Flock's vet visit adventure and couple questions

Taprock

Member
Oct 22, 2015
279
2
Northern l.p. Michigan
Parrots
Buzz - CAG,
Ziggy - Nanday/Sun Conure,
Jasper - Goffin
Loki - Starling
Gloria - Foster CAG
Today everyone took the trip to visit the vet. A 5 1/2 hour adventure. Everyone's gram stain was fine. Buzz and Ziggy are underweight. Jasper is overweight. Buzz did great giving kisses while trying to bite the vet. The Dr. said he can hear more than he likes in Ziggy's breathing, not enough to be concerned and also not surprising since he came from a smoking environment. Jasper the poor guy needed claw and beak work done. We also had his wings clipped. I really didn't want to do it but after talking to the Dr. I decided it might keep him from injury. He is such a good flyer and horrible lander, along with being scared of us that for now I think it is safer. Jasper also has two irritated spots, one on either side of his beak. The Dr. said he thinks he was rubbing his beak and did it. He said to keep watch of it. Does that sound accurate?

I'm looking for good low fat treats suggestions to try for Jasper. We've been dropping treats in his dish throughout the day to Hopefully change his attitude toward us. We had been using nuts but because of his weight no more nuts allowed.

Jasper had his band cut off that was a bit snug. Is there a way to find out about him from his band #?

I'm thankful our freezing rain stopped so travel was good and that everyone was calm throughout. They are all dozing in cages now after having a bit to eat.
 

SilverSage

New member
Sep 14, 2013
5,937
93
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
There are things you can determine from some bands but not others. It depends. I have my bands set up so that as much info is available as possible. For example if you find a bird with the band SSA 16 HI 03 that's my bird (Silver Sage Aviaries, 2016, Hawaii, third baby of the season). Cockatiel bands can often be traced through breeder clubs.

By the way if you ever DO find an SSA band or a CLEV band I will pay a reward for the bird. I have an extremely strict contract to insure my babies don't end up on Craigslist but if any ever do, I want them back in my care.


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Taprock

Taprock

Member
Oct 22, 2015
279
2
Northern l.p. Michigan
Parrots
Buzz - CAG,
Ziggy - Nanday/Sun Conure,
Jasper - Goffin
Loki - Starling
Gloria - Foster CAG
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I'm wondering because he had an open band with CBG 871. From what I've just briefly read that means he was likely wild caught and imported by a private company before 1992. Which blows apart all I thought I knew about him.
 

SilverSage

New member
Sep 14, 2013
5,937
93
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
What sort of bird is he?

Lots of breeders use open bands for various reasons so he may still be captive bred. What DO you know about his history?


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Taprock

Taprock

Member
Oct 22, 2015
279
2
Northern l.p. Michigan
Parrots
Buzz - CAG,
Ziggy - Nanday/Sun Conure,
Jasper - Goffin
Loki - Starling
Gloria - Foster CAG
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He is a Goffin. I was told he was 17. The lady I got him from had him 2 years. She owns an aviary and he was brought to her in a box and she was told he was a former breeder bird, so who knows! He is extremely scared of people as in he runs, hisses and bites if you get too close.
 

SilverSage

New member
Sep 14, 2013
5,937
93
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
Poor baby!


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plumsmum2005

New member
Nov 18, 2015
5,330
94
England, UK
Parrots
Lou, Ruby, and Sonu.
Fly free Plum, my gorgeous boy.
Hi, not sure how much overweight Jasper is? Keeping them active is always better than putting them on a diet. Tiny, tiny morsels of nuts and not too frequent. What does his normal diet look like?
 
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Taprock

Taprock

Member
Oct 22, 2015
279
2
Northern l.p. Michigan
Parrots
Buzz - CAG,
Ziggy - Nanday/Sun Conure,
Jasper - Goffin
Loki - Starling
Gloria - Foster CAG
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He has only been with us a month so I can only answer for us. I give 40% zupreem 40% vitasmart and 20% fresh veggie, fruit and grains. I think you totally got it though with activity. He is in what I consider a small cage and hasn't been out in years. He also had nothing to chew on or play with when we got him. The challenge is to increase his activity level without increasing his fear.
 

Scott

Supporting Member
Aug 21, 2010
32,673
9,789
San Diego, California USA, Earth, Milky Way Galaxy
Parrots
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.
How severe is Jasper's clip? Can he at least glide or take flight for short distances? As I mentioned earlier, Goffins are superb fliers, and landing is generally the easy part. Do his feet appear to be compromised?

Has his fear and biting lessened at all since you acquired him? At some point he will at least accept the new environment, but may need active assistance to feel more comfortable. Sitting nearby and reading to him may help, as well as hand-feeding treats. Mine often enjoy Cheerios as a low-fat treat. I would also try to increase his intake of fresh veggies/fruits to assist with weight loss. Unfortunately, restricting his flying, though well intentioned, will reduce expended calories.

Have you been able to transition him to a larger cage? Goffins love large homes and are very active chewers. If his rub marks are somewhat symmetrical, it is indeed most likely a case of repetitive beak-rubbing on vertical bars.
 
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Taprock

Taprock

Member
Oct 22, 2015
279
2
Northern l.p. Michigan
Parrots
Buzz - CAG,
Ziggy - Nanday/Sun Conure,
Jasper - Goffin
Loki - Starling
Gloria - Foster CAG
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #10
Scott - he is able to glide but not take off from the floor which was part of the problem - we had to chase him every time he was out. He also had multiple crashes when landing every time and a few were very scary. He is missing the end of one toe and claw. The vet guessed it was bit off when he had a mate.

He had been doing better on fear until the trip to the vet and now he's back to hissing at me. He did great in his carrier but I know it had to be very stressful to him. He has not taken food from me yet. The morning before the vet he had come up pecked the treat in my hand and then retreated. He is now in our main living area and seems curious to what is going on around him. He no longer hisses at the dogs. We drop him tidbits in his dish when we go past his cage.

I have not changed cages yet. I just didn't want to do too much at once. His rub marks are symetrical. I think it was the beak rubbing he was doing. He still doesn't seem to do much chewing or playing with toys. I've tried a few different kinds hoping to find one that he enjoys. I have added a dish of veggies and fruit for him but he isn't very sure about them. He appears excited and always checks it but usually only takes a bite before he drops it. He also has a color dislike and won't touch anything orange.
 

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