Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Well, we had a friend who saw the green cheek who fell head-over-heels in love with him on Thursday last week, so we let him take the little guy instead...

BUT, since today is my birthday (yay me! 23 now... no big deal... just a different number), my husband TOTALLY surprized me!

I was sleeping off a headache and waiting for Tony to get home from work, when I woke up and saw him standing over me. He had something behind his back that had the VERY familiar-to-us sound of nails scratching cardboard... I knew right then that he got me SOMETHING for my birthday that was alive...

As soon as I opened the top of the box, a little yellow and orange head popped out and I knew it was the baby I fell in love with at the pet store we trust most! IT'S A JENDAY!!!!!! WOOHOOOO!!!!!

As soon as I saw this trio of babies come in as fluff-and-pin-feathers I LOVED them. The owners like us, and we can basically do anything we want at the pet store (including raid all the cages in the back and get out whatever we want to handle), and they allowed us (yes, we asked first) to hold the hatchlings!

That was a month ago. Tony got me the oldest, hatch date 12/5/2007, and he's still eating three times a day. BUT, we are going to wean him just like they are at the pet store. I'm calling tomorrow to get an appointment at the vet, and we'll see what happens!

He's a sweetie - the other two are still biting (HARD) because of the feedings, but this one won't nip at all. He nibbles my ears, but I'm trying to keep him off my shoulders until I build up a bond of trust with him and he understands "good bird!" and "step up" and "no". He'll cuddle with me a bit, and already prefers me over my husband - that will have to change since I need to get my companion birds open to be handled by everyone in my family and comfortable with others too. I hope I can do it at least. I'm willing to learn!

Now just to make a cage-cover to keep him quiet at first-light of the day! HA!

I'll post pics as soon as I can. Cheers all!

I have a quick question I just thought of - I've been reading various places the hand-rearing vs already weaned debate of course, and I understand everything. Make sure it's the right temp with a reliable thermometer, feed enough but not too much, handle and socialize as much as you can unless the bird is stressed out and needs quiet time...

BUT, what about just weaned babies? I've read two places or more that sometimes once a bird hits maturity that they might change favorite people and reject the previous person. so...

1) when do jandayas hit maturity usually?
2) What would you suggest to keep him bonded to all of us, and not switching on us later on? We're both going to be feeding him, and giving treats when he's ready for them, and handling him tons... What difference will that make when he hits puberty?
3) IF and when we decide to breed (big IF, tho we're breeding most of the other critters we have), how old whould the birds be and how long should you give them to bond before they'd mate?

We're in sunny Florida, west coast in Bradenton, so we get good outside weather - any bird would be happy here.

THanks all!
Krystie