Adoption in progress--probably BHC

[birdstheword]

Visited a local foundation last weekend and met the sweeeetest black headed caique, 9 years old, just a little gem. I also met a pair of Alexandrines that I did not expect to like so much, an ekkie and a sun conure.

I won't be able to take a bird(s) home until I move into my next place at the end of August but I asked and I am able to "pre-adopt" and pay the adoption fee etc. and they'll hold the bird, which is great.

I'm visiting again next weekend, I've submitted the adoption application and I hope im not jinxing it by posting here!!!!! But that caique won me over QUICK. :30:

I've got to see the Alexandrines another time too, they were just so sweet. At this rate I'll get all of them or there will be another bird there that makes it an even harder decision :09:

 

[kq_fan]

Aw! I love to choose from a bunch and finding the one! But some times its a bunch of ones! Caiques are amazing birds! I hope one of the next birds I get is a caique! :07: :red: I didn't choose the bird life, the bird life chose me! Lol!

 

[Irishj9]

Caiques do not play well with other birds!, The other birds get beaten up quite quickly, while the caiques are 'playimg', so please get lots of advice before mixing species.

 

[birdstheword]

Maybe my post was unclear; I am not getting a caique and another bird. When I mentioned "bird(s)" it was referring to the pair of Alexandrines I said I liked.

Anyway...

I visited again yesterday and saw the same birds except the conure and female ekkie, instead saw a male. The caique is still my front runner even though I got a couple of strong bites!!!! Drew a good amount of blood and my finger is bruised today. She had been out for awhile at that point though and it was close to dinner, so I think it was a combo of hungry and tired.

 

[Terry57]

Caiques are such little clowns! I'm sorry you got bitten today,but at least the first bite is over with It sounds as if this little guy may have already stolen your heart. I think it's great that you are visiting and making sure you are making the right choice. I can't wait to hear what other birds you get to see on all your visits! Had the conure and female ekkie already gone to new homes?

 

[Irishj9]

Sorry you got bitten!. I have 11 caiques, 8 of them for more than 3 years, and I have only been bitten twice.

Both times I asked for it by grabbing the bird with no warning.

Caiques are very headstrong, and creatures of habit, so you will need to move very carefully and slowly to avoid souring your early relationship with this bird

Good Luck

 

[birdstheword]

@terry57 neither the conure nor female ekkie had gone to new homes, both were out in their aviaries. i ended up not seeing them just because the other ones stuck with me stronger this week so i wanted more quality time with those i did see as opposed to a little time with more birds. i have always loved conures so much though that i was surprised to not be thinking of him as much as the others!

i brought my boyfriend with me (he's not a bird person but he enjoyed the time!) and he also loved the caique and she loved him right back haha. he did not get bitten :09:

 

[birdstheword]

Question--do caiques normally wheeze like a pionus? This little girl does and I hadn't heard of caiques doing it before. Don't want to bring home a sick bird. This may also be a simplistic question, but what causes birds to shiver besides being cold? Nerves? Excitement? Is it usually a sign of illness?

 

[Pinkbirdy]

Shivering [could be scared]. Wheezing [a lot] fluffed up ,sleepy [not good].I have 3 Caiques . Ive never heard wheezing.

 

[punkindave]

One of mine pants profusely with the tongue sticking out and everything when he's resting and chilling on my shoulder. Has done it since before he was weened!!
He never does this after exercise or other excitement, only seems to be when he's content..

 

[birdstheword]

Update, as I saw the caique last weekend. She was so sweet. She has since has plucked a few spots on her chest and I noticed stress bars on the feathers on her back. Makes me so sad! She is caged in a room with a lot of other birds so I hope that is the only reason why she's stressed...and probably not getting out of her cage enough. I know they feed their birds well there and her cage is huge with lots of things to do. But it worried me!

And her wheezing, which I previously mentioned, was in full force and I found out her previous owner was a heavy smoker. My concern is that the lady I worked with at the rescue originally said she "does the little caique wheeze" like it was normal which is why I asked about it here...I doubted it was and have since learned it's not a normal caique thing. But it worries me that they wouldn't know that or attribute her wheezing to a previous owner smoking?...

Should I be concerned for her long-term health (she is 9) and ask she be seen my another avian vet before taking her home or wait til I have her?

Either way, she is a doll. I wish I could take her home sooner than the end of August.

 

[birdstheword]

Me again :22:

I asked what the vet said about the wheezing. She said it's "most likely behavioral". Does this sound right? She also got her exit exam and microchip yesterday...!!

 

[Irishj9]

Question--do caiques normally wheeze like a pionus? This little girl does and I hadn't heard of caiques doing it before. Don't want to bring home a sick bird. This may also be a simplistic question, but what causes birds to shiver besides being cold? Nerves? Excitement? Is it usually a sign of illness?

Wheezing is not normal and needs to be checked by a vet.

Shivering is a normal sign of excitement, mine often do this when I walk into the room after being at work all day.

BUT.....they should be also pointing at you. Shivering and pointing, often TOGETHER!


JP

 

[birdstheword]

Wheezing is not normal and needs to be checked by a vet.

Shivering is a normal sign of excitement, mine often do this when I walk into the room after being at work all day.

BUT.....they should be also pointing at you. Shivering and pointing, often TOGETHER!


JP

So as I mentioned 2 posts up it has been checked by a vet and they said it was behavioral. Could wheezing really be behavioral?

 

[thekarens]

Wheezing is not normal and needs to be checked by a vet.

Shivering is a normal sign of excitement, mine often do this when I walk into the room after being at work all day.

BUT.....they should be also pointing at you. Shivering and pointing, often TOGETHER!


JP

So as I mentioned 2 posts up it has been checked by a vet and they said it was behavioral. Could wheezing really be behavioral?

Have you considered a second opinion by another avian certified vet? Like all docs, all vets are not created equally.

 

[Irishj9]

Unfortunately since birds show their illness symptoms very late, all wheezing justifies an immediate check up by a vet.

Good luck

 

[birdstheword]

Have you considered a second opinion by another avian certified vet? Like all docs, all vets are not created equally.

Since this is a rescue bird and I am not taking her home until August do you think I should ask the rescue to get a second opinion or wait til I bring her home?

 

[Irishj9]

Sorry about missing your earlier post re the vet

I have 11 caiques

There is no such thing as beheavioural wheezing

 

[Doublete]

So I think yes... Ask the rescue to get a second opinion ASAP in case there's an underlying reason. You don't want to bring home a sick bird and as a rescue it's their responsibility.