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Post by Jan and Shah on Mar 15, 2015 15:31:29 GMT -5
I can hear Shah screaming from half way up the street when I come home. I think he has uncanny ability to know when I am nearly home and starts yelling out for me as my housemate says he is quiet for most of the day. He wants to say hello and to have his peas and corn. He is unrelenting until I do what he wants. The advice everyone else has given you is great so you have some ideas which may help him settle down. From the bird's point of view, he has been stuck in the cage for numerous hours and just wants some of your time. Sometimes you just have to think like a bird to see the other side of the problem.
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Post by rickygonzalez on Mar 15, 2015 18:59:48 GMT -5
Absolutely right Jan. That's why I don't mind even though it's late and all the excuses I could come up with. In truth, I do it as much for him as for me. It's great to spend time with him even when he's bossy. I knew the time commitment involved when I chose to get him. Sad to see how people get birds just because they have an impulse not a commitment.
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Post by biteybird on Mar 16, 2015 3:40:06 GMT -5
I'm sorry to hear about your poor Luigi. Please try not to blame yourself, as we all know this guilty emotion doesn't help you, but I can understand that it's hard not to think about it. Regarding Sonic, perhaps Julianna is right, change his out of cage time to suit when you're there - go get him as soon as you get home (then maybe he'll be happy to have your attention straight away & get it out of his system?)...wish I could be of more help.
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Post by easttex on Mar 16, 2015 7:13:35 GMT -5
Wow, that must have been some really rough times, Ricky. It's hard not to blame yourself for Luigi. Even when you don't have a direct hand in it, you know you are responsible for their environment and well-being. It's the hallmark of a responsible pet owner, but it can be devastating. Part of grieving, I think. Sonic is probably the best medicine for you.
If you can adapt Sonic's routine to your hours with some stability, that's what I would recommend, also. Using a full spectrum lamp and good window coverings might help with this.
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Post by rickygonzalez on Mar 17, 2015 1:18:25 GMT -5
Thanks guys, it was really tough. Luigi was wayyyyyyyy calmer than Sonic. I don't remember him ever biting me. Sonic and I had a rough day today. He was very nippy today. Oh well still love him. Tomorrow will be a better day. I hope. I had read the blues were typically calmer/sweeter than greens. Was I mislead? Have any of you had any experience with this? I have had two greens in the past neither of them ever bit me. Was I just lucky? Hmmmm.....
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Post by biteybird on Mar 17, 2015 3:30:07 GMT -5
Maybe you were lucky. Bonnie's behaviour today was dreadful. As soon as she was out of the cage she was screeching, trying to steal food and nipping quite hard (as opposed to biting - I classify that as drawing blood - which she almost never does). She ended up having to go bed early, as I wasn't in the mood to put up with it.  However, tomorrow is another day and neither she nor I holds a grudge...  |
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Post by aaron on Mar 17, 2015 15:15:12 GMT -5
I was also really sorry to hear about Luigi. That sounds extraordinarily difficult. I hope Sonic has helped at least somewhat with getting through that. I can hear Shah screaming from half way up the street when I come home. I think he has uncanny ability to know when I am nearly home and starts yelling out for me as my housemate says he is quiet for most of the day. Cupcake has the same ability. She seems to know when someone is nearby, but far enough away that she wouldn't know someone is coming by any conventional sense... Pretty interesting. I think they are smart enough. And I think "punishment" works in the short run, and sometimes it is unavoidable. But in the long run, you'll have a better relationship if it is based on positive reinforcement. The immediate potential problem with putting him away as a negative consequence is that he will start to perceive his cage as a bad thing. I'm assuming you mean putting him in the cage when you say putting him away. I definitely agree with what easttex is saying here. To me, they definitely seem smart enough to understand punishment. But it isn't the most productive approach to building a relationship with them, particularly in the long term, and it can have unintended consequences like viewing the cage negatively as she mentioned. I find it surprising that so many people think they aren't smart enough to understand punishment. All I would say is that it has to occur very quickly for them to properly associate the cause and effect, as their attention span is very short. |
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Post by easttex on Mar 17, 2015 15:28:50 GMT -5
I can hear Shah screaming from half way up the street when I come home. I think he has uncanny ability to know when I am nearly home and starts yelling out for me as my housemate says he is quiet for most of the day. Cupcake has the same ability. She seems to know when someone is nearby, but far enough away that she wouldn't know someone is coming by any conventional sense... Pretty interesting. More evidence of the Quaker Security Administration (QSA). Obviously a global network. Hopefully they will continue to work for good and not for evil... (?) |
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Post by Jan and Shah on Mar 17, 2015 18:29:02 GMT -5
Shah's punishment consists of me not talking to him. He ends up kissing me or saying 'gotta kiss'. Then punishment is over. But I don't punish him much at all these days. If he is being really naughty I try and distract him.
Easttex, had a good laugh about QSA. I am not convinced they are working for good.
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Post by rickygonzalez on Mar 17, 2015 23:24:21 GMT -5
So I set up an appointment with the vet for Sonic tomorrow. Nothing's wrong just a check up. They said it was 60 bucks for just the office visit no blood work or meds. If he orders blood work about how much is that? Does the 60 dollars sound right? I have never taken a bird to the vet what do they do? Is it really necessary if he is acting, eating normally? I would guess yes, but I'm not sure. Thanks guys.
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Post by biteybird on Mar 18, 2015 1:50:53 GMT -5
I can't speak for US rates, but here in Australia I'd say that price is on the conservative side (although I've never taken a quaker to the vet, only canaries). When I was taking my two aging dogs to the vet - more frequently in the last 12 months of their lives, respectively - I was parting with about $130 a pop, just for checking up/follow up visits post-tests. I do think us Aussies get charged ridiculous rates, though, for just about everything these days.
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Post by easttex on Mar 18, 2015 7:02:26 GMT -5
It's probably going to vary somewhat in different parts of the country, but when I scheduled Peppy's first appointment, I had to pay $45 up front. I was told that would cover the basic look/see, and I would pay whether or not I showed up. For the blood tests, fecal exam, worming and second dose of wormer, I paid an additional $138. I'll see if I can dig up the receipt which would show the blood test cost individually.
For the second appointment, I paid $128. That was the basic follow-up fee, a second fecal, crop swab and evaluation by an outside lab, and two weeks of antibiotics.
This was in Shreveport, LA. Also, I imagine it could be higher for a certified avian vet. Mine is not.
It's a good practice to take them in once a year, though I am a little slow to take my phobic grey in. I only recently found a vet I feel comfortable with, so will start taking her for an annual. Even if you don't do blood tests, a good vet can determine quite a bit from a physical exam, and you can get a lot of questions answered. It's so often the case that you can't tell that anything is wrong with a bird until things are too far along that I think it is worth the expense of an annual checkup.
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Post by aaron on Mar 18, 2015 9:11:30 GMT -5
If my memory serves me, I am typically spending over $100 per visit, and if there are tests done it goes up from there.
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Post by rickygonzalez on Mar 18, 2015 9:52:26 GMT -5
Yikes!!!! 100$ just for walking in the door? Well, I live in Fort Worth, Texas. Even living in a big metropolis like dfw it was very difficult to find a vet that would even see a bird. Oh well, I suppose a couple hundred bucks a year on vet visits isn't too bad. Will post on here later today how it went and how much it was. Have a good day guys!
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Post by rickygonzalez on Mar 18, 2015 14:42:47 GMT -5
Sonic got a clean bill of health. Vet said, he's good but would like to see him weighing 105 grams or so. He is at 100 grams. He didn't see a need for blood work, health apperant. Yay Sonic!
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However, tomorrow is another day and neither she nor I holds a grudge...
