'Rat Bird' Feels At Home
Katrien Smit
Johannesburg - Rottie the rat thinks he is a bird... But it comes as no surprise when one realises that Madam
and Tokkelos, two lovebirds, are raising this rodent.
Owner of the lovebirds, Connie Viljoen, from Florida, said Rottie moved in with Madam and Tokkelos about four
months ago.
At that stage he was still very young and helpless - but the two lovebirds took over.
"One day we realised the birds were carrying on as if they were breeding but there were no eggs. That's when
we discovered the small pink rat in a nest."
Viljoen said Madam initially fed Rottie bird food but they soon realised his favourite food was spinach. "When
Rottie got bigger, Madam and Tokkelos taught him to eat from the bowls at the bottom of the cage."
But Rottie doesn't do this often. "He spends most of his time in the nest and the birds feed him," said Viljoen.
Madam and Tokkelos are so taken with the newcomer that they clean his nest every day. "They literally take
everything out and then pack everything back neatly."