Billy

Thank you, Dave. I did reread the thread you suggested. I got my bird's results back yesterday and everything was fine except for 2 tests and one other thing. For the liver and kidney work up, the machine they were using malfunctioned and the tests have to be rerun. I have to wait three weeks as the vet doesn't want to draw any more blood until then. She said there would be no charge for this. The other thing that was "wrong" was that "non-budding yeast" was detected. She recommended that I use Bragg's unpasteurized organic apple cider vinegar at the rate of 10 ml per liter. I'm already giving this vinegar to all of my pets, except the fish of course. (They get vodka.) Anyone familiar with non-budding yeast and where it could have come from?

Hi everyone, I took my new Timneh to the vet this Saturday. A basic physical was done (just feeling around), weight, basic blood panel, stethoscope for heart and the eyes were examined as well. Had test for parasites and chlamydia as well. Chlamydia test was required because they won't board birds without being done. The appointment took about 45 minutes. The bill was $367.00. Thank goodness I didn't bring my other parrot with me as I'd planned. I knew the bill would be high because I was warned. This still surprised me. I still don't have the results back from the DNA testing and it has now been almost 6 weeks. So still no name for him either. My new guy is doing very well. Does the amount I paid seem excessive to any of you? Bill

Figures I would have experienced a similar situation with my new Timneh already. He was on the top of my messy dresser where I keep an antique ornate inkwell which is close to a wall. There were items I was sorting through near the inkwell and this obscured my view of him when he got his foot underneath and between an indentation of the metal. If he moved sideways instead of trying to lift his foot up he would have been fine. He began to panic and I didn't know why. I tried to pick him up to comfort him and he screamed. I continued to pick him up and it wasn't until the inkwell moved that I realized what happened. I'll have his band removed when I take him to the vet for his first check up. Poor baby. I'm jinxed.

Thank you Azzie and everyone else. The thing is, I have read so much research about Greys and put everything into place that I thought was correct, only to find out that I read some totally bogus information that could have had some serious negative repercussions. I'm fully capable of making my own mistakes and I don't need anyone else to help me do that! All that reading and still doing something wrong as a result of it has me really angry. Bill

I'm pissed off as well at what I was originally told. At least I found this site and didn't keep reperching him ad infinitum. I"ll keep the vet appointment. I'm not exactly feeling too smart.

YIKES. I just read this after my last post. So I shouldn't go to a vet just to tell me that my birds are fine? I'll give my birds whatever they need regarding care, but unnecessary vet visits? There would be no need for me to take my new Grey other than the health guarantee from the store and returning him if there was a problem...and that expired after 10 days anyway. The scenarios you posed Dave are exactly what I was afraid of happening to me. That's why I asked about anyone here having any questions or knowledge of things to avoid. I can't believe the timing of this post. This particular vet is known to be extremely expensive. If not necessary, then I'm going to cancel the appointment. The only other reason I thought I might need to take the birds in was to get them established so that in the event that something went wrong, they would be familiar with them and their stats. I'm thinking that my bill would exceed $500 quite easily. Unfortunately (and also strangely fortunately) the part of Connecticut I live in is ridiculously overpriced for absolutely everything so the high vet bill would be a sure bet. My birds to the best of my knowledge look and act perfectly healthy. I know this is a personal decision and wouldn't put anyone in the position of telling me to do this or not do this. I'd just like to learn from other people's experiences and certainly not make expensive and mistakes. Bill

Thank you all for lowering my anxieties so quickly. I knew that it couldn't be right regarding the roaming, etc. Right away I felt better. If I find the site where I saw it, I'll let you know. Right now his wings are clipped and I would love for the feathers to grow out. Whooza's feathers were clipped and when it's warm he is outside with me all the time. I don't know how that would work with a flighted bird and the harness. I have a harness and lanyard that I bought but never had to use it. He was flighted when he was weaned so he has some experience with it. Still don't have the DNA test results. Hopefully tomorrow. I've wanted a Grey ever since I remember and I know that this is already a very special bird. I love him a lot. He is a cuddler and gets even more so every day. I can touch him anywhere on his body and he loves it. Even under the wings. I have a vet appointment this Saturday with what is considered to be the best Avian/Exotic veterinarian here in Connecticut for his first wellness check. I'm taking both birds in the morning. The Timneh already likes his travel cage as well. I have a list of questions, but if anyone has any ideas of what I should ask or stuff to avoid (vaccinations/tests I should or shouldn't have), etc. I'd love to know. Glad for this site. Thanks again.Bill

Again, thanks for the good comments. I would really like him to be a shoulder bird. Whooza, my Pionus is. I don't think I could handle having the two of them on my shoulder at the same time, at least not until they are (?) comfortable with each other. The differences in their beak sizes is quite different, with the Timneh's being much larger. He's a great little baby. When the time comes to let you know more of our history, you might enjoy how we got together. I read that some parrots don't necessarily have the "terrible" stages. Hope this is one of them. I'm going to get the play gym for him anyway. It is quite remarkable how he has bonded with me. Bill

Thanks, Dave. The roaming, biting and screaming comment I read about on some other site. People can sound very know it all and authoritative in their convictions. I'll let him roam now. I made a mistake when I said he was 5 months old. He's 6. I'll be spending more time with him off the perch. Bill

Hi Everyone. I'm a new member. I have a white capped Pionus (13 months old, had him just over one year) and a 5 month old Timneh which I've had for about 3 weeks. Also have two dogs. No name for the Timneh yet. I read somewhere that birds should not roam, bite or scream. The screaming is the over the top kind, not the usual mutterings. I have the birds next to each other in two nicely sized cages in my bedroom. Monday - Friday I leave for work at 5am and come home at 5pm. The birds are out for 3 hours with me in the evening. On weekends they're out just about all day. The Pionus is always on me, the sofa or climbing the curtains. The Timneh is either with me or on his manzanita perch with food and toys. He will, every day, fly off this perch (he has clipped wings) and I put him back 100% of the time. After a few times, he lets me know he isn't happy by not stepping off my hand to the perch and today he bit me, but the bite truly was a warning bite as it wasn't hard. When he leaves the perch he walks over to where I am. I'm afraid that if I keep this up he won't want to come to me. Any thoughts? I was thinking of maybe getting a play gym with more stuff on it to keep him occupied. He already does have a lot of toys. I want this to be a great relationship and want to do everything right. The birds are in their cages during the day, but someone is home playing the radio or tv. They are talked to, given treats, but are not let out til I get home. Bill