Biggest scare of my life

[suncon97]

I made a post just telling about how I got a new rope perch for Pearl and how she didn't mind it.Well now I might burn it.Everything was fine for hours and then about 15 minutes ago I came in and found Pearl laying in the corner of her cage She was so scared and she could of only been like this for about 10 minutes because I previously walked through.I don't know what happened but she was glaring at the perch I scooped her up and she instantly became alert.I put her out of the cage and gave her fresh food and water.I could instantly tell she was dehydrated because she drank water for a long time.Then started eating and her poop was just water.I Instantly took that perch out and I'm sending it back.I am buying a dowel rod tomorrow.Now she's eating carrots and pellets and drinking along with hitting the I love you button on her electronic cell phone.I held her for a long time and petted her and she started preening herself while on my hand.I am still soo scared.This is my worst fear come true.Could she have internal damage from lack of water?The perch was there for about three hours.Im a wreck right now.Do I take her to the vet tomorrow?Or now or I'm just soo scared.She seems back to normal but they're masters obviously at hiding illness.

 

[roxynoodle]

She's not dehydrated, don't worry! Birds being shipped are in planes longer than that. Heck I'm at the vet longer than that sometimes!

I wouldn't burn it or send it back yet either. She's just doing the same thing Pete does and is scared to death of it. That's what he does as well when I add things to his cage. He goes down into a corner, stares at it and whimpers until I move it or take it out. It often takes me several tries before I can give him something new. I have to put them next to his cage or attach it outside the cage first.

 

[roxynoodle]

I have given him 2 hours to try to deal with it. If we go past 2 hours I take it out again.

 

[suncon97]

Okay I thought she was dying I had never experienced anything like that.At least she's flinging carrots like normal I just never want that to happen again.Maybe when she crawled on the perch it lost its shape?Because a big curve in it was like sagging down but I didn't hear any noise.

But thank you so much.

 

[roxynoodle]

Greys can be very phobic so it will probably happen again, sorry Yes, it may have moved under her feet and frightened her. It might have been the texture. Maybe she just saw it move and thought it was a snake.

Some birds are very accepting of new stuff, and very curious, and others are really, really cautious. Pete is so cautious of what goes into his cage, he can eat all the wood blocks on a toy, I replace them with identical ones, and he's all freaked out about it like it's new.

 

[Wulfgeist]

Thank goodness I think Jasper might be one of the accepting ones from what I've seen of him here so far. He too went quite a while without water today because I don't think he's quite grasped where the dishes are and how to get to them despite my showing him. He was doing his hungry beeps so I showed him his food dish by taking it to him andhe started gobbling food so I wound up sitting down with him and holding the bowl for him while he ate. After I figured he has to be thirsty so I did the same with the water and he drank *alot*. They are so silly and I'm betting Roxy is right, she just needs more time to get used to this thing. Being rope maybe it triggers a snake phobia or maybe it did sag and move when she climbed on it and that freaked her out because she wasn't expecting it.

 

[BillsBirds]

I agree about the snake fear possibility. Also, birds who are used to stable hard perches can be scared by soft, movable perches. She'll adjust. Anything new, I hang on, or put on top of, their cage. So, they can see it, and accept it before introducing it into their cage. And lastly, you must calm down in emergency situations. They are like children, and will look to you, flock leader, when upset or scared. She'll read your emotions, and react accordingly.You have to keep a cool head, and know that things are going to happen. You are a good parront, and that shows. Have confidence.

 

[roxynoodle]

Wulfgeist, you might want to put Jasper's bowls at the bottom of the cage for now since he is so young. Some heavy crock dishes, or even ziptie the SS ones to the sides so he doesn't knock them over. That would probably help him.

Yes, yesterday I tried to give Pete an identical wood piece to the one he's been using in his cage as a foot toy and he was like OMG, crap! And every time I replace the blocks on his wood toys we go through this. The funny part is he isn't afraid of like anything in the house. Just bird stuff that goes into his cage, is on his parrot tower or that I might offer him to play with when he's out. Yet, he will steal my eye drop bottle, which is pretty big and try to rip it to shreds. He got one already and now he wants all of them.

I did notice him eyeballing the ceiling fan a few days ago (not on yet for the season). I said, "Pete it's been there the entire time you've lived here. It isn't new!"

 

[MickeysMom]

Wulfgeist, you might want to put Jasper's bowls at the bottom of the cage for now since he is so young. Some heavy crock dishes, or even ziptie the SS ones to the sides so he doesn't knock them over. That would probably help him.

Yes, yesterday I tried to give Pete an identical wood piece to the one he's been using in his cage as a foot toy and he was like OMG, crap! And every time I replace the blocks on his wood toys we go through this. The funny part is he isn't afraid of like anything in the house. Just bird stuff that goes into his cage, is on his parrot tower or that I might offer him to play with when he's out. Yet, he will steal my eye drop bottle, which is pretty big and try to rip it to shreds. He got one already and now he wants all of them.

I did notice him eyeballing the ceiling fan a few days ago (not on yet for the season). I said, "Pete it's been there the entire time you've lived here. It isn't new!"

What is it with bottles??? Mickey doesn't bite usually However, if you have a bottle of any kind, or a paper towel...he goes crazy and will attack until he gets it!

Poor Pearl.... I agree she probably just got a little "freaked out" by the new thing in her cage, I'd keep trying, once she get used to it, she should be ok.

 

[roxynoodle]

Yes, when he had that bottle it was the only time he ever lunged at me. I had just asked him to step up, I wasn't trying to take it from him. He finally did step up with the bottle in his beak. It was empty anyway so it wasn't like I needed it back. I let him keep it, but now I have to hide them before I let him out.

I just think it's funny how he is scared of every kind of little toy, but he wants big plastic eye drop bottles.

Rowdy and Merlin are not going to let you use a paper product near them without grabbing it to shred it.

 

[suncon97]

Thanks for replying guys

Well since her old perch was chewed up I stopped and got a poplar dowel rod today.I will introduce the rope perch very slowly.I'll just take my time with it.

 

[Wulfgeist]

Wulfgeist, you might want to put Jasper's bowls at the bottom of the cage for now since he is so young. Some heavy crock dishes, or even ziptie the SS ones to the sides so he doesn't knock them over. That would probably help him.

Yes, yesterday I tried to give Pete an identical wood piece to the one he's been using in his cage as a foot toy and he was like OMG, crap! And every time I replace the blocks on his wood toys we go through this. The funny part is he isn't afraid of like anything in the house. Just bird stuff that goes into his cage, is on his parrot tower or that I might offer him to play with when he's out. Yet, he will steal my eye drop bottle, which is pretty big and try to rip it to shreds. He got one already and now he wants all of them.

I did notice him eyeballing the ceiling fan a few days ago (not on yet for the season). I said, "Pete it's been there the entire time you've lived here. It isn't new!"

That's probably a very good idea, thank you. He has found the ones on his playtop and is getting better and getting to them. Heck I even saw him actually sitting on the perch to eat his food earlier. Now though when he's in his cage (which at this point in time is only bedtime or when I have to go somewhere since I'm home all day) he sits on his pediperch that is up near the door and he is there when I come in to let him out in the morning. I don't even know if he's spending any time at the bottom of the cage now but I do have a couple no-tip cat sized dishes in the cabinet I think I will try that.