Looking for species specific resources

BeatriceC

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Feb 9, 2016
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Goofy (YNA), Oscar (Goffin 'too). Foster bird Betty (RLA). RIP Cookie, 1991-2016 ('tiel), Leo (Sengal), Charlotte (scarlet macaw). Grand-birds: Liam (budgie), Donovan (lovebird), RIP Angelo (budgie)
I don't want to have to keep bugging my vet for every little question that comes up, but I'm having difficulty finding species specific resources on normal growth and development for a red crowned amazon fledgling. I'm extremely confident in my ability to handle older, badly behaved rescue bird, but this baby thing is new to me, and I would like to be able to have some resources to help when I have questions or want to make sure my instincts are on the right track. Does anybody know of anything online? Or would anybody here be willing to put in the time to write something out? Basically, I just want to know he's gaining weight and developing properly, and I'm not pushing him too hard, or not hard enough. I think I'm okay, but I just like the reassurance.
 

SilverSage

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Is the breeder you got the bird from unwilling to provide this support?


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BeatriceC

New member
Feb 9, 2016
1,351
91
San Diego, CA
Parrots
Goofy (YNA), Oscar (Goffin 'too). Foster bird Betty (RLA). RIP Cookie, 1991-2016 ('tiel), Leo (Sengal), Charlotte (scarlet macaw). Grand-birds: Liam (budgie), Donovan (lovebird), RIP Angelo (budgie)
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Is the breeder you got the bird from unwilling to provide this support?


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He came from my vet. I made a post about him. He is absolutely providing support, but I just feel bad asking questions all the damned time. I was hoping to find something I could just read when I had little questions.
 

SilverSage

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Sep 14, 2013
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Eclectus, CAG, BH Pionus, Maximilian’s Pionus, Quakers, Indian Ringnecks, Green Cheeked Conures, Black Capped Conures, Cockatiels, Lovebirds, Budgies, Canaries, Diamond Doves, Zebra Finches, Society F
We have one member here who used to raise Amazons, but at the moment his name is escaping me, which makes me feel very silly.

We have several breeders and aviculturists here including myself who raise other species and can help with more than you might expect.

I would suggest searching Facebook for amazon breeder groups. There are also plenty of groups for breeders in general on Facebook, just be careful with who you believe. There is also a pinned post in this section called “so you bought an unweaned baby” which is a very very basic level of being sure the baby will not die of the most common causes and I highly suggest it. I’m very glad you have a vet on speed dial but remember that vets are not baby bird raising experts any more than doctors are parenting experts ;)


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SilverSage

New member
Sep 14, 2013
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Columbus, GA
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Eclectus, CAG, BH Pionus, Maximilian’s Pionus, Quakers, Indian Ringnecks, Green Cheeked Conures, Black Capped Conures, Cockatiels, Lovebirds, Budgies, Canaries, Diamond Doves, Zebra Finches, Society F
Ha! Forgive the pregnancy brain; I didn’t even look at who the op was. I’m sorry about that, please consider my attitude adjusted now that I realize I’m not speaking to a newbie like 99.7% of posts like this!

I’ve had 3 other people in my inbox in the last 10 days who just ran out and bought unweaned chicks and are now struggling to keep them alive and I let that color my tone in responding to you. Please forgive me.

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BeatriceC

New member
Feb 9, 2016
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San Diego, CA
Parrots
Goofy (YNA), Oscar (Goffin 'too). Foster bird Betty (RLA). RIP Cookie, 1991-2016 ('tiel), Leo (Sengal), Charlotte (scarlet macaw). Grand-birds: Liam (budgie), Donovan (lovebird), RIP Angelo (budgie)
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No worries. I was wondering. Pregnancy hormones don’t help either. �� Stephen Squawking is weaned but not fledged, so I don’t have to worry about the weaning process. I have added a little formula back into into diet in the form of “fruit and veggie stew” because he’s just so busy that he was having trouble eating enough calories to meet his needs, in spite of eating near constantly. My questions are silly things like “he’s begging to get out and try to fly but he also looks sleepy, what balance should I maintain for both enough rest and also foster fledging”. Or “I think this is a sleepy baby, but is he just off balance because toddler”.

My vet is available through his office, on instagram, and if there is ever a serious emergency I have his cell phone number. He doesn’t mind questions at all but I don’t want to bug him for the little things.
 

SilverSage

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Interesting; fledging usually happens before weaning in a the species I’ve worked with. I’ve only ever been involved with one amazon baby but he also fledged first. Does Stephen have a traumatic past to explain his slow fledging?


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BeatriceC

New member
Feb 9, 2016
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San Diego, CA
Parrots
Goofy (YNA), Oscar (Goffin 'too). Foster bird Betty (RLA). RIP Cookie, 1991-2016 ('tiel), Leo (Sengal), Charlotte (scarlet macaw). Grand-birds: Liam (budgie), Donovan (lovebird), RIP Angelo (budgie)
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His history has some question marks. He was brought to Dr. J as barely more than a hatchling. We have some wild flocks around here so there's a good chance he was from one of them, but he could have also been from a person trying to breed without knowing what they were doing, and got a conscious when things went pear shaped and brought a surviving baby to a vet. Dr. J. attempted to save his life and treat him as a wild bird, but he's a rehab failure. We talked about a lot the day he approached me about taking him, and I honestly don't recall exactly why he made the decision that he would not be suitable for release, but I am 99% sure it had something to do with imprinting and being too imprinted on humans. According to him, mexican redheads wean around 230-260g, which can be as early as 5 weeks, but don't fully fledge until around 9 weeks. Stephen is about 7 weeks now. He eats very well, and he is a very, very busy baby. He's also taming incredibly quickly, which lends support to inappropriate human imprinting for a wild bird. He steps up for me, and adores my 18yo, allowing him to cuddle and scritch his head. When he's not trying to become an expert flyer, he loves just hanging out on my knee.
 

SilverSage

New member
Sep 14, 2013
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Columbus, GA
Parrots
Eclectus, CAG, BH Pionus, Maximilian’s Pionus, Quakers, Indian Ringnecks, Green Cheeked Conures, Black Capped Conures, Cockatiels, Lovebirds, Budgies, Canaries, Diamond Doves, Zebra Finches, Society F
Interesting. How are they supposed to eat on their own before fledging? You obviously have enough experience to know if he’s weaned or not so I guess regardless he is weaned and not fledged. Hm. I think the name of the member I was thinking of is “henpecked” but in my head I really though it was captain something.

I let my babies play hard and sleep hard, if they want to play I let them rather than containing them. And of course remember as he fledges he will likely lose some weight which is normal.


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BeatriceC

New member
Feb 9, 2016
1,351
91
San Diego, CA
Parrots
Goofy (YNA), Oscar (Goffin 'too). Foster bird Betty (RLA). RIP Cookie, 1991-2016 ('tiel), Leo (Sengal), Charlotte (scarlet macaw). Grand-birds: Liam (budgie), Donovan (lovebird), RIP Angelo (budgie)
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I may be using the word wrong. Or not distinguishing between "fledged" and "fully fledged" I'm using fledged as in "can do everything on their own with minimal support". He can eat on his own, but he's still too little to perch full time, and is definitely a toddler in terms of flying skill. So I guess I mean he's not fully fledged, but is fledged.
 

SilverSage

New member
Sep 14, 2013
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Columbus, GA
Parrots
Eclectus, CAG, BH Pionus, Maximilian’s Pionus, Quakers, Indian Ringnecks, Green Cheeked Conures, Black Capped Conures, Cockatiels, Lovebirds, Budgies, Canaries, Diamond Doves, Zebra Finches, Society F
Oh yes that clears things up a lot :) typically fledged means starting to fly, as in could have come down out of the nest. So it actually sounds like I was misunderstanding and he is more or less right on track :) that’s a fun age!


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BeatriceC

New member
Feb 9, 2016
1,351
91
San Diego, CA
Parrots
Goofy (YNA), Oscar (Goffin 'too). Foster bird Betty (RLA). RIP Cookie, 1991-2016 ('tiel), Leo (Sengal), Charlotte (scarlet macaw). Grand-birds: Liam (budgie), Donovan (lovebird), RIP Angelo (budgie)
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It's so cute to watch him standing on the edge of my desk thinking about taking off. It takes him several minutes to work up the courage to jump. This morning he seems to be actually aiming for a specific spot and getting fairly close to where he was intending. I've rearranged my entire first floor to make it safe for him, should he decided to go farther than the room he's in (it's a huge room, about 300 square feet). I have him back in his bin for a rest, but he's not resting. He's chewing on the toys I have in there for him. He's definitely busier today than he's been in the past few days. (edited for typo)
 

Scott

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Goffins: Gabby, Abby, Squeaky, Peanut, Popcorn / Citron: Alice / Eclectus: Angel /Timneh Grey: ET / Blue Fronted Amazon: Gonzo /

RIP Gandalf and Big Bird, you are missed.
Ha! Forgive the pregnancy brain; I didn’t even look at who the op was. I’m sorry about that, please consider my attitude adjusted now that I realize I’m not speaking to a newbie like 99.7% of posts like this!

I’ve had 3 other people in my inbox in the last 10 days who just ran out and bought unweaned chicks and are now struggling to keep them alive and I let that color my tone in responding to you. Please forgive me.

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Oh Dani, you are awesome! For reference, this is the OP thread inclusive of pics: http://www.parrotforums.com/amazons/81140-introducing-stephen-squawking.html
 

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