Flying has made them detatched from me.

[ConureCrazy]

Green cheeks are so light, (mine are tiny, they weigh 55 grams) they can fly even when clipped, though it takes much more effort, and they cannot get as high. I tried a 5min. training session today (one on one, in my room, which they weren't familiar with), they didn't want any part in it, though Zora did fly over to her t stand and stood there, which I guess is some progress. Bella just flew laps, looking for somewhere to land in the new space, and ended up settling for my wall shelves. Didn't want to get down. I will train some more in the afternoon, and update you guys.

 

[MonicaMc]

Weco, I worked with my birds (the untame ones) in the morning, and only in the morning. I had absolutely no bond with the budgies, none with Sunshine, Faye or Pistachio - the birds I had pointed out in the videos above. All birds adults in these videos as well, in other words, they were all 2+ years in age. Pistachio is, at minimum, 16+ years old and I've only had him for 6 years and a few months. For all I know, he could be in his twenties now! And as far as I'm aware, none of his previous owners ever handled him or worked with him in being a pet bird. In his previous home, he was a 'part time' breeder, and his owner would hand raise his chicks and sell them. Except for Sunshine, which he had kept. I had had no bond with Sunshine, but she was previously a pet. As far as I'm aware, Faye was not a pet in the previous three homes that she had lived in. Her age is unknown, and she had been passed around by people who lost interest in keeping her. She was a caged bird. Tomi Girl was nearly starved to death in her previous home, and I have no clue what her life was like prior to that, since she was found outside.


Akraya, to answer your question... well, I don't clip my birds and haven't for years now... but my mitred conure I have to use a dremel on his beak to keep it in shape. Dremeling a beak is much more intensive and potentially damaging than trimming flight feathers. He hates the dremel, and he knows what it is, but he never holds a grudge against me. In fact, he's usually nicer to me after I have dremeled it!

 

[LoryLover]

I'm also considering clipping their wings more and more. I'll sleep on it for a while...

I would clip their wings if I were you. I have always kept the wings clipped for 2 years, in order to establish a complete bond with my new parrot. At the 2 year mark, I let the wings grow out and don't clip again. With each of the two parrots I've had, it has worked like a charm - never have I had trouble getting them.

 

[ConureCrazy]

I trained them in my room, they somewhat/kind of payed attention for about 4 minutes, but much better than usual. It's progress!

 

[BoomBoom]

I will soon have to cross this bridge myself. I think being a pair is really making them independent of you. Perhaps train them separately if you haven't already. Sorry I can't be of much help. My sun's clipped flight feathers are barely growing out (took him months!?!).

Let us know how it goes.

 

[MonicaMc]

Hey, was just wondering... how's it going with the flying little terrors? Any progress with them?

 

[weco]

Just saw your 3:00 post of the 3rd Monica.....so figured I needed to reply to it before we head off on the wrong foot.....

If you've gotten the idea that I am just trying to disagree with your points of view, I apologize, but that is furthest from my intentions. Some of us have more time to work with our feathered friends than do others.....and I am sure you will agree that there are too many companion birds purchased/rehomed/otherwise obtained by some who really don't need birds.

I'm interested, as in this case, in offering an acceptable solution to a problem that the owner is anxious about finding a quick solution to an immediate problem. Yes, I am aware that while there usually are not quick solutions to most things avian, wing clipping & separating cage-mates does calm birds down faster than beginning target training, positive reinforcement or other methods.

We live in a throw away era where we perceive our time to be more important even than the creature comforts.....which we hold so dearly. Many of those younger than 25yo have grown up assuming an entitlement to what they want right now & when that's not possible, they go on to some other perceived entitlement.

Read the help requests on this forum or any of the others currently on the net, then go back 20years and you will find virtually the exact same questions.....why.....because like now, people did not do sufficient research before purchasing a pet they thought was going be like a puppy or kitten & just take to them right off with no problem. In aviculture, there are always going to be problems of one sort or another.

When we went head to head on the full spectrum lighting subject, my argument is not that birds do not need FS lighting, but I have a serious problem with people who believe all the sales drivel proffered by vendors of products & theories they really have no idea about.

If a person believes that the little curly light bulbs that sell from $15 to $70 each can produce the specific wavelength of light necessary for psittacine health, for periods long enough to justify the purchase price, they are sorely misinformed.....those bulbs simply cannot produce the wavelengths they purport to for any effective period of time.....and those high priced fixtures that people believe are needed.....they are not, the screw-in bulbs will fit any socket that accept the bulb, as do the standard, utility type fixtures for long tube type lamps. Now if you like a particular fixture for its design, that is a totally different story & you will never hear an argument from me on that point.....

In our previous encounter re: FS lighting, I offered supporting data & I believe reference to the lighting lab at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, the nation's oldest technological university & one of the top engineering universities in the world. Read the RPI data & published papers on FS products currently on the market, then explain to me why they might be wrong.


I really am only interested in people getting either the right information or enough information to make informed decisions about caring and providing for their companion parrots. If you would like links to all the data I have that contravenes the current vendor & manufacturer data, just send me a private message & I would be happy to forward what I have.

 

[MonicaMc]

Weco, trimming flight feathers is often a temporary 'fix' and not a permanent one, unless the owner actually takes the time to properly train the parrot while the bird is clipped and continues that training once the bird is able to fly again. However, from what I've seen, this isn't what happens in most cases. Most people clip their birds, then don't do any training.

It's one reason why I'm against it. Yes, I understand the benefits, but I'm also aware of the cons of it.


As far as separating mates/buddies, I guess the question here is whether or not the owner is willing to put up with two screaming birds until they calm down. If I had to do that, I'd probably go nuts!



The FS lighting is OT, and I realize that the name may just be a sales gimmick, but if we can get owners to get the right bulbs and it does help their birds, even if it's not scientific research, then why not.


Weco, I'm honestly not upset with you or mad. I like that you post contradicting post! Even if we don't always agree, at least we are willing to go against the norm! I know I've still got a lot to learn, and I think I'll be learning some things from you!

 

[weco]

Fair enough, was just concerned we might be getting off on the wrong foot, err was that wing?

And yes, the FS inclusion was OT for this thread, but sometimes it is cheaper to kill two birds...ummmm, topics at the same time.....

 

[ConureCrazy]

Okay...... Well, I've been training them, Bella is still an independent little girl, but Zora has calmed down 10% or so, Persistence = Progress! Sorry I never updated. I have been hanging out with them by putting videos on my laptop of conures. They hold attention for a few minutes.

 

[MonicaMc]

Any progress is good progress!


Weco, my apologies, as I know I can give off the wrong 'vibe' through text! Hard to convey not only tone of 'voice' but all the passion for a particular subject through text!

 

[Gizmomania]

While we're on the topic of wing clipping, both of my duskies never grew their flight feathers back after their first molts. Both still sink to the bottom of their cages like lead weights. Not knowing anything about wing clipping, it appears to me that they've both been severely clipped.

With that being said, how long can I expect them to have their flight feathers grow back? Gizmo was hatched in February, and Niko in April. I purchased Gizmo in July and Niko in September. It would be nice to see them able to fly a short distance before fluttering to the ground.

 

[Parro]

Maybe it's because when they started flying they bonded together instead of you, when they want a treat you can give it to them but by waiting. They will come over and snack on it. Repeat this daily so they can bond with you again. Good luck!

 

[MonicaMc]

While we're on the topic of wing clipping, both of my duskies never grew their flight feathers back after their first molts. Both still sink to the bottom of their cages like lead weights. Not knowing anything about wing clipping, it appears to me that they've both been severely clipped.

With that being said, how long can I expect them to have their flight feathers grow back? Gizmo was hatched in February, and Niko in April. I purchased Gizmo in July and Niko in September. It would be nice to see them able to fly a short distance before fluttering to the ground.

They should start getting their flights back with the next molt. Their first molt was probably a light molt, not a full molt, hence why they didn't replace any of their flights. The next molt should drop those trimmed flights so that they can learn to fly. This should occur within the next 6 months or so.

 

[ConureCrazy]

Still training with both of them. I'm not expecting any fast changes, I know this is going to take a while...

 

[ConureCrazy]

Zora actually STEPPED UP! I was making earrings and she seemed to be watching intently, so I stuck my hand out and BOOM she was on my hand. First time!