Hi All
I sincerely would appreciate your advice.
I ended 2016 with two IRN's - Cheeky (blue) and Joy (white). On the 1st day of this year, we managed to lose our eldest, and Cheeky has not been recovered yet.
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Joy was extremely attached to Cheeky, she followed him around everywhere. Because of the depth of the loss that the humans felt, we were completely against acquiring a new bird; we did not want to give up hope.
Over the month of January, Joy started plucking feathers. At first we thought she was just molting - she is only 18 months now. But in the beginning of Feb we noticed that she is not just plucking down feathers anymore, but full feathers as well.
I tried to spend a lot of time with her to TRY and help her through the transition of not having a companion bird around. When i noticed a bleeding bald spot behind her neck a week ago, i had a tiny 9 on the Richter scale meltdown.
My partner (who was Cheeky's human) decided there and then to get another bird, on account of my freaking out. He is convinced that she is just stressed out and would eventually adjust, but that a new bird around would calm her down faster.
Because it is well past Sep/Oct, we knew we would only get a bird that's already a couple of months old. Monday we welcomed Hope to our family. I am fine with Hopey, he is adorable - still a bit wary of us, but getting there.
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The problem...
Joy and Cheeky shared a cage. Joy has always been reluctant to go to bed, Cheeky was very set in his routine: 8pm he started screeching all the while climbing in and out of his cage to let us know we must come close him up. Joy used to resist a bit, but it was never a struggle to get her in the cage.
The past month however, it's been a hell of a fight every single evening to put her away. She is now puffed up and aggressive by default around 8pm, without us even saying a word about bed, or making a move to put her away.
My heart is very sore every night when it's bedtime. Hopey has already adjusted to the cage, it is his safe haven. Joy detests the cage and never wants to be inside it - day or night time.
How must i handle this?
I sincerely would appreciate your advice.
I ended 2016 with two IRN's - Cheeky (blue) and Joy (white). On the 1st day of this year, we managed to lose our eldest, and Cheeky has not been recovered yet.
Joy was extremely attached to Cheeky, she followed him around everywhere. Because of the depth of the loss that the humans felt, we were completely against acquiring a new bird; we did not want to give up hope.
Over the month of January, Joy started plucking feathers. At first we thought she was just molting - she is only 18 months now. But in the beginning of Feb we noticed that she is not just plucking down feathers anymore, but full feathers as well.
I tried to spend a lot of time with her to TRY and help her through the transition of not having a companion bird around. When i noticed a bleeding bald spot behind her neck a week ago, i had a tiny 9 on the Richter scale meltdown.
My partner (who was Cheeky's human) decided there and then to get another bird, on account of my freaking out. He is convinced that she is just stressed out and would eventually adjust, but that a new bird around would calm her down faster.
Because it is well past Sep/Oct, we knew we would only get a bird that's already a couple of months old. Monday we welcomed Hope to our family. I am fine with Hopey, he is adorable - still a bit wary of us, but getting there.
The problem...
Joy and Cheeky shared a cage. Joy has always been reluctant to go to bed, Cheeky was very set in his routine: 8pm he started screeching all the while climbing in and out of his cage to let us know we must come close him up. Joy used to resist a bit, but it was never a struggle to get her in the cage.
The past month however, it's been a hell of a fight every single evening to put her away. She is now puffed up and aggressive by default around 8pm, without us even saying a word about bed, or making a move to put her away.
My heart is very sore every night when it's bedtime. Hopey has already adjusted to the cage, it is his safe haven. Joy detests the cage and never wants to be inside it - day or night time.
How must i handle this?