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Post by aaron on Nov 12, 2015 15:00:46 GMT -5
haha, ok. It doesn't bother me massively if he never talks, I just know that sometimes incessant talking can replace screaming. I was also wondering if anyone had problems with their birds during adolescence, or with sexual maturity and the behavior related to that? I've got a good book that gives me advice but was just wondering about the reactions of various individual birds and what I can expect? Thanks for the advice you've given me already Yes, it varies, but you can be sure you'll experience a change in personality when sexual maturity hits. They will become more aggressive, more possessive and/or jealous, more nesting-oriented, sexual behaviors will emerge, and they will be generally more intense, because they suddenly have a pressing biological agenda... They may also decide to pick a favorite individual and defend them against others. It will ebb and flow throughout the year, but they lose that anything-goes baby demeanor and it never fully returns, although in well managed (and lucky?) cases, it can be fairly low impact. It definitely varies in intensity from bird to bird, but in all cases there are certain things you can do to help. The most important thing is maintaining an appropriate sleep schedule-- they should get 10-12 hours of uninterrupted darkness every day, probably closer to 12, especially if you are trying to reduce hormonal behavior. Also, don't get in the habit of stroking the bird's back. Rubs below the neck can be misinterpreted as an advance There are a number of threads on this subject around these parts as well.
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Post by aaron on Nov 12, 2015 14:44:50 GMT -5
Yeah... my parents got me a Cockatiel when I was 10 years old... and they still have him, 24 years later Nine times out of ten, it's not the child that ends up keeping the bird, I'd wager. I agree, Ricky, life with two Quakers sounds incredibly daunting Totally agree, Siobhan.
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Post by aaron on Nov 12, 2015 14:39:51 GMT -5
Cupcake will let us nap when we need to, as long as we're in the same room. Just this past weekend, my wife and I were both feeling quite out of it, and we needed extra sleep. So, after waking up Cupcake and spending a bit of time with her, we put her in her cage, and each laid down on the couch (it's a big couch), and she didn't make a peep the whole time, for 2-3 hours. She is also fairly good at just sitting on me when I am resting and she is out of the cage, although I'm not a fan of falling asleep with the bird nearby for safety reasons... but if I am lying on the couch, she has been known to sit on me peacefully for quite a while. Although she has been known to wake us up with kisses I don't know if any of this really falls into the category of true sympathy. I think the times where sympathy is most evident is when someone cries. Cupcake definitely acts concerned and sensitive when a flock member is sad. Although even with that, I wonder if the appropriate word is "sensitivity" and not "sympathy". Feel better soon Gary!!
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Post by aaron on Nov 12, 2015 11:10:31 GMT -5
I can certainly relate to pointless and impractical worrying. At any rate, sounds like you and Byron are working through it together quite nicely!
Most QPs start talking quite early. Usually within a matter of months... and generally they pick the words up on their own, although I'm sure teaching them early often has a positive effect on future vocabulary. That said, some never talk. Our QP, Cupcake, is 4.5 years old and does not talk. I suspect she never will, as she just doesn't seem motivated to do so. She makes all kinds of other noises, and laughs enthusiastically and with appropriate timing... but no interest in words.
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Post by aaron on Nov 12, 2015 9:59:49 GMT -5
I guess whatever is decided upon, it must be remembered that quakers are long-lived, so whoever ends up looking after the bird the majority of the time is in it for "the long haul". Good luck with the decision! And of course, a 10 year old isn't capable of making that decision for themselves, so it is the parents who will have to be okay with the possibility of ending up with a Quaker in their care for the next 30 years...
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Post by aaron on Nov 11, 2015 18:21:52 GMT -5
Yeah, while there are certainly some 13 year olds out there that could handle a Quaker, I'd say there are *substantially* less 10 year olds... And Quakers require a lot of attention and devotion to be happy. It would take a remarkably mature 10 year old to understand the breadth of a Quaker's needs to be able to meet them adequately. I would advise against it.
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Post by aaron on Nov 11, 2015 18:18:52 GMT -5
Haha wow, how I wish Cupcake was too afraid to go anywhere near a laptop keyboard! In the time that we've had her, I've replaced at least 7 laptop keyboards. It's definitely one of her favorite things to tear them up, and she definitely knows she's being bad.. but she does it anyway! Naughty chicken.
Would be cool to see a video of your pigeon and the laptop!
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Post by aaron on Nov 11, 2015 18:16:34 GMT -5
Interesting. Alright, well I will make sure I am extra vigilant for unusual smells or colors in the millet spray we use in the future. Really glad to hear he continues to do well.
And also happy this little forum has helped so much. Us bird folks need each other!
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Post by aaron on Nov 11, 2015 18:10:59 GMT -5
Sounds like things are going well! If he is so willing to sit on your fingers and shoulders, there's a good chance he's had some hands on experience at one point or another in his life. In fact, it sounds like he was probably well loved by someone at some point. The purring sound you describe is a very positive, affectionate expression One thing we do with Cupcake is give her a small treat whenever she goes into her cage willingly. At this point, she fully associates going in her cage with getting a treat, and basically never objects (occasionally at bedtime). We do not clip Cupcake's wings, but as Julianna said, it's a personal preference kind of thing, and the safety of the environment, the skill of the bird's flight capabilities, and your ability/willingness to be vigilant should be the factors you consider when you decide whether to let your little buddy fly or not. We have an apartment with a fair amount of open space in the main area, and clear sight lines between rooms, which is extremely conducive to keeping track of a flighted bird (especially one that is relatively obedient when it comes to staying where she is supposed to stay)... We are also fond of Cupcake being able to follow us around, which lends a sense of autonomy to her existence and I genuinely think that for her, it's the right thing. Cupcake is also a very good flier and has only had one minor accident in the whole time we've had her. It's definitely more dangerous, and it requires all of us to be trained to always be paying attention to where the bird is... but we wouldn't have it any other way. That said, I can certainly understand why in other circumstances, one would choose to clip their bird's wings. I'm not aware of any reason why you should limit bath time. Just make sure that the water is cool. Warm water will dry their feathers and skin out in an undesirable way. A full soak is not necessary, although I personally like to give Cupcake a good soak in the shower periodically to simulate the rainfall that she would be getting in the wild... But there are definitely birds out there that don't do anything but bathe in dishes and seem to be fine.
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Post by aaron on Nov 10, 2015 23:15:07 GMT -5
It's so great to hear that you are doing so well with Rocky. Really fantastic.
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Post by aaron on Nov 10, 2015 21:58:30 GMT -5
Welcome to you and your new little one! Thank you for taking in this little bird-- you're doing a wonderful thing.
I'm not personally experienced with this sort of scenario, but it sounds like you are on the right track. One thing I know everyone will recommend is that the bird is seen by an avian vet as soon as possible. The sort of condition that this bird was in could lend itself to all sorts of health complications, so it's really best you make sure the little guy is seen by a professional to make sure there is nothing serious wrong. The fact that you describe this bird as "poofy" when I would expect it to be fairly stressed out given the circumstances is somewhat concerning, as this could mean illness.
How is the bird's demeanor? Friendly? Aggresive at all? Was it ever given a name?
Feel free to ask any questions that come to mind. We are always happy to help!
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Post by aaron on Nov 10, 2015 18:28:51 GMT -5
By nature, I'm an anxious person as well, and I can assure you, these birds can tell when you are struggling. They can be understanding, but it can also seriously exacerbate any behavioral problems you may be having with them. As long as they aren't the source of your anxiety, it probably won't be an issue, but beware the spiral of letting bird behavior inspire your anxiety, because it almost always leads to an increase in whatever behavior is causing a problem. I've been through some rough patches as a result of this phenomenon, but it is manageable-- you just need to remember to breathe, and keep things in perspective.
At any rate, that doesn't sound like what you're going through right now, and I'm sorry to hear you're struggling with anxiety. It can be horrible. Breathing exercises have helped me more than I ever could have imagined they would. Worth a shot. Yoga and stretching too.
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Post by aaron on Nov 10, 2015 15:50:07 GMT -5
And that caused the blockage too? Or are these two separate issues? Glad it is treatable!! Go little Pippin!
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Post by aaron on Nov 9, 2015 19:45:45 GMT -5
Unfortunately, I have no experience with this kind of situation... but I feel for you, as this must be very difficult to witness. Hopefully some of the others might have more insight for you. Jan and Shah -- do you have any insight that might help with this self-mutilation scenario?
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Post by aaron on Nov 9, 2015 19:43:08 GMT -5
They are smart little buggers!
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