brdiecat Posted February 4, 2007 Share Posted February 4, 2007 I just found this site after doing a search on African Grey Parrots. I have a bit of a problem (hence the search) & am not sure what to do. I've had TAG for about 15 years, after rescuing him from an abusive situation & retraining him. We recently moved & he's now in a room near a male cockatiel & they seem to sing to each other. This morning I uncovered Willie & found an egg in the bottom of HER cage. (surprised me!!) There is a small amount of blood on the egg & around her vent, but VERY small. (not actively bleeding- from passing the egg) Is this normal? is there anything I should give her? I've bred & raised MANY smaller birds (cockatiels, parakeets, lovebirds, finches...), but not parrots. Any words of wisdom? BTW- I'm THRILLED to have found this forum! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Qweevox Posted February 5, 2007 Share Posted February 5, 2007 HI and welcome...I'm new here to I don't think you have anything to worry about, but to be on the safe side call your vet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 6, 2007 Share Posted February 6, 2007 Welcome here, Brdiecat I'm sure it's nothing, but as Qweevox wrote in order to be sure you can call your vet to remove any doubt... Good luck with it anyway, that sounds terribly exciting! Will you keep us updated on how things progress ?<br><br>Post edited by: FairY, at: 2007/02/05 21:44 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brdiecat Posted February 6, 2007 Author Share Posted February 6, 2007 Thanks for the replies! I went to a petshop yesterday & spoke to the manager who also has had a lot of experience with birds & breeding them, especially parrots. He said that the slight bloody show is normal, & gave me a referral for a vet, who checked Willie out today & said she's fine & healthy. I will be moving the cockatiel to the other side of the room to try to keep her from laying any more eggs. Vitamins, her special light, some treats (grapes & some nuts) have settled her back in & she's a happy parrot again. That & cuddles from me always makes her happy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 7, 2007 Share Posted February 7, 2007 She sounds very sweet, Brdiecat ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brdiecat Posted February 8, 2007 Author Share Posted February 8, 2007 Willie is WONDERFUL & a big character. I forgot to write that I'm giving her antibiotics twice a day & cleaning off her butt until she doesn't need me to. She used to pop right out of her cage every time I opened it, but knows I'm going to clean her & make her drink her meds, so stays at the back of her cage until I coax her to the front- then we have a tug of war as she grips her perch while I try to get her to let go. While I haven't pushed her to learn anything while I've had her, one of the things she's picked up is hysterical. I've always had cats & for years I'll tell her to call the kitties & she'll let out this realistic "meowwww" that cracks me up. She also has excellent taste in music- LOVES the Allman Brothers & music along those lines as well as Rock & Roll. She's very gentle, also, especially considering what she's been thru before I got her. My 5 year old granddaughter gets kisses from her & I have no hesitation trusting her not to bite. I'd get another Timnah any time! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 9, 2007 Share Posted February 9, 2007 That's quite a character you got at home, Brdiecat - I'm not surprised that you must love her to pieces. I enjoyed your story above reading it with a smile on my face Can you elaborate how having cats and Willie go together? Aren't cats supposed to eat birds? (heavenforbids of course). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brdiecat Posted February 10, 2007 Author Share Posted February 10, 2007 Let's see: I started out with a Maine Coon Cat that weighed over 20 lbs when I got my first bird- a cockatiel. When he showed more than passing curiosity, I would sternly tell him "NO! Mommy's bird!" & physically (but gently) turned him away & pushed him the other way. He was smart & it took only twice to train him. Other cats I've had I've used either that method with or what I call the "surprise" tactic- if they're trying to get to the birds or acting aggressive, I either threw a book so it would land loudly in back of the cat (the sound will startle the cat) or squirt them with a squirt gun. Funny how one squirt of water makes a cat decide to leave something alone. Occaisionally, I needed to repeat the squirt, but usually just saying the cat's name & showing them the squirt gun worked just as well. And I didn't even need to squirt it directly- letting it fall on the cat like rain worked also. Of course, you can NEVER leave a bird of ANY size out alone with cats around- the risk is just too great. But I DO know that my cats have a healthy respect for the bigger birds, because they tend to go after the cats when given the chance. Nothing like having Willie out & playing with her on the floor when Willie runs toward a snoozing cat. The cats jump & run immediately without ever getting close. It's not that the cats wouldn't eat birds if they were outside cats (they aren't), they just seem to understand that indoor birds are OFF LIMITS! I've never had a problem leaving caged birds in my house with my cats, but I also know enough not to tempt the cats by leaving the birds loose while I'm not around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 11, 2007 Share Posted February 11, 2007 Yes, exactly. That's why I was asking. I would - even if I saw with my presence there the cat wouldn't dare to come close to the bird - never trust a cat alone with a bird. Now, obviously I knew you would not either, but I just wondered how that worked out with you being in the house but not (because that's impossible to do) all day next to the bird. Are you not afraid the cat may slip into the room and 'fetch' the bird? Do you keep Willie in his cage when you are working in other parts of the house? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brdiecat Posted February 12, 2007 Author Share Posted February 12, 2007 Yes- definitely. If I'm not either in the room or in the room next to it, she's in her cage- which is HUGE, BTW. Like I said, I trust the cats more with her than a smaller bird, but not enough to leave them all loose together alone. Also, like I said earlier, the cats are afraid of Willie & accept that she's part of my flock- they almost always ignore her, unless she's on my shoulder- then they look disgusted & stay away from us. Willie takes EVERY chance she gets to bite them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 13, 2007 Share Posted February 13, 2007 brdiecat wrote: Y.....unless she's on my shoulder- then they look disgusted & stay away from us. ..... {Feel-good-0002006E} Oh, brdiecat, I can just see that picture in front of my eyes Some haughtiness coming from the birdie Soooo sweet!!! Allright, thank you for your answers, I was really curious. But, in the end, it's stays a matter of never letting slip attention (forgetting to put Willie in his cage when you leave the house etc.). No magic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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