JINJER ~ SOLOMON FEMALE ECLECTUS
Our newest addition, Jinjer, is the most senior at the age of ten. Jinjers life is almost unusual as she has only had one home since a fledgling. Lives change immensely in that amount of time. As a family they decided Jinjer needed more than they could currently provide. She had been egg laying consistantly for close to 5 years. Though previously very good with other members of the family she had grown wary and aggressive and the children were uncomfortable, remaining bonded only to the woman of the house. Jinjer also has feather plucking issues extending years. They were VERY concerned about her but had run out of alternatives and solutions to the problems that have amassed.
Tracey did a tremendous amount of up front work with me and within the 2 weeks prior to my picking her up, I had a thorough education about who Jinjer was. Her personality is very close to Jazzy's. Many of her likes and dislikes they have in common. We spoke about all the methods they had attempted to ease the difficulties she was having. Female Eclectus can be very challenging birds. And I can't say that it eased my trepidation about adding her in! After the failure with Rosy and Max, I am aware that not everything is peaches and cream. We have also agreed that Tracey and her family will take her back home to them if it isn't successful here.
We are now on our third day and it is like she has been here forever with us. There are days I am amazed with the compassion and such total acceptance, not only by the flock but by all the pets here.
Seems I worried for nothing. (Knock on wood.) After a horrendous 2.5 hour ride in a small plastic tote, with the cage rattling and the noise of the car...she hesitated only a moment to climb out of the box and into her new life. I wonder what she first thought when on the dining room table, still in the box, and she heard the raucus chattering that accompanies our stepping in the door. She sat very still, eye wide, gave herself a ruffle and let out a concerned peep! The others were quietly staring back ~ Jack showing her his big boy, wings stretching out. Imagine your first sight of a green wing macaw. Jada the Grey, chattered away. Jazz started to to ohhh and ahhhh. Another concerned peep, and Jada, bless her little soul, came out with "Are you OK?", "You're OK." Which she repeated often in the next 20 minutes or so. Heard some mumbling before the hour was out from Jinjer........
Jinjer has been here for about 4 full months. We have made some great progress with her ~ though there is an exception. We are not making headway on the feather mutilating, yet. She has not had a molt recently. With the exception of a beautiful head full of feathers, Jinjer doesnt have any others intact. The video above shows Jinjer's condition at the end of Feb. 09. When she arrived in October she had a negligable hole in the centre of her chest less than a half inch. Jinjer hasn't gone through a molt since arriving.
One of Jinjers problems was egglaying consistantly. The family stated that she had eggs more than not and nothing was deterring her. She laid where ever she wanted. And was given the nest after. She would roll the egg out and break it when she felt appropriate. The last eggs that she laid were in September. Jinjer has not laid since arriving. phew! Jazz is 6 this year. And we are in a full hormonal swing. Jinjer seems to be handling it with dignity. She, Boo and Jazz are side by side. Boo and Jazz are taking interest in each other, while for the most part Jinjer appears to be the third wheel, but she is accepting this role very well.
Another change in her behaviour is that she is not making her "frustration" noise, which is quite disruptive and loud. I don't believe I have heard it in a minimum of 8 weeks! Jinjer would be covered for a time out when she did this, and she sees the other birds getting the same treatment.
Although, Jinjer allowed us to pick her up from the floor and return her home, (she is a wanderer), she has only recently decided to socialize with us and voluntarily step up from her cage and want to stay and visit. She also chooses when wandering, very like Boo, to find her way to her person. Though her former owner, the man in the house had grown cautious of being bitten, Jinjer does spend short amounts of time traveling with Chris and no attempts on his life have been made.
She has picked up a few extra phrases from Jada, the Grey, (about 6), and she and Jada are coffee clatch morning talkers The two are the most likely to be talking under their covers before getting up and immediately after finishing breakfast. Jazzy joins a little later. Jinjer has 2 voices, that of a woman and a gruff little mans voice that she mutters and mumbles in.
Jinjin is also an amazing little singer. The best in the house. She has an almost operatic sound but my favourite is a soul searching keening that she does. She does not let us hear them often though.
While not in the least cage protective when it comes cleaning time, she is food protective. She also shares this with Jazz, both will growl and lunge while food and water bowls are being replaced. I guess I relate that to a waiter trying to pick up my plate before I am finished with it, I'm gonna growl and protect that plate too.