New here looking for advice

[Keibra]

Hi,
I’m wondering if you guys can help me.
I’m feeling like a bad birdie mum tbh.
I have 2 parrots Lucky, a blue fronted Amazon And Dudette or Dudey a rose breasted cockatoo. I’ve had them a couple of years and they both have come from different other owners.

When I got dudette all she was eating was sunflower seeds and monkey nuts. I managed to get her in to a parrot seed mix (currently pets at home brand) but she is such a picky eater anything else I give her she just chucks to the floor of the cage. She does step up and I’ve taught her to dance but other than that she doesn’t speak but does love to scream occasionally lol. Mostly if u talk to her she just tweets back.

Lucky I got from a pet shop as when I saw him I fell in love with him. His breeder was selling him as he couldn’t handle him as lucky has a dislike of men. My dad has been on the receiving end of many bad bites while trying to help me get him in a carrier for the vet etc. Me he loves, I can fuss him scratch his head etc. He is stubborn though and will only get on me if I offer peanuts etc, I can get him to do most things for monkey nuts! lucky I have successfully got on to a pellet mix (Kaytee exact) though some colours he won’t eat! Red and green seem to be his favourite. He loves apple carrot banana and grapes.

I have 2 dogs and can’t let them out of their cages as much as I’d like and they’re often shut away in a different room. I’d love to interact with them more. One dog loves the birds the other would eat them.

My questions are pretty simple really.
Is what I am feeding them ok? What should I be giving them daily? How can I enrich their lives? ideally if we had an extra room they would be out of their cages all day everyday but at the moment they’re in a room where my front door is so they can’t be. Should I leave a tv on or radio in their room?

I’ve noticed over the last 2 days Dudette has been plucking her chest, how do I stop that? They have toys in their cages but won’t play with them much. I’m just stuck here I don’t know what I can do other than bring them into the room we are in, again they can’t come out much but will have company? Arrggh help?!

Now I feel like an even worse bird mum

 

[SailBoat]

In the Amazon sub-forum are two very important Threads located at the top of the page, highlighted in blue! For your Amazon, please read and re-read with detail the Understanding Amazon Body Language. This Thread is a required read and reread for an Amazon owner!!! It provides an understanding of the basic body language that an Amazon uses to communicate. An Adult Amazon expects you to understand their Body Language. Please understand that as an Adult Amazon, yours has added a few of its own. Understanding the basics will make it easier to understand what had been added.

The other Thread is Titled: I lLove Amazons --. This Huge Thread is useful for all Parrot owners and will provide a ton of information regarding Loving and Living with Amazons and Parrots in general.

I have found that pulling up a chair next to your Parrots and reading aloud is a great way for you to learn and your Parrots to enjoy your voice...

 

[Keibra]

Thank you @sailboat I will give that a gander x

 

[Scott]

Welcome to you, Lucky, and Dudey!

Nutrition is extremely critical for good health, longevity, and to some degree, behavior. Opinions vary greatly, but the preponderance of opinion for amazons and cockatoos is to avoid an all-seed diet. Fresh veggies/fruits aka "chop" several times weekly, supplemented by some combination of seed and pellets. My flock transitioned well to a quality pellet and receives chop 4 to 5 times/week. Parrots are extraordinarily stubborn and the odds of Lucky and Dudey liking identical foods remote.

A few helpful links:
http://www.parrotforums.com/attachm...olding-back-making-thread-20210107_090130.jpg
http://www.parrotforums.com/parrot-...afe-fresh-foods-toxic-food-lists-sprouts.html

Plucking is generally a response to boredom, emotional issues, ie stress, or on occasion medical condition, particularly if the belly. One of the most difficult behaviors to manage, check this thread for background and ideas:
http://www.parrotforums.com/behavioral/52217-plucking-search-answers.html

You have a difficult situation with dogs. Never trust a canine with birds, even if they appear friendly. All it takes is one moment of challenge or change of mood - believe me our Bereavement Forum is filled with brutal stories.

 

[noodles123]

Welcome and congrats!!!
Here is a copy and paste of mine for people living with birds after a long time, or for the first time:
Birds can cause allergies-- especially cockatiels, african greys and cockatoos...but others as well.

One really important thing when keeping a pet bird in the house is that you cannot use scented products or chemicals/fumes in your home (even things that smell nice to us(---things like smoke, perfumes, air freshener, standard cleaners, vaping, burning food, incense, cigarettes, glue, paint, window sealing kits, polishes, aerosol sprays etc can harm your bird's sensitive respiratory system (which is not the same as mammals'). Using products that heat or are heated which contain Teflon/PTFE/PFCs = very very dangerous. These products off-gas and can kill a bird in under 5 minutes. Teflon/PTFE/PFOA/PFCs are most commonly found in the kitchen (pots, pans, cookie sheets, drip trays, air fryers, popcorn poppers, baking mats, crock pots, toasters, toaster ovens, popcorn poppers, waffle irons, electric skillets etc. They can also be found in space-heaters, curling irons, blow-dryers, straighteners, heat lamps, heat guns, irons, ironing board covers etc. These fumes have killed birds through closed doors and on separate floors of a home, so you should replace your cookware with stainless steel, cast iron or ceramic. You may be thinking-- well, I have used them before and my bird is fine, but they kill very inconsistently and it depends on what you are cooking, the age of the pot/pan, the specific bird etc. There was a member who lost many of her birds from a pan she had literally used for years...then one day, her husband cooked an egg (without burning or overheating) and many of them died, while the rest showed signs of respiratory distress.

You will need an avian-safe cleaner to use within your home (both on the bird cage, but also, around the house). Again, chemical cleaners cannot be used in the home unless avian safe. F10 SC (the yellow/clear concentrate) is a great, avian-safe disinfectant. Other (less effective) options include products such as "poop-off", white vinegar + water, grapefruit seed extract + water, baking soda etc. Peroxide is also fairly safe for disinfecting places like your bathroom, but you do not want your bird to come into contact with it.

Some foods are toxic to them--avocado, coffee (even decaf), caffeine, rhubarb, alcohol, onions/garlic/leeks/chives, mushrooms etc. Salt is also very bad for them, as is most human food. They love it, but it's not healthy.

They should not just eat seed--you will want to feed lots of washed fresh vegetables. Fruit is fine in moderation, but too much can lead to obesity and behavioral issues due to sugar. I feed my bird a mix of high-quality seed (no sunflowers, no peanuts) and pellets (in addition to fruit/veg). ECCLECTUS PARROTS SHOULD NOT EAT PELLETS. Fruit pits are toxic, as are apple seeds. Corn cob and certain nut shells (if swallowed in big pieces) can cause blockages, so you should be very cautious if you give your bird nuts in the shell. Peanuts can harbor aspergillosis, and should be avoided altogether (even they you often see them marketed towards parrots).

It is important to make sure that your bird's toys and cage are made of safe metals. Stainless steel is safest. They can get metal poisoning from playing with or mouthing objects made of unsafe metals.

They need a set amount of sleep each night (at least 10 hours) and the largest cage you can manage with lots of different perches. You want to avoid the totally smooth/round ones as they can lead to a condition called bumblefoot. Never place a cage near drafts and never allow cool air to blow on a bird. They are sensitive to drafts and any temperature shift greater than 10 degrees can cause a shock to their system.

They need lots of safe toys and safe wood to chew. Not all wood is safe, so don't just assume you can give them any kind you want. Pressure blasted or chemically treated wood (e.g., lumber and many other types of wood from the hardware contains toxic chemicals or are cut from trees that are naturally toxic.

They hide illness and so you have to watch them to make sure they are eating normally and pooping normally etc. You should try to find an avian vet (certified avian) if at all possible and take your bird AT LEAST 1 x yearly for an exam. An avian vet is NOT the same as an exotics vet who sees birds--- so if a certified avian vet is available within a few hours of where you live, you will want to set up care.

All parrots can easily confuse the relationship with their human for a sexual one. You don't want this to happen, even though it seems sweet at first. Stick to petting on the head and neck only (the rest is sexual) and do not allow your bird to play in shadowy places, like boxes or under furniture, as these spaces are similar nesting sites and are hormonal triggers. NO SNUGGLE HUTS/TENTS!

Food and water should be replaced daily--- wash the containers daily. Never leave wet food out for more than a few hours (as it can lead to bacterial growth). Never try to medicate a bird via drinking water and never add vitamins to water. Vitamins can be over-dosed easily and harm a bird. Plus, when you add things to water, it makes it impossible to know how much they have gotten and it also encourages bacterial growth. Sometimes it can prevent them from drinking adequately if they don't like the flavor of whatever it is you added. Citrus and fruits high in vitamin C should be given in extreme moderation because they can cause "Iron Storage Disease" (for a cockatoo, 1 small tangerine slice 1-2 times a week was okay, according to my vet).

These birds have the intelligence of 3-4-year-old human, but they are wild animals (not domesticated like dogs). This means that they see the world (and humans) in a very unique way and so you must learn about their behavior in order to prevent problems (screaming, plucking etc). They need lots of time out of their cage daily and a lot of interaction (at least a few hours). At the same time, you don't want to spend TOO much time with a bird of they will become overly dependent and not know what to do with themselves when you go to work etc.

Finally, baby birds are ALWAYS sweet compared to adult birds. When your bird hits puberty, expect that it will exhibit some annoying and problematic behaviors (much like a teen). A through knowledge of behavior and setting expectations at an early age will make your life easier when that time comes, but do prepare yourself and expect that things will not always be so smooth-sailing. Think about a baby human compared to a teen...

I am sure there is more...but that is a basic overview of caring for birds.

Here is an excerpt from another post (which you may want to reference when shopping/ calling about Teflon:
The most insidious is the Teflon/ptfe/pfoa/pfcs because you have to call the company to verify that anything that heats or is intended to be heated does not contain these substances ("PTFE free" doesn't mean PFC free and so there are a lot of marketing gimmicks out there to make people buy what seems like healthier cook-ware, even though it still contains a version of the same chemicals). Also-- these chemicals can be woven into fabric, mixed into metal during the moulding process, applied as a powder, applied as a clear-coat, or mixed with a colored coating. You cannot assume that you will be able to identify them visually, so, when you call, you must provide all abbreviations and full names + spellings of each chemical compound (and then they usually give you "the run around" for a week or so IF they ever answer your questions at all---because sometimes it's a "trade secret"). It's all very sketchy and DuPont (manufacturer of Teflon) claims that off-gassing only occurs at really high temperatures, but there have been numerous documented/scientific and anecdotal reports of birds passing away at temperatures in the 300 F range (and again, it kills through closed doors and on different floors).
FYI- Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)
A perfluorinated compound (PFC)
Teflon (a common brand-name of non-stick cookware containing these chemicals)

10- 12 hours nightly for sleep, so if you get up at 6 and make a bunch of noise, you will wake the bird up (even if they are still covered). If they wake up at 6, bed should be between 6-8. You want to keep it around the same time if possible (because that's how it is in nature).


OH-- something I didn't mention in my last post-- stainless steel is really one of the only safe metals for them. Research the heck out of your cage and make sure that if it uses a powder-coating it is truly non-toxic. Birds can get metal poisoning from playing with sketchy toys (many made in China do not adhere to best practices) and just mouthing things like money, bolts, locks etc can cause toxic impacts...A man I know allowed his bird to play with un-used toothbrushes and (unbeknownst to him) there were small copper bits that held the bristles in place-- this nearly killed his bird even though the bird didn't actually swallow the pieces. Copper, zinc, nickel, some iron, lead etc are all toxic. Chicken wire and most screens= bad news.

 

[plumsmum2005]

Hi hun great to see another Brit on the Parrotforums


I will specifically talk about your Galah as they are the birds I have experience of and there are also great folk who can advise on your Ammie.



Dudey is a female RB2/Galah for sure? I have a female and she does not talk, just makes cute squeaks. I am gonna be straight with you, Dudey's diet has not been great and still needs loads of improvement. In light of the fact she's started plucking please can you book her into your Certified Avian Vet for a health check. She needs to be on a diet of mainly veggies, sprouts, a good pellet; TOPs or Harrison's are my preference over here, they're organic and widely available. My girl was on a dreadful diet when I got her too. How old is Dudey hun?


Please don't think you are a bad mum, you have hit a sticking point and seeking advice and guidance! Mine all like Radio 2 LOL.
Out time - as long as they get some, quality over quantity IMHO.

 

[Keibra]

Hi plumsmum2005

Dudey is about 6 I believe. I got her when she was about 1 or 2 from someone who’s father owned her and another but he had passed away. I was originally told Dudette was a he, and named him Dude because all the way home in the car he/she screeched in the box and I was saying “Dude calm down it’s ok” hence that stuck. Then I was on a forum, could even have been this one? I don’t remember and I posted something and was told that Dude was a Dudette!

As I say I got her on to a “parrot food” and have tried getting her onto fruit and veggies but she will nibble it then decide nope not eating that and just Chuck it to the floor. I’ve also tried mixing in some of Luckys Kaytee exact pellets but again she chucks it out. I don’t know what else to try. I shall try to get hold of some Harrison’s or Tops. I have an avian vet I go to with lucky but until now she’s seemed really happy. I’ve ordered more toys as I know she loves shredding things. Hopefully that’s all the plucking of her chest is that she’s bored.

 

[plumsmum2005]

Yes looking at Dudey's pic hun she looks like a sweet girl. Her leg ring should give you a year to be sure of her age. Sorry it was late last night when I answered your call for help or would have given more info then.



Parrot's don't just start plucking for no real reason, there is usually something quite substantial behind it and looking at the info you have given I am quite worried with regards to her diet. These birds do not do well on an all seed diet. (I lost Plum because of this kind of diet for several years) I make a veggie chop for my birds as well as sprout and offer fresh bits, Rubes has taken to eating only sweet pepper seeds, not the pepper Shame we are so far apart (SW) I'd have happily got some to you to try out. My girl has taken to Harrison's Fine pellets, she's now on Adult Lifetime after completing six months on the High Potency. My vet told me to not feed any seed at all, he's very against them.



Which vet do you use hun? It is a Certified Avian Vet isn't it? I can help source one if needed. Has Dudey been microchipped hun? Very little cost, worth doing.

 

[Keibra]

I will tell you all a bit about Lucky too and post a picture of him.

Lucky decided I was his when I visited a pet shop with my Dad looking for an African Grey! I spotted him right away because of his gorgeous colours and he spotted me too and climbed up the bars of the cage to get to me. I was told he did speak and I know I heard him say hello in the shop, but I’ve not heard him speak since he came home. He laughs if I laugh and if I talk to my Dad he joins in the conversation loudly sounding like a turkey!

When I got him he was sick, I argued with the pet shop that he was sick and they got his original owner to come to my house to look at him but they didn’t help out with vet bills, he had an ulcerated eye and was very unhappy. I got him treatment at the vet and his eye healed nicely. The treatment however was eye drops which to a brand new bird was difficult. But we got there. While the breeder was here he told me that Lucky was named so because as a chick he damaged his toe and it now crosses over the one next to it. He also told me the reason he sold lucky was because he couldn’t handle him, and that lucky was protective of the female he had and would attack the guy. Hence now he lunges at my Dad every time he walks by his cage and has bitten him pretty badly a few times whilst Dad has been helping me get him to the vet etc. He has never bit me and will beak me but not bite down. The only time he got me was when he went for my dad and missed.

I was told lucky was 7 when I got him in December 2017 so he now must be around 10 or 11.

Anyway that’s a bit of history for you all.

 

[Flboy]

Welcome to the group!