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Post by Jan and Shah on Sept 15, 2016 18:28:32 GMT -5
Shah hasn't been very happy since the move and he has started shaking again which usually indicates he is unwell. However, as it is on and off, it may be due to the cold weather. I usually leave a heater on for the birds at night with the door ajar so the room doesn't overheat, however, I have a little visitor in the kitchen - a tiny mouse. It is so small that it takes the food out of the traps without triggering them. This means that I have to shut the door to the birds' room (so the mouse doesn't get in there) so I cant put the heater on. After watching Pippin's reaction to getting his swing back yesterday, I decided this morning that I would retrieve Shah's remaining happy hutch and bind the edges - you all may remember that he was eating the hutch which caused major veterinary issues - so I figure if I bind the edges, it will stop him from eating them (which was triggered by stress of being in a much smaller cage). I am hoping he will derive some comfort by having his hutch back plus it will help to keep him warm. If anyone has any ideas on how to get rid of my little visitor (hopefully without killing him), I would appreciate it.
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Post by cnyguy on Sept 15, 2016 20:25:04 GMT -5
Sorry that Shah hasn't been happy since the move. Hope that he's not experiencing any health problems. There are alternatives to the old-fashioned mousetrap like these, for example: Mouse MotelSmart MousetrapThese examples are from amazon.com in the U.S., but I imagine there are similar ones available in Australia. |
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Post by aaron on Sept 15, 2016 23:54:53 GMT -5
Sorry to hear that Shah has been struggling with the move. Assuming there aren't actual health problems involved, I'm sure he'll get used to it eventually, but I guess it might take a while... Poor guy. I hope the happy hutch helps.
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Post by Jan and Shah on Sept 16, 2016 1:24:35 GMT -5
He refuses to go anywhere near the happy hutch. Have left it in for a few hours and have now removed it. Will try again tomorrow.
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Post by easttex on Sept 16, 2016 3:57:11 GMT -5
You and Shah have been through a lot this year. It seems that mice are a feature of country living, and I'm always trying to outsmart them. I don't like killing them, either, and especially now that I've taken two of them in, I don't want to ever again. I've found that the humane traps seem to work for a while each year. Maybe they winnow out the dumber ones, leaving the Einstein mice to continue the fight.
There is one do-it-yourself trap I haven't yet tried but which seems like a clever idea. You set a cardboard tube from a roll of paper towels just barely balanced on the edge of a counter, with something like a trash bin right below. It should be something fairly tall, with straight, slippery sides. Bait the tube at the far end, and theoretically the mouse falls in and can't get out.
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Post by julianna on Sept 16, 2016 13:03:25 GMT -5
I hope you are happy with your new place and I am sure in time Shah will be too. Remember how they don't like change very much so it will definitely take time before he is his usual self.
I have been dealing with a lot of mice this year but thankfully they are only outside. After we get one in the trap the Ravens usually come down and take the mouse for dinner(trap included).. lol. I found one of my traps in my neighbours field... nice to get it back.
Something is in my garden and has made a large tunnel through my potatoes... and it eating the potatoes and cucumbers. You can see the little bite marks in them. From my research I think it is a rat because only rats will eat anything. Mice eat seeds or sweet things like peanut butter or fruit. Moles only eat live insects but their favorite is worms. So what the heck it is... I am not sure to this day.
Everyone I know (who lives near open spaces) say that the mice population is really high this year. My grandmother used to catch them by using a large jar. She would put a piece of wood on the side of the jar ... with the jar propped up.... and lid off. The wood was so that the mouse could climb up to the top of the jar. Across the top of the jar would be another small piece of wood covered with lard or butter in the centre. When the mouse goes to get the butter, it would slide off and fall inside the jar. Now... we are kind and would release the mouse the next day... but in the old days.... grandma just let them die in the jar. (what meanies they were back then)
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Post by Jan and Shah on Sept 16, 2016 16:08:07 GMT -5
Eureka - I think I have solved the Shah problem. He has continued to vibrate (shake) and I would have to take him to the million dollar vet (now 3 hours away) and have the xrays and flushing continued. But this does not solve the problem of the blockages now occurring every couple of months. Anyway he was yelling at 6.30am for his breakfast so I got him up (he was shaking), took him into the kitchen and he helped me with the birdy breakfasts (I got a nasty bite for handling the water jug). He stopped shaking. We did all the breakfasts, cleaned the cages - still no shaking. So I stood with him and thought about it. He has always been beside the cockatiels - he is currently on the other side of the room (it is not a big room). We have a sunny day so as soon as I put them out in the sun, I am going to move his cage beside the cockatiels. That way he will be close enough to stalk Pippin but he will be able to see me as well when I am in the sitting room. Hopefully, his shaking has just been from stress. Please keep your fingers and toes crossed that this will solve the shaking. As to Mr Mouse - he is on the floor so will set one of the no-kill traps in the hope that he has been putting on some weight  |
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Post by julianna on Sept 18, 2016 13:51:54 GMT -5
Wow... it sounds like this is the baby quaker shake... like feed me... or pay attention to me... I hope so.
Best of luck Jan.
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Post by Jan and Shah on Sept 18, 2016 20:19:18 GMT -5
Julianna, unfortunately it is not the quaker shake. It usually shows up when he gets the blockages or under extreme stress. He is still doing it on and off but, on the whole, it is gone and he is a lot happier being next to Pippin and Spike - he calls out Pippin's name most of the day and has even taken to calling him Monkey Breath. He is talking a whole lot more and seems quite content to return to his stalking ways. Don't think Pippin is too happy having him so close again.
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Post by duckysmom on Sept 19, 2016 5:09:14 GMT -5
I don't know whether to say "poor Pippin," or "poor Jan". Trying to make all the birds happy at once seems quite the challenge. But I'm so glad Shah seems better!
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Post by julianna on Sept 21, 2016 13:01:46 GMT -5
I am very happy that Shah is doing better and it sounds like you are as well. Truly hope you enjoy your new place.
Best wishes.
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