Post by willowsmum on Aug 8, 2021 12:32:55 GMT
One minute I'm looking at a new cage and the next I'm driving home with a new addition to the family - scarily easy done
So, I would like to introduce our new boy.....
He was one of 2 males and 2 females abandoned and collected by SSPCA inspectors in Glasgow. One male/female pair was rehomed Homer and Marge) leaving Bart and Lisa who found a new home a few weeks later. Unfortunately Lisa died a couple of days later (SSPCA thought it might have been due to stress but cause of death was pretty much unknown) and the new owner returned Bart to the SSPCA. He'd had such a rough time and was pining for Lisa and we are getting a bigger cage so.....he arrived home with us last night. Upon collection we discovered that they thought he may have had lice when he was originally rescued a couple of months ago so they treated all 4 birds with Xeno (Ivermectin but not sure what %) but they only seem to have received one treatment. Also, to minimise his stress they wanted to rehome him in his existing Hagen Vision cage. We've done our best to clean it with him in it and without stressing him too much (I can confirm that it is possible to shut yourself in the back of an estate car to clean a cage with a bud in it ) but the cage is pretty grubby with areas that I'm just not going to be able to clean thoroughly with him in it.
It all happened very suddenly so I've found myself with loads of questions and would really appreciate some advice!
1. He'll be in quarantine for a month, in a completely separate room from Willow but what should I do about his cage? SSPCA want the cage back but are happy to wait a while. He could stay in the existing cage for the month and I could probably get it to a passable level of cleanliness or should I get him out of it asap and give him the new large cage? If he has lice/mites I'm worried that he would take them with him to the new cage but if I leave him in the current cage it could have mites hiding in it.
2. Should I re-treat him with Ivermectin? He was treated with one dose of Xeno 5 weeks ago but didn't have any further doses. He doesn't seem to be scratching any more than usual and I've seen no other evidence of mites/lice. It would be stressful for him if I did have to treat him so I'm reluctant.
3. Do I need to be careful who has which cage before they are introduced? Plan is that the boys will have access to the big cage in the daytime and free flight in that 'playroom' all day and at night they'll sleep in Willows current cage in their bedroom. Well that's the current plan anyway.
4. Should I let new boy and Willow see each other through the glass doors between their rooms or will this stress them out? They are already calling to each other.
5. Thoughts about how long I should wait before letting him out? I don't think he's been let out for weeks and is actively exercising his wings.
And now the fun bit....
6. I have no idea of his type at all? Can you tell from these pics? His tail colour really surprised me when I saw it for the first time.
7. Any name suggestions for this gorgeous lad (Bart was just a temporary name whilst he was at the SSPCA so I think we get to rename him )? We had thought Bramble, in keeping with the whole tree/plant thing we have going on with Willow, but he looks a bit too exotic for a Bramble.
He's such a happy wee soul and we've had chattering and head bobbing, beak grinding and long blinks. He is still obviously stressed though with very wet poos and nervous branch running so we are keeping a close eye but I don't want to subject him to another car journey and vet visit unless I have to.
Thanks all!
So, I would like to introduce our new boy.....
He was one of 2 males and 2 females abandoned and collected by SSPCA inspectors in Glasgow. One male/female pair was rehomed Homer and Marge) leaving Bart and Lisa who found a new home a few weeks later. Unfortunately Lisa died a couple of days later (SSPCA thought it might have been due to stress but cause of death was pretty much unknown) and the new owner returned Bart to the SSPCA. He'd had such a rough time and was pining for Lisa and we are getting a bigger cage so.....he arrived home with us last night. Upon collection we discovered that they thought he may have had lice when he was originally rescued a couple of months ago so they treated all 4 birds with Xeno (Ivermectin but not sure what %) but they only seem to have received one treatment. Also, to minimise his stress they wanted to rehome him in his existing Hagen Vision cage. We've done our best to clean it with him in it and without stressing him too much (I can confirm that it is possible to shut yourself in the back of an estate car to clean a cage with a bud in it ) but the cage is pretty grubby with areas that I'm just not going to be able to clean thoroughly with him in it.
It all happened very suddenly so I've found myself with loads of questions and would really appreciate some advice!
1. He'll be in quarantine for a month, in a completely separate room from Willow but what should I do about his cage? SSPCA want the cage back but are happy to wait a while. He could stay in the existing cage for the month and I could probably get it to a passable level of cleanliness or should I get him out of it asap and give him the new large cage? If he has lice/mites I'm worried that he would take them with him to the new cage but if I leave him in the current cage it could have mites hiding in it.
2. Should I re-treat him with Ivermectin? He was treated with one dose of Xeno 5 weeks ago but didn't have any further doses. He doesn't seem to be scratching any more than usual and I've seen no other evidence of mites/lice. It would be stressful for him if I did have to treat him so I'm reluctant.
3. Do I need to be careful who has which cage before they are introduced? Plan is that the boys will have access to the big cage in the daytime and free flight in that 'playroom' all day and at night they'll sleep in Willows current cage in their bedroom. Well that's the current plan anyway.
4. Should I let new boy and Willow see each other through the glass doors between their rooms or will this stress them out? They are already calling to each other.
5. Thoughts about how long I should wait before letting him out? I don't think he's been let out for weeks and is actively exercising his wings.
And now the fun bit....
6. I have no idea of his type at all? Can you tell from these pics? His tail colour really surprised me when I saw it for the first time.
7. Any name suggestions for this gorgeous lad (Bart was just a temporary name whilst he was at the SSPCA so I think we get to rename him )? We had thought Bramble, in keeping with the whole tree/plant thing we have going on with Willow, but he looks a bit too exotic for a Bramble.
He's such a happy wee soul and we've had chattering and head bobbing, beak grinding and long blinks. He is still obviously stressed though with very wet poos and nervous branch running so we are keeping a close eye but I don't want to subject him to another car journey and vet visit unless I have to.
Thanks all!