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[DarlinHunny]

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[DarlinHunny]

Re: Need help with my GCC

Forgot to state his age, I adopted him August 18th 2016, So his birthday would be very close to the 1st.

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[Scott]

Re: Need help with my GCC

Thanks for a detailed description, Dawn! You certainly are a faithful parront (bird parent!) eager to give Volie the best possible life.

I was shocked to learn he was sold at such a young age - prior to proper weaning! Also curious to learn about the vaccinations; is he under the care of an avian certified vet?

Not too familiar with Conures so cannot verify the species. He is a beautiful bird and appears in great "feather." Hopefully our Conure members can give additional guidance.

The separation anxiety you mention is not a surprise. You are literally his "mother" and sole companion. His cage looks nicely outfitted and should be a nice place of refuge. However, I would respectfully ask you consider removing the triangular green "hut." Cannot tell the brand and exact construction, but *many* parrots have chewed/swallowed the fine fibers and passed away. See first and second posts: http://www.parrotforums.com/parrot-toys/38678-list-hazardous-toys-here-please.html

Diet is a universe of subjects! Fresh veggies/fruits are best, followed by a good quality pellet. Seeds should be given sparingly. Some human foods are acceptable in tiny portions, but please ensure Volie eats from a different plate as human bacteria can be dangerous. Dried fruits often contain added sugar and preservatives. You may find this thread helpful! http://www.parrotforums.com/parrot-...7-converting-parrots-healthier-diet-tips.html

The daily routine seems well organized and stimulating. I assume you have an electric bed that raises/elevates with adjustable rails? No doubt you use caution to avoid his being caught by mechanical actions.

Cage hygiene sounds excellent! So many household items can be toxic, but vinegar is a great alternative!

Are you able to safely secure him during outings? No matter how closely bonded, parrots are still "wild" animals and a flighted bird may escape. Either a harness or some sort of safe restraining device is essential. Depending on where you live, the sky may contain various raptors, known to swoop down and capture!

Hope some of this helps! I do believe you have overcome much adversity and have a wonderful companion to share life with!!

 

[EllenD]

Re: Need help with my GCC

Well you are very devoted! He looks to be a Yellow-Sided Green Cheek conure, just as my Bowie is! I hope you're using an avian vet, I have heard of some birds getting vaccinations, but it's rare.

#1 PLEASE NO PEE PADS!!!! Dog pee pads, human diapers, etc. are extremely toxic to birds and will kill him if he chews them open! I read a horrible account of a girl losing her Amazon parrot from using dog pee pads, he chewed them and the absorbent stuff inside is toxic, she found him dead in his cage! So immediately get rid of the pee pads, if you have him potty trained to go on them you need to substitute paper towels or newspaper or something similar for him immediately! As far as the green hut he has, there have been many incidents of birds chewing threads loose on them, and then the bird hanging themselves or getting their legs caught in the hanging thread. It's ridiculous that bird toys aren't bird safe...

Never take him out of the house if he's not on a harness or in a secure cage! Doesn't matter if his wings are clipped or not, if a clipped bird catches wind they can glide for miles. And even birds that are very bonded and tame just take off all the time, never to be seen again. Either harness train him (which takes months of training and practice, it's not usually liked at all at first) or buy a small travel carrier, cage, or don't take him out, I'd hate to hear that he flew away.

Those are the most important things I've got up front, I actually have to leave for an avian vet appointment for my cockatiel now, but I'll be back later, and others will cover his diet and everything else for you soon...

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[DarlinHunny]

Re: Need help with my GCC

Thank you so much for your advice! I to was dismayed that they would treat a animal in such a manner and glad I could help him. Weaning and raising a bird is way harder then expected too.

His Dr is qualified in avian care-medicine, she has been wonderful and she is patient with his attacks. She works with larger parrots(birds) and Volie is her first small conure as her other patients of conure breed are Suns. She checked him for mites, lice and found none. She also told me to keep a eye on his feet and gave me a little sheet with warning signs of foot problems. I assumed the vaccine was to prevent avian disease but admit I truly didn't question it as I trust her fully. She has taken care of all my animals for many years and has never given me any reason to doubt her knowledge or skill.

I will be adjusting his diet accordingly, cutting back his seeds, introducing pellet paste, and limiting his treats. I should have specified that while he eats from my plate he has his own side and the amount is very small basically enough taste. The Vet gave me a very strong lecture on that human bacteria before with my kitties, figured the same would apply to him.

I appreciate the warning about his bed, as I use a second one as a pouch to keep him safe while out in open air. I had no idea it could be harmful, I read many articles from bird owners on how vital one was. I will be making him one from a flannel sheet today if that is a safe material? Does it need a firm bottom? The house temp at night has to be set to 60° due to my health, would flannel be enough to ensure he is warm enough?

The bed we share most days is not a hospital bed, just a queen size bed loaded with pillows, blankets and fully enclosed. (I have seizures, he has taught himself to enter his cage during those times for his safety.) There is no gaps between bed and side walls/gate for him to become trapped in. I take extra precautions when we are in the hospital bed to ensure he can not get under the bed. I went thru each part of the home as if I were safe guarding a toddler. Cabinet locks, no candles, no small objects in reach, ect. I did switch to ceramic cook ware as well as organic cleaning products, toke out all air freshener sprayers as well.

As for being harnessed, that has been a big issue for him. He flat out refuses to be harnessed. I have tried several different types and he has reacted violently every time. So I secure him in a pouch while outside and attach a small lead to his ankle bracelet one we are in doors unless we are at home of course. He has not oncee tried to leave me but I rather be safe then sorry, so I hope that lead is a safe alternative to the harness? It is not held tightly rather it rest on my wrist with roughly 30in of lead between my wrist and him on my shoulder though he prefers my lap.

The other critters have no issue with him at all, he rules the house with a iron beak for sure. I do the the precaution of clearing the bedroom at night and during nap times when I an not awake to supervise all interactions.

I replaced potty pads for a washable one as soon as I read that, while he has never shown any interest in them I prefer safe to sorry.

Thank you again for helping me be a better Mama for him!!

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[Notdumasilook]

Re: Need help with my GCC

personally I think you are being an awesome "momabird". Do caution you on letting your bird under covers with you in your bed. They LOVE crawling around under covers like lil gophers... snuggling up to ya... IF you were to doze off and roll over............. well... you get the picture. My lil Booger pottie trained himself... and like yours.. put himself to bed or request ""wannagonitnitenite" me to put him to bed bout 730 every nite. On the separation anxiety thing I might help. Both my birds use to go goofy when I would leave the room for a moment or walk out of the room. Then... I figured out to stop that for the most part. These critters are VERY smart and learn quick. I figured out to let them know what was up when I had to be out of site for whatever reason. IF I was leaving I would tell them "daddys going bye bye"... that was for extended departures.. Stepping out of the room or stepping outside for whatever reason... "Be right back!" ... a few weeks of that and the screams disappeared for the most part... cuz they knew what to expect. And I always get a delightful welcome of squeals of delight when I return. ... Again... you are doing an amazing job.... good luck Momabird...

 

[EllenD]

Re: Need help with my GCC

Sounds like you're doing very well and you love him very much! As far as the harness training, I think they all react pretty violently to them at first. It takes a long time to get them to accept them. I have harness trained 4 birds recently from the time they were babies, all hand-raised and tame, and they all freaked out at first. I actually watched the DVD the Aviator Harness came with the first time I bought that brand, and I followed their training instructions. I started just leaving the harness for them to be near and play with/chew at and get used to, then after a week or two of that just put the head loop over their heads, then off, then on, and so on. Some were easier than others, but none were easy. You always want him completely secure if you're not in the house, and even though he's never tried to take off or showed any interest in leaving, it is that one time he does that is tragic. There is a member named Mark on here and on another forum who had his green winged Macaw of 17 years, who he loved like his own child, free flight trained. They went out and Maggie, his macaw, would fly freely and come back to him. They did this every day for years, and when not doing free flying she was on a harness. Well last spring Maggie was free flying in an area she knows well, and suddenly something spooked her. She took off and never came back. It's not so much she wanted to leave, she was flying away from something that scared her, and they aren't very good at finding their way home, like a dog or a homing pigeon. They can also easily get caught up in a wind and be blown miles and miles away, and then can't find their way back. And a small Conure will most likely be a snack for a hawk, falcon, eagle, or larger predator bird, or a cat, dog, racoon, etc. I'm not familiar with attaching a lead to a conure's leg, I've only seen that with much larger birds, like in falconry. Is the lead elastic, does it have some give? If he was to be spooked and took off, if the lead is securely on his leg and he doesn't get loose, if the lead is elastic, like the Aviator Harness lead, he will not be yanked at the end, but rather will keep flying but glide to the ground. If it's just a non-elastic piece of cord he will be yanked at the end, possibly breaking his leg, and then just splat on the ground...I'm not the one to ask about a leg lead for a small bird, hopefully someone else can chime in and provide an opinion or experience.

Here's the link to the heartbreaking post about the bird and the pee pad, it was a sun conure hybrid, not an Amazon, sorry, but same result. There are many such stories of people using pee pads as cage bottom liners that have the same end result...This broke my heart the first time I read it...

http://www.parrot-and-conure-world....-hands-yesterday-because-of-my-ignorance.html

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[EllenD]

Re: Need help with my GCC

I forgot, do you know about Teflon coated pans, heaters, ovens, irons, and other appliances? This is one that gets a lot of people. Never use Teflon non-stick pots and pans, you need to use only cast iron, stainless steel, or ceramic non-stick. Same with space heaters and all other appliances, it's best to call the company and ask if a particular model is safe for birds, if it contains Teflon, if it contains any PTFEs, PFOAs, or FEPs...Also, no scented candles, incense, cleaners, carpet powders (even the pet ones), anything with a scent, as this can kill birds quite quickly...If you're ever having work done to your house, like new carpeting put down, tile, flooring, anything at all, it's best to remove your bird until it's done and the place is aired out. There was a member that was having carpeting put down and they asked the installers if they were using any glues because the fumes would be toxic to her bird, the installer said no, the bird would be fine. Well the bird was found dead in its cage, they used no glues but they used a carpet iron, and it was either the iron had a Teflon coating, or the carpet backing heated up and released fumes. So use your judgement, anything with chemical fumes, fumes from heat, fumes from gases, or anything scented is a definite no no.

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[DarlinHunny]

Re: Need help with my GCC

Thank you all so so much!!!

pads are all gone, he has a hatred of paper towels..Will full on attack then tearing them to shreds hatred. So using washable pads from now on. (Assuming these are safe?) I replaced all non-sick cookware/kitchen items (even the coffee pot!!) with their ceramic safe for birds cousin. Every thing that produced a scent was given away, I changed laundry and bath soap to ones safe for him to be around. I switched to organic cleaning stuff ect.
I never in my life realised that a pet could be so life altering!!!
[emoji15]

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[DarlinHunny]

Re: Need help with my GCC

Oh his lead is a avian bungee lead, it is made to clip to his ankle ID bracelet has incredible easy stretch so should he become spooked and not react as normal (bury into me crying)instead fluttering off it would allow him to move in a safe manner. His pouch is sealed and dark providing him what I thought would be the least stressful environment for open air exposure times. He has a small bird carrier that can be attached to the cats car seat for car travel. Yes I am that anal about animal safety. If it isn't needed to have a dark enclosure and would not be stressful? I would happily let him travel in that while in open air spaces.

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[DarlinHunny]

Re: Need help with my GCC

One last thing, what can he sleep in? I have a old flannel shirt I was scooping out as a alternative. But I am scared of putting another bed in his safe space that could possible kill or harm him!!!! The house has to be 60° at night so it needs to keep him warm I know that much at a loss on the rest

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[EllenD]

Re: Need help with my GCC

It sounds like you did your homework! I feel pretty confident that you know what you're doing. The lead sounds fine then, it was made for a bird and is just a leg band rather than around the bird's body, it's elastic, and it sounds completely safe. I had just never seen a small bird on a leg lead, I didn't know they made them. I might actually check this out for my Senegal parrot as he is only a little over 5 months old and I'm having the most trouble with harness training him. I thought he was all good like my other 3 guys, I had spent the first month and a half working with him every day, and finally he wore it around the house all day and then out to Petco with it on, and had no issues at all. He absolutely loved it. Then the next time I asked him if he wanted to go for a ride and go to the birdy store he got all excited and head-bobbed for me, he regurgitated over it. So I grabbed his Aviator Harness and as soon as he saw it he made the loudest noise I've heard him make since I brought him home, a loud shriek that equated to "Oh hell no lady, nice try!", and he flew upstairs to my bedroom and tried to hide in his sleeping cage...So we're starting over on that one. I really want Kane (my Senegal) to go places with me, he obviously loves it, much more than my cockatiel (she would rather stay home), my Quaker (he could take it or leave it), and my green cheek, who loves going out for a car ride, looking out the window, and walking around on my shoulder in Petco, PetSmart, Home Depot, Lowes, the Arts Festival in the summer, etc., but he absolutely hates attention from strangers, lol. He tolerates kids wanting to pet him, he never has bitten anyone, but the look on his face is priceless! So Kane is not only my largest parrot but he just can't get enough attention if we're outside the house. The foot harness may be the answer!

The washable pee pad is awesome! The only reason the disposable pee pads and diapers are toxic is the stuff they put inside them to make them so absorbent contains a chemical that is poisonous to birds, probably to human babies as well, lol. But yeah, your cage setup looks absolutely awesome!

As far as the "Happy Hut" issue for sleeping, I feel your pain. My green cheek and my Senegal love sleeping inside something (I have had my green cheek much longer than the Senegal), and I had the very same "Happy Hut" for him and he loved it. I removed it as soon as I read all the negative reviews about them, many birds dying from threads coming loose...I tried to research different brands of the same general product because there are many of them, but they all seemed to have the same problem. If there is the same product out there that someone has found to be bird-proof and bird-safe hopefully they will post about it, because I haven't found one...But I did find a solution! I had read reviews on Amazon about the Happy Huts killing birds and the companies not caring, insisting they were safe, when I started finding many people saying that they were hanging hammocks for their birds to sleep in. So I did my research and found that the hammocks made for ferrets work wonderfully well for birds! There's no threads to come loose, no filling, they're just two pieces of thick material sewn together from the inside out so there are no exposed threads for the animals or birds to chew on or pull out. Lots of people were posting pics of their bird cages with the hammocks hanging in a corner at the top of their bird cages. I didn't know if Bowie, my green cheek, would like a hammock since it is very different than the hut, but he absolutely loves it, and so does my Senegal! He is able to actually lay down in it, on his belly. He just crawls right in when I put him in his sleeping cage and lays down on his belly, sinks into it, and it forms around his body so no one can see him and he's pretty well snug, and light is blocked out. Sometimes it's hard to get him out of it in the morning! He does chew on it, or tries to, and I've washed them in the machine many times (Bowie doesn't poop in his sleeping cage at all, he waits until he's out and on his T-Stand, but Kane is still learning, and a morning Senegal parrot poop is a lot of poop), and there is not one loose thread on it! It's lined on the inside with the softest fur type material I've ever felt, I'd like to sleep in it! I got them at Petco in the ferret/small animal section. They have a bunch of different sizes and I think they both have a 16" or 17" one, there is a 12" one and I buy whatever size is the one larger than the 12". They both have room to spare, even the Senegal!

I will go and try to get a pic of Kane in his, he's currently taking his afternoon nap in his hammock and needs to get up already, lol!



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[EllenD]

Re: Need help with my GCC

Here are a few pics of Kane in his Petco hammock. The inside material he's laying on is black and white polka dotted fur that is so soft and warm! He lays on his belly and just sinks in, as you can see! He's only 5 months and is a pretty large male Senegal parrot, probably 5 to 6 times as large as my green cheek conure, so your little guy should be nice and warm in one of these.

This pic is me just walking up to his cage, he's still asleep and he lays on his belly and sinks into the hammock, so you can't see him at all when he's sleeping.

Here he is after popping his head up, angry that I woke him up. It's 4:00 Kane, you lazy little bugger!

Bowie is up playing or I'd try to get his pic in his hammock so you could see a green cheek conure in one, but honestly you can't really see him at all, lol. After he sinks down into it the hammock just folds up around him.

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[EllenD]

Re: Need help with my GCC

Oh, to answer your question about keeping your green cheek hidden away when you're out and about with him, I personally wouldn't because my green cheek conure, really all of my birds absolutely love sitting on my shoulder while I'm walking around a store or am outside walking around downtown, at an outdoor concert, the arts festival, etc. In fact I'm pretty sure my green cheek would have a complete screaming fit if I was out and about and had him covered up and hidden away. All of them are always on my shoulder and have their harnesses on. If we get something to eat I'll sit down at a table outside and the birds will usually either stay on my shoulder and I'll feed them snacks, or they jump down and sit on the table until we leave. When I'm in Petco or Home Depot and they're on my shoulder as I'm walking around people always want the birds to step up onto their fingers, which I typically do for them, as none of my guys bite. You have to be careful with this, if there is any chance you're might even nip a finger just tell the person "Aww sorry, I would but he gets nervous with new people and he gets nippy". God knows people have no problem asking to pet an animal (or not asking at all and just walking up and letting them), and then when they get bitten they sue! Not that a green cheek conure is going to do much damage, Bowie absolutely loves attention.

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[DarlinHunny]

Re: Need help with my GCC

Omg that is so comfy looking, much better then anything I could rig up as DIY. Looks like we will have to venture out today after all. I am not letting him spend another night in the death hut!! I never thought that something made for a bird could be harmful for them, I well have to be more careful !! Thank you for the help and the compliment. I still feel very unsteady in my role as his mama. Finding that being a bird parent is a lot more emotional and scary then other pets. Glad I am off to good start [emoji4]



Sent from a swipe type mobile phone please forgive the typos.

 

[DarlinHunny]

Re: Need help with my GCC

Oh, to answer your question about keeping your green cheek hidden away when you're out and about with him, I personally wouldn't because my green cheek conure, really all of my birds absolutely love sitting on my shoulder while I'm walking around a store or am outside walking around downtown, at an outdoor concert, the arts festival, etc. In fact I'm pretty sure my green cheek would have a complete screaming fit if I was out and about and had him covered up and hidden away. All of them are always on my shoulder and have their harnesses on. If we get something to eat I'll sit down at a table outside and the birds will usually either stay on my shoulder and I'll feed them snacks, or they jump down and sit on the table until we leave. When I'm in Petco or Home Depot and they're on my shoulder as I'm walking around people always want the birds to step up onto their fingers, which I typically do for them, as none of my guys bite. You have to be careful with this, if there is any chance you're might even nip a finger just tell the person "Aww sorry, I would but he gets nervous with new people and he gets nippy". God knows people have no problem asking to pet an animal (or not asking at all and just walking up and letting them), and then when they get bitten they sue! Not that a green cheek conure is going to do much damage, Bowie absolutely loves attention.

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I only cover to transport him basically to the car where he is placed into his cage strapped inside a cat car seat so he is secure if God forbid there was a accident. And then from the car into the store. Even with his leg lead I worry with him being outside as we have pretty ballsie vulture looking birds that will take food from your hand, which worries me what they might do to him.
I try to warn ppl he is not to be touched but ppl don't want to listen and this ends with a bloody bite. Apparently since I am in a wheelchair ppl don't have to listen to me. I always make sure to comfort him afterwards and give the offending person a harsh scolding. He is super territorial about me. To the point he will attack ppl like my daughter for attempting to hug me even if he isn't on me at that moment. He yells bad bad over and over if I am paying attention to another critter. I have had no success on his social behavior.

Sent from a swipe type mobile phone please forgive the typos.

 

[EllenD]

Re: Need help with my GCC

Lol, he loves you! Yeah, you probably don't want him to get near strangers then...I misunderstood what you meant when you said you kept him hidden, you always want your bird secure in the car. I know some people that use a car perch made out of PVC pipe that attaches to the passenger headrest, but having them potentially flying around the car scares me for a number of reasons. I've driven with my birds on my shoulders before, but honestly I was nervous the entire time. I usually put them in their bird carrier and strap it into the passenger seatbelt.

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[GaleriaGila]

Re: Need help with my GCC

Well, dang!
I'm late to the party, buttttttttttttttttt...
Welcome!
I love your devotion and energy and openness to advice!
I'm glad you found us!

 

[AmyMyBlueFront]

Re: Need help with my GCC

Here are a few pics of Kane in his Petco hammock. The inside material he's laying on is black and white polka dotted fur that is so soft and warm! He lays on his belly and just sinks in, as you can see! He's only 5 months and is a pretty large male Senegal parrot, probably 5 to 6 times as large as my green cheek conure, so your little guy should be nice and warm in one of these.

This pic is me just walking up to his cage, he's still asleep and he lays on his belly and sinks into the hammock, so you can't see him at all when he's sleeping.

Here he is after popping his head up, angry that I woke him up. It's 4:00 Kane, you lazy little bugger!

Bowie is up playing or I'd try to get his pic in his hammock so you could see a green cheek conure in one, but honestly you can't really see him at all, lol. After he sinks down into it the hammock just folds up around him.

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WOW!! That is SOO friggin' cute Ellen! I never heard of a birdie hammock! I wonder if my little fluff ball Beeb's would groove on one of those things??!!
Petco huh? Gee theres one of those in town here.I'll have to go investigate.
And yes,judging by his expression..Kane is ready to give you KANE!
Simply adorable lol.


Jim

 

[EllenD]

Re: Need help with my GCC

Here are a few pics of Kane in his Petco hammock. The inside material he's laying on is black and white polka dotted fur that is so soft and warm! He lays on his belly and just sinks in, as you can see! He's only 5 months and is a pretty large male Senegal parrot, probably 5 to 6 times as large as my green cheek conure, so your little guy should be nice and warm in one of these.

This pic is me just walking up to his cage, he's still asleep and he lays on his belly and sinks into the hammock, so you can't see him at all when he's sleeping.

Here he is after popping his head up, angry that I woke him up. It's 4:00 Kane, you lazy little bugger!

Bowie is up playing or I'd try to get his pic in his hammock so you could see a green cheek conure in one, but honestly you can't really see him at all, lol. After he sinks down into it the hammock just folds up around him.

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WOW!! That is SOO friggin' cute Ellen! I never heard of a birdie hammock! I wonder if my little fluff ball Beeb's would groove on one of those things??!!
Petco huh? Gee theres one of those in town here.I'll have to go investigate.
And yes,judging by his expression..Kane is ready to give you KANE!
Simply adorable lol.


Jim

Yes, god forbid he doesn't get his full 13 hours of sleep followed by his 3 hour afternoon nap!

They love their hammocks, and my green cheek has had his for almost a year now with no issues at all. They really only go near them when sleeping and don't bother with them any other time, so no chewing at all. And they completely zonk out as soon as they snuggle down in them. My Quaker and my cockatiel won't go near their hammocks, I have tried many times to put them in them at bedtime but they usually just crawl right out onto a perch. The Quaker actually started using his as his potty instead of his cage [emoji19] and I didn't realize it for a week, so that was lovely.

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