Perjo 16mos check up

She lost 10 grams but it's trivial, as the vet says CAGS do not have weight issues, and she has no health issues. Some flights feathers on the outside of the wings look chewed in his opinion, nothing we can do until next molt and regrow. When asked if she could be bored he leaned toward no. His thought is she is too young and too knew to the world to be truly bored yet as she has another year of maturing to become the bird she will be forever. He said in the end the bird will do what it will do regardless of diet and environment, if she wants to pluck she'll pluck. I will have to monitor this as I don't always see her feathers falling to the ground in real time.

Got a quick tutorial in how to towel her properly and have control to check her wings out more closely.

She stepped right up to the Dr from her small soft travel carrier, something that really surprised me. He said often times when birds on not comfortable in a small closed environment they will step up to the first hand that they see. He also said they do not like poor footing or slippery surfaces so if I want to train her to step up for others to put her on a slippery surface and she'll go right to the person I want her to acclimate to.

Happy to hear all is pretty good in Perjo's world


Jim

That's awesome glad Perjo is on the up and up! Timneh and I are getting ready for our first vet visit maybe her first ever. Shes just about two now. The travel carrier I have is the devil in her eyes and she wont go in. I most certainly will have to towel her and am super scared. Did he give you any good tricks for the towel. Timneh has gotten much closer to her carrier and much less afraid than the day I brought her home. However as soon as shes almost on the perch she fly's off. I'm thinking about purchasing a new travel cage, its actually a metal cage so it might seem more familiar and will have no stressful memories attached to it. Is it 2 or 4 that african greys reach full maturity?

Great news about Perjo! You're doing a wonderful job!

Billdore said:

That's awesome glad Perjo is on the up and up! Timneh and I are getting ready for our first vet visit maybe her first ever. Shes just about two now. The travel carrier I have is the devil in her eyes and she wont go in. I most certainly will have to towel her and am super scared. Did he give you any good tricks for the towel. Timneh has gotten much closer to her carrier and much less afraid than the day I brought her home. However as soon as shes almost on the perch she fly's off. I'm thinking about purchasing a new travel cage, its actually a metal cage so it might seem more familiar and will have no stressful memories attached to it. Is it 2 or 4 that african greys reach full maturity?

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I believe my vet told me between 2 and 3 they kind of reach full maturity and become the bird they will become.

RE: travel cage for a veet visit, I was recommended from my vet to get a smaller soft cage. If the bird is fearful of the vet (and I imagine many are) they will resist coming out and possibly try to fly around the cage. A smaller metal travel cage increases the chances of them hurting themselves in this situation. I got the small soft cage and it worked great for this purpose. Perjo isn't the biggest fan of it but I leave it out in her sight about a week before any trips to the vet. There is a perch and not ner enough room for her to avoid the hand of the vet. No toweling needed this time as she stepped right up for him, I think b/c it is so small and closed in that she wanted out of it after the 25 minute car ride.

He told me getting control of the head and top of the body/wings is key in toweling, give you control and allows the bird to breath. They seem to settle down in this position knowing they can breath and understanding you have control. When I did it Perjo's face could stick out of the towel.

Glad the visit went well, always something to be learned! I guess Greys mature a bit slower than other species.

I guess I will stick with my soft travel carrier then I really like it, I just wish Timneh did as well. I actually have left the bag in Timnehs line of sight for the last two months. Its in the other room opposite her but she can definitely see it. When I first tried intoducing her back to the carrier she freaked out the minute she saw it. Can't say I blame poor Timneh, after being given up after a year and a half the last thing I want her to think is that I'm giving her up also. I'd like to bring her outside maybe walk around or go for a drive then let her out so she doesn't a;ways think shes going to the vet or somewhere not as fun. Thanks for the help!!

When Smokes went to visit her doc, I put her in one of those plastic cat/small animal carriers,with the prison cell type barred front door,and just lined it with news paper or paper towel,even a clean dish towel.

I'd have to towel her I just waited until she came out of her house,and threw a dish towel over her lol..Boy oh boy would she protest lol. She'd chew at the towel,growl at it,and give me the evil eye lol.
BUT..as soon as she got in the carrier,she'd give out a very loud WOO!! like she had won or something..still can't figure that one out.

she actually didn't mind it after a few times. Often she would talk to Amy,who would be in the other carrier,facing her,or she would whistle to the radio.

Just towel Perjo...trust me,she will get over it,and may actually not mind it


Jim

This is the exact one I have for Perjo vet visits.

http://www.hayneedle.com/product/a-and-e-cage-co-soft-sided-travel-bird-carrier.cfm?source=pla&kwid=BirdCagesandAccessories%20level03&tid=AEC251-1&adtype=pla&kw=&lsft=adtypela&gclid=Cj0KEQjw5sHHBRDg5IK6k938j_IBEiQARZBJWrx_00cFqTclG728RoaeVxS0KZy9Vn29yNxUJbwMCcUaAs0v8P8HAQ

That's a very nice carrier...too fancy for me! looks like they'd be going on vacation



Jim

thats awesome same exact carrier that I have. i like it but timneh doesn't.

IMO they need to upgrade the design and allow more viewing for the bird. Perjo actually seems to enjoy rides in the cage in her other larger travel cage that is a traditional cage. She sits relative still but can see everything. This one while safer in terms of protecting her from hurting herself, doesn't allow her to see but out two limited side screens.

I liked it when I got it because it was cold out when I got timneh around thanksgiving so it gave for protection from the elements but I agree no a great view for the parrot.