Caspersmum

Hey Guys, I'm back, and it looks like you've been busy since I've been gone! I've had an amazing 8 weeks, and the good news is that Casper's still talking to me - so if anyone's getting stressed about leaving their feathered friends for any length of time, don't - so long as you have someone you can trust to look after them! My other great news is that I passed my exams - Judy, thanks for all the bullying! It paid off! It's great to be back, and I've missed you all - I think it could take me a while to get through all the messages. Julia

Thanks guys. I'm planning on putting a bloggy sort of thing with lots of photos on Facebook - I'll let you know if I manage it!

Hey all, I've just finished my exams - still don't know if I've passed, but I'll let you know when the results are out. Just wanted to let you all know I'm off to South Africa for 8 weeks, and I'll miss you all loads (but probably not nearly as much as I'll miss Casper!). So hope you're all well, and I'll catch up when I get back, Julia xxx

Hey Molly, Pellets are certainly the way to go - I buy mine on-line - I get Hagen Tropican, which my grey seems to loke, but if you want the best, go for Harrisons - most people on this site seem to use them, but they're not cheap. BUT seed is heaven to most birds - and it's odd that your parrot isn't eating them. Do you have any electronic scales? If not then you should get some - I bought mine for £9 from TK MAxx. This will allow you to keep an eye on your bird's weight - and you should weigh her at the same time each day - best time is after the first poo of the morning! It would also be a good idea to take her to an avian vet to get her checked out, to make sure there's nothing wring that's stopping her from eating her seeds, Hope this helps, Julia

I'm with these guys. Before I came to medical school I had a ring necked parakeet, was out of the house a lot for work, so got a CAG to keep him company. The pair of them hated each other, so I couldn't have them out of the cage at the same time. I couldn't even let one out while the other was caged if I wasn't in the room - so in the end Cookie, the parakeet, got less attention than when he was alone, I think if you've got more than one person in the house, it's fine, but if it's just you I'd stick to one bird, and just try to enrich it's environment as much as possible. Julia

I do the elbow grease method too - I use a wet disposable cloth to wash down the cage and base, then use a scrubbing brush for any stuck-on bits - it seems to do the trick. I only wet it all thoroughly when I know Casper can be out of his cage so it can dry off before I put it all back together and put paper back in the bottom Julia

I've not got any photos of mine, but my ex-boss has! I've got a sun in the middle of my back, and when he saw it he said 'I knew you were good Julia, but I never knew the sun shone out of your arse'. It's kind of a styalised sun, but as I said don't have any photos, and Casper's not very good with the camera yet! Julia PS - didn't hurt much at all - I had loads more pain getting my tummy button pierced

Hi Heidi, Welcome to the family - and as the others say, if you need anything, just ask! Julia

Casper's habit when he wants food is to stand on his T-bar on one foot, while chewing on the toenails of his other foot, and with his wings slightly extended. He switches from foot to foot, but getting more and more excited. Its really cute. If I don't get something to him fast enough he then wanders over to make sure I'm not ignoring him. He's also developed a clever habit when he's having a drink - he doesn't have a water dish in the lounge, so I regularly give him a drink from a glass. Once he's had enough he gets the rim of the glass in his beak to push it away. Although once he did try to bite me THROUGH the glass when he was in a bit of a grump! As for the cheese - i think its the lactose that they can't digest. And it does pretty nasty things to their poo! Julia

Hey Matt, I'm with the others on this - and I'd add a note of caution - A friend of mine lived in a shared house with a parrot. One of the other girls in the house didn't get on with the bird so poisoned its water while it's owner was away for the weekend. I'm sure it wouldn't come to this, but I wouldn't take the risk if she's prepared to throw things at his cage. She might not care, but I'm sure you'd be devestated if she hurt ponti. Hope I've not scared you, but I think you have to deal with the cousin carefully so that she doesn't do something vindictive, Julia

Hey GM, You must be Sooo excited. I have a handy tip for the poo - which I mentioned on the site before - use an old credit card to scoop it up - it even works getting it off carpet! Good to have you back, Julia

Hi Ceri, I had a ring-necked parakeet that had a really snuffly, blocked nose. I'd definintely get it checked out at the vets, to be on the safe side, but in Cookie's case, he was allergic to the cheap parrot food I was buying for him - apparently it can have mould that makes them develop allergies. On the advice of my vet, I switched him to Harrisons, and it cleared up almost immediately. So what are you feeding Charlie? It COULD be an allergy Julia

Hey beccy, I think it shouldn't be a problem - you can get aloe juice for humans to drink - it's meant to be a really good anti-inflammatory - good for allergies, arthritis, inflamatory bowel disease - all sorts of things - so I suppose it'll be ok for birds, And Monique, thanks for the advice - I've got an aloe plant, so I think I'll use it straight from the plant - I know it's not had any pesticides used in it! Julia

Hey Rae That's wonderful - I think I'd have been blubbering too! Julia

Thanks guys - I knew I could count on you! He'll let me rub a few of them, then gets fed up and bites! Beccy - I'm not sure about the first moult, but I think it tends to be about this time of year for the older birds. Casper's having a shower every day now, and I think it helps. But a few people have mentioned using aloe vera - does anyone have any experience, and if so what do you do with it?! Julia

Hi all, Casper has a bit of a problem and we were wondering if anyone has any ideas on the matter. He's been doing a lot of moulting, and has his new feathers growing in. He's doing a great job of unfurling most of them, but is struggling with the ones on his head. A friend of mine once told me that in the absence of other parrots to do this, we have to do it for them - in the areas that they can't reach with their beaks. I've been trying to do this, but with limited success. Does anyone have any thoughts - if I don't preen them for him, is he going to end up with a spikey head, or will he be able to scratch the coatings off himself?! Julia

In case you're interested, I've just posted casper's favourite recipe on the off-topics section - its really spicey, and the sauce all mushes down so there's no 'bits' for fussy birds to pick out! Julia

It sounds like you're doing a lot of cooking already, but have you tried mashing or pureeing stuff together? Casper likes mashed sweet potato, and soups and sauces, without too many bits in them! You can also try coating favoured foods with less-favoured - so Casper loves pasta with sauce on, and bread with houmous. He then doesn't seem to realise he's eating different things together! Julia

Hi Richardsmommy and all, Casper's a bit shy about showing his wings off - you might catch a glimpse of them on the photos on his profile though! Essentially, they just look like slightly small wings - even when he's got them extended. I'll try to get some better pictures - maybe when he isn't paying attention! In the mean-time, I've re-found the article about clipping - here's the link. http://www.birdsnways.com/wisdom/ww25ev.htm Julia

Hey Headhunt, I feed Casper spicey stuff all the time - I cook it, he eats it! He loves curries and tagines - I use alot of different spices - chilli, pepper, cumin, corriander (is that cilantro?!), turmeric, garam masala, cinnamon, ginger, paprika.... you get the picture. I also use a fair bit of garlic in my cooking. Just go for it! Personally I love the taste of cumin, and its lovely added to vegetables - I'm sure your two would lap it up (or whatever the birdie equivalent is). No idea about the birdie bread though. Julia

{Emotions-00020120}I think if I tried the bath trick with Casper I'd end up with savaged private parts! Julia

Hey all, When I got Casper's done I did alot of reading around on the internet, and found an article about a new clip - clipping the primaries from the outside - in the past a lot of people would leave the first 2 or 3 primaries in place to look prettier. I had this done on Casper - it's a good clip, if you're that way inclined, because there's no risk of birds damaging the two feathers left on the outside which have no support. You can also do it in stages to allow them some degree of flight - whatever suits you - gliding, but not able to gain height; gliding to the floor with a bit of flapping; or plumetting like a stone (only joking). Like everyone else has said, clipping just one wing is old school and pretty dumb! Julia

Hey Judy (that's almost a Beatles song...), I really struggled with the shower perch at first, but persevere! In the end I just forced the issue while whistling 'singing in the rain'! Although Caspers still not a natural bather, he doesn't really mind! Julia

Hey Bronxboomer - I ditto what the others have said - Casper has supposedly been talking since he was 6 months old. He doesn't say lots yet, but I think he's just getting used to my voice instead of his old owners. He also whistles lots - he's happier to whistle in front of company than talk, but when he knows people are next door he'll chatter away like there's no tomorrow. Julia

Hi all, Just taking a study break, and though I'd add a few thoughts. In theory, I'm totally in favour of free flight, for the reasons that everyone else has given. But if you're wanting some personal experience, when I got Casper he was fully flighted. However, although he was fine with me, he started attacking friends when they came to visit. I want him to be well-socialised. Therefore I made the decision to have him clipped until he gets used to other people being around - for his sake (he gets more time out of his cage when I have friends visiting) rather than for mine. He's now really good in company, so I intend to let his feathers grow back in (he's moulting seriously at the moment, and gatting more height when he's 'gliding'), and see how it goes. However, I'll probably get him clipped again if he startd attacking visitors again - I live alone, and enjoy my friends coming round to visit - and really don't want them to get attacked by a grumpy parrot! Julia