CharlieAndMom
New member
- Sep 12, 2021
- 5
- 7
- Parrots
- Adult Male Quaker
Charlie,adult Quaker parrot, joined our family several months ago. We're avid bird lovers and have several in our flock. Charlie's the only Quaker. I'm not sure why my bird mama radar is worrying me.
To be honest, Charlie was abused, abandoned & in pretty rough shape when rehomed to us through a friend. He's offered a diet of pellets, dried fruit/nut blend fruit, with a revolving chop including cashews, sweet potato, strawberry, fresh corn kernels. What does he really eat? A little potato, corn, and any black sunflower seeds he can find.
Bad behavior: he will literally tackle you if you have a French fry. He wants people food. That's not healthy, I know. I have started making a "parrot dinner" that's Charlie food as he's often free flying at dinnertime. He was way underweight, slightly cracked beak, hurt foot. Foot healed now, beak almost growing out the bad part, wormed, given vitamins, etc. The beak doesn't inhibit eating.
His feathers were patchy, dull, missing the full throat column & back of neck ruff, & high under his wings on the body. I keep wondering if he has feather mites? His cage is new, was sterilized, his alone. All yours and perches are new. I've gone ahead & sprayed him for mites, his cage & changed his mat papers daily. Looked for any sign on him, on the paper - nothing. I've used the avian spray equivalent of "bactine" we had (one of the other birds got into biting a a different, younger male) under Charlie's wings in case there's a microbial issue. He's still biting at himself.
He doesn't know how to bathe. We're working on learning. Hates...hates!... being misted. We finally found a dish that he likes to bathe in, so he's getting about 1/2 wet until he gets water in his nose. I do have parrot spray bath to use on him - trying to keep the stress low, so I am stalling using it.
Mostly, he's happy. Hates being caged. He sleeps 12 hours, in cage, covered @ night, 7 - 7, but he often sleeps/starts quiet later in the a.m. I won't uncover him until 7, but I wait until he yells "mama" to go start our wakeup routine.
It's another month wait for a new patient avian vet check up.... Nothing is "wrong," I just worry that his long term feeding issues have caused complications with his skin and feathers. He's shredding feathers at the ends. Not pulling any out that I've seen. He's lost a few tail feathers that are growing back. His pin feathers are coming back in around his neck, very slowly.
Charlie given lots of love & attention, has free flight with safe space perches in scattered rooms, doesn't play with toys yet has many available, and says "Charlie baby," and "good boy, love birdy," as well as a couple others. Other than me, he won't let anyone else "step up," but is an avid shoulder surfer without biting.
Honestly, the diets a struggle. I'm going to find a parrot cookbook for picky birds. He hates pellets. Even the colored ones that are little veggies. He drinks lots of clean water. Will toss what he doesn't want off of his perch. Loves being into everything family...... He's my special baby. I adore him, and he's pretty obviously certian I'm his person.
Why do I feel like I'm missing something?
To be honest, Charlie was abused, abandoned & in pretty rough shape when rehomed to us through a friend. He's offered a diet of pellets, dried fruit/nut blend fruit, with a revolving chop including cashews, sweet potato, strawberry, fresh corn kernels. What does he really eat? A little potato, corn, and any black sunflower seeds he can find.
Bad behavior: he will literally tackle you if you have a French fry. He wants people food. That's not healthy, I know. I have started making a "parrot dinner" that's Charlie food as he's often free flying at dinnertime. He was way underweight, slightly cracked beak, hurt foot. Foot healed now, beak almost growing out the bad part, wormed, given vitamins, etc. The beak doesn't inhibit eating.
His feathers were patchy, dull, missing the full throat column & back of neck ruff, & high under his wings on the body. I keep wondering if he has feather mites? His cage is new, was sterilized, his alone. All yours and perches are new. I've gone ahead & sprayed him for mites, his cage & changed his mat papers daily. Looked for any sign on him, on the paper - nothing. I've used the avian spray equivalent of "bactine" we had (one of the other birds got into biting a a different, younger male) under Charlie's wings in case there's a microbial issue. He's still biting at himself.
He doesn't know how to bathe. We're working on learning. Hates...hates!... being misted. We finally found a dish that he likes to bathe in, so he's getting about 1/2 wet until he gets water in his nose. I do have parrot spray bath to use on him - trying to keep the stress low, so I am stalling using it.
Mostly, he's happy. Hates being caged. He sleeps 12 hours, in cage, covered @ night, 7 - 7, but he often sleeps/starts quiet later in the a.m. I won't uncover him until 7, but I wait until he yells "mama" to go start our wakeup routine.
It's another month wait for a new patient avian vet check up.... Nothing is "wrong," I just worry that his long term feeding issues have caused complications with his skin and feathers. He's shredding feathers at the ends. Not pulling any out that I've seen. He's lost a few tail feathers that are growing back. His pin feathers are coming back in around his neck, very slowly.
Charlie given lots of love & attention, has free flight with safe space perches in scattered rooms, doesn't play with toys yet has many available, and says "Charlie baby," and "good boy, love birdy," as well as a couple others. Other than me, he won't let anyone else "step up," but is an avid shoulder surfer without biting.
Honestly, the diets a struggle. I'm going to find a parrot cookbook for picky birds. He hates pellets. Even the colored ones that are little veggies. He drinks lots of clean water. Will toss what he doesn't want off of his perch. Loves being into everything family...... He's my special baby. I adore him, and he's pretty obviously certian I'm his person.
Why do I feel like I'm missing something?
my 3 are hanging on me as I type sending yours moral support. 
