Baby Alex « Thread Started on Nov 4, 2009, 12:30pm »
My hubby and I are picking up our new baby boy Alexandrine from the breeders on Saturday, and I think we've got everything ready, but I'd like to check if anyone has any tips for us!! We've built him a massive cage, with large sticks and only one toy at this stage, metal bowls and an open play pen on top.
Can anyone help me with what sort of food we need to buy for him first off, and what sort of treats they usually like? I've only had a cockatiel before n he doesn't really like anything other than celery leaves :S
Joined: Aug 2005 Gender: Female Posts: 9,818 Location: Central Queensland Karma: 52
Re: Baby Alex « Reply #1 on Nov 4, 2009, 5:00pm »
Hello and welcome. Alexandrines are a lovely bird.
You will need some small parrot seed for him. I use that for all my birds except my canary (unless I have run out of his food lol). You could use pellets.......but he should also have plenty of fresh stuff available to him too. They do love their fresh stuff if they are raised with it and it is necessary for them. They cannot survive healthy on just seed or pellet diet. At his young age he would probably still not really have a fav food yet. My alex's love all their fruit and veges and bean mixes and sprouts and their seed too. They jump on me in the mornings as I put their fresh stuff in the aviary.
Just keep putting a variety of different foods in his cage so he can get used to them and he can taste test. Just because he is not appearing to eat the fresh stuff doesn't mean he isn't and as he gets older I am sure you will see him devour his fresh stuff.
They also love corn on the cob, and I also have frozen veges that I use for something different for them to eat also. Rockmelon, honey dew melon, watermelon, apples, pears, silver beet, bok choy, strawberries, blue berries, coconut the list goes on. NO chocolate or avocado or alcohol.
He will eventually need plenty of wooden things to chew on as the alex's LOVE to chew things. They can destroy a loved toy in mins. My ekkies can take weeks if ever to destroy a loved toy. lol
I am sure others will get on here and give you some advise. Oh and you built his cage.........I hope it is not made of wood.........he will not be in it for long once he starts to chew it. lol
My alex will eat anything, so she is not fussy with food, toys or anything else she might find whether or not she's supposed to eat it. LOTS of things to chew, u probably wont have to worry about all the chewing of the wood for a few months but when it does happen they go through it like termites. Awesome birds though, wouldnt be without her, they're so goofy too and funny. Always doing something stupid that makes me laugh.
Re: Baby Alex « Reply #4 on Nov 5, 2009, 10:26am »
Yeh, I've been around a few and they are so much fun. Our friend has an african grey called Alvin, so we've had a bit of experience with him, and my husband wanted one just like him, but since we cant really afford one but we still wanted a reasonably intelligent bird, we decided on the alex. Should be fun, we're really excited to get him.
Joined: Feb 2008 Gender: Male Posts: 892 Location: Sunshine Coast Qld Karma: 42
Re: Baby Alex « Reply #6 on Nov 6, 2009, 10:12pm »
If you built his cage using galvanized mesh wire, be sure to treat it first - Alex's will chew wire as readily as wood and can get zinc poisoning if the wire hasn't been treated.
If you get any problems you are welcome to bring him into our pet shop for advice - in Mooloolaba.
Joined: Feb 2008 Gender: Male Posts: 892 Location: Sunshine Coast Qld Karma: 42
Re: Baby Alex « Reply #7 on Nov 6, 2009, 11:10pm »
I also meant to say that check what food the breeder has weaned the baby onto, and start with that for the first few days, gradually changing his diet to what you want to feed him.
Thanks Mike, yes we treated the wire with vinegar a couple times several weeks ago, so I'm hoping it's weathered enough by now. The breeders were so lovely, but it was a long drive to pick him up - 4 hours each way :S but it's worth it, he's a beautiful little thing. only just 8 and a half weeks old. Yes, Ida gave us a few days worth of some sprouted seed and showed us how to prepare the seed as well, and some powder to mix up a paste for him. We tried to come down this afternoon Mike, but you closed 10 minutes earlier! Oh well, tomorrow will be good enough. He is such a cool little guy, but i think a bit wary of his new environment and new family. Fingers Crossed he's a champ!
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