http://www.parrots.org/index.php en avnvet@aol.com Copyright 2008 2008-09-07T20:33:01-07:00 http://www.parrots.org/index.php/forumsandexperts/answers/young_quaker_parrot_feather_damaging_behavior/ http://www.parrots.org/index.php/forumsandexperts/answers/young_quaker_parrot_feather_damaging_behavior/#When:20:33:01Z My Question: I have an eight month old Quaker named Oscar. I named her Oscar because it suited her personality - I had her DNA’d and it turns out Oscar is a girl. There are a series of things which kind of all started in mid July. Her cage was originally in an open area between the kitchen, livingroom and dining room. Part of the back of the cage was covered with a blanket, but she could see from the top portion (it is a dome top cage). I felt her cage should be positioned better and wanted it so that one side of the cage was against the wall so I moved her between two other parrots (a female Pionus and male Senegal). That did not seem to work very well because I noticed she started plucking her chest area so I immediately moved her cage back to where it was originally. The plucking stopped temporarily but after a few weeks, she started again, but only the left side of her body around the wing area. The plucking was getting worse and worse so I brought her to an avian vet. One additional thing that Oscar was doing was she was crying out in what I would assume to be pain, and either plucking a feather out or biting whatever was closest in frustration and then lifted her left foot up as if to alleviate pain. My vet looked her over and because of some other signs of plucking on her left wing shoulder area, and the wildlife we have around our place/deck (squirrels, chipmunks, bluejays) plus the fact that we bring her outside with us, she asked that I do a mite/lice treatment and come back the following week. So, I went home, did the treatment, thorough cleaning of the cage etc. None of my other parrots show any signs of mites or plucking. A week later, on the follow up appointment, the area which she was plucking was getting a bit better. However she was still doing the crying out and then the lifting of the leg. I must say that the frequency had decreased somewhat. The Vet did an x-ray of Oscar, showed me her body parts etc. What she was looking for was any possible visual abnormality of the ovary – thinking she might have a cyst or something. The ovary was fine and there were no signs of lung infection etc. She said there was nothing in the x-ray that would be considered abnormal or out of the ordinary. She suggested that I put a collar on Oscar in order to prevent the plucking just for a month to allow the area in which she plucked to grow back. My husband and I decided that we did not want to collar the parrot for plucking since she would get extremely upset when she wore the collar. Oscar is still doing the cry and lifting her left leg and she is still doing a bit of plucking in the area. I am not totally concerned about the plucking, but I am concerned about the fact that it seems to be located in one general spot as well as she does the cry and then lift her left foot. It has been about two weeks since the Vet appointmentt and the plucking has not increase nor has it decrease. However, tonight after dinner I had her out and noticed that her left foot was discoloured, it was almost as if someone had taken a ruler and coloured in the three toes the same and the rest of the foot looked normal. It was kind of a light bulb moment, because I am pretty sure that I had seen this before, but at the time could not remember if this was her normal foot colouration. We went back to other photos that we have of her and the colouration is not there. The foot is not cold, but it kind of felt cool but then testing it again, I didn’t. If you have any ideas or suggestions, I would appreciate hearing them. Health and Nutrition 2008-09-07T20:33:01-07:00 http://www.parrots.org/index.php/forumsandexperts/answers/ear_infections_shattered_thighbone/ http://www.parrots.org/index.php/forumsandexperts/answers/ear_infections_shattered_thighbone/#When:15:59:01Z My Question: I'm sort of at my wit's end on this problem. Can you help? I have a parrot (patagonian conure) who has frequent ear infections and sinusitis. The last time he had a problem, my avian vet instructed me to flush his nares with water once a day. I stopped doing this after his symptoms subsided because he hates it so. A couple weeks ago he started showing symptoms of another ear infection coming on. So I decided to flush his nares. I was holding him in the crook of my left arm while filling a syringe with water with my right hand, and he jumped right out of my grasp onto my ceramic tile floor. (He's never flown because he broke a wing several years ago & it healed without anyone being aware of it. He's a rescued bird I've adopted. So he drops like a rock.) He shattered his thighbone, and that evening received a splint at the emergency clinic. (We're now on our 3rd splint, since he kept pulling them off, but that's not why I've written you...) The vet suggested I put him in a steamy/humidified setting for 5 to 10 minutes a day to give him moisture. I need any suggestions you can offer as to how I can go about making some sort of 'incubator' or enclosed space with moisture for this purpose. He's only 12 so I anticipate this to be a regimen we will use for the rest of his life. This bird has been on baytril now for going on 3 weeks and still his ear orifice is red, swollen, and he is frequently popping his ears and scratching at his face on the affected side. His ear received triple antibiotic in the canal twice a day and it just recently has stopped draining. But I'm really worried about him. He has almost no choanal papillae and I'm thinking he's had ear and sinus problems all his life that were unchecked. I really want to relieve his discomfort. The lady who runs the place where I adopted him from (Safe Haven Avian Placement Services, Pinellas County, FL.) has been couseling me on ways to work with him to meet his needs. But she is very busy running her rescue organization and just recently had to take a paying job in order to make ends meet. I'm asking this forum for suggestions, hoping to relieve the burden on her. Any suggestions you have will be greatly appreciated; it has been a burden on me, too, since I have 17 other parrots. These infections are happening way too frequently and I feel as though I'm doing something wrong, or not doing enough, to keep this little guy healthy. Health and Nutrition 2008-09-01T15:59:01-07:00 http://www.parrots.org/index.php/forumsandexperts/answers/sick_amazon/ http://www.parrots.org/index.php/forumsandexperts/answers/sick_amazon/#When:12:14:00Z My vet is on holiday. Cybil OWA untame is 5 years old. She has been here 2 months. She is a rehome. Has come with negative O}Psitticosos BFD et6c. But had prevously testd positibev wice. She fellill shortly afterarrival, and ill for six weeks. Hardly eating spending 23.5 hours in nest box.Vet visited diagbnosed liver disease from her swoillen stomach He started Baytril imediately .03 twicwe a day. WE added one teaspoon nCtrical care in Manduka water.# The swelling is less. The bird is thinner Keel bone protru8ding. In the ten days since antibiotic syringe of |Batril given she has come out of the nest box 3/4 tines. She barely eats. Today twice I can hewr a teasoon or REcovery with a spoon.She took this by lunging at the spoon. She looks ver nthin and weak but her eys are still bright, Vet consoidered we should treat her for psitticosis for 7 weeks. Her bonded partner appears healthy and proective of her. I am adding a few drops live yoghurt to theb|REcovery. IT seems to me I am merely keeping her alive. I have no expwerience of a sick |Amazon. She is in a 15 foot flight .Any ideas about putting on weight ina less intrusive way than syringes. I do not mind how much time I spoend with her but she dos not relish anyn humna contract. Health and Nutrition 2008-08-28T12:14:00-07:00 http://www.parrots.org/index.php/forumsandexperts/answers/safely_fledging_budgies/ http://www.parrots.org/index.php/forumsandexperts/answers/safely_fledging_budgies/#When:19:33:00Z Hi EB, I have a pair of budgies that probably were cliped before fledging. They are now about 6 months old and feathers are fully grown in. Please give advice on how to help them fledge safely at this point. Thanks, Jeffrey Behaviour and Training 2008-08-25T19:33:00-07:00 http://www.parrots.org/index.php/forumsandexperts/answers/ask_an_expert26/ http://www.parrots.org/index.php/forumsandexperts/answers/ask_an_expert26/#When:19:51:01Z Do parrots have blood types? In fact do birds in general have blood types? Is a chicken's blood different from a parrot's or sparrow's blood? Just wondering. Health and Nutrition 2008-08-22T19:51:01-07:00 http://www.parrots.org/index.php/forumsandexperts/answers/trick_training_potty_training/ http://www.parrots.org/index.php/forumsandexperts/answers/trick_training_potty_training/#When:23:34:00Z Hi Jim can you help me please with my African Grey Parrot. His name is Jack. I need to potty train him and to do tricks. He is hand tame. Can you help? Thankyou, Keith. Behaviour and Training 2008-08-09T23:34:00-07:00 http://www.parrots.org/index.php/forumsandexperts/answers/feather_picking_and_vent_kicking/ http://www.parrots.org/index.php/forumsandexperts/answers/feather_picking_and_vent_kicking/#When:00:13:01Z My Question: I have a 4 year old Solomon Island Eclectus male, Fenway. Fenway is very socialable, intelligent, witty and gentle - but he has some issues with feather picking and kicking at his vent. He has had gram stains, giardia tests, fungal test, etc - and they all come back negative. He's currently on a very healthy diet (legumes, lentils, bulgur, brown rice, organic fruits and vegetables, pellets made by his breeder, organic unsalted nuts (almonds and pistachios in low quantity), etc. His vet has recommended some homeopathic remedies - apple cider vinegar in water for any upset stomach problems, and aloe vera in water for itchiness. He gets bathed 3x a week in water, and doused in avian aloe spray every day. The kicking at his vent (right leg reaching back so that underside of foot kicks vent/lower tail) seems like a nervous tick/hormonal. What are your thoughts? Lindsey Scopel Behaviour and Training 2008-08-07T00:13:01-07:00 http://www.parrots.org/index.php/forumsandexperts/answers/sleeping_habits_of_african_grey/ http://www.parrots.org/index.php/forumsandexperts/answers/sleeping_habits_of_african_grey/#When:04:00:00Z Hi there - I have a question relating to the sleeping habits of my one year-old parent-reared African Grey, called Clayton. He's been with me for a couple of months now, having been bought partly as a companion for my rescued Timneh hen, Dusty (I work full time). Clayton was not remotely tame when purchased. However, almost overnight he has become as tame and attention-hungry as any hand-reared bird. He has a very outgoing personality, wants to investigate everything and never exhibits a fearful reaction. Dusty on the other hand is much less emanding, although she loves attention. I am hoping the two parrots will become friends, in time, but realise I cannot force the issue. Currently I devote all my free time to the parrots, as they have not yet established a rapport with each other. I also pay a pet sitter to pop in every day when I am at work, to give them some extra company and some treats. To complicate matters, Dusty has laid three eggs in her wooden play box, and as I am letting her incubate them she is pretty much out of the equation as far as Clayton is concerned. Anyway, to get to the point, Clayton hates being put back into his (huge) cage at night, making a loud contact call and banging on the bars when I place him inside at 10pm. He spends a lot of time out and about (one hour in the morning and at least four hours in the evening). He has a varied organic diet, loads of branches and toys and has learned to fly well, etc, but even after many hours of direct attention, with head scratches etc, every day ends with a noisy tantrum. In contrast, Dusty has always quietly retired to her sleeping perch every evening, of her own accord and without fuss. My question is this: should I ignore his behavior in the hope that he will accept the routine, or is this a sign that he is fundamenally unhappy? Once inside his cage, Clayton has a variety of perches from which to choose. I also make sure he gets some of his favourite food (harrison's pellets mashed up with banana) from a spoon when he goes in for the night. I should point out that during the day, he climbs in and out of his cage quite happily. Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer. Oliver. Behaviour and Training 2008-08-06T04:00:00-07:00 http://www.parrots.org/index.php/forumsandexperts/answers/discouraging_certain_parrot_behaviour/ http://www.parrots.org/index.php/forumsandexperts/answers/discouraging_certain_parrot_behaviour/#When:13:29:00Z Hello Dr. Friedman, As of yesterday, Pyewacket, my rescued B&G;macaw, started climbing to the floor from his cage or tree, and walking around the living room. I'm babysitting two dogs right now (see my blog "Pyewacket goes to the dogs") and it is possible that he just wants to be the dogs, but he hasn't walked directly toward them. Of course this gives me great anxiety about the dogs and about whether I will have to parrot proof the whole house. Can you suggest a way to discourage this? Perhaps he will stop in 2 weeks when the dogs leave, but I'm worried. He hasn't ever been closed in his cage and I hate to start. Thanks Eva Sargent Behaviour and Training 2008-07-22T13:29:00-07:00 http://www.parrots.org/index.php/forumsandexperts/answers/relationship_building_with_orange_winged_amazons/ http://www.parrots.org/index.php/forumsandexperts/answers/relationship_building_with_orange_winged_amazons/#When:13:32:00Z Dear Jim, I want to hand or stick train an aviary bird. I have taken in a pair of Orange-winged Amazons (Amazona amazonica) aged five - captive bred previously kept in 9-foot aviary and never handled. I have put them in a 15-foot flight. After 16 days the male will hop or fly onto a broad stick for a monkey nut. I do this 3 times a day. I feed them on pellets and fruit twice a day. Nuts and seeds are for treats. The female remains shy, although will sometimes take a nut and run off. Any tips on moving the training of Basil forward and desensitising him to my hand? He will fly to the stick a short distance but at the sight of my hand, he backs up. Thanks, Dorothy Schwarz Behaviour and Training 2008-07-15T13:32:00-07:00