Maxi & Tanner

[LindaMary]

They've met. They are now sharing a room. I am realizing how much I have been stressing about this (I hope somewhat secretly) - but it's actually going quite well!

 

When the ice storm hit us last Thursday and knocked out our power, the house went down to 50°. My vet told me they would probably be fine down to 30° (!!), but I was feeling so bad about Tanner, whose quarantine room had only a north and west window, and felt noticably colder. So I broke quarantine 2 days early (bracing for digital slaps...) and moved Tanner's cage into what we call The Adventure Room - where Maxi, my computer, and Snowball the rabbit are; where I practise my tai chi and Mary practises her karate... you get the idea. It's our biggest room, and a lot of sun comes in there.

 

First, of course, I took Maxi on my hand into Tanner's room. Then I put her in her cage and took Tanner on my hand into "Maxi's" room. Then I put him back in his cage and moved the whole shebang into her room. :blink: She was quiet, but went about her business. He was quiet and glued to the side of his cage for about an hour (poor guy):blink: :unsure: :blink: .

 

And then the next thing you know they are showing off for each other playing with their toys. I actually had barely seen Tanner touch any of his toys until that day - it was like he watched her and realized what they were for.

 

I think the one taking it the hardest is the bunny - he's a little freaked out. (We haven't yet had time to really rearrange the furniture to situate Tanner's cage properly against the wall, so it's closer to the bunny then he likes. He's a tough bunny, tho - I think he'll be fine.) And I am so pleased, so far with the effect of combining these birds! Maxi is relaxing with the UVA/UVB light. Tanner is shrieking less, and more relaxed. There's hope - I think it's going to work out.

 

What a relief!

[judygram]

It does sound promising doesn't it and maybe thats all it took for Maxi to show Tanner what those toys were made for, this may work out better than you thought.

 

The poor bunny:blink: but I am sure Snowball will settle down soon, if he can get used to one bird then he can get used to two.:lol:

[BaxtersMom]

That's wonderful news. Hopefully they will make friends fast and sounds like they are. I think when birds gets together they can learn from each other. I think they like each others company, too. I wouldn't consider Baxter and Tigger friends but when one starts talking or making noises the other one just has to join in.:laugh:

 

Now, poor bunny...mabye he needs a new friend to play with too and not feel out numbered;)

[Luvparrots]

This is great news!! Isn't it funny how much we humans stress over what we are afraid will happen and our pets generally take all in stride. If you do decide to get snowball a companion be sure to get a same sex bunny or there WILL BE a real flurry of snowflakes running around very quickly. If you get my drift!!:evil:

 

<br><br>Post edited by: luvparrots, at: 2008/12/17 08:13

[Tycos_mom]

Thats so great Linda The birds do have this way of supriseing us sometimes don't they. Maxi has been listening to Tanner screeching for you all month long. She probubly thinking that its about time you decided to introduce him to her. I think they will be just fine. I know just how cold iyt got when your power went out. The other night we had a huge wind storm and it was 7 degrees below zero out side and our power went out for 6 hour from 8 pm until 2 am. I was so worried about the bird it was so cold in our house. Our house is heated with electricity and it was just freezing. We have a gas fireplace that runs on propane but I haven't bothered to fill the propane tank. I think I might get that done very soon so at least we will have some heat if that ever happens again this winter. It also has an electic fan on the fire place to help distribute the heat better but I sure it would still be better than no heat at all. We could all cuddle around it and stay a bit warmer than we were the other night anyway. I'm glad your birs made it through without to many problems and so did mine thank goodness. Gizmo is starting to become a real sweet heart he steps up from on top of his cage with no problems at all and really seems to enjoy his time away from his cage. he has gotten better at comeing out of his cage now also. I still have to talk him into it a bit but its not to hard anymore. All i have to do is pick up his water sprayer and he comes right out I don't even have to spray it anymore I just pick it up and he know its time to come out. He quite funny though I ask him to step up and he actually flys up instead it funny because I'm standing right beside him and he flys the 3inches instead of just stepping up. I'm so glad that Tanner is going to work out well and he's finally out of quaritine now so you can start working a bit more with him.<br><br>Post edited by: Tycos_mom, at: 2008/12/17 07:45

[LindaMary]

That's good news, Pat, about Gizmo's progress. He's just a careful guy with a mind of his own! I love him flying up instead of stepping up. "Nope, Mom - gonna do it MY way!":P

 

Yes, our fireplace was a popular spot on Friday and Saturday, for sure. We are getting snow today followed by more ice - I feel really lucky to have my power back - a lot of new Hampshire still doesn't.

 

Thanks for you comments, everyone! I'm afraid Snowball won't be getting a companion, Erika - we are maxed out on animals for the two of us!:whistle: Once we get Tanner better situated, I expect he will calm down. He rather likes Maxi, actually - likes to hang out under her cage.

[LindaMary]

Oh, and by the way, it's official: we now have verification that Tanner is a boy bird!

[Tycos_mom]

Thats great that you had him Dna tested Mabie thats why him and Gizmo are so much alike mabie its the way male Severe Macaws are. I also glad that Tanner seems to like Maxi I'm finding the same thing with Gizmo he doesn't seem to mind the other birds in the house at all. I had him my Amazon and my Indian ringneck all spending time with me on my bed the other day and all of them where fine together. It really suprises me sometimes that my birds have become an actual flock and all seem to except and respect each other's place. They may not all be friends but they don't hurt each other either and thats all that important I think.

[Tycos_mom]

Thats great that you had him Dna tested Mabie thats why him and Gizmo are so much alike mabie its the way male Severe Macaws are. I also glad that Tanner seems to like Maxi I'm finding the same thing with Gizmo he doesn't seem to mind the other birds in the house at all. I had him my Amazon and my Indian ringneck all spending time with me on my bed the other day and all of them where fine together. It really suprises me sometimes that my birds have become an actual flock and all seem to except and respect each other's place. They may not all be friends but they don't hurt each other either and thats all that important I think.

[LindaMary]

Actually, I was speaking of Snowball the rabbit when I said "he rather likes Maxi, and likes to hang out under her cage" - but at this point I would say it's also true of Tanner (not the under-the-cage part, of course! ) In fact I have been very pleased with the way this week has gone. We still don't have the furniture moved yet so that Tanner's cage is in its final spot - we hope to get to that this weekend. But both Max and Tanner seem to be getting used to the new routine. Maxi wakes up first, gets her head scritched as I check my e-mail, and gets her shower with me before I even uncover Tanner. Once I'm dressed and have their food prepared, I uncover Tanner, and Maxi's ready to tuck into breakfast while I spend a little time with him before I go off to work. In the evening, he gets his lullaby-snuggle time first, and then gets covered up and settles down while Maxi gets hers. I think I'd been more worried about Maxi not liking him, or being jealous of him, but so far it seems okay. One great thing about Tanner is that he is very "responsive" to darkness - if his cage is covered, he's usually pretty quiet, even if there's some movement in the room. I have used that on occasion, too, when he goes on a screech-a-thon (as he did yesterday evening) - just vcoered him up for 5 minutes, and he settles down.

 

I think you have the ideal flock, Pat - it's what we all hope for! I'm sure you are right that a crucial element in the birds all getting along is you simply expecting that of them, and making that clear to them in a consistent way. Kinda like running a nursery school, I imagine. B)

[BaxtersMom]

Sounds like you have a great routine for them and I am so glad to hear they are getting along and no jealousy issues.  I only seen Baxter get jealous once so far. I had him and Tigger my eclectus in the home office with me and I left the room for only a few moments but took Tigger with me because he will scream if I leave without him. So Baxter stayed behind for those few minutes and when I got back Baxter was very angry and kind of lunged at Tigger because of it.  I have never done that again.  Other than that one instance I haven't had any problems and I have learned my lesson;)

[LindaMary]

Oh I can certainly envision something liek taht happening at some point, Erika. So far I am really controlling who's out of their cage when pretty tightly. Yesterday was the first time I got Tanner out while Maxi was playing on top of her cage. He's very closely clipped, and doesn't WANT to be anywhere but on his cage or on a person still. But Max is growing out her flights and can now cover at least 10 feet before she's on the floor - and seems to be enjoying practicing that - so it was kind of a test to see what she would do. She carefully watched me take him out, and then went right back to playing with her toilet-paper-roll-filled-with-tissue-paper. So far, so good. Maybe I should be MOST pleased that Tanner is still shy - he'd certainly be more dangerous than Max if he decided to go on the attack!:blink: From what I've heard, tho, macaws are more likely to be happy sharing space with other bird species than greys are. For now, he certainly seems to be happier being in a room with other animals.

 

Oh - and the bunny is settling down, too.

[LindaMary]

A brief report:

 

We are buried in snow.

Christmas is too close and we are not ready enough.

 

But tonight I was able to sit with Maxi on one shoulder and Tanner on the other for over an hour, listening to Prairie Home Companion. Maxi was quietly snoozing on one foot, Tanner was obsessively preening and croaking and nibbling my hand and ear and being his usual physical self.

 

What a wonderful experience!<br><br>Post edited by: LindaMary, at: 2008/12/21 02:54

[Tycos_mom]

That is so great I love that when I can have two or three of my birds at a time sitting on me and socializing it sounds like they are excepting each other as flock members nicely Your doing a great job of helping them to do that. Thats kinda what I do also to get all my birds to get along I really think its important for them to understand that there is no need to be jealous that I still love them just as much as before but have enough love to share between all of the other birds as well I often have them sitting together with me just for that reason I'm sure thats why all my birds get along so well together and don't ever get aggresive towards each other they have all learn that nobodys a threat to them in anyway.

[Tycos_mom]

That is so great I love that when I can have two or three of my birds at a time sitting on me and socializing it sounds like they are excepting each other as flock members nicely Your doing a great job of helping them to do that. Thats kinda what I do also to get all my birds to get along I really think its important for them to understand that there is no need to be jealous that I still love them just as much as before but have enough love to share between all of the other birds as well I often have them sitting together with me just for that reason I'm sure thats why all my birds get along so well together and don't ever get aggresive towards each other they have all learn that nobodys a threat to them in anyway.

[BaxtersMom]

You are doing great with them and I bet they will get along just fine. I like it too when they are up on my shoulders but sometimes they get carried away. This is what's been happening at my house more than I would actually like but it's funny.

 

I do the dishes with Baxter on my shoulder. Dishes are his chore:laugh: Tigger gets to missing me and will fly into the kitchen or close to it. I will have to go get him and since my hands are wet, etc, I just toss him up on the other shoulder. Well, Bonkers the conure is missing out on all the attention and I will hear a loud squak from him and here he comes....and lands directly on top of my head:laugh: They all get along. I guess they are happy as long as they are close and willing to share me:) I just know I must look like some kind of crazy bird lady though:laugh: :whistle:

 

As for Cooper, he is coming along extremely well and fitting in nicely. I'm not ready for him to be on the shoulder just yet but I'm sure it's not too far off in the future. I haven't decided if I trust him enough as of yet:unsure:<br><br>Post edited by: BaxtersMom, at: 2008/12/22 00:59

[LindaMary]

Erika: you are not a Crazy Bird Lady - you are a living, breathing Bird Tower!

 

Thanks, guys, for the input! I hesitate to give myself any credit, but I'm just so delighted with their progress. It's not like Tanner doesn't still have his screech-a-thon moments, or his nip attacks, but they really are settling down. I just LOVE Maxi's approach - she is being SUCH a lady: interested, but reserved. They both chewed wood toys to bits while watching me wrap Christmas presents this afternoon - a new one for Tanner, who hung by one foot for what must have been 1/2 an hour. Can't wait to get our tree up in the next day or two (right now we are in the middle of a blizzard) - that'll get him going, I'm sure!

[Tycos_mom]

I really think thats what has to be done to let the birds all know that the new bird is not a threat I think that people have more problems when they start separating them and only letting them out at separate times it make the birds feel lie there must be somthing wrong and so when they do get out together they attack because they have been kept segragated for so long. Like I said before all my birds are flighted and all have out time from 8am till 8pm except for the nights I have to go to work then they have to go in their cages at 4:30pm instead of 8pm but I only work 2 or 3 days a week so they are not in their cages very much unless they choose to be in them. It so important to scocailize your birds with each other to me its just as improtant as socializing them with all the people in the household there really should be no difference.

[LindaMary]

Here's today's episode.

 

I was taking a nap this afternoon, and Mary was hanging out in the Adventure Room (which is what we call the big room in our house where the birds, the rabbit and the computers live) working on the computer and letting all the beasties have some out-of-cage time. I was awakened by a couple of (fairly quiet) squawky noises, and about that time Mary comes into my room and says "Mom, we have problem - Tanner's in Max's cage!" "Where's Max?" "Also in her cage!"

 

So there they are - both in her cage, facing off, and neither of them would step up on Mary! I got them both out, and noone was hurt, but that darn Tanner!:silly: I should've seen it coming, actually - we have learned that, left to his own devices, Tanner climbs down off his cage and wanders around, and yesterday I looked up and found him sitting on the door to Maxi's cage (she was up on her playtop). It hadn't occurred to me that he would dare go INTO it while she was in there - but now I know better! (Actually - he may have gone in while she was out, and she may have run back in to defend her territory - we don't know.) I'm tempted to believe that he was just looking for company; he has never lunged at her, but she has at him. Still, we know not to turn our backs on these two now!

[BaxtersMom]

:laugh: How funny. If I remember right a month or so ago he didn't want to come out of the cage. My how things change:woohoo: Now he's into visiting. Well, atleast you know where too look now when he's gone missing;)

 

I was just wondering about Tanner and Pats Gizmo the other day. I haven't heard updates in a long time:( and I miss them. I should give one on Cooper too because man has he ever settled in now:ohmy:<br><br>Post edited by: BaxtersMom, at: 2009/01/11 23:20

[LindaMary]

You're right, Erika - I just kind of realized today that I haven't been keeping y'all up on the shenanigans around here very well - and I miss hearing about Gizmo and Cooper, too!

 

Tanner's very definitely used to being out of his cage now, and is usually (like right now) over there saying "Hello - Hi - Hello" trying to get me to let him out (like I just did). Upon which he immediately climbs up onto my shoulder and settles in and croaks "rrraak - rrrrrrraaaaaaak" to tell me how happy he is. I swear he would sit there 24/7 if I let him. And what a cuddle-bug! He's become much more predictable with that beak of his, too - much less actual biting going on.

 

I am trying to get him to spend more time on Mary - for both their sakes, but he's pretty bonded to me still, and tries to run away if anyone else approaches (as in : runs around to my other shoulder so my head is between him and the other person).

 

He is much more physical than Max - likes to hang upside down and swing from fingers or toys, and I'm realizing I'm going to have to get the boing and the net hung for him (Max is afraid of both of them) because I feel like he needs more exercise. He's had a couple of showers now, and once he got over his initial spookiness about sitting on the shower perch (after all - it's NOT Mom's shoulder!!!:angry: :ohmy: :angry: ) he was actually totally fine with me running him under the shower head - much more relaxed than Max was at first. He's even getting used to the mister bottle I use to spray them down with aloe now (both of them are, finally - tho they still try to bite it...).

 

Perhaps the thing I'm working hardest on now - with some success - is teaching him it doesn't pay to screech. Because man, when he goes on a screeching tear it is truly ear-splitting! :huh: :whistle: I don't know which of us in the house hates it the most!

 

Maxi has recently let me know that she is in fact capable of a little jealousy - and I'm not letting them both sit on me at the same time at present. She doesn't usually WANT to sit on me all the time, but when she sees him doing it, she gets cranky after a while. She's still my #1 little lady, tho - a real class act!

 

Now fill us in on Cooper, okay? And thanks for your interest!

[BaxtersMom]

Well you guys have come a long way and have become one big happy family:) What a big boy he is too already taking showers. Isn't it amazing all the different things they are willing to do when we just give them a little time and expose them to new things?!

 

I get nervous too when I have 2 birds on my shoulders at once knowing the only thing between them is my head:blink: I never intentionally let that happen but sometimes it ends up that way. I can just picture one getting mad at the other, starting fighting and my head get in the way {Feel-bad-00020080}

 

I have found that Cooper is also much more "physical" than Baxter. My grey is soooo mellow compared to Cooper (and much easier, too:laugh: )

 

I will have to give an update on Coopers progress. He feels totally at home now and pulls some crazy stunts lately:woohoo: We are always entertained.

 

I am always interested in how Tanner is doing and will always check in and chat with you when you post about your babies:silly: I look forward to them.

 

Stayed tuned..I will try to get Coopers update in the next couple days (there is so much to tell) ...and Pat, if you are reading this too I would like an update on Gizmo, too please;)<br><br>Post edited by: BaxtersMom, at: 2009/01/12 01:39