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Post by Ira on May 25, 2022 14:39:34 GMT
I'm glad to hear that Charlie seems a little brighter.
Our vet advised a cloth too, but personally I find that it just makes things harder.
The only advice I can offer that might minimise the chasing around in the cage would be for one of you to get ready to catch with your hand in the cage, noting Charlie's position, and the other to make the room dark so he can't see you. As long as you get a good hold without accidentally brushing him first then it should be quick and easy. And the person controlling the lighting can stay where they are so if you do accidentally spook Charlie then they can light the room back up again so that he can see where he's going. I don't know what his cage or your house is like, but maybe moving to a bathroom or small room for the process would make it easier to make the room dark enough.
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Post by ffiscool on May 25, 2022 14:56:34 GMT
I feel your apprehension re catching. I caught Max once or twice as I needed to go out and he wasn’t yet au fait enough with the room, to be left out.
I was quick although once he got away from me.
Maybe when he’s on your knee or shoulder, your husband just does it?
He’ll be used to being caught by the vet.
Also, may or may not work, when I had Bailey, I was never able to grab him but I made a game out of the dropper so he wanted it in his mouth, then I squeezed.
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Post by tweetiepiesmom on May 25, 2022 15:09:03 GMT
Good to hear that Charlie seems better.
My Tweetie Pie is not easy to catch - slippery little guy. For both budgies, we do the chase. I cover the cage leaving the front open to make it a little darker. Birds will naturally go up in the dark. Mine like to perch in a corner so if I'm quick I can grab them there. If I'm giving meds, a friend will help and we have the meds ready to give. I do not use a cloth. I think it makes the catching more difficult and Tweetie Pie spits the meds on the cloth whereas he swallows if there is no cloth. Once I have him, I ruffle his head feathers, moving my finger lightly from the back of his head to his cere. It seems to calm him for a few seconds, allowing us to get the meds into his beak. Once done, put him over a perch so that when I release him, he's over a perch. Don't just open your hand in the cage and let him fly away.
Its not too bad and you can do this. Just make sure you don't hold his chest too tight so he can breathe normally. You want to enclose his neck with your thumb and forefinger so he can't wiggle up and enclose his lower belly with the rest of your fingers.
Charlie will be skittish of your hands for a while but he'll get over it.
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Post by ladybird on May 25, 2022 15:10:00 GMT
I will need to catch him from in his cage, not a chance I would be able to do it when he is out he is much to warey for that. I need to learn to grab him first attempt as I don’t want to chase him round his cage. The fact that I have to do it for a month I find upsetting, plus it has to cure him this time……I think I have to give him three different meds too….
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Post by ladybird on May 25, 2022 15:19:16 GMT
I don’t think my hubby will be too good helping me so it will just be me…..and he has a nasty bite…..Charlie not hubby! Covering his cage sounds a good idea will definitely try that….
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Post by tweetiepiesmom on May 25, 2022 15:30:04 GMT
Yes, Tweetie Pie bites the c**p out of me but he's never drawn blood! Just have the meds ready in the syringes. The vet should show you how to put the meds into his beak from the side of it.
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Post by criswell on May 25, 2022 15:48:08 GMT
I'm not very good at catching budgies and there is usually much chasing around the cage. My vet always makes things look easy but they just have to pick the budgie up out of the carry box. It's a bit different when they are in a big cage. I'm sure you will get the hang of it. I've not tried Ira's darkness technique. Dexter tends to run if my hand is anywhere near him though.
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Post by ladybird on May 25, 2022 16:15:53 GMT
Practicing on his tweety pie…
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Post by tweetiepiesmom on May 25, 2022 16:30:40 GMT
Good job. Looks like you have the thumb and forefinger position correct. Take your pinkie finger and the third finger and wrap that around his lower belly and touch the inside of your palm so he can't wiggle down.
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Post by Ira on May 25, 2022 16:31:49 GMT
My lot like to pull their heads away, so I found a way to hold them that works for us. Palm down their back, thumb one side of head, index on top, middle finger on the other side, ring and little fingers curled around their body to support/give them something to grab with their feet. At least budgie doses are tiny. A nuisance to draw up, but they're just a drop to give. My (un)willing assistant:
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Post by tweetiepiesmom on May 25, 2022 17:36:23 GMT
Yes, Ira, my Tweetie Pie grabs my pinkie with his feet. Charlie will wiggle and maybe scream, so steel yourself - he's just protesting.
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Oct 6, 2011 7:41:27 GMT
Marianne Marlow
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Post by Marianne Marlow on May 25, 2022 17:37:02 GMT
I tend to hold like this if I have to catch them. But generally my husband catches them and I medicate them. ffiscool I have had to get Max in his cage at night a few times and I end up jingling one of his balls at him and he fly's to my hand. I feel bad as he then thinks it's playtime
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Post by ffiscool on May 25, 2022 17:51:38 GMT
Naughty Max. I had that a few times at bedtime and did the same with the ball. My grabbing was in the day, so he was even harder to get in.
Mostly - obv different as you have more than him, I’d sit next to the cage and say bedtime. He’d then go in. I’m not sure how I held him but I might have used two hands as a scoop
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Post by Hezz on May 26, 2022 0:40:04 GMT
Ira has given good advice there. Her method is how I hold mine as well. When I have hold of them like this and are ready to administer the drugs, I hold them against my chest helps prevent them pushing themselves out with their feet. You should not put any pressure across their chests as you could damage air sacs and lungs. Don’t tilt the head back too far as the bird may then inhale the meds rather than ingest them.
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Post by tweetiepiesmom on May 26, 2022 19:33:32 GMT
Have you heard from the vet today - how is Charlie? Hopefully he's improving steadily and feeling more like himself.
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