Well, I am excited!

[Sucre]

Sookie, the 1 year old Sun conure that we bought a little over a week ago is a dream - and NOT a nightmare! She's rooming with Billy (black capped conure) and they get along well. She was already on a good diet so that hasn't been an issue. (It is amazing at the amount she eats compared to Billy at 6 months and Lucy at 2 1/2 months.)

We kind of just let her have her space the first 4 days and adjust to her surroundings, offering her dried apples (her favorite) by hand often, but she was really hesitant to take anything from me at first, so after trying I would just place it on a ledge in the cage and she would go straight for it. On the 5th day, when my husband got Billy out, I told him to leave the cage door open to see what she would do - meanwhile I am sitting on the couch eating Cheetos and a tuna sandwich. She came straight out of the cage and flew straight for me, stole a cheeto and went straight down my shirt with it, ate it, then laid on her side and went to sleep inside my shirt. It's a nighttime ritual with us now. She is a real sweetheart, and loves to cuddle.

Lucy is the 2 1/2 month old yellow side, she is going to be our "big" personality out of the 3. She's like a little tiny gymnast in her cage, and very bossy and demanding when out of the cage. She wants to go everywhere on my shoulder - not flying yet, just a lot of flapping going on. Her balance is not the best because she's so young, but she manages to hang on for dear life, and when I try to put her back in her cage she has what my grandma would have called "a hissy fit". She will latch on with toes and beak and it's kind of like trying to remove a snapping turtle. I've got her eating fresh fruit and veggies, minced in tiny pieces, and we're working on the little Roudybush pellets.

Billy is the calmest, sweetest little guy ever, definitely bonded with my husband, although he doesn't like it when Sookie gets inside my shirt. It makes him angry and he'll try to go in after her, but I stop him because that's the last place you want a bird fight! Otherwise, he thinks he's just as big as she is, and he's trying all kinds of new foods because she will eat everything. Other than that, he's pretty much a little angel. He's trying to make some noises that sound like he may talk.

Sookie came with her own furry bird cozy, and Billy decided he liked it, so my grandson and I went bird bed shopping yesterday afternoon and I let him pick up a cozy for everyone. (Of course, Billy still wants Sookie's!)

I've ordered a big flight cage for the conures, it should be here by the end of the month. At that point I will start to try to introduce Lucy slowly. She's so feisty that I think she will hold her own and do just fine. I ordered it off Amazon, and got a little carried away with the bird toys, as well. I just kept clicking and I have no idea what to expect in the mail over the coming weeks. The lovebirds will be moved to the larger cage that the conures are in now, and the little parrotlet with get the cage the lovebirds are in. I have found a reputable breeder about 3 hours away, and she has a male that I am in love with, so it may be time for a road trip soon. He's lime green with blue in his feathers, and would pair beautifully with my dilute blue female, if they get along. Once I find a mate (or at least a friend) for her, I'm done. I have exactly what we can handle and it's working out well.

[Sucre]

I guess I'm just easily excited after being tortured and stalked by a rabid cockatoo for 2 1/2 months.

[Mare]

Aww.. That's sweet how Sookie crawls down your shirt and cuddles, I've been hearing that a lot lately about conures! I'm so happy for you, I can imagine your excited with having sweetheart birds rather than a terrorist hunting you down! Have you heard anything new on how Sucre's adjusted to his new life?

Oh boy!..new toys! I always enjoy opening the boxes when they come because I never remember what I ordered, either :). It's like Christmas!

[Sucre]

It was worse than shopping for my children when they were little..."Oh, they need that, and that, and this." It's not like their cages aren't full of toys, but you have to have new toys for a new cage, right? (I'm afraid to even look at my confirmation email on my order - I'm afraid I may have furnished all the cages.)

I am not in contact with the woman who now has Sucre. The lady that got him from me will not give me her contact information. I politely asked her for it, she assured me he was "fine" but would not give my number to the lady who has him to give her the option of contact. However, I am really afraid that he has been rehomed again, or it is at least being attempted, at a very high price. Once again I see a local ad, showing a 8 year old male cockatoo with an elderly lady (living in the very town he was supposed to be in, with the same vocabulary listed), asking $1400. (That is high for this area for a too.) It looked just like Sucre, and the age was close. I messaged her asking where she got him and why she was selling him and her ad disappeared. The person who originally got him from me sets up at every bird fair in the area, and there has been one every weekend and will be for the next month. She can get rid of him without advertising. It just makes me sick. She (the one who got him from me initially) had an ad on a Tennessee bird site last week, wanting to buy newly weaned birds. I responded to her post and said "Are you just buying these birds and reselling them?" That post disappeared, too. She's a flipper. I usually read people better than that. I am still angry with myself. And, believe it or not, I wish I could get the little terrorist back, and find him a real home. I'm not saying that I could keep him, but I could sure do a better job in finding him a good home than I did. It's like he's gone into the witness protection program - without protection.

[kendrafitz]

Such awesome news about your crew. I like vet when I read about the little guys going down shirts to cuddle. It makes set melt your heart.

You can't beat yourself up about Sucre. You tried to do what was best for him. Hopefully he will land with someone who will love him and he will love be back. Maybe a person who lives alone. Sending you both lots of good thoughts.

[Lady]

The birds sound wonderful and happy. It will be wonderful if they stay so sweet and it's not just the honeymoon period.

I hope all works out with the arrangements for who goes to what cage, it sounds like you have given it some good thought.

I am another who can get carried away with toy shopping but Lady takes her time getting use to something new so it works out for me to slow down and be a bit more picky about what she will tear up.

Looking forward to seeing the pics when everything is set in place.

[Sucre]

The conures haven't started destroying things yet, I'm actually surprised. I think that's why I got a little overzealous in ordering! The lovebirds are so busy snuggling and cuddling with each other, they don't have time to tear up anything. Now, the little parrotlet is busy destroying everything in her cage.

I did finally manage to get all the lovebirds in one cage, which was something I wasn't sure would ever happen. I'm sure they'll be much happier when they move to their larger cage, as well. I do hope to breed them, so we're not as concerned with taming them. A friend of mine offered me a breeding pair of lovebirds today - the parents to one of mine, but I declined. I love this little group that I have and I don't want to jeopardize the harmony in their cage, nor do I need another bird cage after ordering the big flight cage for the conures.

[mdg1109]

Wow you have quite the flock an it sounds like they are all wonderful! You should get some pictures of her snuggling.

I am new to PP so I missed the story about the rabid cockatoo?

I am an insulin dependent diabetic and my husband always says never to shop on Amazon when my blood-sugar is low because who knows what we will end up with lol...

[Sucre]

Hi, Michelle! We adopted a U2 without doing our homework. I had birds off and on since my early teens, just no big parrot experience. We knew nothing about toos other than that we loved the idea of one. Wouldn't you know, we got him right in the throes of mating season, didn't have a clue, just thought he was a very affectionate bird. He bonded with my husband to the point to where he thought it would be best if I was out of the picture completely. I was stalked constantly by this bird for 2 months, covered in bruises. I could never be in the same room with him unless he was caged, he would come straight after me, and not to snuggle. He attacked me enough that I developed quite a bit of fear of him, and I couldn't get past it. We realized quickly what we had done, and tried everything we could think of to "fix" the mess we made, but we couldn't do it. That bird hated me as much as I loved him. We had to rehome him, which broke our hearts.

I'm a stubborn animal rescue / foster - never met an animal that did not fall under my spell, and I've been giving myself a pretty hard time over it. We didn't sell him, though, we traded him for 2 conures, something more my speed. We miss him and think about him every day.

[Sucre]

The cage came in yesterday, and we got it put together last night. I spent a good hour "decorating" it, but half the stuff I ordered still isn't in. I have a sneaking suspicion that it's being shipped from China.

The conures are very happy in the big cage. We even pulled off moving little Lucy in with the two older ones - I guess the confusion of the new cage and all the new toys was enough of a distraction to add another bird. They are really getting along well. She and Billy are closest in age and size, and have really taken up with each other. It's really cute, they are trying to feed each other and sit right beside each other on the perches. Everyone was a little crazy last night, lots of "pacing" the bars and checking things out, they seemed to have settled in well by morning.

The lovebirds got moved into the larger cage that the two conures had been in, and they love it. Actually, I've seen less squabbling out of them today since the move, so that's a definite plus.

Everybody upgraded, and all is well. I will try to get some pics posted tomorrow. Photobucket isn't cooperating with me tonight.

[The Pinkertons]

I purchased Bentley's and Bella's flight from Amazon , I did a lot of price comparisons, with amazon prime got the best price ,free shipping.

[mdg1109]

Hi, Michelle! We adopted a U2 without doing our homework. I had birds off and on since my early teens, just no big parrot experience. We knew nothing about toos other than that we loved the idea of one. Wouldn't you know, we got him right in the throes of mating season, didn't have a clue, just thought he was a very affectionate bird. He bonded with my husband to the point to where he thought it would be best if I was out of the picture completely. I was stalked constantly by this bird for 2 months, covered in bruises. I could never be in the same room with him unless he was caged, he would come straight after me, and not to snuggle. He attacked me enough that I developed quite a bit of fear of him, and I couldn't get past it. We realized quickly what we had done, and tried everything we could think of to "fix" the mess we made, but we couldn't do it. That bird hated me as much as I loved him. We had to rehome him, which broke our hearts.

I'm a stubborn animal rescue / foster - never met an animal that did not fall under my spell, and I've been giving myself a pretty hard time over it. We didn't sell him, though, we traded him for 2 conures, something more my speed. We miss him and think about him every day.

Oh, Kim I am so sorry! I could imagine that it was difficult. You had his best intentions at heart and that is what truly matters. Birds a very special creatures and I don't think we will ever truly be able to understand how they operate.

It sounds like you have a wonderful flock now!

[Sucre]

I purchased Bentley's and Bella's flight from Amazon , I did a lot of price comparisons, with amazon prime got the best price ,free shipping.

The cage is really nice, I was quite impressed, and the shipping was free. I browsed through their cages for hours and I think I made the right choice. I even think I have room for ONE MORE CONURE! LOL

[Sucre]

Finally, pictures!

This is the new conure cage, minus numerous toys that Amazon did not warn me were being shipped from China!

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And, the lovies got to upgrade to the old conure cage, so they are quite happy.

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Jasmine, the parrotlet got the lovies cage AND a new friend - she's a 4 month old (same age as Jasmine) budgie named Josie. So far, they are the best of friends. I talked to several people who keep them together successfully, and since they were both alone, I thought I would give it a try.

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This is Josie.

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And look how much little Lucy has grown - she thinks she's such a big girl now that she's rooming with Billy and Sookie - she's even given up her beloved millet and stuffed lamb.

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Billy and Lucy are inseperable.

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And Sookie is just a dreamboat - the sweetest parrot I've ever met.

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And this is what happens when the dryer buzzer goes off - everyone flies to Mommy - Billy was hanging from my glasses so I couldn't get him in the pic.

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[Lady]

Great pics! Now if I can only remember who is who~:th_biggrin:

[Sucre]

Oh, Alice, I feel just like my grandma - they get called every name in the book before I get to the right one!