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| | From:  chinchillaC (Original Message) | Sent: 5/1/2007 10:42 PM |
Hi, and thanks for the advice. The little rat bit me again this morning, but he didn't break the skin. He's gotten so we can take the food and water dishes out of his cage while he's still in there without being bit, but I think either the dish or my hand came to close to him and he nailed me. He doesn't really seem to have a preference between my mom or I, but we know that he attacks men so it's good there aren't any here. My cats are males, but they don't seem to count though he did chase my largest one out of the room once when he was on the floor. I thought the smell was because he hadn' gotten the right food or something so I kept spraying him with water; anyway that's the only way I can bathe him. Thanks for the advice! I don't have a problem getting Bowtie out of his cage for he comes out and sits on the top by himself, but he bites if I try to take
him out and hard! He is terrified of the towel! I toweled him to clip his wings and his beak and he started panting and biting. My problem is getting him
to play or chew on anything. I've tried different toys and chew blocks in his cage and he can watch my Conure, Molly, play but he just won't. I don't think
he ever learnt how to play or that he should chew on stuff to keep his beak trimmed. How do I get such an old bird to start chewing on things other than
my fingers and his feathers. He has a nervous habbit of constantly preening his feathers almost all day, not pulling just preening, running his beak down
the feather all over his body. I thought he had bird mites because he does that so much, but he doesn't. As for food, I think he was fed a log of junk
like chips and pizza and not a lot of fruit and veges. I have him on Zoopreme pellets for medium hook-bills and KT Fiesta for large parots, the seed mix
stuff with dried fruit and veges. He also gets some vitamins and I try everything that's a fruit or a vege, but he's very fussy, but he eats more of that
stuff than my conure. How do I give this bird some more excercise and what do amazons like to play with? Are they all like this? I was told he was hand-raised
but he doesn't act like he was ever touched by people and he's not banded. Will they chew on those flavored fruit mineral blocks? I put one of those large
unflavored blocks in his cage and he avoided that area for 2 weeks, afraid of new stuff. Someone help!
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Where are both birds situated?... is it possible to take them, cages and all, to another room? a much quieter environment? no animals and let them calm down especially the Conure who is overpreening... seems it is due to stress... Then after the birds are in the quiet room I'd have them have the uninterupted sleep 12-14 hours. As for your visits and your moms, I would limit those to feeding times and a half hour morning and evening in a playtime that again is mellow. Since I don't know anything about either bird I could be totally off base but if it were me... I would let them have their space to watch what I do and how I am when I go to visit them... and they'll live not being out their cage every single day.... Give them quiet to regroup and then begin the step ups where THEY DO step up to get out of their cage... the do the same when it's time to go in... and if there's a problem with hands, get a dowell or a perch and you being flock leader gets them to follow the commands... |
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So many issues to address here. But first I have some questions. How long has this bird been with you? Why are you trimming the beak? Has the bird been seen by a vet, who would be the one to tell you whether there is a problem wth the beak or if it is normal? And I have just read your introduction and see that you also trim your Conure's beak. It is the VERY RARE bird whose beak should EVER need trimming. You are probably causing them more stress and pain than necessary, by trimming beaks that have no need for it. (And in my opinion, it's something that should be done by a professional) And the really big question--your intro says you are blind. How do you trim the beaks and wings? |
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Bowtie isn't going to change over night. You are going to need loads of patience with him. He'll first have to trust you before he responds nicely. If he's been having junk food throughout his life...that will have a major impact on his attitude. Switching foods quickly may come as a challenge....but if he's eating well...maybe not. Eating fruits and veggies and all the good stuff comes with time and persistence. Sometimes placing shredded veggies and or fruits over his favorite seed mixture will get tastes of the food into him while he's removing it to get to the other. Most likely he'll come to like at least some of it. Don't give up though...let him decide...sometimes they go for one thing as a favorite all week long and drop it the next for something else. He is in a new environment with you and will need lots of time to adjust to you, your voice and how you move about. He may not be interested in playing with anything until he is comfortable with his surroundings. So don't think because he isn't playing with this toy or that toy, he isn't interested....it's just right now he has bigger interests..like "where the heck am I". Introduce toys can be tricky too....if the bird appears nervous about it....don't put it in...leave it somewhere outside the cage out of reach...just so he can see it. Play with it yourself so he sees it might be fun. Did you trim his beak because it was too long? That is a very tricky thing to do and is extremely sensitive. If you trim too much he'll be in pain and may not want to touch anything until the pain subsides. I've trimmed a lot of things on my birds....but a beak is only something I'd let the vet handle in case something happens. Unless the vet says he needs vitamins....I'd not be giving those either. If you don't know what he's lacking....you could give him an overdose which is just as bad as a deficiency. Right now..I wouldn't be concerned about making him excercise until he is settled in and feels comfortable. Forcing him to do anything at this time may just push him further away. If you are talking about those soft mineral blocks....I wouldn't think he'd need that....unless he was an egg laying female. The other kind of block..that looks like a rock or lava might be more suitable. All in all....just slow down and relax...let him settle in and make him feel welcome. |
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See what happens when I take so long to reply.....go off and eat....come back and type some more?  |
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| thanks, but it's not the conure that's over preening. It's the old, cranky, Amazon, Bowtie. In fact, my conure wants nothing to do with Bowtie. I think she's afraid of him and she'll let me handle her and do just about anything. On the otherhand, Bowtie sings to Molly and fans his tail and gets mad if I am holding her and walk away. We let the birds out a lot, one at a time, and the doors are shut and all other animals out of the room, but I'm usually there because I don't leave them unsupervised alone. As for my mom; I live with her because I'm on dialysis and I need her help. I guess I'll just keep trying and maybe Bowtie will at least stop the biting. At least he doesn't fly at me and attack. Thanks! |
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| I've had Bowtie for about, maybe, 2 months and he was rescued from a bad situation. Yes, he has been seen by a vet and that was an experience in itself! I trim the beaks mainly by filing the pointed end down a little, but when we got Bowtie, his beak was so overgrown on the top piece that it was difficult for him to pick up his food so it was clipped. Also, sometime in the past, he must've done something to his beak for it had a split in it not up and down but crosswise. I explained to our vet that the people that had him fed him the wrong food and that he doesn't chew or play with stuff which helps keep the beak in condition so they said he might have to be brought in to check his beak. We can't file it because he won't let you get close enough with a towel and every other bird I'v owned, even most of the older ones, loved being in towels. As for the wings, I usually have my mom clip those for me. I can do it myself but it's easier if I hold the birds and she clips them. I've worked with vets for fifteen years, but I never got my certification because of being blind and all the microscope work. |
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Over preening type birds need something else to chew on. Try putting dry spagetti or some plastic straws in his cage. Nay uses mop heads ( the kind with string) and attaches them to the cage. The strings are fun to play with and it keeps them from messing with their feathers all day. All birds bite once and a while ( unfortunately) but zons seem to delight in nipping or pinching when they can. I have a couple of pinchers at my place, but they don't always do it. It's like they have just so much goodness to go around and they just have to pinch! I also have 3 zons that have rarely bitten me ( one bird has been here 15 years and has only bitten me twice) Amazons are terrific birds and I am crazy about them. Just give your guy some time to get used to his enviroment. If he was abused in his last home it may take longer to get used to you. Just give him the time, it's really worth it! Nan Mommy to 5 zons, 4 cockatoos and a violet naped lory |
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I wondered how your Amazon was doing. I have had my DYH for a little over a year now. I learned to take baby steps with him. He wasnt handled much with his previous home because they said he was mean. I have never been bitten. I did not handle him when he had "the look" I used a perch to move him. My hubby handles him now and only gets bitten about once a month,but its usually his fault for not paying attention to Ozzy's body language. I was suprised today when I was playing towel games(because Im taking him for wing trim next week)I was able to make him roll over in my lap and played footsie with him. Ive come along way with a little patience and understanding. That is the one thing that Amazons need. Hope things are going well. Ruby |
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