Cookie is Home!

07-05-2007, 07:49 AM

Well, Cookie is home and settling in beautifully. She is all lovey and cuddly and seems to like her new home. She is eating well......she is on 2 feedings a day and I will drop to 1 in a few days. She already eats her pellets and other soft stuff so I am not concerned about her at all. She already weighs more than Jack. Jack is a little guy at 392 grams this morning. She weighed 424 this morning....but that was immediately after I fed her. She weighed 398 yesterday. She had her first shower already. I put her on the perch in the shower with the water NOT on her. She moved under the water herself and had a blast. That makes me happy! I do need some advise here.......my breeder suggested I start them off with Cookie's cage in a different room than Jack. Well, I did that for awhile but it just didn't feel right since they were both out and about anyway and are getting along great.....and I wanted to be with both. So I moved her cage back. They are now in the same room and seem to be co-existing nicely. He just kind of moves away when she gets too close. But get this.....my baby girl is a brazen thing.....I was fixing their breakfast and came in to find her walking across the rope that connects their cages. I thought that needed to be Jack's perogative first so I just picked her up and put her on her own play top. I took down the rope. I went back to my breakfast business and low and behold she did it again....I saw her....this time she kind of jumped/flew to Jack's cage! I think that surprized Jack a bit and he immediately glided off of his own cage to the floor. No yelling or anything.....he just got down. I know that isn't right. He needs to remain in control of at least his own "house." I may have to move her out for awhile. What do y'all think? Anyway.....I am glad she is home! I am going to TRY to get some pics downloaded this afternoon.

dawn, Cracker Jack and Cookie

07-05-2007, 09:34 AM

Congratulations! Can't wait to see those pictures!

The reason your breeder suggested keeping them separate is for quarantine issues. Whenever bringing a new bird into your household you should keep them completely separate for a certain length of time (typically 30-60 days) to make sure your new bird is completely healthy and not going to spread anything to your current one. Birds are excellent at hiding illnesses, and quarantine is very important when adding to your bird family. However, since they've already met, there is no sense in separating them now for that reason.

Keep a very close eye on them when they're out together, or even when she's out and able to fly to his cage (could result in bitten toes through the cage bars). Jack could do some serious damage if he wants to. It'll probably take time before they become friends, and there is always the possibility that they may never coexist peacefully.