Post by rae on Sept 5, 2018 19:40:36 GMT
Alright, long time no see.
I have a few questions about conure care.
I recently got a green cheek, of what I believe to be a turquoise pineapple color morph. The color doesn't matter to me. I just couldn't walk away from him (or her, but that also doesn't matter, I don't care to get the blood test anyway).
His name is Loki and he is every bit as mischievous as his namesake. He is also incredibly smart and I plan to keep him busy.
In less than a week he has:
A) learned fingers and ears are not for biting
B) learned step up in the first 24 hours, though he wants to run away on the carpet
C) mostly allows me to put his flight suit on without struggle (compromise with my husband for when Loki is in the living room, eventually)
D) screaming and squacking for attention doesn't work
Here is my question: Do they often fluff up and look generally sleepy before a nap?
The situation that brings me to this question: Basal (budgie) has had ashen color, liquid fecals for a week and half now. I did NOT like the vet, supposed avian vet, but we are doing the course of baytril she shoved us away with. I will not be returning to her, but I don't want to immediately take him to another vet to see if the baytril will help. Maybe it will clear things up, but I still won't go back to her. He is not a cuddle bird, but we have a mutual respect. She wouldn't let me get him out of the carrier, and instead grabbed at him with a cloth, resulting in a whole lot of stress and flapping around. She also tried to tell me his fecals looked pretty normal, from the paper towel in the bottom of the carrier. I have worked with birds of all kinds; from tropical songbirds to waterfowl to arctic breeders, and I know his fecals were far from normal. She also seemed doubtful I could give him an oral med, despite my experience. She didn't run any tests and when I asked if I should bring Link (budgie) in because I couldn't keep them separated due to stress for long, she just said to watch him.
Through all this mysterious illness Basal's appetite has remained normal, he has played and sang and ALL activity has remained normal. He hasn't been fluffed or tired.
I have kept to a strict quarantine process with Loki. He is in the office and before and after going in we are washing hands. I know the timing of getting Loki was bad, considering I still don't know what's wrong with Basal and am worried about him. I did not get him in anticipation of something happening to Basal, and I've watched and monitored Basal and Link carefully.
Today I got Loki up at about 9:30. This was after giving Basal his meds and washing hands and everything I know to do. He was out and about in the office with me until about 1pm and I noticed he was fluffing his head a lot and when I watched him he was squinting. You can probably tell why I am worried about this. So I put him in his cage and left him alone. He got some food and drank some water first. I have a camera set up in there to watch him without being there. Better for sneaking to see behaviors. I watching him take a nap afterwards, then eat some more, play with a toy, and preen. But could he be hiding an issue? Is what Basal has contagious and somehow been spread to him even though Link remains healthy?
It wouldn't surprise me if I'm being incredibly paranoid.
Like I said, I work with birds of all kinds, and take specific measures to make sure I'm bringing nothing home. I'm worried because of Basal and so I'm turning to you guys to help me either feel better or decide to find a new avian vet.
He is fed Higgins Intune pellets. He was on Zupreem pellets at the store, but I don't trust Zupreem because of some issues I don't need to say here really. He eats just about any fruit and veggie I give him.
For reading all this post I have some fun pics. Yes, his wings are clipped. It's a common practice in the US and not something I do. He is going to molt and have flight afterwards. Both Basal and Link are flighted but came to me with clipped wings as well, which resulted in Link flying more like a bat than a bird, very uncoordinated.
fruit treat
He pretty much lets me handle him and do anything.
flight suit
Did I mention he lets me do pretty much anything?
My boss went to an avian conference and presented hand-rearing protocols of black palm cockatoos to increase survival when the parents can't/won't raise their chicks. They came home with a bunch of treat samples and popcorn was included. It was just a small treat and I wouldn't give him anything with butter or salt or anything like that on it.
I have a few questions about conure care.
I recently got a green cheek, of what I believe to be a turquoise pineapple color morph. The color doesn't matter to me. I just couldn't walk away from him (or her, but that also doesn't matter, I don't care to get the blood test anyway).
His name is Loki and he is every bit as mischievous as his namesake. He is also incredibly smart and I plan to keep him busy.
In less than a week he has:
A) learned fingers and ears are not for biting
B) learned step up in the first 24 hours, though he wants to run away on the carpet
C) mostly allows me to put his flight suit on without struggle (compromise with my husband for when Loki is in the living room, eventually)
D) screaming and squacking for attention doesn't work
Here is my question: Do they often fluff up and look generally sleepy before a nap?
The situation that brings me to this question: Basal (budgie) has had ashen color, liquid fecals for a week and half now. I did NOT like the vet, supposed avian vet, but we are doing the course of baytril she shoved us away with. I will not be returning to her, but I don't want to immediately take him to another vet to see if the baytril will help. Maybe it will clear things up, but I still won't go back to her. He is not a cuddle bird, but we have a mutual respect. She wouldn't let me get him out of the carrier, and instead grabbed at him with a cloth, resulting in a whole lot of stress and flapping around. She also tried to tell me his fecals looked pretty normal, from the paper towel in the bottom of the carrier. I have worked with birds of all kinds; from tropical songbirds to waterfowl to arctic breeders, and I know his fecals were far from normal. She also seemed doubtful I could give him an oral med, despite my experience. She didn't run any tests and when I asked if I should bring Link (budgie) in because I couldn't keep them separated due to stress for long, she just said to watch him.
Through all this mysterious illness Basal's appetite has remained normal, he has played and sang and ALL activity has remained normal. He hasn't been fluffed or tired.
I have kept to a strict quarantine process with Loki. He is in the office and before and after going in we are washing hands. I know the timing of getting Loki was bad, considering I still don't know what's wrong with Basal and am worried about him. I did not get him in anticipation of something happening to Basal, and I've watched and monitored Basal and Link carefully.
Today I got Loki up at about 9:30. This was after giving Basal his meds and washing hands and everything I know to do. He was out and about in the office with me until about 1pm and I noticed he was fluffing his head a lot and when I watched him he was squinting. You can probably tell why I am worried about this. So I put him in his cage and left him alone. He got some food and drank some water first. I have a camera set up in there to watch him without being there. Better for sneaking to see behaviors. I watching him take a nap afterwards, then eat some more, play with a toy, and preen. But could he be hiding an issue? Is what Basal has contagious and somehow been spread to him even though Link remains healthy?
It wouldn't surprise me if I'm being incredibly paranoid.
Like I said, I work with birds of all kinds, and take specific measures to make sure I'm bringing nothing home. I'm worried because of Basal and so I'm turning to you guys to help me either feel better or decide to find a new avian vet.
He is fed Higgins Intune pellets. He was on Zupreem pellets at the store, but I don't trust Zupreem because of some issues I don't need to say here really. He eats just about any fruit and veggie I give him.
For reading all this post I have some fun pics. Yes, his wings are clipped. It's a common practice in the US and not something I do. He is going to molt and have flight afterwards. Both Basal and Link are flighted but came to me with clipped wings as well, which resulted in Link flying more like a bat than a bird, very uncoordinated.
fruit treat He pretty much lets me handle him and do anything. flight suit Did I mention he lets me do pretty much anything? My boss went to an avian conference and presented hand-rearing protocols of black palm cockatoos to increase survival when the parents can't/won't raise their chicks. They came home with a bunch of treat samples and popcorn was included. It was just a small treat and I wouldn't give him anything with butter or salt or anything like that on it.
