keeping parrots (merged)

kr15snw

If the vet has found nothing wrong and can give no explanation Id go to another vet. Thats terrible!!

They are known for it, and luckily ours hasnt done it. It can be a mass of reasons though, boredom, illness, mites, skin condition!!

Tell her to see another vet as they should be able to suggest somthing!

tiamai_d

Can your friend get a hold of any of teh following branches? Birds love stripping bark of them and its a nice destrucive passtme that should give them an alternitive outlet for frustration or stress, rather than plucking feathers.


List comes from http://www.plannedparrothood.com/plants.html

and it gives permision to reprint the list.



[SIZE=-2]The following materials
are not safe if toxic
chemicals or insectides
have been sprayed on
them. Before installing
them in any cage, scrub
all branches with a
non-toxic disinfectant
(such as diluted chlorine
bleach), then rinse and
dry well.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-2]ASH
CITRUS (ANY)
DOGWOOD
ELM
EUCALYPTUS
GUAVA
MADRONA
MAGNOLIA
MANZANITA
NUT (EXCEPT
CHESTNUT & OAK)
PAPAYA
PINE
PRUNE
RIBBONWOOD
SASSAFRAS
THURLOW
VINE MAPLE
WILLOWS:
(GOAT, !!!!! &
WEEPING)[/SIZE]

A good one is conifer. If you have a local florist, goin and ask nicely if they could keep the think branches from the conifer (itsused as greenery for wreaths) for you. Most of the time if you offer a little something they will agree. And usually the conifer comes in with nice thick branches too. I used to work as a florist and would take it home for out Grey. He loves it. Let it dry out first though as with the other branches.

Froglet

Maz wrote: »

Thanks everyone!

It's difficult to say which of your suggestions are the most apt. My friends relationship ended some time ago, Jack (the parrot) has plenty of toys etc in his cage, a companion parrot (if there is such a thing! a green macaw kept in a seperate cage alongside him) and he has the telly on all day! I will recommend that he finds a vet who has more specialist knowledge though.

A television on all day for it and the green macaw,also stuck in a lousy cage,is hardly the answer.These birds in the wild do not watch television!! They fly long distances,in flocks and spend time eating and grooming.They also want a mate,only natural as they reach maturity.So what else has the poor creature got to do all day except self harm? So would most people going carzy with boredom and frustration.I hate seeing ANY bird in a cage,even the humble budgie.It is not natural.

At least the parrot sanctuary lets theem live in huge aviarys.if these birds he owns cannot live in an aviary it would be kindest to pass them on for a more natural life.

kr15snw

I disagree with the above. My parrot spends the day in his cage as its unsafe for him to be out of it with us not being in the home.

But he is not bored and is a very happy and healthy bird, as are a lot of other birds.

Also the chances of him finding a parrot sanctuary are very very slim, and even if he does they will not just be put in an avairy. If a bird has spent its life indoors it will kill it if you stick it outside. They would not be used to the weather etc. If a bird is brought up as an indoor cage bird then they will live perfectly happy as this! Obviously they need a good few hours a day out of the cage so they can enjoy themseleves, they dont even need to fly as alot of birds are clipped to protect themselves (my dads African grey is clipped so he doesnt hurt himself in the house).

To the OP, by leaving the TV on and having another bird in the room is brilliant and hats off to them for doing this. Ollie (my bird) has the radio on all day as were not keen on leaving the TV on all day.

They also do not need a mate, as many birds do not realise they are birds. Ollie has not seen another parrot of his species since he was 2 weeks old and so thinks he is a little human. Hence why he gets on so well with humans and tries to mate with my foot.... Lol.

It sounds like your friend is doing well. Could you suggest moving the toys around, as this adds a sense of new toys to the cage. Also get some new toys so every few weeks you can move toys / perches around. This keeps them entertained

Can I also reccomend you send her (or even look yourself) to www.tailfeathersnetwork.com go to the forum and go to other parrots. There are ALOT of specialised parrot breeders / owners there who will be able to help

Fran

kr15snw wrote: »

My parrot spends the day in his cage as its unsafe for him to be out of it with us not being in the home.

You aren't there so how do you work out he is happy?

Also the chances of him finding a parrot sanctuary are very very slim, and even if he does they will not just be put in an avairy. If a bird has spent its life indoors it will kill it if you stick it outside.

The Parrot Sanctuary take birds from all over the country. I was there in January this year and I've seen what happens. The birds don't go straight into an aviary but first go into quarantine for 35 days. They are in a room with other birds (but separate). Then they go into an introductory aviary outside - but not in winter only when it's warmer. Finally they go into an aviary with their own type and make friends with the other birds and get to fly. It certainly does not kill them to put them outside and they use a gradual process. They have other birds around them from the second they get there for life and never get lonely and left on their own.

.. they dont even need to fly as alot of birds are clipped to protect themselves

They don't fly because humans prevent them for their own amusement.

They also do not need a mate, as many birds do not realise they are birds. Ollie has not seen another parrot of his species since he was 2 weeks old and so thinks he is a little human. Hence why he gets on so well with humans and tries to mate with my foot.... Lol.

This is rubbish (as is much of what you are saying) - birds have a strong mating instinct the same as all species. As for thinking it's funny to have it "mate with your foot" rather than with another BIRD - I find that quite sick.

I think parrots are lovely and intelligent birds - which is why I wouldn't keep one, I'd rather they lived like birds.

feather_2

Feather-plucking is very distressing for the carer as well as the parrot, but please ask your friend to persevere. Many sanctuaries are bursting at the seams with these intelligent, sensitive creatures who can live up to 60-70 years. Parrots bond strongly with their 'flock', whether human or bird, and often grieve when abandoned. Jack may be missing her ex-partner or may be reacting to a change in diet or environment, maybe something very small, like moving the furniture. Are there any new noises - new neighbours or building work? New visitors to their home? Has your friend been anxious/depressed? Companion parrots can pick up, and mirror, mood changes. Has she changed her work hours? Has the macaw become aggressive towards Jack? There are so many possible causes. She is absolutely right to check physical health first - there's a list of avian vets in Parrots magazine http://www.parrotmag.com/. If you could give a bit more detail on Jack's (and his macaw mate's) history, their living conditions and routine, it might be possible to make more specific suggestions of things to try. It may take time and a lot of tlc, but many parrots can and do recover from this completely, though some always revert to it under stress. Another excellent source of information, especially on enriching the environment for captive birds, is the 'All about Parrots' section of the World Parrot Trust site http://www.parrots.org

Fran

feather wrote: »

Many sanctuaries are bursting at the seams with these intelligent, sensitive creatures who can live up to 60-70 years.

The Parrot Sanctuary never turn any birds away and are expanding all the time. They also never sell them/ give them away.

feather_2

I was surprised to learn from its website that '..It is now the only dedicated Parrot Zoo in Europe and holds the largest and most diverse collection of parrots to be found anywhere in the UK'

kr15snw

I dont find its funny that he mates with my foot and its somthing Im trying to discourage, but its actually suprisingly natural to happen. As it happens to thousands of parrots as they grow up, they seem to have a thing for feet.

Parrots are clipped to prevent them from hurting themself. Mine isnt as he is small enough to fly around the room with ease, my dads is as he is too big to fly around. He would hurt himself if he was not clipped. And as youd know this is also extremely common.

How do I know hes happy? Easy! He shows the common parrot signs of being happy and healthy. He eats well, he preens himself and he sings. NO bird will do this unless they are completely happy and comfortable with their surroundings. And this is a known fact between parrot owners.

And I admit I didnt know about the parrot sanctuary, it looks a good place. But I still dont think its the answer. They dont get the one on one attention that so many birds require there from a human as they are brought up that way. Like mine. He is a humans bird, has no interest in other birds and would much rather cuddle into my neck for love. And he does this my choice as I have already said, he can fly so could go away from me if he wanted.

And birds dont need to mate! Alot of professional bird keepers would not mate them as it causes problems, especially in the females. The health risks are unbelivable, hence why we havent bought a 2nd tiel.

cheepskate_2

They don't fly because humans prevent them for their own amusement.

.[/quote]

Not quite true.
We had an orange winged amazon parrot, with unclipped wings.
He was always out of his cage on his perch and only in the cage at night, he would fly about 4/5 rounds of the living room couple of times a day and then settle back on his perch. At no point was he restricted from flying but was quite contented to sit on his perch.

This was not because he was so used to this/ or conditioned by us, he did this from the time he was confident with us.
On the other hand trying to get the little rascal back in his cage was horrendous, once he figured out that the BIG juicy grape put in his food bowl was a ploy to get him into it, he would keep one claw firmly hooked over the door of his cage so he could grab and dash and it took us ages and more inventive ways to get him in at night .

I am assuming by saying " my friends relationship ended some time ago" that they have split up with their partner.

Parrots usually like one person or the one who looks after them the most , mabye its missing your friends partner