RG Walker
02-18-2009, 03:21 PM
Some background.
Tweety and Patches are two 8 year old rehomes we adopted in early Sept.We are thier forth home to the best of my knowledge.The little bit of documentation that came with them has thier hatch dates and shows that they came from the same breeder,though not related.The man I got them from had them for 5 years.He obviously was'nt the most informed of owners,though I believe he did love them.
When they came to me they were both almost completely cage bound and severly overwieght,being on seed only diet.Both problems I easily overcame.The cage they came in was a horrible homemade job to small for a finch,much less two adult tiels.Turned it into kindling as soon as I got them used to thier new digs which took almost three months.
The problem is they are completely bonded to one another,to the point of lesbianism.This is making it difficult to build any real bond with them.Except for stepping up they were very hand shy,but I've got them past that.If they were ever well socialized,then that had faded long before they came to us.
I've used many of the techniques recommended in "The Cockatiel Handbook"plus some I detailed in the thread"Misti's Tale".I work from home,and thier flight cage and play gym is close by in the same room.So I spend a lot of time with them.I talk to them,share the bread crumbs from my lunch with them too.Last Friday,after lunch,I was leaning back in my desk chair when a small breakthru happened.Patches landed on my shoulder and began preening my hair,then Tweety landed on my chest and started preening my beard.This has been the only gesture of acceptance and affection they have ever shown.
Can anybody think of anything else I can try?Besides time,tlc and patience?
At another forum it was suggested that I split them up or even rehome one.Let me say now that these or completely unacceptable alternatives.They are here,together,with our family until they die.
Tweety and Patches are two 8 year old rehomes we adopted in early Sept.We are thier forth home to the best of my knowledge.The little bit of documentation that came with them has thier hatch dates and shows that they came from the same breeder,though not related.The man I got them from had them for 5 years.He obviously was'nt the most informed of owners,though I believe he did love them.
When they came to me they were both almost completely cage bound and severly overwieght,being on seed only diet.Both problems I easily overcame.The cage they came in was a horrible homemade job to small for a finch,much less two adult tiels.Turned it into kindling as soon as I got them used to thier new digs which took almost three months.
The problem is they are completely bonded to one another,to the point of lesbianism.This is making it difficult to build any real bond with them.Except for stepping up they were very hand shy,but I've got them past that.If they were ever well socialized,then that had faded long before they came to us.
I've used many of the techniques recommended in "The Cockatiel Handbook"plus some I detailed in the thread"Misti's Tale".I work from home,and thier flight cage and play gym is close by in the same room.So I spend a lot of time with them.I talk to them,share the bread crumbs from my lunch with them too.Last Friday,after lunch,I was leaning back in my desk chair when a small breakthru happened.Patches landed on my shoulder and began preening my hair,then Tweety landed on my chest and started preening my beard.This has been the only gesture of acceptance and affection they have ever shown.
Can anybody think of anything else I can try?Besides time,tlc and patience?
At another forum it was suggested that I split them up or even rehome one.Let me say now that these or completely unacceptable alternatives.They are here,together,with our family until they die.