Tammy with Black Capped Conure in MN

SassiBird

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May 10, 2016
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Black Capped Conure - Sassafras - 2015; GCC Rosalita - 2018; GCC Apple Blossom - 2018
Hey, just introducing myself and the Sassi Bird.

Currently managing a husband, 2 cocker spaniels, and Sassi the black-capped conure. Sassi just turned one in April 2016. I got her from <*gasp*> Petco!

I've had small birds before - budgie, cockatiels and a love bird. Last fall I was at Petco picking up stuff for the pooches and saw the most animated little green bird there! She ran up to the glass, bobbed her head, played peek-a-boo behind her name tag and did flips. I was hooked! I read everything I could find on conures and I visited her every day for almost 2 weeks while I worked on getting hubby's approval. I ended up on the short end of a household chores contract in exchange for the bird, but she was worth it!

I had her vet checked right away. Originally, we called her Louy, because my gut said she was a male - all the other pets have been male - I went with the odds. I didn't think it mattered to me, but it turns out it really does. DNA tested her, and I have to say, I do treat her differently now that I know she's a girl!

She had her one year checkup this week and the results were mixed. She is a little under weight, but healthy in all other aspects. We started pro-biotics and Avian Missing Link in addition to her Zoopreem pellets.

As bold as she was when I first met her, she is not adventurous when it comes to food. Raspberries are the only fruit/veggi that she likes, and she mostly wants to eat the raspberry seeds. She will eat pasta and bread, but no veggies. We just keep trying. She doesn't even like Nutri-berries. Pellets and raspberries, that's where we're at.

Her wings were clipped when I got her. She grew all her flight feathers in over the winter, but she has no idea how to use them, and probably not enough muscle. I had hoped to let her keep the flight feathers, but considering I like to take her out in the sunshine, the vet clipped just a few this year. We might try a harness in the future.

That's probably enough about us! Nice to be here and thank you for all the information you've provided incognito over the last 6-7 months.

Tammy
 
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Hi Tammy and welcome to you and Sassi! She is beautiful!
Sometimes it takes awhile to get them eating healthier, but it is a good sign that she at least likes raspberries:) Since she likes bread, you could probably whip up some birdie bread and sneak some veggies into her that way.
I'm so glad you joined us and I can't wait to hear more about her:)
 
Tammy, a warm welcome to you and your menagerie. I'm sure with a bit of creativity you'll improve Sassi's diet and health.

Curious, did the vet perform a blood panel at the first visit? Just to get a baseline and rule out any issues?
 
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Thanks. We tried to do a blood panel, but her veins were too little. They took DNA blood from a toe nail, but apparently for a blood panel they need it from the wing.

Tammy, a warm welcome to you and your menagerie. I'm sure with a bit of creativity you'll improve Sassi's diet and health.

Curious, did the vet perform a blood panel at the first visit? Just to get a baseline and rule out any issues?
 
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Thanks! I will happily take any bird bread recipe recommendations.

Hi Tammy and welcome to you and Sassi! She is beautiful!
Sometimes it takes awhile to get them eating healthier, but it is a good sign that she at least likes raspberries:) Since she likes bread, you could probably whip up some birdie bread and sneak some veggies into her that way.
I'm so glad you joined us and I can't wait to hear more about her:)
 
Oh, yeah, they love the birdie bread no matter what you put in it. Start out with cornbread mix and add anything you want....eggs and shells, raisins and any other berries...even ground up pellets if you're trying to get them used to pellets.:orange:
 
Welcome, Terry an sassy. Sneak those veggies and frutz in there any way you can, little bit at a time, parrots do not live by seed or pellet alone. Re: bloodwork, they need a min amount, to do the panel thingy, it may have been not enough from the toe. When Salty my Lil 270 gram amazon got his done they took ...hmm think 1 inch of a soda straw worth from his jugular vein. Lol, I couldn't watch. But it is a super good idea to get it done while sassy is feeling good, that way they have something to compare it to, if she ever is not feeling so sassy.
 

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