http://www.parrots.org/index.php en PhoebeSBBF@aol.com Copyright 2010 2010-03-02T15:20:21+00:00 http://www.parrots.org/index.php/forumsandexperts/answers/limited_wing_clipping_and_teflon_safty/ http://www.parrots.org/index.php/forumsandexperts/answers/limited_wing_clipping_and_teflon_safty/#When:15:20:21Z Dear Phoebe, I have two questions. Firstly I have a Hahn's macaw (Einstein) and a Sun Conure (Gizmo), I stopped clipping their wings about a year ago. Gizmo doesn’t fly much at all, but Einstein is becoming very handy with his wings and is able to maneuver around the house very well. The problem is about a week ago an Ibis flew past a window and frightened them, in a panic Einstein flew across the room so fast that he flew into the opposite wall (I would never have believed a parrot could fly so fast if I hadn't seen it myself), luckily he was not injured, but I am concerned that if it happens again we may not be so lucky. Is there a way to clip his wings to reduce his speed without having a huge effect on his maneuverability, or is there something else I could try to slow him down? I don’t want to deprive him of flight unless it is absolutely necessary for his safety (and as soon as money allows I will be building an outdoor flight about 3m x 9m). Second question. PTFE fumes. Are they only a problem with Teflon and similar coatings or are enamel and ceramic coatings also a problem? I recently found a 'green pan' that is ceramic coated and claims 'no PTFE or PFOA' and 'no toxic fumes', is this safe for birds, or is it better just to stick to good old stainless steel? Thanks, Bruce Wilson Parrot Care 2010-03-02T15:20:21+00:00 http://www.parrots.org/index.php/forumsandexperts/answers/have_you_ever_encountered_a_hybrid_between_a_timneh_and_a_congo_grey_parrot/ http://www.parrots.org/index.php/forumsandexperts/answers/have_you_ever_encountered_a_hybrid_between_a_timneh_and_a_congo_grey_parrot/#When:22:19:31Z Dear EB, Have you ever encountered a hybrid between a Timneh and a Congo Grey Parrot? The pet store near here has one (they say), which is just now being fledged and looks like a Congo, at least right now with very few feathers, etc. They also have a parasol cockatoo, which apparently is a cross between a umbrella and a Goffin (she's about 25 percent larger than a Goffin and has the coloration of an unbrella, with an umbrella crest. What are the ethical questions, if any of bringing these animals into the world? On one hand, if they are not found in nature, then perhaps we are wadding too deep into the gene pool, so to speak. But, of course, there are other hybrids out there that are taken for granted. Then again, these hybrids may not be able to reproduce. Thanks, Bill C. Ethics and Welfare 2010-02-19T22:19:31+00:00 http://www.parrots.org/index.php/forumsandexperts/answers/sick_patagonian_conure_-_again/ http://www.parrots.org/index.php/forumsandexperts/answers/sick_patagonian_conure_-_again/#When:20:23:01Z Dr. Speer, first of all, thank you for making yourself available to us. We appreciate it. Secondly, I have a question regarding my 15 year old patagonian conure, Luther. He's an adoptee and I've had him about 5 years. He's had recurrent sinus infections ever since I adopted him. I've had him to 3 different vets in my area and he's almost always on Baytril or some other antibiotic. In November of this past year I took him to a new vet and had lab tests done.They came back within normal limits except for these: Albumin LOW at 1.1 (Normal 1.2-3.2), Glucose HIGH at 381 (180-350), Potassium HIGH at 5.3 (3.0-4.5), and Chloride HIGH at 116 (90-110). Choanal cultures came back with a heavy growth of Coagulase negative taphylococcus spp. and a light growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Sensitivity tests showed both to be sensitive to Baytril. He was put on Baytril again but within a few weeks he began having brown drainage from his nares, so I took him to a different, actually his original, vet who is the only Board Certified Avian Vet of the three. He told me to hold the antibiotics for 3 days, then repeat the cultures, which was done. He also took an xray of Luther's chest. It showed an huge granuloma in the area of his syrinx. After testing Luther was started on sulfatrim (doxycycline, I believe) but continues to show symptoms that the granuloma is not diminishing because he makes wheezing sounds and his voice is hoarse compared to what it normally is. The vet told me on that visit that granulomas were almost impossible to get rid of. He also mentioned a procedure whereby he could remove some of the lesion which would also require putting an opening in one of his air sacs. (I have lost 2 birds this past year and am loathe to have this surgery done because I fear it will not go well. They were both elderly but I am still afraid for Luther since he's been ill so much.) So now Luther is getting the sulfatrim, fluconazole, and nebulization therapy twice a day with normal saline. But he still wheezes and has a hoarse voice. Once he finishes the antibiotics I am thinking the vet will want to do another xray, but am not sure. I wanted to ask your opinion. Also, are you available for a phone consultation regarding this? Health and Nutrition 2010-02-12T20:23:01+00:00 http://www.parrots.org/index.php/forumsandexperts/answers/toy_making_for_cockatiels/ http://www.parrots.org/index.php/forumsandexperts/answers/toy_making_for_cockatiels/#When:22:09:03Z Can you suggest some good -- safe -- toys one can make for cockatiels? I have purchased many toys from the local pet shop, which are not only expensive but my 'tiels don't seem to like them very much. I suspect this is because they are intended for larger parrots, so would like some ideas for ways to keep my 'tiels happy. Thanks for any suggestions! Housing and Environmental Enrichment 2010-02-08T22:09:03+00:00 http://www.parrots.org/index.php/forumsandexperts/answers/sick_patagonian_conure/ http://www.parrots.org/index.php/forumsandexperts/answers/sick_patagonian_conure/#When:18:39:42Z Hello. I have a friend who has a 28 year old female patagonian conure. This bird has been sick for about a year with her main symptom as vomiting up large amounts of clear mucus intermittently. She appears to be gagging on it. Her beak has also gotten soft at times, has overgrown requiring trimming, and she has extra folds of skin inside her mouth on both sides, at times. She has been to 3 different vets in our area and no one seems to know exactly what is wrong with her. She's currently on Baytril and Fluconazole because the last vet did bacterial and fungal cultures, and blood tests, finding a moderate amount of pseudomonas aeruginosa (sp?) and an elevated aspergillus galactomannan. She seems to be withering away before our very eyes, sits puffed up and almost appears gray in her feathering. This treatment regimen doesn't seem to be working and we don't what else to do. Can you give me any advice on this? Thank you. Health and Nutrition 2010-01-30T18:39:42+00:00 http://www.parrots.org/index.php/forumsandexperts/answers/nesting_behavior_in_a_conure/ http://www.parrots.org/index.php/forumsandexperts/answers/nesting_behavior_in_a_conure/#When:17:40:03Z Dear Phoebe, We have a 17-year-old female dusky headed conure, Pickle, whom we love very much. She has always been a highly "interactive" bird, craving the company of me (female) and my partner (male). She also has enjoyed spending some time inside her "precious." which is a chest of drawers. However, her behavior changed radically about a month ago. She has started spending almost all her time inside the chest of drawers, exhibiting nesting behavior by creating "nests" out of shredded clothes. She comes out only to eat, drink and go potty. Even weirder, she recently switched her preferred drawer. When I take her out, she leans toward the bedroom and tries to make a dash for her drawer. My avian vet checked and said Pickle is not carrying an egg. And my partner (her "mate"?) has been out of town for a week, but Pickle's behavior hasn't changed. I don't want to stress or traumatize her. She does sleep in her cage at night. I am very concerned that Pickle will be "stuck" in her nesting behavior and not come out of it. Your expert advice would be greatly appreciated. I have been a WPT member for quite a few years, but I never knew about this Ask an Expert feature. Thank you. Arlene Behaviour and Training 2010-01-06T17:40:03+00:00 http://www.parrots.org/index.php/forumsandexperts/answers/scarlet_macaws_with_feather_damaging_behaviors_directed_towards_their_moult/ http://www.parrots.org/index.php/forumsandexperts/answers/scarlet_macaws_with_feather_damaging_behaviors_directed_towards_their_moult/#When:23:41:21Z Dear Dr. Speer and Staff; Thank you for taking time to consider my question. We have two adopted wild-trapped scarlet macaws, both of whom are nearing fifty years of age at least. The second one we took in, a hen, became close companion to the male within a week of her arrival here; and the two spent much of this autumn "playing house" in Romeo's nighttime sleeping barrel (he is arthritic). To our surprise, Aura actually laid three strong eggs--fortunately infertile, but thoroughly protected and set upon for a month or so by the loving pair. My question is this: a few weeks after the incubation and nesting urge was abandoned by the macaws, one or both of them began eating the shafts of all their molted feathers, especially the large ones. Is there something in feather quills which can provide nutrition for psittacines? I have seen this in other parrots, but only those who feather pluck and I assumed it was for chewing diversion. The macaws are on a super diet of fresh raw foods, cooked and sprouted grains, nuts, organic seed and extruded pellets, plus they got calcium mineral supplement four times a week when it was discovered they were in a nesting mode. Thanks again for your time and consideration. Health and Nutrition 2010-01-03T23:41:21+00:00 http://www.parrots.org/index.php/forumsandexperts/answers/juicer_mulch/ http://www.parrots.org/index.php/forumsandexperts/answers/juicer_mulch/#When:18:49:28Z i have a orange winged amazon,my question is about feeding,i use a juicer and wondered if my parrot can eat the mulch left behind,we tried him with the juice but he wont drink it.thanks in advance. Health and Nutrition 2009-12-15T18:49:28+00:00 http://www.parrots.org/index.php/forumsandexperts/answers/introducing_a_new_bird/ http://www.parrots.org/index.php/forumsandexperts/answers/introducing_a_new_bird/#When:15:08:46Z Dear EB, I have a 3 year old rose breasted cockatoo and I have been thinking about getting him a companion. What is the best way to introduce a new bird to him? Is it better for the new bird to be younger? Is he more likely to get along with another rose breasted cockatoo or will another bird his size be alright? Thanks Jade General 2009-12-10T15:08:46+00:00 http://www.parrots.org/index.php/forumsandexperts/answers/ask_an_expert36/ http://www.parrots.org/index.php/forumsandexperts/answers/ask_an_expert36/#When:04:16:24Z Hello, I was wondering how to get wild galahs hand-tame because but we got one today from the side of the road and it is a girl and it has bit me and I don’t know how to get it hand-tame. Can you tell me please? Thankyou from Zali. General 2009-12-09T04:16:24+00:00