Alfred and Andie have moved in together!

Thalia · Post by **Thalia** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 1:14 pm

Yay, they're so cute

I cleaned out Andie's cage this morning and blew all the hulls off her food and off of Alfreds then poured Alfred's leftovers into Andie's dish. I got the cage all set up then turned out the lights and caught Alfred. The little bugger got away from me and flew around the room, thankfully he's out of shape so he landed on the sofa where I was able to catch him and put him in the cage with Andie. She immediately hopped over too him and they've been beeping at eachother. They also preened eachother a little, she made this weird purring beepy noise and they had a cuddle. I had a great picture but the computer lost it

I'll try to get more later.
The problem is Alfred has sat himself on a high perch and isn't exploring his new cage

I'm worried about that since he's thin and I want him to eat. Should I try moving him or will he start exploring on his own?
Andie is also very preoccupied with Alfred's toy I stuck in the cage, it's for 3 plastic rings with tiny mirrors in them and a bell at the bottom, and Andie is obsessed with pecking at the mirrors. Should I take it out since it's distracting her? or will she eventually leave it alone?

Thalia · Post by **Thalia** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 2:24 pm

muah ha ha! my plan worked! Alfred is eating the millet! He saw Andie try some and he plucked up the courage to give it a try!! Yay! now if only one of them would decide to give the orange or spinach a try...

Post by **Hilary** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 11:10 pm

That's wonderful! Alfred will start to explore (if he hasn't all ready) when he's comfortable in his new digs. Sounds like they're going to get along great! And congrats on the millet!

Hilary

Thalia · Post by **Thalia** » Wed Jan 10, 2007 11:28 am

Well Alfred figured things out, I've seen him eating today, haven't seen him drinking yet, but the bird bath I put in was filthy and had an oily sheen across the top of the water, so someone must have used it yesterday. They ate the whole millet branch that was in there, it was about 4 inches long, little piggies. They tried some of the orange and spinach too which is good. Today I'm trying some mango and have a leaf of dandelion and beet green (I think) hanging in their cage. Andie has been picking at the cuttle bone too and although she's still interested in the mirrors she's not as obsessed as yesterday. She was preening Alfred this morning. Here's some pics I got last night after they went to bed. They were all cuddled up together until my flash woke them up. They're happy and active this morning beeping and singing to eachother. Alfred still seems a little confused by the concept of jumping down to get at his food but hopefully he'll figure it out soon enough.
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o265 ... Andie5.jpg
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o265 ... Andie4.jpg

zookeeper · Post by **zookeeper** » Wed Jan 10, 2007 1:58 pm

Woo-hoo! Sounds like things are going great.

Post by **Hilary** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 12:44 am

That's wonderful! Sounds like they'll be well-fed and happy together!

Hilary

Thalia · Post by **Thalia** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 3:09 pm

OH! I am SO happy that they're living together now! You should see all the stuff they're willing to eat! When Alfred was by himself he was afraid of anything new I put in th ecage, but so far since they moved in together on Tuesday he's tried: millet, orange, spinach, frisee lettuce, dandelion greens, kale/beet green (not sure which, had green leaf and red veins neither were very fond of it), mixed veggie baby food, cheddar cheese, mozzarella cheese and mango! Andie is doing almost as well, although she still hasn't gone for the baby food, but that could be b/c mister piggy has been at the dish basically since I put it in there. She is however happily tearing at the dandelion greens and frisee I put in. They ate a whole dandelion leaf yesterday, so I gave them 2 today and a piece of frisee. I can't get over how much braver they are about trying new foods now that they are in the same cage

They must feel much more comfortable now that they have company

tammieb · Post by **tammieb** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 8:53 pm

Yes, they are usually more willing to investigate and try things when not alone. They are flock birds afterall and feel threatened when alone.

I would go easy on the cheese (some advise against feeding it) and the dandelion. Everything in moderation.

Thalia · Post by **Thalia** » Fri Jan 12, 2007 11:15 am

oh ok, I won't give them any cheese today then. I'll give them orange and other stuff. I hope this new diet will improve Alfred's health. He is a lot more active now that he's in the new cage. I've even caught him doing what I think is a display for Andie and I've seen him trying to land on her, which I assume is mating behaviour. Rotten guy, he's barely known her 3 weeks!

kenny · Post by **kenny** » Sat Jan 13, 2007 11:45 am

hi thalia
thats men for you..but we are not all the same !

ken