beak tucked into wing staring at me

[henry0reilly]

Four days ago my wife traumatized Mad Max by clipping his toenails. At first he wasn't eating anything but the peanut I use to bribe him back into his cage but yesterday I could see a little "soup" in his water bowl so he did at least eat something.

When I let them out a few minutes ago they did the usual preening and when Babybird flew over to my shoulder Max assumed an upright position at right angles to me with his head tucked into his wing on the side towards me and one eye most definitely watching me.

He took interest when I gave Baby a small bite of pizza crust so I offered him one, too. He wouldn't take it from me but did get it out of a bowl where I left it for him.

I didn't see this particular stance in the body language thread. I hope it just means he's still unhappy and wary and nothing more serious than that.

 

[wrench13]

yeah, I would back off for a bit with a look like that. its why I let our vet handle trimming claws and stuff. I dont ever want to see that kinda look from Salty

 

[saxguy64]

Yup, I'm thinking he's giving you a heavy dose of stink eye. "Bad human... You will pay!"

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

 

[fiddlejen]

Hahaha - that that is what my tiny budgie Jefferson did after the last time I took him to get clipped. Didn’t matter that someone else did the clipping — he’s smart, he knew it was me that took him there!

I got two days of the head-tucked-under-wing but Staring-at-me stance. He did not actually forgive me until wings grew back & he could fly again.

However mine is a little not-quite-tame budgie who wants nothing in the world more than to fly (and be in charge of everything). So, it was not a minor traumatizing toenail clipping, but rather I temporarily ruined his whole life. He kinda had reason to be angry at me.

(I’m sure your Amazon will get over it better than my little at budgie did.)

Oh, but his little face staring at me from his wing - only a bird can turn his back to you and glare you down at the same time! I think I was as traumatized by his anger as he was by the clipping.

PS he has eventually forgiven me—now that his wings have grown back.

 

[clark_conure]

only relevant things i could come up with enjoy, love this account.

 

[Ira7]

Poor guy, but he’ll be okay.

I was able to safely clip my Grey’s wings because that’s not hard to do and she was an angel, allowing me to manipulate every part of her body (loved to be grabbed!), but for nails:

I want two avian professionals doing the job. Preferably three. One to hold body, one to hold foot, and one to cut.

And only avian professionals:

A regular vet once cut two toes off of a lovebird of mine.

 

[henry0reilly]

doing much better

Max is more-or-less back to his normal self, but I have noticed a new behavior. He will sit on top of his cage with 1 eye closed (or maybe both, can't see the other side).