|
General Information: (Most, if not all links provided by Battle Pigeon. Thanks!) (Further contributions from Andrias Scheuchzeri, Kenshin, Pip Pip Pip, et. al) All About Avian Biology: http://people.eku.edu/ritchisong/avian_biology.htm Flight: Whether to clip, and teaching an adult bird to fly: http://www.rationalparrot.com/flight.html Wing Clipping (About and Techniques): http://www.theparrotsocietyuk.org/pet-parrots/wing-clipping Wing Clipping (For, Against, Training): http://www.onafricanwings.com/clipping.htm Egg Binding: http://www.cockatielcottage.net/binding.html Egg Binding II: http://www.multiscope.com/hotspot/eggbinding.htm Blood feathers, and how to deal with them: http://www.tailfeathersnetwork.com/birdinformation/bloodfeathers.php Teflon Poisoning: https://www.petinsurance.com/healthzone/pet-articles/pet-health-toxins/Teflon-Poisoning-in-Birds.aspx Treating a Burn: http://www.birdchannel.com/bird-diet-and-health/bird-emergency-care/burn-treatment.aspx Heavy Metal Poisoning: http://www.birdclinic.net/avian1.htm Beak and Feather Disease: http://www.birdclinic.net/avian6.htm Anatomy, Care, and Diseases of the Beak: http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=15+1829&aid=2752 Yes, birds are wild animals, and some people think that they should not be kept as pets. But what do they know, they probably don't have the joy of Birds can make great companion pets, and there a ton of varieties to choose from. From a 2.5 pound Scarlet Macaw to a 27 gram Budgie, birds of all shapes, colors and sizes are available for adoption or purchase all over the country. There's a ton of birds available on websites for adoption/sale as well as many rescues across the nation that are taking in fosters, lost birds or abused birds that need to find loving homes. More on that later. Most birds have an extremely long lifespan, but it varies due to species and what kind of care they're under. For the most part, the birds that are kept as pets can live anywhere from 10 to 80 years depending on species of course. Birds are extremely intelligent and require more care than the average person realizes, which is not necessarily a bad thing, because the word 'care' in this case means hugs, loving, scritches and cuddles. A tame bird requires at least an hour of playtime per day on average, if you think that you can devote that amount of love to an animal, then a bird may be the one for you! Consider your bird a perpetual three year old. They have the intelligence of a toddler, and just as such can get themselves into predicaments as well as keep themselves entertained to some extent. If you skim the past thread, you'll find stories of love, affection, frustration and unfortunately, heartbreak. Birds make great companion pets and if you've lived with an animal for 25 years, having them pass on is an extremely tough thing to deal with. The benefits definitely outweigh the cons though, and if you pick the right bird (or if the bird picks you) you will be nothing but happy. If you do decide that a bird is for you, you will want to have an avian vet at least semi-close by, because chances are you will be taking your bird to the vet in an emergency situation at least once. Say a toe gets stuck in something, or a blood feather breaks (not a huge deal as it seems), or he/she gets into some kind of food that he/she's not supposed to eat. You will also want an avian vet close by because it's wise to do an annual physical examination of your bird. Prices for this vary, but if you're not having any blood work done it's not too hard on the wallet. When you bring your bird home, if you purchase/adopt your bird from a breeder/rescue, chances are they will come with some form of paperwork saying they've been tested for disease X and disease Y, which should be done with all birds when you bring them home. The reason for this, is to ensure that you have a healthy bird and are not bringing any foreign sicknesses into your home if you already have healthy birds living there. Disclaimer: Each bird will have a different personality based on age, care, hand raised or mother raised, attitude, sex and environment. Not all Conures are cuddly, mine is a biter and doesn't want to ween off the habit. Not all Cockatiels are derpy etc. etc. Nutrition Diet Overview: http://www.rationalparrot.com/diet.html Diet II: http://www.pricelessparrots.com/parrot-diet.htm Greenery in the Diet: http://www.landofvos.com/articles/kitchenxiii.html Parrots, Produce, and Pesticides: http://www.birdsnways.com/wisdom/ww18eii.htm Recipes for Homemade Parrot Foods and Treats: http://www.parrothouse.com/recipes.html Toxic Food and Plants: http://www.avianweb.com/toxicfoods.html Most, if not all pet/wild birds require sort of a specialized diet. This diet should consist of seeds, fortified pellets, fresh fruits and veggies, legumes, grains and nuts. Seeds, nuts and treats should only be given in moderation as they're very fatty. Yes they are nutritious to some extent, but for the most part it would be like eating nothing but cheetos. Birds require a lot of vitamins and minerals to remain healthy, most importantly Calcium and Vitamin A. These can usually be found in dark leafy greens as well as orange foods such as carrots, golden beets, bell peppers etc. Most any fruits and veggies are good for your bird, and you should offer a variety daily. The pellets I spoke of earlier are little bits of extruded goodness. They can be colorful, or bland, and can be composed of fruits, veggies, grains, starches, or basically anything. Some birds will readily accept these pellets as a form of food, while others will turn up their noses at the thought of eating a small green pebble. Some birds are picky with their pellets and will only eat the green ones, while they dump the red ones into their water bowls. But no matter what the bird does, the consensus is that pellets should be a major staple of any bird's diet as they're rich in all things birds need to be healthy (vitamins, minerals, proteins etc). Cages: Bigger is Always Better (Thanks Battle Pigeon!) What size cage is best for your bird? The bigger, the better. The absolute minimum recommended size is 2x the parrot's wingspan in preferably at least 2 directions. This is easy to do for a budgie and nearly impossible for a macaw. Reasonable recommendations are as follows: Small parrots (up to quaker size): 24" wide by 20" deep, bar spacing 1/2" to 3/4". Medium parrots (up to Amazon size): 34" wide by 24" deep, bar spacing 3/4" to 1". Large parrots (macaws, big cockatoos): 48" wide by 36" deep, bar spacing over 1". Height isn't as much as an issue as length. Most birds will hang around near the top of the cage, and move horizontally, thus not requiring as much height. Be sure though that the cage is tall enough that your bird's tail isn't dragging along the floor when he moves around, especially if he's of a longer tailed species. Make sure the bar spacing and thickness are appropriate for your bird. Horizontal bars that they can climb are ideal. Avoid round cages. These will make your bird feel exposed. Avoid any materials (paint or metals) that contain zinc, as this is hazardous to a bird's health. Also, used bird cages can be risky-for example due to flaking paint, or not knowing what the previous occupant died of. With a good clean many will be fine, but you should weigh the risks carefully for yourself. More cage info: http://www.birdchannel.com/bird-housing/bird-cages/choosing-bird-cage-guide.aspx Common Bird Varieties: The more commonly types of available birds include Budgies, Cockatiels, Conures, and Finches. All of these can be purchased from chain stores such as PetCo. and are also available at most pet shops that carry birds. For more exotic parrots (macaws, amazons, senegals, pionus, eclectus etc.) you will most likely have to find a breeder or a specialty store if you plan on purchasing. As mentioned earlier, there are a ton of rescues that take in all types of birds that need good homes as well. Cockatiels: Care Level - 4/10 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cockatiel  Cockatiels come in a wide array of the same basic color scheme. Mostly grey, with spots of yellow, white, and orange. They are native to Australia, where they can be seen in the wild foraging for food on the ground. Being ground foragers, if you plan on owning a cockatiel, the generalization that a sick bird sits on the bottom of the cage does not apply. As with each bird, personality will differ but for the most part cockatiels seem to be pretty derpy. Male 'tiels are the rockstars of the cockatiel world and will vocalize more than female 'tiels for the most part. Cockatiels make great companion birds as they're pretty easy going, don't have large razor sharp beaks and don't require the large wooden toys that some of the larger birds require. That being said, they still need toys. Paper towel tubes, anything shreddable, even popsicle sticks are great toys for cockatiels, as well as most birds. Here at Bird Crazies, we run under the theory that Cockatiels are planning on taking over the world and are invading households all over in preparation for this. They achieve this by doing stupid things, acting totally clueless, being absurdly cute, and utilizing their crests for our entertainment (when in reality they're beacons that are calling back to the mothership) Budgies(Parakeets): Care Level - 4/10 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Budgerigar  Budgies, more commonly referred to as Parakeets are commonly available at pet stores all around the globe. Most people buy them and put them in cages, leave them there and don't really interact with them. They're small, hyper and sometimes noisy little birds but they can also be tame like the larger varieties. Budgies are surprisingly vocal for their size, and there's a couple examples out there that will blow your mind (Disco Budgie being the prime example). They come in a variety of colors, the most common of which are greens and blues. There are lots of mutations, from white, to navy, to periwinkle, to goldenrod. With training and familiarization Budgies can be just as tame as any other bird, and make a great companion. Yes they may be a bit fast paced, but that's just the nature of a small bird. They probably won't relax on your neck and snuggle up to your face like Conures or Cockatiels, but they will gladly step up, play, learn and interact with you with proper training. Conures: Care Level - 6/10 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conure  Conures are probably the most commonly owned of small captive (greater)parrots. They average between 100-250 grams and range in size from Cockatiel size to Severe Macaw size. There are a few common varities found in most pet shops/homes and these include the Green Cheek Conure (and all of its mutations), Dusky Conures, Black Capped Conures, Nanday/Jenday Conures and Sun Conures. Conures are big birds in little packages. They're generally regarded as the most personality-filled small parrot. Unlike some other birds, Conures are climbers. They like to hang upside down, climb all over, play rough and ring any bell that's in the cage. Conures can also be very vocal, which may not work for an apartment living situation. The Sun Conure has the loudest scream in the bird world based on a decibel:body size ratio. There are two families of conures, Aratinga and Pyrrhura. The Aratingas are the loud/larger ones, including Nandays, Jendays, Suns, Queen of Bavaria etc. The Pyrrhua are the smaller and much quieter of the bunch including Green Cheeks, Black Capped, Painted Conures etc. Conures are noted for being extremely cuddly birds, most of the goon conures can be found in crooks of necks, under blankets, in sleeves or inside happy huts. They can also be bitey like their larger bird cousins. Conures are about the size where they can fit a finger in their beaks, so bites do happen and should be discouraged from a young age if at all possible. One thing to note about Conures is that without a great supply of Vitamin A, they are prone to a disease called CBS, or Conure Bleeding Syndrome, where their blood does not clot very well. This is usually only present in birds with vitamin deficiencies, so it's not really something to worry about unless you're adopting a re-homed or neglected bird. Required Reading  Household Hazards Common Household Hazards: http://exoticpets.about.com/od/basiccare/tp/birddangers.htm Household Hazards II: http://www.4parrots.com/Household_Hazards.htm Household Hazards III: http://www.avianweb.com/homesafety.html Toxic Food and Plants: http://www.avianweb.com/toxicfoods.html Safe woods: http://www.avianweb.com/safewoods.html Potential Toy Hazards: http://www.birdsafe.com/toys.htm Birds are extremely sensitive when it comes to things like this. Their lungs are much more fragile than ours, and each breath as we know it consists of two breaths for a bird. Smoke is very toxic to birds, so if you smoke, please do so outside. Nicotine is also poisonous and birds can become addicted to it by absorbing it through their feet from your hands. Be sure to wash your hands after you smoke if you're going to be handling a bird. A bird's digestive system is also very sensitive as well. Being that in the wild they use so much energy flying around, their metabolisms are astonishing, which means that they absorb almost every ounce of energy from what they eat, so even a couple bites of a harmful plant or toxin can do them great harm. Another thing to mention is the toxicity of Teflon Gas. Say you want to fry up some eggs using your favorite non-stick pan. The gas that your pan gives off when overheated is fatal to birds, so make sure you remove them from the area, or place their cage near a window/door that can be opened at least. Behaviour Dealing with Unwanted Behaviours in your Pet Parrot (overview of various topics): http://www.2ndchance.info/tameparrot.htm Dealing with Screaming: http://goodbirdinc.blogspot.com/2008/05/stop-you-parrot-from-screaming-for.html Dealing with Screaming II: http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=15+1795&aid=1517 Dealing with Screaming III: http://www.takoda-aviary.com/screaming.htm Discouraging Breeding Behaviours: http://www.forthebirdsdvm.com/pages/discouraging-breeding-behavior-in-pet-birds How Not To Be A Tease (preventing breeding behaviours): http://www.rationalparrot.com/tease.html Biting and Dominance: http://www.rationalparrot.com/biting.html Biting: http://www.africangreyparrotcentre.co.uk/parrot-articles/how-to-train-your-parrot-to-stop-biting/ Feather Plucking (overview): http://www.petparrot.com/ParrotCarePlucking.htm Feather Plucking II: http://www.multiscope.com/hotspot/featherpicking.htm Beginning Clicker Training: http://www.essortment.com/beginning-clicker-training-parrots-22759.html Harness Training (overview, suitability): http://www.parrotchronicles.com/features/birdharness/birdharness.htm Harness Training (overview, how to): http://eclectusparrotbreeders.com/blog/?p=881 Behavior is very subjective as it will vary from bird to bird, species to species, but most behavioral issues can be solved using the same methods. As mentioned earlier, birds are extremely intelligent and will pick up on most things almost instantly. Clicker training is a very useful tool when it comes to training your bird. You can use a clicker to reinforce good behavior, discourage bad behavior, and even teach tricks! Yes, birds can do tricks, from spinning around, waving with a foot, rolling over, playing basketball or what have you. Teaching tricks is also an extremely good way to bond with your new pal and I'd highly recommend it. Other sites: Avian Avenue (all-purpose bird forum): http://forums.avianavenue.com/forum.php Cockatiel Cottage: http://www.cockatielcottage.net/ 
Frozen Pizza Party fucked around with this message at 23:39 on Apr 22, 2015 |
#
¿
Oct 25, 2012 22:17
|
|
|
|
| # ¿ Apr 26, 2024 15:34 |
|
|
Ask not what your bird can do for you, but what you can do for your bird. 1. What kind of time daily can I commit to? Finches can stay happily in a proper cage all day without you bothering them; many small parrots like cockatiels and conures are able to keep themselves entertained during a normal work-day and can be content with an hour or two of hanging out in the evening. But many of the larger parrots are likely to develop serious behavioral problems when confined to a cage alone all day. 2. What's my living situation--home owner? Rental? In the US at least, landlords often don't consider caged animals as part of a no pets policy. However, many parrots are loud enough that you can face noise complaints. Parrots also love to chew--and won't hesitate to have a go at the windowsill or molding. Your (landlord's) mileage may vary, but apartment-safe species generally include: finches and canaries, budgies, cockatiels, Pyrrhura conures (e.g. green-cheeked conures), Poicephalus parrots, Pionus. 3. What kind of life expectancy can I commit to? What do I anticipate for the next decades of my life? Work, marriage, children? Every website gives a slightly different range of maximum or average lifespans, but as a rule of thumb, the larger parrots live longer--longer being potentially 30, 40, 50...70...years. Many small-to-medium parrots have an expected lifespan in the 20-30 year range. Cockatiels with a good diet often live past 20; the smallest birds like finches and budgies can be expected to live 10 years or more. 4. What's my budget? Start-up costs, besides what you spend on the bird itself, can run hundreds of dollars depending on what kind of cage you get. Big birds need big cages! Ongoing costs include food and toys. And for most parrots, more toys. And MORE toys. Shucks, go ahead and ask what your bird can do for you! What do I want? 1. Do I want a cuddly bird or a more hands-off bird? Every bird will be different, but some species have a reputation as big cuddlers--even to the point of getting called "velcro birds"--and some get more out of hands-off attention like dancing to music or trading toys with you. It's hard to quantify cuddliness, but for instance, hand-raised cockatiels are likely to want to snuggle up on your shoulder, while budgies are likely to be busy playing instead. Cockatoos are notorious cuddlers, while Amazons might prefer to sing with you. 2. Do I want a bird that can talk? Speech isn't the be-all and end-all of parrot ownership, but it is pretty cool. It also varies hugely with the individual. Don't think you need to live with an African Grey to get a chatty bird--budgies can develop huge vocabularies. If you're musically inclined, some male cockatiels turn out to be virtuoso whistlers. The downsides of parrot ownership As with anything else, there are downsides to owning a parrot-or any other bird. Firstly, they can be loud. Did I say loud? I meant it-there are claims that moluccan cockatoos have been recorded as producing 135db of noise. A 747 Jumbo Jet produces 140db. Hyacinth macaws have been recorded at 106db. Hope you have understanding neighbours. While obviously not all birds can reach such levels, even a cockatiel can produce ear piercing shrieks now and then, and more so if bored. Speaking of, birds can get easily bored, and require stimulation for a happy life. This can be in the form of physical exercise (so a good cage size for flight, and out of cage time), interaction with other birds or humans, training, and toys. Parrots LOVE to chew things, and there is no training them out of this. They will wait until your back is turned before going for the furniture, your keyboard, or anything else you don't want them to have. Toys and things for chewing and playing with are a must have, even for little budgies. You can make a lot of toys out of things from around the house, like eggboxes, or buy interesting things for them to play with instead. What with buying toys, a decent size cage, vet care, food, and the bird themselves... they can be expensive creatures, and more so the larger they get. A budgie from the local pet store might be cheap, but it's probably not going to be tame or very healthy. Good breeders can be difficult to find, and certain species even harder (though remember, there's also the option of finding a bird rescue). Weekly expenses might not be much for the average cockatiel but you've still got to make the initial cage and accessories purchase, and if you need vet care, you should be prepared for the potential to drop a lot of cash on your feathered Birds, especially parrots, are intelligent creatures. You cannot leave them alone in a cage all day and expect them to thrive. In fact, they will do the opposite-in poor conditions (or in other cases, even for reasons we cannot work out at all) it's not uncommon for them to self-harm and mutilate themselves, or other birds, by plucking out feathers, or to develop negative behaviours such as screaming and biting. These habits can be extremely hard to break and may even last a lifetime. Again, they need stimulation and interaction, especially tamed birds who will consider you part of their flock and naturally want to be with you whenever possible. Their intelligence also poses potential problems in other areas too-such as being able to work out how to open cage doors, even if that door has a lock on it. They will push limits, wait until your back is turned before doing something they know they shouldn't, will work out how to get at things you never thought they could. They will remember the single time you came back into the room when they were screaming, and decide that if they scream long enough you will come back the next time. They are not domesticated creatures, and that often shows in their personalities and moods. There is no guarantee that the sweet, cuddly baby bird you brought home and fell in love with will stay cuddly as an adult. They may even decide that they no longer want to spend time with you at all! One day, you may come home with a different haircut and the bird suddenly decides that you are threatening and it wants to avoid you. You might wear a certain colour it hates and so it decides to direct it's displeasure to you by biting. There's no way of knowing. You may also end up with a bird that loves you too much and wants to be with you at all times-which can have it's own downsides. Have fun trying to leave the room without the bird screaming after you, or trying to stop it mating with your hands, or attacking anyone else that comes near you. They can cause a lot of damage and mess, both to your home and you. Even cockatiels are capable of drawing blood (once they figure out how exactly). Bigger birds can bite right down to the bone. I've seen cockatoo bites described as being "like slamming your hand in a car door". Seeds and poop will get everywhere, and cages need to be cleaned weekly. For dustier species, you may need to vacuum much more often. Jewellery, piercings, skin markings, cables, furniture legs, door frames, and much more are all at risk. It only takes you having your back turned for a moment for a bird to do considerable damage. Even little cockatiels can work their way through things. Have fun having your moles and freckles "preened" by an over-zealous bird. Obviously not all parrots are horror stories, or we wouldn't have them as we do. In many cases, the apparent downsides can be seen as a positive for a bird owner-a bird with a very distinct opinion about what it will and won't do, that you can see considering whether to listen to you or not before deciding "gently caress you" can all be part of the appeal. It can be hilarious. Parrots are intelligent, funny, ridiculous, demanding, and if treated correctly, extremely rewarding creatures. There's something special about an essentially wild creature that decides you're worth being part of it's flock, and that despite the intelligence and opinions to think otherwise, that there's nothing better in the world than being with you. Frozen Pizza Party fucked around with this message at 00:39 on Oct 26, 2012 |
|
#
¿
Oct 25, 2012 22:17
|
|
|
This is Ritz!   Most of you know him, because my girlfriend is incessantly uploading pictures and videos to my flickr / her youtube. He's a Sun Conure, and his hobbies include, but are not limited to: Being a brat, flying around in circles, kissing all the toys, ringing all the bells and biting fingers/ears (drat bird will not break the habit). Overall he's a joy, but sometimes he's a bit unruly. We 'rescued' him from PetCo. We really didn't rescue him, but at PetCo he was in a cage with two toys, a bowl of seed and a bowl of water, so he's living a much better life now. When we got him he was just over five months old, he's just over a year now. It is true, he likes to hang upside down a lot, and when he was younger that caused a ton of stress. During his first moult, he broke two blood feathers in his tail, and then completely broke his tail feathers off, having a chicken butt for a short while. He's much better now, doesn't fall anymore yet we still have a towel in his cage for whatever reason. As I'm typing this he's sitting on my shoulder preening and attempting to nest in my beard/sideburn. Sometimes he's a good bird like this, others he's a jerk. But we're happy with our decision. He kinda picked us, we didn't really go into PetCo looking to buy a Sun, but after visiting him a couple times, seeing how he remembered us and interacted with us, we knew he was our bird! He also shares my girlfriend's hatchday, which was an instant attachment for her.
|
|
#
¿
Oct 27, 2012 17:26
|
|
|
I've purchased lots of toys and misc stuff, foods and what not from Drs. Foster and Smith (http://www.drsfostersmith.com/bird-supplies/pr/c/5059) and https://www.naturechest.com has a nice variety of toys as well as great customer service.
|
|
#
¿
Oct 28, 2012 16:04
|
|
|
Official Bizness posted:I'm bummed. A Hahn's macaw I helped train into an affectionate lovebug needs to be rehomed away from the little girl he went home with. Turns out the grandmother of the family is horrifically allergic to the bird dust. You never see small children and parrots being BFF, but these two are over the moon for each other. If you were in LA I'd totally give that bird a good home 
|
|
#
¿
Oct 30, 2012 00:03
|
|
|
Mad Hamish posted:She gets things to shred and I'm not seeing feathers on the bottom of the cage. Think about it like this... pretty soon you'll have a fully clothed bird coming onto you instead of a half naked bird because she's happy!
|
|
#
¿
Oct 30, 2012 17:44
|
|
|
I want a Hahn's so bad... miniature macaw! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVlIY5xDAQw
|
|
#
¿
Oct 31, 2012 00:02
|
|
|
Somebody was behaving this morning. Getting ready for scritches:  Enjoying scritches way too much: 
|
|
#
¿
Oct 31, 2012 19:39
|
|
|
DarkHorse posted:I would definitely recommend a conure, probably a green cheek, from what you describe. They can be such clowns and are generally adorable little assholes. Or come from a place where human interaction was slim (PetCo is where we got Ritz) sometimes my hands look like those of a meth addict with all the small cuts and punctures.
|
|
#
¿
Nov 1, 2012 01:15
|
|
LET'S SHOUT SOME MORE!). Alternatively, if it's just an innocent mistake, yelling can startle the bird and get it to clamp harder. Also, consider a bird that is partially supported by a hand and clamped down: pulling your bitten hand away will pull on the bird, and it will have to hold on harder to keep its balance. It's better to gently push towards the bird and try to get it to release.
|
I ate a zupreem fruit blend pellet once (that's what Ritz eats) and it tasted like a milk bone. Don't ask why I know how those taste.
|
|
#
¿
Nov 2, 2012 05:26
|
|
|
Word on crazy corn: We got a pack for Ritz from our bird club, and included in the mash were about 50 baby roaches. Check before you cook, but other than the added protein, it's a really good mix of stuff. We've used it in the past with great success.
|
|
#
¿
Nov 2, 2012 20:40
|
|
|
Sorry, but it's true!
|
|
#
¿
Nov 3, 2012 00:05
|
|
|
 that corner... Zippy approved, that's great! Congrats guys 
|
|
#
¿
Nov 3, 2012 22:50
|
|
|
Lenswork posted:Honestly there's no real steps to setting something like this up. I purchased the net with toys already attached through amazon pretty cheap ($45 for the whole net was cheap in my mind). I got some eye screws and screw-shut hooks of the type that come with bird toys to stick it to the wall and picked up the chain and ropes at the hardware store. It's all interchangeable (and cheap!) so she can chew the gently caress out of whatever her little heart desires and I can change it up at will. The home depot by me sells metric screws and bolts, they even have a little thingy that tells you what size/pitch your metric bolt is.
|
|
#
¿
Nov 4, 2012 02:42
|
|
|
Just a heads up, definitely a YMMV type thing, but good to know the potential hazard: http://www.birdtricks.com/blog/dangerous-parrot-accessories/ Also, pictures of sleeping birds inside, that definitely look dead. The author says they're sleeping though.
|
|
#
¿
Nov 5, 2012 21:25
|
|
|
Ritz loves his as well, we have them in his play cage and sleep cage. He sleeps in it nightly, doesn't chew them, doesn't masturbate on them (that's reserved for forearms) and I don't think it's an issue really. Like I said, YMMV and yes, they did change the pictures which is kinda odd. We'll be leaving them in his cages, but we're going to keep his nails shorter to minimize sticking. E: Mairi Johnson Patty Jourgensen can i ask who gave permission for MY PHOTO to be used because i certainly did NOT I guess even though the author gave credit, the photos owners did not like it. Frozen Pizza Party fucked around with this message at 00:15 on Nov 6, 2012 |
|
#
¿
Nov 6, 2012 00:07
|
|
|
Battle Pigeon posted:Probably not if you use really small individual pieces and not too much overall, or just let him have one bite/nibble each time. Yep, we use string cheese for Ritz when it's clicker time. Just a shred, split into about 3mm long pieces. He gets a tiny nibble whenever he does something good.
|
|
#
¿
Nov 6, 2012 02:13
|
|
|
bee posted:My Alexandrine is making weird noises. She is still eating, drinking etc normally and her poo looks a little runny but otherwise ok. She extends her neck out and opens her beak and makes a odd sound, it's hard to describe. It sounds a little like someone trying to blow their nose or clear their throat. This has been going on a few days now. She's also moulting at the moment so she looks scruffier than normal. Her behaviour seems normal otherwise. Should I be taking her to a vet? I can't seem to find any info online as to what this noise might be and I can't see any discharge from her nose/mouth either. It could just be a noise, or an attempt at imitating speech/a noise. Whenever Ritz tries to shove his beak up my nose to get at my septum piercing I blow out of my nose, which kind of makes a noise.. like someone exhaling out of their nose with a little umph. Now he makes that noise when he's preening something other than himself. If he's preening our fingers, he'll make the noise. At first I thought it was weird, but then we kinda put two and two together and realized he was just doing what mom and dad do.
|
|
#
¿
Nov 6, 2012 06:11
|
|
|
Battle Pigeon posted:We decided to remove Ohtori's hut, and he's quite unhappy about it. There were no frays or loose threads or anything, but then we haven't ever seen him chew on it, just bite and hold while he's doing his thing. We removed it mostly to see if it cuts down his bitey behaviours, and makes him less aggressive towards Steve. Lemme know how that goes, because Ritz is mighty bitey, maybe that will help.
|
|
#
¿
Nov 6, 2012 22:32
|
|
|
Can birds have seasonal allergies like a human? Ritz has been sneezing in the morning while he's still covered for the past couple days, but his nose looks fine, no discharge or anything. It's not an alarming amount, just a bit more than normal. It's been very dry lately, maybe his little nose is irritated? Also, he's mid molt and constantly preening, so maybe he got some feather flake up his nose, who knows. If it continues, I'm going to make an appt. to take him to the vet for a checkup.
|
|
#
¿
Nov 14, 2012 19:13
|
|
|
At bird club this week, Kiwi the eclectus had his face covered in potato chip crumbs. It was kinda  but also  don't give your bird salty chips please.
|
|
#
¿
Nov 16, 2012 19:39
|
|
|
I thought Novolo was a 'tiel, either way, I hope she gets better  Ritz has still been sneezing in the morning, way more often than usual. However, he doesnt sneeze at all throughout the day. I called the vet, they said it could be allergies, or it could be a sinus infection or something else. HIs nose looks normal, he's not blowing out any discharge or wheezing at all, and he's actually gained 3 grams since Monday, piggy. The vet charges around $220 for visit/culture or $120ish for gram stain and visit. I don't want to spend the money if I don't have to obviously, what would bird crazies do? Just thought about this.. When he makes the kiss sound, he makes it with his nose I think, so he may just be doing it because he knows that when I'm half asleep I'll sit up and look him if he sneezes. If that's the case 
Frozen Pizza Party fucked around with this message at 18:19 on Nov 17, 2012 |
|
#
¿
Nov 17, 2012 18:14
|
|
|
I dunno.. he's sneezed twice today, but both times he was mid preen and figured it'd be a good idea to pick his nose with his toe. Birds. All other signs point to healthy, still flying around like a hellbat, playing with toys, eating food, begging to come out etc. If he's still sneezing Monday I'll take him in I guess.
|
|
#
¿
Nov 17, 2012 21:24
|
|
|
Going to call and hopefully bring Ritz to the vet tomorrow, er today. It's 1 AM and he's sneezing in his cage multiple times. It's been raining here lately so it's not dry anymore, so I doubt that's the cause. I'm going to clean his cages a bit tomorrow. It's so weird, it's only when he's in his sleep cage, when he's in the living room during the day he does his normal sneeze thing, which is if he picks his nose, or takes a bath.
|
|
#
¿
Nov 18, 2012 09:58
|
|
|
Didn't go to the vet, figured I'd give it another say since he hasn't sneezed today. I also dusted out his happy hut and cage. Hope it helps. Speaking of toweling:  Got his nails did today, though. And here's a lorikeet that was awesome.  There was also a Queen of Bavaria conure that had just had a bath, looked like it had a tumor on it's chest, but nope, it's just a pig and had a crop full of food.
|
|
#
¿
Nov 19, 2012 03:15
|
|
|
Ritz has almost stopped sneezing, he sneezed twice this morning, so maybe it's just the weather. Hopefully, but if I notice any change in behavior he's going to the vet.
|
|
#
¿
Nov 20, 2012 00:07
|
|
|
Ughh, so ritz is sneezing again, and I almost wanna say his nose was a little congested last night, or he was grinding his beak ever so quietly. The vet that i wanted to go to (not our normal vet, this place is open late, and half the cost) the avian specialist isn't in until Monday. What would goons do? He still isn't acting weird, and has put on another gram, he's gunna have to go on a diet methinks, he's at 119g right now which is almost on the chubby side.
|
|
#
¿
Nov 20, 2012 19:09
|
|
|
Sweet CupnCakes posted:Is this at Omars in Brea? I go there a lot and the Lori they have is hysterical. It runs around the bottom and chases balls and acts like the nuttiest animal. It's hilarious. And I think the Queen of Bavaria was super sweet and loved to be cuddled. I like going there to get a good bird fix since I can't get one yet. Omar's in Santa Monica  Battle Pigeon posted:I would probably wait, especially if he's showing no other signs of anything wrong, since he's been sneezing a while already. You'll know him best though, and if you're really worried it's better to take him elsewhere and have it be nothing than to not take him. Okay, he's not exhibiting any other signs as I said, I guess I'll wait until Monday to take him to see the cheaper vet. $74 for an office visit where the doc will listen to his breathing is much worse than $43 the other place is charging to do the same thing. I think he's broken, he never plays with his toys while I'm at work, but instead just sits on his perches, napping or preening, but as soon as we're home the toys get mangled. Birds.
|
|
#
¿
Nov 20, 2012 21:30
|
|
|
Kenshin posted:I think it's a social thing. Zippy does the same thing--she (as far as we can tell) hardly eats or plays with toys during the day, but literally the moment we walk in the door she'll start eating her leftover breakfast food before we even give her her dinner. She's then much more active until it's bedtime. Haha yeah, we use ustream, so I can make sure he's ok during the day (  ) and most of the time he sits in his hut looking out the windows, or preening/sleeping. As soon as we're home, he must ring all the bells as often as possible so mom and dad can't concentrate on what they're doing.
|
|
#
¿
Nov 20, 2012 21:43
|
|
|
He stopped sneezing  !!And he was rather well behaved this morning, gave lots of kisses, didn't bite at all and was more than happy to step up. Maybe he is sick..
|
|
#
¿
Nov 21, 2012 19:00
|
|
|
Some of you guys post about taking your birds in the shower, or how much they love to be in the bathroom etc. We bring ritz into the bathroom, this is all we get.   
|
|
#
¿
Nov 21, 2012 23:48
|
|
|
So $234, a choanal swab, nasal saline flush and bacterial culture later, Ritz has some sort of sinus infection. We'll have results Tuesday, but the doc started him on Baytril in the mean time. Bummer
|
|
#
¿
Nov 24, 2012 01:20
|
|
|
That's awesome, see what good a good home can do! Btw, totally jealous of your play net, and I'll be asking you for specifics when I move (hint hint, shamelessly stealing your awesome idea)
|
|
#
¿
Nov 26, 2012 19:02
|
|
|
Poor cheeky, I hope it's nothing. And yes, I agree with LITERALLY A BIRD, if you plan on making any additional prints, please allow me to shower you with coins.
|
|
#
¿
Nov 29, 2012 18:43
|
|
|
There were budgies at the pet store with pink heads, my girlfriend and I were like WTFFFFFF Turns out they had just been sitting beneath the calcium chew while other budgies were munchin' on it, dropping pink dust onto them And all of their little feet were pink from holding the stuff
|
|
#
¿
Nov 29, 2012 20:57
|
|
|
Kenshin posted:So here it is: Zippy is awesome, you guys are awesome! And co grants on the new birdy, uglynoodles, pics please!
|
|
#
¿
Dec 1, 2012 19:15
|
|
|
uglynoodles posted:I think I'm gonna call him Ridley. climbing all over like crazy is a conure thing, even if he might not want to come out, they still do it. Ritz spends more time hanging upside down from the top of his cage than he does on his perches 
|
|
#
¿
Dec 2, 2012 21:33
|
|
|
Don't mind my ugly mug, but what happens when you bring a fresh bowl of cold water over to replace poopy water? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fT88B0dufr0
|
|
#
¿
Dec 2, 2012 22:46
|
|
|
Boobs + shirt make a super cozy nest apparently, Ritz does that with my girlfriend haha. Unrelated: 
|
|
#
¿
Dec 3, 2012 00:56
|
|
|
|
| # ¿ Apr 26, 2024 15:34 |
|
|
So sorry to hear that uglynoodles. I agree with the above that there's something up with the seller since he was active when you got him. Hopefully he'll at least get you another bird, or refund you some of your money, just for having to go through that trauma.
|
|
#
¿
Dec 3, 2012 15:34
|
|