Adjustments

I bred Indian Ringnecks for 12 years. All of them were hand raised; some from day one. Peaches, my original wild-caught hen had died five years previously. I wanted to keep four of the Ringnecks, but wound up keeping only two as I was equally attached to all the others and could not decide which other two to keep. I decided it would hurt just as much to relinquish six as it would eight. With one less room and a $400 increase in rent, it was wiser too.

In December 1992 my eight Ringnecks went to Letty Shilling, a breeder in Florida that I know through my work at Parrots of the World, a pet shop on Long Island. I was to move in January 1993. The Ringnecks were shipped in two kennel cabs taped one on top of the other. The air holes were fitted with wire mesh so they could grip the sides to look out. They were also equipped with low perches. I put alfalfa hay on the bottom and added plenty of seeds, pellets, and cut up fruits and vegetables. Although it was only to be a two-hour trip, I wanted to be sure the birds had something to eat and something to quench their thirst in the event of a delay or other problem. I wrote the name, address and phone number of the shipper and the receiver on both kennels with black marker. I also wrote "LIVE ANIMALS" on them. They were sent Delta Dash, which is last on and first off. I wanted to send them on a direct flight, which is the best way to send animals by air, but there was no direct flight, so I had to put them on a connecting flight. They made the trip with no problem and adjusted easily and settled right down to the business of breeding. As for Indigo and Sapphire, the two Ringnecks I kept, they were still adjusting months later. I could understand their confusion, but could not believe the resentment the two displayed. It was something I never expected.

The day after Sabu, Sweet Pea, Charlie (a hen), Kelly, Ruby, Sunshine, Oliver and Puckle left for Florida, Indigo watched and listened intently as I cleared out the empty cages. You could not mistake the confused look about her. She was totally perplexed. Both Indigo and Sapphire kept calling for the others.

I kept Indigo and Sapphire because they were the most bonded to me. It had taken me four and five months to wean them and I was very attached to them. They both had eyes only for me and lived peaceably together. Indigo did not harass Sapphire like most females do, perhaps because she was not yet two years old and he not quite four. They even tolerated each other well when out on my hands and shoulders.

When I cleaned the cage I had to lean through the door to scrub the inside. Indigo would always hop on my head saying "give me a kiss" and preen my hair and then go down my back. Sapphire would be in my face saying "you be careful" and trying to give me kisses. I considered this dangerous and somewhat annoying as I had to be careful not to crush Indigo in the process of her going down my back with little space between her and the door, and I could not see what I was doing with Sapphire in my face. I tolerated it as an honor to the love and trust they had for me. All the others were rag chasers and helpers in general, but they never attempted to get on me or got too close to be in any danger.

Every one of my Ringnecks were sweet and gentle. They were never moody after the terrible twos. Indigo and Sapphire never went through that phase and were never aggressive with me or each other. They were the only two I could trust to give kisses through the cage bars. Although the others were not aggressive, they would get too excited to be trusted through the bars.

Indigo and Sapphire totally changed after their friends left. They were still sweet and cuddly, but would bite down hard enough to hurt and bruise when they got on my hand to come out. It was as if they were saying "we still love you but are not happy about our friends' absence; and what did you do with them anyway?"

After two weeks I put them in a smaller cage as I did not intend to take their large cage with us. If it were not for all the toys I put in on purpose (as Indigo was starting to harass Sapphire in the large cage), I think Sapphire would have been badly damaged. They were becoming jealous of each other. When I went to the cage, Indigo chased Sapphire away. They could no longer be out together because they were too aggressive with each other when out on me. I put them in the large flight cage. Indigo still chased Sapphire, but he could easily get away. They also ate only a few pieces of vegetables now, whereas they ate every morsel when they were with the others. When they began to eat most of them, I took it as a sign of adjustment.

When we moved to the new house, my Blue Fronted Amazon, Georgette, my African Grey, Emily, and the smaller birds settled right in as they were set up the same as in the old house, facing east to west instead of west to east.

Indigo and Sapphire were the only two that seemed affected. They previously had a large room with the other Ringnecks, but now their room is a large walk-in closet with a window, light and two doors that are kept open. Their cage just fits at the back end just past the window. The finches, canary, budgerigars and Goldies lory are at the front just past the other side of the window. Now they not only missed their friends and were in a new environment, it was breeding season. I am not sure how much aggression was due to resentment, the move or the breeding season. Indigo and Sapphire were now biting hard enough to draw blood. Indigo was harassing Sapphire even more. I wanted to hang a nest box as I felt it would keep Indigo busy, but I was afraid she would try to kill Sapphire if he tried to get in the box.

The day Indigo all but pulled a chunk out of my fingertip, I decided to send the two birds to Letty as I felt they would settle down to a normal productive life at her facilities in Florida, but I could not go through that agony again. I told the birds they would just have to get used to the change and if that meant my not handling them that was fine with me.

I did not handle them. But we still kissed through the bars of the cage. I hung a square dish basin in the cage with a ladder leading down into it and put alfalfa hay in it. This satisfied Indigo and Sapphire and they got along better. It was just the normal female harassment. They now come out of the cage, but I have to be careful and alert. I take them out of the room singly as I think the one left behind gets agitated at being left in the cage. They try to come close as I clean the cage but jealousy causes Indigo to chase Sapphire, therefore making it easier and safer to clean the cage. They seem to be mellowing, so maybe in time they will finally forgive and forget and I will have to be careful again.

Stating that Indigo and Sapphire resented the other Ringnecks' disappearance may not be what they were feeling. Dealing with a 90-year-old grandmother was taking its toll on me. I was emotionally unstable but functional at this time. I think of my birds as family. It was like sending my children away. Indigo and Sapphire just may have been picking up my emotions and feeling threatened, especially since their friends mysteriously vanished. My emotions stabilized as soon as I settled in our new home and I was instantly relieved of the pressure and worries. Although I was still adjusting to the loss of my birds and the separation from my grandmother and home, I was pleased with our new dwelling. This was the time when Indigo and Sapphire were at their worst; I find it hard to believe they would still feel threatened. I am just happy they are finally settling down.