|
|
Post by Jan and Shah on Jul 12, 2015 23:49:22 GMT -5
He seems to be settling down (apart from the screaming) - I havent been bitten for a couple of days although I got beak bashed last night. He certainly seems a lot more calm and is pretty well behaved. He is certainly a lot more affectionate with me now. I almost forgot what his personality was like. I remember when I first started reading this forum, I thought Shah was a well behaved quaker compared to some others. But since the mutilation started I put him in the "very naughty quaker" box - one of the more difficult animals on this forum. It will be interesting to see what happens as his health improves. He loves his hot breakfast and hot supper and makes all sorts of contented sounds when he is eating. I think it is because the food is warm. He only has a couple of mouthfuls but I am happy with that.
|
|
|
|
Post by aaron on Jul 13, 2015 17:20:29 GMT -5
That is great news! He's probably still a well behaved Quaker deep down. It sounds like that's where things are headed.
I would imagine that screaming is probably fairly habitual, so it might take a while to change. Once you are certain he is no longer going to mutilate (which obviously will take a while), you can use some more standard tactics to get him to stop screaming, possibly?
|
|
|
|
Post by Jan and Shah on Jul 13, 2015 19:02:37 GMT -5
I figured out this morning that he hates the grate I made for the bottom of his cage. That may be contributing to the screaming. Poor boy, I cant take it out as I dont want him back on newspaper. The vet felt that the grate would be the best option - that way none of them can chew newspaper (which is located under the grate). I am finding it makes my life easier with the grates in the cages. They are easy to clean and I can change the newspaper every 2nd day (instead of every day). I may start using clicker training on him seeing as Sharyn had such good success with it.
|
|
|
|
Post by aaron on Jul 13, 2015 19:50:08 GMT -5
I'm sure he'll get used to it eventually, poor guy.  My parents have no grate in their Cockatiel's cage and they actually had to stop putting newspaper down because he kept tearing it up and trying to make nests. He really loves to root around on the bottom of his cage for whatever reason... I definitely prefer a situation with a grate. |
|
|
|
Post by Jan and Shah on Jul 14, 2015 16:55:05 GMT -5
He is really freaking out about the grate. I cleaned it last night and he refused to go back into his cage. He wouldnt eat his supper and he didnt eat his hot breakfast or anything else I put in there this morning. He has his "snake" look happening - where he becomes long and thin - which is usually a scared reaction. I covered the grate this morning but he wasnt fooled. I am going to have to take it out and just keep an eye on when he is eating the newspaper - it is usually a hormonal thing. He is definitely stressed out about it and he is such a gobble guts that I am worried about him not eating. This is the reason I cant go away anywhere - after 2 nights (and 3 days) he just stops eating. Plus he gets stressed out when he is not at home. The things we sacrifice for these animals - and what do they sacrifice for us? Absolutely nothing! But we love them anyway.
|
|
|
|
Post by easttex on Jul 14, 2015 18:21:53 GMT -5
I think they sacrifice a lot; just not voluntarily.
It doesn't sound like you have much choice about the grate, at least for now. I should get one for Allie's night cage before she develops a problem. It's an old one that came with her, but maybe if I find a manufacturer that makes the same size they will have parts for sale. She likes tearing her paper, and I suspect she ingests a little. |
|
|
|
Post by biteybird on Jul 15, 2015 3:02:31 GMT -5
I'm glad Shah's behaviour seems a bit better and more affectionate towards you. I don't know what to suggest re the grate. We don't use one in the bottom of Bonnie's cage, but she doesn't really tear her paper.
Could you try putting the grate in when you go out, but just have the paper when you are there to supervise? Maybe not...it might make him more anxious (like a double whammy of you being out and the grate). I don't know.
|
|
|
|
Post by Jan and Shah on Jul 15, 2015 4:19:34 GMT -5
He hasn't eaten all day. I had to hand feed him tonight. Have taken the grate out - I cant stand to see him upset like this. He ate his peas and corn when I put him to bed. He is certainly a lot calmer these days and is staying up longer - and I get kisses too He goes back to the vet on Saturday to check on the infections. I get so worried about him but, given a few more days (and he realises the grate has gone), I think he will be just fine. Still re-arranging his cage but one thing at a time so it doesn't upset him too much. |
|
|
|
Post by biteybird on Jul 15, 2015 5:52:54 GMT -5
Would it be worth trying nothing on the bottom of the cage - I mean, just the plastic tray? Worst case scenario would be that he'd freak out the same as with the grate. You could just wash it under the tap each day? He could still walk around the bottom as he likes to do, but there'd be no paper to rip or eat.
|
|
|
|
Post by aaron on Jul 15, 2015 10:31:47 GMT -5
My parents use nothing but a plastic tray at the bottom of their Cockatiel's cage. He spends a lot of time on the ground of the cage for whatever reason (not in a sick way)... It seems to work out okay. They just wash it every day.
|
|
|
|
Post by Jan and Shah on Jul 15, 2015 16:37:03 GMT -5
Thanks for your ideas everyone. Shah's cage has a metal bottom, not a plastic one, and is quite heavy. He watched me change the paper this morning so he can see that the grate has gone. He wouldnt come out of his hutch so I had to stand there with his bowl of hot food and wait until he finished eating. He is a slow eater with this food and everytime I thought he had finished and went to walk away, I got yelled at. He also used my hand as a serviette to wipe his beak. Now I can really claim the title "Chief Slave".
|
|
My parents have no grate in their Cockatiel's cage and they actually had to stop putting newspaper down because he kept tearing it up and trying to make nests. He really loves to root around on the bottom of his cage for whatever reason... I definitely prefer a situation with a grate.
