George and Samson Progress

[BarbieH]

Well, we've been slowly introducing Sam to Georgie's cage since he lost his Gracie. So far we have been letting Sam visit George for a few hours every day. I mainly don't want to stress Sam too much. He has never shared cage space with another bird.

This has been going on since Gracie passed, which I think is now going on one month.

George was receptive to Sam from the start; Sam looks like a mini-Gracie in all his coloring, he's a seagreen peachie with a violet rump. (Pretty boy!) We needed to make sure Sam has a separate food dish always, otherwise he would chase George away and not share. George apparently is easily bullied.

Sam also didn't appreciate George being the top-perch bird. Today we saw Sam on an upper perch, and he and George were beaking each other in a friendly way -- maybe Sam is going to learn how to gack for Georgie. Anyway, it's the most hopeful thing we've seen so far.

It's a good thing George is so flexible. He has already had three cage mates in his life, and must figure that life is just like that: Every so often you get a new cage mate. Don't know if Sam will work out in that cage full time, but at least George gets a visitor.

[linda040899]

Barb,
This friendship sounds promising! If Sam isn't used to sharing the top most perch, had you thought about adding a second perch at the same level? That way, they would each have one, just like the separate dishes.

Just a thought..... :)

[LovelySydney]

This sounds familiar - Gus used to chase poor Os away from the food. I swear even if Gus wasn't hungry he would chase O away and then eat just to prove a point, lol.

Sounds like these two are making progress, what great news!!

[BarbieH]

I suspect Sammy just wants to be taller than George, at least until he gets more used to him. :) I would love for them to be able to preen each other.They do it so much better than I do!

Yup, even if Sam isn't hungry, George had better not approach a food dish! George was already used to getting out of Gracie's way with the food. He's an expert.

Yesterday, after we put Sam back in his own cage, he and George spent some time near the bars of their cages trying to beak each other in that friendly way. It was kind of like a safe introduction to getting close to another bird, for Sam.

[BarbieH]

Latest update: They are getting very close to almost feeding each other! George wants to teach Sammy about this, and once Sam figures out he can actually get fed by George, they will be inseparable! Sam's such a pig, it makes him so predictable. :lol

[Janie]

Sam's such a pig, it makes him so predictable. :lol

:rofl:

[shylevon]

I am so glad to hear that things are going fairly well between little Sammy and George. It must be a great comfort to both of them to have each other, even if they are not best friends.

I feel for my little Dia since Nereus passed on. He is all alone and being wild as the wind, he gets no comfort from me. In my cage, I am just hoping that the other birds don't start to pick on him, especially since I have Nyx and Theia in a separate cage with the babies. Poor little Dia is the fifth bird in a cage, and we all know that can't go on much longer. Thankfully, my birds can't count, or they would be on Dia like vultures. Dia does miss Nereus so much that I find him almost catatonic, staring off into space, for very long periods of time. The only interest he has in life these days is when he can watch the babies playing and then he gets more animated. Perhaps he will be able to pair up with one of them, when they are old enough to join the common cage and he won't feel so very alone.

Give George and Sammy a big kissy and tell them (for me) that they are very good birdies.

[BarbieH]

Poor sweet Dia. I wonder if he could go in with the babies for short periods of time?

George isn't thrilled when I bring him out for a preening, but sometimes it doesn't hurt to push it a little bit. He learns over time that I will never hurt him -- and he gets those awful kerrits* out of his feathers.:x

*(This is what my birds call the keritin sheath on their new feathers.)

[shylevon]

I am trying to introduce Dia to the babies slowly. He took a nibble on one the other day (right in front of me), so I know he can't be alone with them yet. No one was hurt as I think he was just testing the birdie, but I ain't takin' any chances with babies not yet two months old.

You are lucky Georgie lets you handle him, even if he doesn't like it one little bit. Poor Dia screams like I am pulling his wings off every time I get near him. If I tried to preen him I am sure he would pluck all his feathers out himself, just to ensure I did not do that again.

[BarbieH]

Sam and George are starting to spend most of their days together in George's cage. :) Then I take Sam out for a little while to go up my bathrobe sleeve, and then into his cage.

I noticed something new last night. I took Sam out for the bathrobe ritual, and he flew straight to George's cage. But I'm still not ready to put them together full time. The behavior I'm looking for is preening each other. They're getting closer to feeding each other, not quite there yet. Once Sam sees that he can get food outta George, he'll be hooked!

[linda040899]

This is very positive progress, considering Sam has always lived alone. Wish I could convince Echo that a female companion would be nice.....

[thebubbleking]

Ahem mabey actions speak louder then words let echo watch " some of the action" mabey he will get the idea, worked for my lovies and tiels not so much my sun conures (darn it ) plus it ads to the excitement, someone watching and all that and noone of the risks of the cops being called!

[BarbieH]

Kinky birds. :lol

Oh, another thing I saw today: Sam and George were sitting on the same perch, not right next to each other but no more than a couple of inches apart. Very positive!

[BarbieH]

Today I finally saw them perched on the same perch, and kind of beaking each other, possibly a prelude to feeding and preening!! :happy::happy::happy:

Sam still spends every night in his own cage, and he comes out with me to spend a little time up my bathrobe sleeve, but he seems less and less interested in that. *sniff!* The little ta-ta baby is finally growing up and turning into a real live bird. Next time I see him already in his Happy Hut for the night, I will not invite him out.

[linda040899]

Sounds like an upcoming friendship to me! Glad to hear it!! :happy::happy::happy::happy::happy:

[BarbieH]

It was HUGE when I saw them on the same perch! I think it's been a whole trust issue for Samson.

He was ready to come out with me last night, and between us, I hope he never outgrows that. We might just be readjusting to the longer days again.

I also have doubts over whether he will ever outgrow his attachment to Fuzzy Frog. But now he knows that when he is in George's cage, Fuzzy Frog (reclining in a hat) goes out of Sam's cage and is placed on the floor. Sam seems very well-pleased with himself for figuring that out. Now he shows me where Fuzzy Frog is, and it's part of one big lovebird game. He flew to the floor once to make sure I knew that he knew!

[BarbieH]

They have really come a long way!

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