Random questions

[DerSchniffles]

This will be a bit all over the place but here goes:

1. Is there a 'safe' way to trim Scarlets toe nails? I did it with my smaller birds way back when, but ive never had to do it on a bigger bird and her nails are so dark I cant see the vein. I could always towel her but my biggest fear is loosing the trust we have been building so far. I dont want to hurt her. But she hasnt had her nails trimmed in a year (well, thats what the lady I got her from told me) and she has a couple that are WAY to long and I can tell its making it kinda hard on her. Mabey I could make some kind of game out of it? Any ideas or is the vet my best bet?

2. So im trying to make some of my own bird toys and Scarlet really seems to like tupperware. Every time I take a drink out of my water bottle (plastic) she is always trying to chew on it. Or the tubs I keep her fruit in. Is it birdy safe? It would be cool to make a perch or something with tupperware at the top with little treats (or whatever lol). I'd be afraid of her swallowing it or something.

3. This girl is a feathered garbage disposal. She can really eat lol. Is it good to have set times for chow time? I usually feed her 3 times a day (a.m. , when i get home from work, before bed) and I would hate to over feed her or something. I dont give her too much junk food (occasionally part of a PB&J sandwich, cracker, peice of popcorn) but I wanna be sure haha.

4. Can you take me to *bau now nauw* funkytown?

 

[god61021]

I am not sure of the answers to most of your question but I can definately take you to Funkytown.

 

[Oedipussrex]

pickle just sits there on his perch and lets me lift toenail after toenail and clip them. (he doesnt like the file though, i guess it feels weird to have that vibration going up his toes lol).

about not being able to see the quik, i cant help. I haven't made pickles nails bleed yet, but i honestly have no idea where it is. I just tentatively cut back to just before where i would think his nails should be.

I have noticed though, that on the underside of his nails, there is a lighter bit... ummm like his nails are black, and they seem to grow as little wedges literally shaped like this: ^
and in the overgrown ends, that is a hollow point inside his nail, but then further up the nail there is something that is inside the wedge... i don't know if this actually has anything to do with anything. but it does seem to me, to end in the right place to where i imagine his nails should be. I'm just too scared of cutting them too short that i have never tested it.

 

[Trina]

I would say no to the Tupperware i would worry about her taking a chunk out of it and ingesting it. I found at a mom and pop pet shot small stainless steel bowl for 3 bux. I made Gitana a perch for my glass door and attached a little bowl to it for water or treats.. Yesterday I noticed her climbing to the top of cage and would position herself so she could get a good view of the yard.

On the other i dont know, Gitanas nails are also to long i know it but the vet didnt want to stress her anymore so she has to wait for them to be cut until the end of week.. I dont have the guts to do it.. I can do my conures but with her i not comfortable so i gonna let someone else do it so she is not ticked at me LOL plus even though the vet told me eclectus are mouthy and their bite is not as bad as a conures , I dont wanna find out LOL

 

[mtdoramike]

Nail Clipping= I don't like nail clipping. You have to great chance of cutting the nail too short. I prefer the file. It's best to have your vet or local bird groomer do it. That way if the bird hates someone, it won't be YOU hahahahahahaha.

Tupperware= No soft plastics are safe for them.

I have set times I feed my birds.

I don't have a clue where Funk Town is or a bus that will take you to it.

 

[DerSchniffles]

Okay, thanks everyone, kinda what I figured but thought I would ask anyways.

On a side note, Scarlet started wing flipping . I am sure its not from a lack of fruits and veggies so im thinking its too much of something. Now I just gotta figure out what it is.

 

[mtdoramike]

All birds wing flip on occassion, Eclectus more than others. I wouldn't worry too much about it unless there is something else combined with it like toe tapping or if it gets worse. Mine wing flips on occassion and I just had her checked by an avian vet with full blood work up and he's fine with all levels within range and nothing out of the ordinary. He also overpreens his feathers that seems to be either seperation axiety or habit. The vet is leaning towards habit because he came to me that way after going from having the run of the house to being locked up 8-10 hours a day. Now, he's back to having the run of the house, but still overpreens.

 

[c3honey84]

Roxy wing flips when she wants to get off her perch, so it does not always mean that there's a problem.