Overwhelmed!

[Marayks]

Having been thrust into Galah ownership (and being completely ignorant regarding what this entailes) I find myself Constantantly worrying that I'm not doing a "good enough" job. Main reason for overwhelming feelings of guilt is the amount of time I can spend with him. I work long hours (spilt shifts) and he spends lots of time on his own alone. I feel so bad about that - all the time. He is certainly a happy bird and doesn't seem to be holding a grudge regarding being left alone so much. When I am home and I let him out he demands 100% of my attention and I get nothing done! I'd leave him out longer but I do have chores to do so after about two hours I put him back in his cage and I feel guilty again.... Am I doing enough? On a happier note he finally had his first spray down (I've had hin 5 weeks and no bath - made me feel guilty but he didn't like it) and he also let me blowdry him - good boy!

 

[MonicaMc]

If you can, incorporate him into your daily chores!!!

Many people work full time jobs and aren't home for most of the day and thousands of birds have learned to adapt! I know its hard, and birds are flock creatures, but they can learn to adapt!

 

[Featheredsamurai]

On Monday and Thursday I'm gone from 8 am until 9pm and my galah is doing great, she used to pluck when she'd been abused and it took a long time to get her to stop and she hasn't restarted yet.

Check out foraging toys, when I'm gone I give some to Rosie and also stuff her toys with little yummie things so she has things to occupy herself with since she doesn't really play with toys.

 

[Marayks]

Thanks guys - will spend some time during these school holidays making shredding toys for Sheldon - and I've tried to incorporate him into chores whilst he's on my shoulder but he will bite me when I try - little bugger - but maybe as time goes by he'll get better at just hanging out (have really only had him for such a short period of time). Well I do feel slightly less guilty so thanks guys!

 

[Pookamama]

Do you have an out of cage movable T-stand? We have a couple for Pepper and they are perfect for her to 'hang out' close to use when we don't want her on us.

 

[Marayks]

Hi pookamama - I don't have a t stand - I do have a large perch on wheels with a large tray underneath - trouble is he doesn't stay on it - have been teaching him to fly to me from the perch and that's worked well but now he also flies at me when I don't want him to...he's also a scaredy cat and freaks a bit when on my shoulder and I walk around the house - so have been doing that very slowly - once again I'll need to just be patient - I'm taking him to an avian vet on Saturday for nail clipping and general health check and hoping for an idea of his age - Im hoping he's only about a year old and hopefully still trainable... Thank you for your suggestion

 

[GoGoPedro]

I work all day. I moved Pedro's cage from the family room to an empty bedroom with a large window. He listens to talk radio all day and watches cars, birds and squirrels out the window. I'm surprised he haunts started sounding like Rush Limbaugh yet! I have toys hanging in his cage, but since he's now loosing his eyesight, I don't move them around much. Get a T stand and teach him to stay there when you're working around the house. I have a bowl attached to the middle for treats. A water dish fits into it so he can get a drink. I have a large tray underneath so my carpet stays clean. Pedro enjoys this perch very much. Hope this helps.

 

[WannaBeAParrot]

Hi Marayks,
I don't have experience with Galahs, but here's what I do with my time and attention demanding Cherry-head -- If it would apply to you and Shelton-- Pritti gets on my shoulder and we'll go in to kitchen when am doing things there. After a couple of minutes I might set him down on the tile floor and put down a foot toy or two and a towel in case he wants something soft. If it will be a while, I put down a little bowl of water and a snack. He loves it. He walks around the perimeter, check out the same spots as he does heach time, looks for his reflection in stainless steel, like to check out the different noises his beak makes on metal, wood, tile. My kitchen is pretty large, so he gets a good work out. If I'm standing still, he'll snuggle to my feet when he wants to. And, when he's done with the floor or wants to see what I'm doing, he'll climb up my clothes to my shoulder or climb up a curtain to the top of a cabinet (lil rascal). But it's like birdy day camp. I do the same thing in the bathroom in the mornings and evenings, as long as you don't spray anything in to the air, he should be fine. Easy clean up on tile floors too.

It's a way to keep him with you but lets you both do your own thing.

 

[Marayks]

Geeze wannabe parrot that sounds amazing - mine won't at the moment get onto the floor ever - I'd love him to have an explore around... He barely gets on the floor of his cage and any toys I leave there are completely ignored.. Tomorrow is vet day and I'll find out about lots of stuff - his age for starters...and I need to get some good training books/DVDs

 

[SpringCottageParrot]

We leave the radio on for Casper when we go out, or if only going for a couple of hours he gets a dvd to watch, he loves to hear the voices of children so "Swallows and Amazons" is now one of his favourites especially as it has a parrot in it.
Like you, we had Casper thrust on us at short notice but are now, having got over the initial worries over how to look after him life has become less stressful.
If you haven't already done so, get some pet insurance because if you do need to visit the vets it can be very expensive.
We love pictures by the way.

 

[Marayks]

Turns out Sheldon is much older than I thought - vet thinks around 4 or 5 years old. Some progress has been made - introduced him to my leather rug which is made from woven stops of soft leather - big hit and on the floor for short periods of time. He's having a bad day - it's spring time here and I understand they can get a bit 'hormonal' at this time of the year. He keeps attacking my 14 year old son - today I tried 3 times (putting him back in his cage when he attacked poor Ben) but he just kept doing it and will attack me too when trying to get him off my son. I understand that Ben is a threat to him (affection wise) but not sure what to do about this. Put Sheldon back in his cage for the 3rd time and leaving him there for now. He's been out of his cage before with Ben around but today he really attacked him, over and over - all very stressful sigh. Will post photo soon (as soon as I've worked how to lol)

 

[amysaviary]

I know it is hard for some people to do but a wing trim would do him good.No more flying and attacking ur son and will make him need u more so u can build a stronger bond. In time after a bond and training u can let them grow out again(I always have my birds clipped but up to u) Also 4 to 5 is not old for a bird and they r always learning so training will be good for him.

 

[Marayks]

Hi Amy - I've been reading that you shouldn't clip Galahs as they are prone to obesity - however he really doesn't fly all that much - wouldn't that be very disorientating for him if I clipped him now? Although he's not been with me long a few good fly arounds have been the norm (although he shreeks a lot when flying - perhaps he's already freaked out lol) - having said all that the attacking is no good - had him out and about this afternoon before my son comes home from school and he's been sweet as ... Also how long does it take for the feathers to grow back in? I certainly hear what you are saying about needing me more then and that 4 or 5 isn't that old yet so am still hopeful for further training - I will certainly consider it (the clipping) although would not have the confidence to do it myself (very scary thought) - will wait and see if it was just a bad day (which I'm understanding isn't that uncommon with parrots) - thank you for taking the time to share your advice

 

[amysaviary]

I don't think if u clip now and train he will become obese in the couple months till they grow back. That said it really depends on what stage his feathers r at when u clip. Like if he is ready to molt and they would be growing new ones soon anyway it could be a month or 2. If not it could be 6 months to a year. I never owned a Galah but have 2 friends that have them and they r always clipped and have A+ vet checks. Every bird is different but if u clip and find obesity to be a problem u can fix it many other ways, like foraging for food not just in a bowl where they don't have to hunt and work for food. Also swings and playgyms make them move not just be a perch potato! lol! Also if u don't feel safe clipping urself have some who knows what they r doing do it! Better safe then sorry, also u can do different clips not a full 1 and see if that helps? Good luck!

 

[Marayks]

Lol - Perch Potato! I think that's going to be a new favorite expression! And yes of course ultimately I'm responsible for his size, it's not like he'll open the fridge and help himself! Chatting to a friend today who clipped her own bird (she said one side only) and said it wasn't difficult... Sheldon mistook me for my son today lunged at me and bit me really hard on the top of my finger (it's still bleeding...) - I thought he'd bitten me hard before, I was mistaken... ahh the joys of parrot ownership - what have I gotten myself into....

 

[amysaviary]

I am not a fan of the 1 wing clip. It can be very hard to balance for the bird. I would just do a light clip like the first 4 feathers on each side. U can always do more if need be but I have seen many birds have a hard time getting around when u only cute 1 side. Just my opinion.

 

[Thingamagigs]

Im new but had to respond to this. I live in Australia and have had a Galah before... Larry... loved him to pieces. Galahs are probably the most adaptable when it comes to spending your work hours alone/in a cage. My guy was MORE than happy with his cage... it was huge and filled with loads of tricky fancy toys he loved to fiddle with. I also used to leave the TV on for him, he would "watch" it.

As for out time... I find working chores into out time is perfect, you just have to be creative. For example, Larry would love to "help" me to the chores. That involved keeping that pesky vacuum cleaner in line (chased it around or rode on top of it), making sure I was accurate with the mop (sitting on the end so I had to mop at an odd angle), helped me pick up (pulled everything back out again) or helped me put away my tools (before I was finished with them). They are like toddlers, they love being involved, you just need to learn their personality and adapt to it.

And the wing clipping... galahs in the wild don't fly a lot, they forage on the ground and I found my galah even full flighted NEVER would fly inside. He never got fat but I also fed him pellets and fruit, vege and nuts. A LOT of australian galahs are fed seed, sunflower seed especially... that seems to be the majority of the cause, rather than wing clipping

I miss my Galah... I am jealous! Larry "escaped" his cage when my parents were birdysitting him for me (I was in hospital having a baby). They left the doors unlocked... or they sold him and told me he escaped They disapproved of me having a galah when I had a baby, so I find the possibility they sold him the most likely of the two. My heart was forever broken.

 

[Marayks]

Lol Ari - I've posted on your thread before I checked mine - doh! I wish I could do more with Sheldon - he freaks out at a lot of things I try to do with him - I realize I need to be patient as I've not had him long - I can't imagine him riding on the vacume cleaner! That would be great (especially considering the amout of time I now need to use the vacume cleaner - about 10 more often than before Sheldon's arrival). About the clipping thing I'm still very much in two minds - he does seem to like his fly around my very small lounge room - although it is accompanied by much shrieking (gleeful? In fright? Not sure) and yes he does seem to like his cage and I do leave the Telly on for him (abc kids lol) during the day. The appeal of clipping him is mainly that I could then take him out with me more (think visits to the park/cafe) as well as hanging out with me in the back court yard - which he currently does in his cage which I can get in and out of the house through sliding glass doors. Seeing as he does fly a bit (maybe 4 or 5 laps of the lounge during an hour "out") I can't risk letting him out side whilst flighted. Regarding feeding - he does love his seeds and I pick out 95% of the sunflower seeds which he only gets when out of the cage - he hates nuts but loves tuna and picks at his veggies (without enthusiasm) also not keen on fruit - have tried most of um - and have pellets ( crushed ) from the vet - it's hard to tell if he eats any of them but the vet said that as they were crushed he'd ingest more - he certainly seems pretty happy - constantly dances at me - cutie. I kern trying to give him native fauna stuff but freaks out over them - does love the phone book which now lives on the bottom of his cage...

 

[MonicaMc]

Clipping is no guarantee of keeping him safe from taking off... with enough wing and adrenaline, most birds can disappear into the shrubs! And, being clipped, you have now endangered them further as they'll have a harder time escaping from predators. A bird who can't take off is in danger of hurting himself if he can't safely land... i.e. broken legs, broken keel bone, broken beak...

For outings, it's honestly safer to use either a harness, a small cage or a carrier.


I know with my tiels, the easiest way I got them to eat more pellets was to make a paste of pellets and seeds. I did a 50/50 ratio of seeds and pellets, mixed together, made into cakes or little balls. If they wanted to eat seed, they had to dig through the pellets, and since it was all stuck together, they had to taste it! Don't know how well this may work for a galah, though.

 

[Customcasket]

My guys always have the radio to listen to and lots of toys to play with. I cycle the same toys in and out of cages and switch from cage to cage to make them more enjoyable. I just switched out my two budgies' toys. Spooky now has Meister's toys and she has Spooky's. I like to stuff treats and snacks into foraging toys. It keeps them occupied for hours.

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Both of my conures have one of those. I fill it with peanuts and dried fruit if im going to be gone for awhile. I'm sure you can find one bigger if need be.