not very smart, and has no idea what to do with a nest!). They've had a great time re-arranging and pulling out all the nesting material and carrying around feathers. It creates a lot of mess for me, but they really enhoy it.

I'll bet Charlie will calm down in time, he's got a lot to get used to right now.

But try to stop thinking of him as "Shadow #2". No one will ever be Shadow again, he was unique and special for you. As will be Charlie, in his own way and time. Let Charlie be Charlie. It'll work out fine, for all of you.

Nerien thank you! I really appreciate it. It's hard because Charlie is my third male.. technically second because Sparrow was born here. His song is more typical of zebra finches whereas Shadows was way different. But I still love Charlie. He is already showing some of his quirks. For example.. the second day I had him he somehow ripped his stalk of millet in half and put half in his water bowl. Today I got up to find the other half stripped.. the stick still hanging.. but all the buds were torn off and in his water bowl! What is with my zebras and there obsession with building nests in their water dishes??? I have a feeling this will be a continuous problem even though it's kinda funny. He is a beautiful boy!! And he is definitely determined!! He even crawls underneath the paper towel on the bottom of his cage (the one I have him in has no grate) and looks so silly! I just hope over time he becomes more trusting.. if not I will respect that but it would be nice.

Hola!!!
My Roseanne had a fit each time I got near. Bashing herself into the corners of the cage it took two or so weeks for her to not go apey!

How are things!
I'm currently watching my finch fam from attacking? Chasing? My gorgeous loveae daddy rocky