I have birdies!!!!! :)

[NoahsMommy]

Originally posted by popcornbird
Are they scared of the cats? Do you have a safe enough place in the house where you can take them out to play with them, and to let them get exercise?

If they are afraid of the cats, they haven't shown it. They actually haven't seen the cats until I took those pictures of Noah in the kitchen a few hours ago. I wont allow the cats any closer than Noah got because I don't trust them.

I can easily shut a door and take them out. But how do I do that without totally freaking them out? I've had 2 keets in the past, but they both didn't come out of their cages, but we played through the bars.

The lighter one, Gertie, seems less fearful when I talk to her...but she's the one who escaped when I was putting them in their cage for the first time, so I'm afraid she'll be more fearful of me.

How do you get them to trust you enough to touch them?

[popcornbird]

Originally posted by NoahsMommy


How do you get them to trust you enough to touch them?

Are their wings clipped? Parakeets can fly FAST.....much faster than cockatiels and other larger birds, so to tame them, you would have to clip their wings. I would worry about clipping the wings of birds living in a house full of cats though. If one ever escapes in a room with the cats, it wouldn't be able to get away, so I don't know how to advise you on this issue.

I have tamed LOTS of parakeets for my friends, and it only took me a few hours of working with them, to get them to perch on my finger. Basically, you'll have to take them to a safe room and close the door. Take them out of the cage (one at a time), and hold them gently in your hand. They do freak out when you first grab them, but they get used to the idea. If you're worried about their biting, you can hold them with a small wash cloth. Sit down with them in a corner, facing the wall, so that the bird is forced to stay with you and can't get away (because of the wall in front of you), and put the bird in your lap, or on your finger. They might try to run away at first, but after a few tries, they begin to get used to it. Once they learn to perch on your finger, you can walk away from the wall, slowly, and see if they stay. It would take a few days for them to fully trust you, but if you play with them *out of the cage*, everyday, they should be tame in no time.

[NoahsMommy]

Yes, the guy at PetSmart trimmed their wings yesturday. I'll be taking them to work once a month to keep that up. Hopefully, I'll be able to do it myself.

That sounds good. I'll start the taming tomorrow in the nice and safe bathroom. Yay! I'm excited!!!

Hey...I noticed their seed hasn't been touched much. Is that normal for the first few days?

[Kfamr]

Originally posted by NoahsMommy
That was the one I'm not totally sold on either. I think its cute, but I don't think that one looks like a Betty.

I like Skittles, but I prefer prissy names, like Gertrude. What goes well with Gertie? What about Mae?

How about Beatrice?

Bea or Bee for short.

[popcornbird]

Originally posted by NoahsMommy
Yes, the guy at PetSmart trimmed their wings yesturday. I'll be taking them to work once a month to keep that up. Hopefully, I'll be able to do it myself.

That sounds good. I'll start the taming tomorrow in the nice and safe bathroom. Yay! I'm excited!!!

Hey...I noticed their seed hasn't been touched much. Is that normal for the first few days?

Be sure to close the toilet seat lid before taming them in the bathroom.

Most birds don't eat much during the first few days because of the fear of a new environment. Its normal for them to eat little when they first come home. Keep an eye on them though. They need their food.

Keep us updated on these little girls!

[Dogz]

Originally posted by popcornbird
They look like a *Blueberry* and *Snowflake* to me. He he.

I think so too! Those are cute names!

Usually, I like food names, as you can tell. (Soda, Cracker) Don't ask me why.

Bee is a cute name, also!

[luckies4me]

Aww, they are just so cute! Congratulations on the new additions. I love keets. We used to breed them when I was younger, though on a much lower scale than our tiels. I always found them so attractive though. I did have some larger Grass Parakeets awhile back, and they were great birds as well.

[Vermontcat]

Congratulations on the new birdies!
They are both pretty birds, I love their colors.
We have had T-bird for almost 3 years now and she and Samantha have never had any problems.
T-bird has the same exact cage that your birds have.
Did you add a cuttle bone and some spray millet seed?
T-bird was very shy the first few days and we were worried that she wasn't eating but she did fine once she settled in.
The spray millet is probably the first thing they will want to eat.
Let me know if you have any more cat-bird related questions, I can probably help you there.

[zippy-kat]

Originally posted by NoahsMommy
I like Skittles, but I prefer prissy names, like Gertrude. What goes well with Gertie? What about Mae?

Matilda or Mildred or Winifred or .... !

[shais_mom]

WOW!!
Cuties!
What about Gertie and Trudy?

[NoahsMommy]

CUTE names Zip and Stac!!!

Betty is starting to grow on me now...it kind of suits her personality in a way.

They are doing so well today!! Eating, chirping, climbing all over their cage. The chirp when I turn the water on and when I use the hair dryer...isn't that funny?

I'm going to attempt touching them tommorrow morning..wish me luck!