New lovie on Friday!

[kimberly1985]

Just got an email from the breeder letting me know that he had a peachfaced and 2 black masked lovies weaned that are 10 weeks old and ready to go to their forever home. I will be picking him/her up Friday. I am all set in case the baby reverts back to wanting to be handfed. Hope not though!

I have decided that it doesn't matter to me what the gender is of the baby I get. I know all the steps to take if it turns out to be female. Females need love too. And after all, the breeder doesn't do DNA tests, only pelvic test guesses. And that's what he said they were..... guesses which I knew that already! With that said...I'm gonna need a unisex name! Suggestions are always welcomed!

I am pretty sure I'm gonna get the peachfaced because of all the advice I was given about housing 2 different species together. But those black masked lovies are just so gorgeous! If I do get the black masked, they will be housed in separate cages though. Would they be allowed to play together outside their cages?

I am going to quarantine for at least 30 days....I hope I can stand it that long.
And slowly introduce them to each other during play time. (supervised of course)

I'm excited!!

[Chickobee]

Congratulations Kimberly. I'll be watching for pictures of your new addition.

There are so many unisex names! I'm sure you'll come up with a good one after seeing the personality of your bird. Choosing the names is a fun part of getting a new baby.

[kimberly1985]

The breeder emailed me a few pictures. These are the three I get to choose from....

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/231/1000773m.jpg

Black Masked
Dilute Fischer
Peachfaced

Here's a better one of the peachfaced.

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/135/1000766n.jpg

Do you think that the peachfaced will darken up like Yoshi? I want them to look somewhat different so if he/she remains lighter, that's perfect.

Also do they look well taken care for?

[thebubbleking]

Luck wasnt me i couldnt choose id take all three!!!! that dilute ficher is pretty stunning tho :)

[kimberly1985]

Yea, I loved the dilute fischer!

The breeder doesn't seem too concerned about different species playing together or even being housed together. He said they are all raised together so they are used to different species. Yoshi was caged with a Bourke parakeet when I got him. So I know he isn't a specie-ist. LOL

But I really am unsure about the whole different species thing. My plan was to house Yoshi and his new friend together so he'd have a "buddy" to keep him company when I'm out. But if I was to get the dilute fischer, I'd be really sketchy about it. I guess I could always put their cages side by side. Would that satisfy the "keeping him company" part?

[personatus]

They can play out the cage together no probs. If they get along they can be caged together just fine aswell, it's no different to masked x masked or peachface x peachface. If they turn out to be opposite sexes they can't be bred together though, so precautions must follow to prevent any breeding activity....but then that would if you had a pair of peachfaced too (and didnt want to breed them).

I like the fischers, lovely looking bird.

[kimberly1985]

So the fischer could be housed with Yoshi? I really like the fischer, and my husband likes the black masked. But I'm the one picking it up. LOL Now that I know it's possible that they can be housed together if they like each other.

Honestly, I think I'm gonna let the birdie pick me. The breeder is meeting me in a public place but he said I could interact with them before I choose. Not sure how that's gonna work outdoors. I guess if I get into the car...

I don't plan on breeding them. I know the precautions to take for that. Thanks Personatus.

[kimberly1985]

I am so torn....and excited. I haven't decided which one I want. I am leaning more towards the peach faced lovie. I've heard so much about how peachies are easier to tame although there are exceptions to the rule. My husband has pretty much made his choice...the black masked one. My only worry is if by chance I end up with a female black masked, I will have to be extra careful about them trying to breed. Don't want to have hybrids. If I get the peachie and it turns out to be female, I'd still have to be careful but the possibility would be there for them to have babies if I ever decided to do so.

Might have to tell a white lie or two to get me out of getting the black masked. "He already sold it." LOL

[linda040899]

My own choice would be the Peachfaced. Perhaps I'm old school, but I keep like species together. Even same species does not guarantee they will get along well enough to live in the same cage but at least they will have similar personality traits.

[cp.lovebird]

So exciting picking out a new lovie! They are all beautiful - it will be a tough choice. If you do cage them separately, they can still be company for each other. Ducky watches Squeaky all the time and they chirp back and forth. Squeaky is not as interested in Ducky though! But your two will be much closer in age which I think will increase the likelihood of them being caged together, depending on the sex of the new bird and their personalities. Good luck choosing today! I can't wait to see pics of your new lovie! :happy:

[kimberly1985]

My own choice would be the Peachfaced. Perhaps I'm old school, but I keep like species together. Even same species does not guarantee they will get along well enough to live in the same cage but at least they will have similar personality traits.

That was my thinking too. We'll see what happens. :)

[kimberly1985]

So exciting picking out a new lovie! They are all beautiful - it will be a tough choice. If you do cage them separately, they can still be company for each other. Ducky watches Squeaky all the time and they chirp back and forth. Squeaky is not as interested in Ducky though! But your two will be much closer in age which I think will increase the likelihood of them being caged together, depending on the sex of the new bird and their personalities. Good luck choosing today! I can't wait to see pics of your new lovie! :happy:

That's good in case they don't like each other! Thanks.

I will try to get pics up as soon as possible.

About the quarantine period: This is the plan...

Yoshi is gonna be moved into the "play room" that is right off the living room. The new lovie will be in his cage beside my computer in the den. (where Yoshi was the first month or so...then I had to move him a few feet away from me so he'd quit begging to come out)

When I decide to give Yoshi one on one time during the day which usually happens in the den, because that's where I'm at most of the day.....can I move the new lovie into a whole separate room during this time or would moving confuse him? I could stay in the "play room" with Yoshi for one on one time but I know that he'd get more time with me, if I brought him in the den.

And this may be a stupid question but shouldn't I wash my hands between handling the two?

Hopefully someone can answer this asap...I'll be leaving in about an hour to go pick up some things for the new baby...then to go pick up the baby.

[kimberly1985]

Well quarantining has begun!

I got the black masked lovebird. I know....a different species. I really like the peachfaced but my husband was adamant that he wanted the "penguin looking one". All the more excuse for me to be able to get another in the future. *Giggles*

Turns out the breeder was the assistant principal for the local high school. He was really great. He brought a few birds along so that I could learn to clip wings. I clipped two birdies wings so I got some practice if I ever need to clip Yoshi or the new one. The little guy is banded. He also sold him to me for less than I planned. He gave me some care sheets, some information about his aviary, and he's a member of the American Cockatiel Society along with some others that I can't remember. The little guy was eating his seeds while we were riding in the car.

Once he gets used to his surroundings, I will be taking pictures. And also coming up with a name. As I'm typing, he's right beside me in his cage, taking a nap. He's precious.

[michael]

.......And this may be a stupid question but shouldn't I wash my hands between handling the two?

Hopefully someone can answer this asap...I'll be leaving in about an hour to go pick up some things for the new baby...then to go pick up the baby.

Yes. Do wash your hands. .. I would also change clothing. ..Better safe than..well...you know. Thanks for sharing your newbie with us Kim. .. Let us know how he settles in........:)

[kimberly1985]

Thanks for the answer. I have been washing my hands...didn't change clothes though. I didn't even think about that.

He's 9 weeks old as of yesterday. His hatch date is April 28, 2011. He's settling in quite well.

He's a little more skittish than Yoshi was the first day home. But I believe Yoshi was an exception. The first day home, all Yoshi wanted to do was stay on me. The little guy doesn't try to get away from my hand and will allow me to give him scratches on his head and neck. He hasn't bitten me yet. He's attempted to fly a couple times. I think that the breeder clipped his wings a little too short because he isn't able to fly at all. He can't fly up...just down slowly to the floor. Yoshi was clipped just enough that he couldn't fly too high but enough so he could fly across a room...which was what I wanted with the baby.
I am just concerned that the baby will lose confidence in himself since he's not able to fly at all.

That reminds me...Yoshi's been going through what I call a "down" molt for about a month now. I haven't found a long feather but plenty of downs all over the place. Is this just the beginning of his first real moult?

And I THINK we've decided to call him.....Zazu...like the bird in the Lion King. I think it could work as a girl name if he turns out to be a she. I don't know if he's bonding with me yet, but I know I am with him.

[Enko_chan]

Congratulations. Zazu is a good name!

Yes, I wash my hands and change clothes when I'm QT. I actually usually wear a robe and a hat to make things easier, and take them off when I leave quarantine room, put them on when I enter, wash hands as soon as I leave. When I expose myself to outside birds, like other aviaries or shops that sell birds, I'll strip and bag my clothes as soon as I enter the house and shower. Order our toys from places that keep no birds on the premises and wash the packaging if we buy something from a place that keeps birds. We lost 2 birds to polyoma virus and leave nothing to chance. We were fortunate enough to have no other birds at the time, if we had, it could have been a potential disaster.

The problem is that some of the diseases that are communicable between birds is that they are passed in dust/air. i.e. The feces will dry and the disease will spread from it- you don't even realize that its gotten on your clothes and hair- then ends up in the air inside your main aviary.

On a happier note, I think the masked lovie is gorgeous! Its great he's already letting you get close, and seems to be adaptable- eating in the car :). Keep us updated!!

[Mummieeva]

I would not move Yoshi to the den until quarantine is up. The reason being dander and other things will still be in the den from Zazu(love the name). It is better to just wait the 60 days. When I do quarantine I will set a alarm clock for when it is time to go play with birds. I am forgetful(i use it sometimes to remember my kids bedtimes.lol).


Steph