I noticed this morning that Sisco wasn't in her usual sleeping spot. I had hung a paper towel near her sleeping spot thinking she would enjoy chomping on it. Nope. All it did was deter her from sleeping in her spot, and from sleeping well. :-( So, we had lots of snuggles today and she spent the morning with me organizing bird toys in the bird room.
She was quite bossy about me throwing away a few toys parts...Why should she be unlike every once else in this family? Ha! Except me, of course! I have no issues with throwing things away...
Quality time vs quantity time...which is more important? I think both! If you don't have a lot of time to spend together, then make the time very worthwhile.
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Another very good article
I particularly like the part where we are in fact causing the bird to pick because of the kind of attention we are giving him or her. When I hold Sisco for our cuddling sessions (which in itself is a debate...to cuddle a bird or not) she has to have a poncho on. It feels weird to me to snuggle and be touching her bare skin.
By the way, her rash is gone...Maybe it was a heat rash. Do birds get heat rash?
http://www.birdchannel.com/bird-diet-and-health/bird-care/bald-bird.aspx
By the way, her rash is gone...Maybe it was a heat rash. Do birds get heat rash?
http://www.birdchannel.com/bird-diet-and-health/bird-care/bald-bird.aspx
A must read article on feather picking written by a vet
Awesome article. If you have a feather picker or a plucker, read this article. It is well worth it. I totally agree with everything he said, except that severe pluckers may be better off in a breeding program. I don't know how I feel about that...
http://www.multiscope.com/hotspot/featherpicking.htm
http://www.multiscope.com/hotspot/featherpicking.htm
Sisco has a rash!
It's on her tummy and her chest. This is a new development and I'm scouring the internet to see what the probable cause could be and coming up empty. The only thing I can find is an allergic reaction. But to what? I have not changed anything lately, except I did buy a new face wash, however I only used it 2 times before I realized that it was too strong of a smell for even me and I shouldn't wash my face right before our night time snuggles. Instead, I have washed my face after Sisco goes to bed.
So, what could this be? I so wish we had an avian vet local, but we do not. I'd have to drive at least an hour and a half to just 1 vet. All the others are 2 + hours away. Of course it is worth it and I'd do it in a heartbeat, but gas at $3.79 a gallon, plus the cost of the vet visit would break my piggy bank. :( What to do, what to do???
I found this link on vitamin toxicity and thought it to be very interesting. What this person is saying is that it is very difficult to over supplement a bird's diet. But, I don't know about that. I read the reason why pellets are not suitable for smaller birds such as cockatiels and lovebirds is because of vitamin toxicity. I do not feed my little guys pellets at all. They get all the nutrients they need from the fresh fruits and veggies and grains, plus their seeds that they eat.
http://www.parrotmag.com/letters/58-letters/441-letters-over-supplementing-vitamins
So, what could this be? I so wish we had an avian vet local, but we do not. I'd have to drive at least an hour and a half to just 1 vet. All the others are 2 + hours away. Of course it is worth it and I'd do it in a heartbeat, but gas at $3.79 a gallon, plus the cost of the vet visit would break my piggy bank. :( What to do, what to do???
I found this link on vitamin toxicity and thought it to be very interesting. What this person is saying is that it is very difficult to over supplement a bird's diet. But, I don't know about that. I read the reason why pellets are not suitable for smaller birds such as cockatiels and lovebirds is because of vitamin toxicity. I do not feed my little guys pellets at all. They get all the nutrients they need from the fresh fruits and veggies and grains, plus their seeds that they eat.
http://www.parrotmag.com/letters/58-letters/441-letters-over-supplementing-vitamins
Monday, February 18, 2013
Read This Book!! Please :)
It's amazing. You won't be disappointed.
Silenced by RaeBeth McGee will leave you on the edge of your seat and feeling the emotions the main character feels. It dives into self harm and depression to bring awareness to these matters. Here are what some have said about this amazing book.
"I think people need to read this book and get a perspective on what actually happens and how depression affects us all!!!"
"I was overwhelmed with emotional..... Landon & Amber have such a warm, yet cold story.... I'm sad for Sarah too.... It was nice to see Amber and her mother finally getting along.... No one should have to go through something like this alone.... Its like a drug.... Get help!!!! This is a big eye open!!!!"
"Raebeth McGee has written a powerful story that is a MUST READ. Her descriptive words, and the flow of the story, carried me on a roller coaster of emotions. I shed more than a few tears, so a tissue may come in handy! I highly recommend this book to the older YA age range (15+) and adults alike."
Where to find this book? It's available on Amazon for the Kindle and in paperback. Barnes and Noble for the Nook. Head on over and get your copy now.
http://www.amazon.com/Silenced-Series-ebook/dp/B00ANRBNDS/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/silenced-rae-beth-mcgee/1022945794?ean=2940015999945
Saturday, February 9, 2013
Sisco's First Bath
Without the vacuum cleaner and without being forced!!
Sisco never bathes on her own unless the vacuum cleaner is running. Even then, it isn't an every day event (bathing, not vacuuming cause with a house full of birds and dogs, vacuuming every day is a must). This morning, she was on my shoulder while I was sipping coffee, and she reached for it as if she wanted a drink. So, I offered her some fresh water in a yellow crock. She took a few sips then proceeded to splash with her beak. There was no way she could have bathed in that tiny little crock, so I got a bigger bowl and filled it with lukewarm water.
It took her awhile to actually start bathing. She dunked her beak in a time or 2, but I could tell that she wanted a bath, because she kept fluffing up her feathers and pulling my hair. When she pulls my hair, it is a big indication that she wants something and she wants it NOW! And I had best figure it out ASAP or I will be bald soon! God, how I'd love to be able to read her mind!
Once she started splashing around with her beak, then she dunked her head in, then she tested it with her toes a few times. Since the bowl was a see thru Tupperware bowl, she had a hard time judging the bottom of it. I had to hold the bowl up to her while she was still on my shoulder for her to get in it. Next time I will use a different bowl or hold something under it so she can see that it isn't bottomless.
Sisco tried to step into the bowl, but I do think she was scared that it was bottomless :( The one and only time that she stepped all the way, she got scared and that was that; she was DONE!
I am so happy that she did this!!! Now I can take a nice luxurious hot soak in the bathtub instead of a quick shower.
Sisco never bathes on her own unless the vacuum cleaner is running. Even then, it isn't an every day event (bathing, not vacuuming cause with a house full of birds and dogs, vacuuming every day is a must). This morning, she was on my shoulder while I was sipping coffee, and she reached for it as if she wanted a drink. So, I offered her some fresh water in a yellow crock. She took a few sips then proceeded to splash with her beak. There was no way she could have bathed in that tiny little crock, so I got a bigger bowl and filled it with lukewarm water.
It took her awhile to actually start bathing. She dunked her beak in a time or 2, but I could tell that she wanted a bath, because she kept fluffing up her feathers and pulling my hair. When she pulls my hair, it is a big indication that she wants something and she wants it NOW! And I had best figure it out ASAP or I will be bald soon! God, how I'd love to be able to read her mind!
Once she started splashing around with her beak, then she dunked her head in, then she tested it with her toes a few times. Since the bowl was a see thru Tupperware bowl, she had a hard time judging the bottom of it. I had to hold the bowl up to her while she was still on my shoulder for her to get in it. Next time I will use a different bowl or hold something under it so she can see that it isn't bottomless.
Sisco tried to step into the bowl, but I do think she was scared that it was bottomless :( The one and only time that she stepped all the way, she got scared and that was that; she was DONE!
I am so happy that she did this!!! Now I can take a nice luxurious hot soak in the bathtub instead of a quick shower.
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Cones, Bubbles, and E-collars Continued
The other day we were talking about collars for plucking parrots. Let me share a picture with you. This picture is one of Sisco's ponchos doing its job. On the poncho WAS a flower, Sisco just about demolished it to the point where I will need to fix it before she wears it again. The poncho did 2 things. It was comfortable to Sisco which allowed her to eat, preen, drink, and play. Whereas an e-collar, cone, of bubble would not allow most of these things, but especially preen. If a bird gets depressed from having one of these devices on her, she will stop eating, too. That could be dangerous. So, it allowed her comfort and also kept her warm.
The second big job this poncho did was to keep her from totally plucking her feathers out. Now, it didn't keep her from plucking, period. But, it did keep her from constantly plucking. It kept her distracted long enough to let some new feathers grow in.
Job well done!
PS. Last night at dinner, Sisco ATE a bite of broccoli!!!!!
The second big job this poncho did was to keep her from totally plucking her feathers out. Now, it didn't keep her from plucking, period. But, it did keep her from constantly plucking. It kept her distracted long enough to let some new feathers grow in.
Job well done!
PS. Last night at dinner, Sisco ATE a bite of broccoli!!!!!
Monday, February 4, 2013
Showing Off My Baby
I thought it would be nice to post some pictures of the oh so famous conure, Sisco. She is a very important individual in my life. We saved each other!
Cones, Bubbles, E-collars
I got to thinking just now, as I was scritching Sisco and removing some of the sheath on her new pin feathers, that when she had an E-collar on, how uncomfortable that must have been when she had new feathers popping thru. I wonder if we aren't doing more harm than good using these types of devices.
When I got Sisco, she had a bubble collar around her neck. It looked very uncomfortable to me and so we took it off the next day, but as soon as it was off, she went on a plucking spree! We made an E-collar of X-ray film and put that on her. I took that off of her when it was apparent that she was having trouble getting to her food.
I have not used anything like that since, and the plucking continues. But, I'd rather her be comfortable rather than be in pain due to a pin feather bending the wrong way. If I touch a new pin feather, I get bit. Can you imagine if a bird has a bubble collar on and has a new pin feather coming thru, but is bent or rubbing the collar, how grouchy they are because of the pain of that new feather?
That's why I feel it is important to use something more soft and pliable rather than something that won't move and will inhibit growth of new feathers under it. For some birds, feather plucking is due to a medical condition. For others it is due to environment and then becomes a habit that is very difficult to end. To get it to stop, something needs to change or become better in the bird's environment. Look around to see what could possible be a trigger for this plucking. An air freshener? A new lotion (or something on your skin like residue smoke, cleaners, metals, hazardous materials, etc) causing an allergic reaction to him? A new family member (can be human or animal)?
We looked around, but did we spot anything? Yes? Good, fix it. No? Look again. Still nothing? OK, work on getting the habit to stop by replacing it with a new habit or habits. A way to do that is to literally replace that habit with something else. Keep him or her extra extra busy so she doesn't have time to pluck. Easier said than done if you have a job. All you can do in that situation is to try and keep her busy while you are gone with special toys that you only put into use when you have to be gone. The idea is to keep her engaged during the day so she doesn't think about her feathers. Whether or not you have to work, it doesn't matter because this will be a slow on going process, or so I am learning. :-)
Good luck! Any questions or comments, let me have 'em!
When I got Sisco, she had a bubble collar around her neck. It looked very uncomfortable to me and so we took it off the next day, but as soon as it was off, she went on a plucking spree! We made an E-collar of X-ray film and put that on her. I took that off of her when it was apparent that she was having trouble getting to her food.
I have not used anything like that since, and the plucking continues. But, I'd rather her be comfortable rather than be in pain due to a pin feather bending the wrong way. If I touch a new pin feather, I get bit. Can you imagine if a bird has a bubble collar on and has a new pin feather coming thru, but is bent or rubbing the collar, how grouchy they are because of the pain of that new feather?
That's why I feel it is important to use something more soft and pliable rather than something that won't move and will inhibit growth of new feathers under it. For some birds, feather plucking is due to a medical condition. For others it is due to environment and then becomes a habit that is very difficult to end. To get it to stop, something needs to change or become better in the bird's environment. Look around to see what could possible be a trigger for this plucking. An air freshener? A new lotion (or something on your skin like residue smoke, cleaners, metals, hazardous materials, etc) causing an allergic reaction to him? A new family member (can be human or animal)?
We looked around, but did we spot anything? Yes? Good, fix it. No? Look again. Still nothing? OK, work on getting the habit to stop by replacing it with a new habit or habits. A way to do that is to literally replace that habit with something else. Keep him or her extra extra busy so she doesn't have time to pluck. Easier said than done if you have a job. All you can do in that situation is to try and keep her busy while you are gone with special toys that you only put into use when you have to be gone. The idea is to keep her engaged during the day so she doesn't think about her feathers. Whether or not you have to work, it doesn't matter because this will be a slow on going process, or so I am learning. :-)
Good luck! Any questions or comments, let me have 'em!
Friday, February 1, 2013
The World's Only Pickiest Conure
No pun intended, really. She does pluck her feathers and pick at her skin, but I mean that she is picky about food. She thinks the only worthwhile veggie to eat is mashed potatoes. A girl after my own heart...I love potatoes, too! But, I also eat a huge variety of foods, and I'm not a parrot!
Most conures are not as picky about their foods as Sisco is. Most conures love food of any sort. However, Sisco never got that memo. She even refuses Doritos! What parrot refuses a cheese covered chip?! None that I know of except Sisco.
Anyway, since she is so picky I decided to add some vitamins to her water in the morning. And, I am going to introduce a few other veggies in her mashed potatoes like cauliflower and sweet potatoes. She doesn't get mashed potatoes every day. Maybe once or twice a week. I do give her a plate of fresh and/or steamed veggies and pasta every day, so it's not like she isn't exposed to the fruits and veggies and doesn't get a chance to eat them. Because, she does.
It's only been a week since I started adding vitamins in her morning water, and there hasn't been any changes that I can see. We are also still doing our steam bathes which I have noticed makes a huge difference if we skip a few days. (I don't skip showering, I bathe on some days just so you know I'm not walking around stinking up the place LOL)
The differences in Sisco's skin is amazing when we shower as opposed to when we don't. When we don't, it is red and irritated and she picks at it a lot more. When we do shower, it is nice and smooth, almost has an even tone to it.
I know from dealing with my son's severe eczema that Vitamin C is a natural antihistamine and the vitamins that I bought for Sisco has extra C in it, which is why I bought that brand.
When adding a supplement of any sort to a bird's water, it is important to watch carefully to make sure they are drinking that water. If it tastes differently or if it smells weird, they may refuse to drink it. I am watching Sisco to make sure that doesn't happen. It hasn't. She drinks. Another important fact is that vitamins lose their potency in water, so changing water often through out the day is a good idea. I don't add any more vitamins to her water when I change it through out the day, and boy howdy do I have to change it a lot! She is a typical conure to the point where she makes soup of her food and toys. *grin* I love my baby!
Most conures are not as picky about their foods as Sisco is. Most conures love food of any sort. However, Sisco never got that memo. She even refuses Doritos! What parrot refuses a cheese covered chip?! None that I know of except Sisco.
Anyway, since she is so picky I decided to add some vitamins to her water in the morning. And, I am going to introduce a few other veggies in her mashed potatoes like cauliflower and sweet potatoes. She doesn't get mashed potatoes every day. Maybe once or twice a week. I do give her a plate of fresh and/or steamed veggies and pasta every day, so it's not like she isn't exposed to the fruits and veggies and doesn't get a chance to eat them. Because, she does.
It's only been a week since I started adding vitamins in her morning water, and there hasn't been any changes that I can see. We are also still doing our steam bathes which I have noticed makes a huge difference if we skip a few days. (I don't skip showering, I bathe on some days just so you know I'm not walking around stinking up the place LOL)
The differences in Sisco's skin is amazing when we shower as opposed to when we don't. When we don't, it is red and irritated and she picks at it a lot more. When we do shower, it is nice and smooth, almost has an even tone to it.
I know from dealing with my son's severe eczema that Vitamin C is a natural antihistamine and the vitamins that I bought for Sisco has extra C in it, which is why I bought that brand.
When adding a supplement of any sort to a bird's water, it is important to watch carefully to make sure they are drinking that water. If it tastes differently or if it smells weird, they may refuse to drink it. I am watching Sisco to make sure that doesn't happen. It hasn't. She drinks. Another important fact is that vitamins lose their potency in water, so changing water often through out the day is a good idea. I don't add any more vitamins to her water when I change it through out the day, and boy howdy do I have to change it a lot! She is a typical conure to the point where she makes soup of her food and toys. *grin* I love my baby!
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