Got a meyers from a previous owner, got some questions for you guys!

[vlad86]

So I recently got a 3yr old Meyers from a previous owner that was an older couple. They told me he needed to go because he kept attacking the wife. Fortunately I brought him to my house and he gets along with everyone. Me, my mother, father, and girlfriend.

1st question. Why is he not biting anyone now? Not that its a bad thing of course but it makes me wonder why he would attack the previous owners wife till he drew blood

2nd quesiton. I keep him out of the cage a couple hours a day just hanging with me, is that to much?

3rd question. He doesn't ever let me pet him. Is that just because he doesn't like it? or because he doesn't know me well enough?

4th question. Ive been reading getting these types of birds wings clipped is a bad idea, I wouldn't clip them but unfortunately I have a dog that would eat him in heartbeat if he got the chance so I don't want him flying out of my room. Should I keep getting them clipped? I always keep the dog out of my room and the door closed.

5th question. Hes been a perch potato since I got him, so I bought him some new toys and stuff but he doesn't seem very interested in them. Is that pretty normal for this type of bird?

6th question. The previous owners don't know if hes a boy or girl but they named him Tarzan and I don't want to change it cause it seems like he knows that its his name. Is there anyway to tell if hes a male or female without getting him sexed?

7th question. Are these guys capable of learning tricks? or possible of learning to say a few words? Hes 3yrs old and has never spoke a word from what the previous owners told me.

8th question. When I took him to a specialty bird store. They told me its basically fine to feed him anything but avocados and chocolate. Any other things I should be aware of to not feed him?

9th question. I noticed he sorta gets sleepy around 8 or 9pm but I usually stay up pretty late and his cage is in my room so is it alright if cover his cage with a sheet to block out the light from the TV and from the lamp?

Final thing isn't really a question but...If anyone has any suggestions for me and this type of bird please do tell!

Thanks
Vlad

 

[birdcrazy]

Hi welcome to the community! First off I don't have a meyers but some of your story sounded very similar to my blue crowned who i adopted from an elderly lady about a year ago.

1st question. Why is he not biting anyone now?
It may have been something in how the lady approached him, her hair color, an accessory she always wore... the list can go on. Parrots are notorious for just flat out not liking certain people just because something about them seems a little frightening. One of mine spazzes out if anyone wearing a baseball cap comes near her. Or he could just really have taken to your family. either way I'm glad he's doing great!

2nd quesiton. I keep him out of the cage a couple hours a day just hanging with me, is that to much?
As long as he's being well supervised in a bird safe enviroment (no easy acsess to electrical cords, other pets, poisness plants) that kind of thing then that's perfect that you are able to provide him with that much out of cage time! I know many birds would be jealous.

3rd question. He doesn't ever let me pet him. Is that just because he doesn't like it? or because he doesn't know me well enough?
My blue crowned doesn't enjoy being petting either, but loves hanging out with us, some birds just have trust issues. Keep trying from time to time but don't force the issue if he's happy just chilling with you guys, try to accept that it's nothing personal and not because he doesn't like you. He just wasn't handled alot as a baby and is a little insecure, but do keep trying from time to time.
4th question. Ive been reading getting these types of birds wings clipped is a bad idea, I wouldn't clip them but unfortunately I have a dog that would eat him in heartbeat if he got the chance so I don't want him flying out of my room. Should I keep getting them clipped? I always keep the dog out of my room and the door closed.
Personally I let my birds have free flight, because a couple of relatives bring their dogs around who are very instinctive hunters. This way if a bird does get out they can fly up to safety. However clipping is a very personal decision it is nice to have them clipped because they are more manegable and if they ever do get out you stand a slightly larger chance of getting them back

5th question. Hes been a perch potato since I got him, so I bought him some new toys and stuff but he doesn't seem very interested in them. Is that pretty normal for this type of bird?
sounds exactly like my paulie.. just keep trying with toys he will probably always have a favorite perch so put something interesting where he likes to sit... I reccomend shreddable type toys for parrots that don't seem to play with toys alot. Once they pick at a few times they become addicts. And shreddable are easy to make if you want to save money.

6th question. The previous owners don't know if hes a boy or girl but they named him Tarzan and I don't want to change it cause it seems like he knows that its his name. Is there anyway to tell if hes a male or female without getting him sexed?
most parrots DNA is the only way to be sure.. my paulie was supposdley sexed and was a male but the lady had no evidence. Maybe someone with a meyers can come along and give you more tips.

7th question. Are these guys capable of learning tricks? or possible of learning to say a few words? Hes 3yrs old and has never spoke a word from what the previous owners told me.
again I'm not a meyers owner I'm sure they are capable but I've heard they're one of the quieter parrots.

8th question. When I took him to a specialty bird store. They told me its basically fine to feed him anything but avocados and chocolate. Any other things I should be aware of to not feed him?
high in sugar or fatty foods only sparingly and be careful about the seeds in some fruits such as apples.

9th question. I noticed he sorta gets sleepy around 8 or 9pm but I usually stay up pretty late and his cage is in my room so is it alright if cover his cage with a sheet to block out the light from the TV and from the lamp?
yes that's a great idea! My Sidney will start screaming at 11 everynight for his cage to be covered and if he doesn't get his sleep he's a very cranky baby the next day.

 

[Auggie's Dad]

BC seemed to cover it pretty well and I'd concur with everything said. A couple additional thoughts... How long have you had him?

If he's not biting that is a good thing, maybe he wasn't so well cared for where he was before - but birds also have weird timing, there is often a 'honey moon' phase where everything seems great for a while. Once the bird is settled in more they start testing limits again. This may not happen, and hopefully he is just much happier with you.

For food, yes chocolate (or any zanthines such as caffeine) and avocado are very dangerous. Other than that most things that are good for us are good for them. Fatty foods and lots of sugar are not good for us or them. But it's not just about what not to feed them, but also what you should feed them. Is he on a pelleted food, or what is his primary diet?

 

[vlad86]

BirdCrazy, Thank you for your answers!
Auggie, Hes been feeding on seeds his entire life. I purchased the in house seed mix of all types of nuts and fruits from the local bird store that hes been eating most of his life. They told me I should not try to put him on a pellet diet but rather keep him on the seeds Ive been purchasing. I've also tried feeding him all types of fruits and veggies everyday to see what he likes. So far hes loves Broccoli and Grapes.

 

[birdcrazy]

Good for you for keeping up the fruits and veggies! definitly keep feeding him the seeds but I would mix in some pellets as well, as they are much more nutritious. He might ignore them at first, but stick with it most parrots will eventually give in and try them. My personal favorite is zupreem fruit blend but there are many wonderful varieties out there. Some people like the natural ones and while they are good... I reccomend starting with the colored ones to add interest in the food and increase the chances of him trying them.

 

[vlad86]

O I forgot to mention the previous owner had him in a pretty small room with 2 other birds, one being an amazon, and the other a senegal. I'm thinking maybe he was jealous of the other 2 birds because he was the first they purchased?

 

[vlad86]

Kelli,

Do you have any idea why the people at the bird store would encourage me to keep feeding him the bird seed mix I purchase rather then pellets?

 

[birdcrazy]

they might have been concerned about him not eating at all if he was switched from all seeds to all pellets with no slow mixing in. Birds have been known to starve themselves before trying new food. Of course there's always the marketing side as a suggetion to want to keep you from going back buying those seeds than going somwhere else. However they were probably well meaning. Just because people work at pet stores doesn't necessarily make them an expert. I am by no way inferring that I am one either by the way. I used to have major trouble with my cockatiel being an obsessive egg layer I would go from store to store asking people just to get everyone's different opinions. Some people told me outragious things that went directly against what people whose knowledge I trusted had taught me. I'm just saying research the differences. I also was not implying that you should attempt to change him from all seeds to all pellets. I am a firm believer in variety, but was suggesting pellets as a source of extra nutrition that he could have throughout the day. My Paulie didn't touch pellets at all when I first got him and now he loves them so it can be done.

 

[Stacye and Tiki]

A good way to encourage trying the pellets is to give your bird seed and veggies for 30 minutes or so in the morning and then keep pellets in all day and then 30 minutes or so at night give seeds and veggies again then leave pellets in all night. Eventually they'll start nibbling the pellets out of boredom lol But this way you don't worry about them starving!

 

[birdcrazy]

wow that's a great idea! i've never thought of it... going to try this with my teil

 

[genevieve]

I'd like to second the "honeymoon phase" comment.

When I first got Alcatraz, he would only use his beak to help him steady himself on my hand. However, he got more territorial about his cage after a month or so and started biting my finger fairly hard. I did my best to keep my hand steady, but my finger was starting to look pretty pathetic from all of the little red marks. I now give him a lot more control over when he comes out to play, usually waiting for him to come out onto his little balcony. That has signifantly reduced the biting. Now I just need to convince him that I don't need a manicure, haircut, or another ear piercing... occasionally he still tries to nibble on me when sitting on my shoulder.

Alcatraz is also a bit of a perch potato. He does not like going down to the bottom of his cage to get his foot toys and has little interest in his hanging toys. He will play with some chew toys, likes looking/talking to himself in his little mirror, and loves scampering around on his rope perch. But he doesn't entertain himself the way my lovebirds did. I play peek a boo with him, but I'm honestly not sure he enjoys it!

We got Alcatraz at the end of December - he was 15 months old. Although we haven't made a real effort to train him to talk, he now says hello and meow. So far, we really have no control over when he talks. It just kinda pops out when he is excited... especially during the morning.

I cover Alcatraz's cage every night when he goes to bed. He gets cranky without 10-12 hours of sleep. I make a ritual out of it... play a certain song each night and while I sing, he pretends to regurgitate for me. I guess that means he likes me!

Alcatraz does let me pet him, but usually only when being held. He really can be quite cuddly and loves sitting on my shoulder.

 

[HRH Di]

BC pretty much covered everything very well. From everything I've read, a seed diet isn't optimal for parrots, however, BC's points are good ones. He's young so, that may be easier.

My Alexandrine doens't like to be petted either, however he's happiest when he's sitting on my shoulder watching tv, helping me crochet or knit, make dinner or evern clean the house. Just because he doesn't particularly like to be touched, doesn't mean that he doesn't love you.

 

[vlad86]

So I have one more question for you guys, I've read that a sick bird might have droopy eyes closing half way or sitting fluffed up on one leg. I mean my bird does that somewhat often since I got him. I never asked if the previous owners took him to the vet but i'm starting to think its a good idea. Do I have anything to worry about? I almost feel like i'm overly concerned but I really don't want my bird being sick or possibly getting sick.

 

[Stacye and Tiki]

That's what Tiki looks like when she's falling asleep half the time and she's perfectly healthy. However, you should always take a new bird to the vet just in case... you wouldn't want a bird you've put time, effort, love, and lastly... money into to fall over dead or become deathly ill because you didn't take it to the vet!

 

[HRH Di]

Fluffy feathers are also a sign that the bird is relaxed and feels safe. It's hard to fly away from danger when your feathers are all poofy. Sounds like your little guy is just content - a very good sign.

Stacey also has a good point...my very, very first bird lived with us for all of 5 days. On the 5ht day she literally fell over dead. She had a clean bill of health so we were able to work something out with the pet store. Our friends bought her clutch-mate and the same thing happened to him, and we later found out the 3rd clutch-mate died at only a few months old as well. Obviously something congenital, but still very upsetting.

When we first got our birds, we got a couple DVDs from Training Parrots | Parrot Training DVDS & Books. Barbara Heidenreich is a respected trainer and gave some very good tips.

 

[vlad86]

Yea i made an appointment tomorrow for 2pm ill keep you guys posted

 

[Spiritbird]

Hope all goes well at the vet visit. I had to take Rosie last week because she was getting a red area on bottom one of her feet. Vet examined and determined it was because my perches were not the correct size. She sized her and now I know she needs a 3/4 inch perch. She was loving the heated perch which is various sized in one perch. The warmest part of the perch was too small and that is where she stood all the time. Vet visits never hurt except for the pocketbook.

 

[vlad86]

LOL no doubt about that last comment Spiritbird. Anyways, Tarzan or should I say Tarzana? The doctor I went and saw has been breeding Meyers for about 20yrs told me that hes about 90% sure my bird is a female by its size and weight. Anyways, she checked out good other then having alot of fat in her system which Im hoping to correct with this seed and pellet mix he told me to purchase. The only problem I have now is....my bird refuses to step up or even give me the time of day....I think its upset at me or maybe scared of me after I took her to the vet? Any insight on this?

 

[Spiritbird]

Not much I could add to this wealth of parrot information except that our birds need quality sleep. A quality sleep is one where there are no TV' or music in the same room. They usually need as much sleep at night as they get in day hours 12 & 12. Yes bidies will be cranky if not getting enough sleep just like us.