28 year old Blue Crowned Conure questions

KenU

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Apr 29, 2022
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Blue crowned conure
Hello everyone,

I would like to ask a few questions about my senior, blue crowned conure, Max. We've had him since he was a baby. Lately, he's been perching in a puffed up manner and frequently the back end of his body shakes, quivers. We keep the room he's in quite warm so it doesn't seem to be that he's chilly. What could that be from?
His behavior is pretty normal, chirps etc. Let's the head petting etc.
We just had his beak and nails done and unfortunately they cut his nails too short so he's been falling from his cage when going to his dishes of water and food. Not all the time but frequently. I'm mad at my myself for doing this now but his nails were wayyy too long but he was used to climbing and hanging all over his cage. Now, he's pretty much staying put most of the time going to his dishes not so often now. Hoping that his nails grow quickly. He pulls himself up pretty well off the bottom of the cage but still, I'm upset how short they cut his nails.
I was told to get a corner thing for him to sit on and maybe other things but my wife says those things will freak him out and he won't go to them since he's been in this same cage forever.
What do you think the shaking is from and any suggestions regarding getting him to his food and water more easily until his nails grow back? Thanks in advance! Ken
 

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KenU

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Blue crowned conure
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Hopefully, a better picture
 

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KenU

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Apr 29, 2022
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Blue crowned conure
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By the way, the shaking etc was occurring before he had his beak and nails done.
 

ravvlet

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Jun 25, 2019
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Seattle WA
Parrots
Kirby - OWA, 33yrs old (2019-)
Broccoli - Dusky Conure - 3?mo old (July 2023 -)
~~~
(Rehomed) Sammy - YNA, 45 yrs old (2022-2023)
(RIP) Cricket - Cockatiel (2019-2022)
Has he seen a vet? At his age anytime he’s acting abnormal I’d bring him into a vet ASAP. Make sure it’s an avian certified one and not a cat or dog vet:

 
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KenU

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Apr 29, 2022
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Blue crowned conure
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Yes, thank you. I should've mentioned that. Interestingly, the vet saw no issues with him.
 

ravvlet

Well-known member
Jun 25, 2019
2,349
7,081
Seattle WA
Parrots
Kirby - OWA, 33yrs old (2019-)
Broccoli - Dusky Conure - 3?mo old (July 2023 -)
~~~
(Rehomed) Sammy - YNA, 45 yrs old (2022-2023)
(RIP) Cricket - Cockatiel (2019-2022)
That’s great! I’m assuming they did blood work and/or a culture? I’m not sure what the issue could be. I agree flat perches can help sometimes especially if their feet problems are arthritis, but I also know our old, arthritic parrot won’t use them either, haha.

You could try moving the perches so that he has an easier time getting to his food and water, or - since he’s having problems with falling - creating an “artificial floor” by putting cardboard or something and attaching it higher than the grate so that if he falls he doesn’t fall as far. You can cover the cardboard in washable towels or paper so it’s easy to keep clean.
 
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KenU

Member
Apr 29, 2022
14
63
Parrots
Blue crowned conure
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Thank you for those excellent suggestions!
 

ravvlet

Well-known member
Jun 25, 2019
2,349
7,081
Seattle WA
Parrots
Kirby - OWA, 33yrs old (2019-)
Broccoli - Dusky Conure - 3?mo old (July 2023 -)
~~~
(Rehomed) Sammy - YNA, 45 yrs old (2022-2023)
(RIP) Cricket - Cockatiel (2019-2022)
Not a problem! Our old guy has fallen a couple times here and there so I’ve had to keep an eye on it. If he ever gets bad enough that I think he could hurt himself I’ll probably be modifying his cage too.
 

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