A tale of two CAG’s

[texsize113]

I have been home with Clara for 2 full days now.
To my surprise Bella is more fearful of Clara than the other way around.

There cages are about 4 feet apart and in view of each other.
Clara is very interested in Bella’s cage. I don’t know if it’s due to its larger size or more variety of toys.
Bella is reluctant to fly to her cage if Clara’s cage door is open regardless of whether Clara is in or out of cage.

Clara was nervous at night the first 2 nights, holding her foot up and trying to dig her way out. But not for too long. Last night she was calm at bedtime. I’m having more trouble training my human flock about behavior at night time.

Best of all I heard her crunching on some pellets today.
Seeds don’t make that distinctive crunching sound.
I am slowly reducing the amount of sunflower seed mix in favor of the Higgins California blend with out sunflower seeds.

As for the amazon’s. Their solution to all life’s problems is to scream at it.
They screamed at Clara the first day or so but seem to be back to their normal scream level.

And like Bella Clara likes the Cockatiels. At least she is relaxed in their presence. My son did their feeding with Clara riding on his shoulder supervising.

 

[Vampiric_Conure101]

I'm glad things are looking up with everyone! Bringing in a new bird can be a challenge, for sure!

 

[osklvste63]

Good news. I was wondering how the flock human and feathered would adept. Excellent about the diet acceptance. Send pics of the flock.

 

[texsize113]

Here’s a short video of Clara acting hormonal.
It looks and sounds like she’s wanting to regurgitate for me.
My question is, is this really female behavior or male behavior.
Bella sometimes regurgitates for my wife but does it without the sound effects.
Bella’s gender is not in doubt because she laid an egg once.

 

[texsize113]

Clara is definitely in molt right now.
I’ve been seeing a number of feathers here and there including one tail feather.
I was able to give her some good scratches today and I could feel a number of pin feathers coming in.
Was a bit concerned she might start plucking but I don’t think that’s what is happening.

She is also still very hormonal but her behavior is still puzzling to me. She’s not doing the “wings” that I have seen male CAG’s do when they are in the mood.
But she keeps trying to step on my face, putting her foot on my chin and mouth.
And of course she is still making the funny noises and the not quite regurgitation.

I’ve been able to take her into the shower with me now.
She was initially kind of scared of the water but is now fine. She even sat on the window sill and banged her beak on the window. This tends to be Bella’s favorite spot when taking a shower with me too..

 

[osklvste63]

Nameliss has never plucked in the decades plus I've had her. I watched a wing feather fly off with a good flap and cringed. I cringe with every feather on cage bottom. Read and told by several avian vets. CAG's are prone to feather plucking. My fears are anticipation and what it's. You have experience. Calm down.

 

[texsize113]

Nameliss has never plucked in the decades plus I've had her. I watched a wing feather fly off with a good flap and cringed. I cringe with every feather on cage bottom. Read and told by several avian vets. CAG's are prone to feather plucking. My fears are anticipation and what it's. You have experience. Calm down.

I am mostly calm.
But you need to remember I already have a CAG with plucking and barbering issues.
Clara has gone through 2 owners in one year plus a long road trip.
New owner, new environment, traumatic experience as a baby ( missing toes) multiple species of parrots around her.
Going through puberty.
I think it prudent to keep a close eye on feather condition.

Not even avian experts know what drives parrots into feather destruction. Or at least they don’t agree.

 

[osklvste63]

Misunderstanding here. I learned this. Calm is a mental state of thinking. Absolutely no connection to action. Learned it to be a critical care and trauma nurse. Objective vs subjective thinking. Subjective let's everything you named clutter thinking. I couldn't change a car wreck, gun shot, failed surgery. Objective is taking a step back. Look at now. Not yesterday. Your mind will calm and focus better. Clara may just fool you. I was a traveling RN for 5 years with my first CAG and 2 dogs. We changed apartments every 3-6 months. 10 states. CAG's ain't supposed to tolerate change.

 

[texsize113]

Misunderstanding here. I learned this. Calm is a mental state of thinking. Absolutely no connection to action. Learned it to be a critical care and trauma nurse. Objective vs subjective thinking. Subjective let's everything you named clutter thinking. I couldn't change a car wreck, gun shot, failed surgery. Objective is taking a step back. Look at now. Not yesterday. Your mind will calm and focus better. Clara may just fool you. I was a traveling RN for 5 years with my first CAG and 2 dogs. We changed apartments every 3-6 months. 10 states. CAG's ain't supposed to tolerate change.

My goal with Clara is to better her standard of living not make it worse.
The circumstances of her purchase was just a little off to me.
I don’t want to go into too much detail in the open forum, perhaps in a PM.
Always a chance the original owner might find this thread.
Selling a pet of any kind on Facebook marketplace is not allowed so far as I know.
I’m working on improving her diet….slowly.
Anyway the point is if she was to start plucking I wouldn’t consider that a “win” for her.

After nearly 10 years of caring for Bella I don’t pretend to understand CAG’s. Bella is without a doubt better off with us than she was but she still plucks and barbers her feathers.
I am much better at reading my Amazons but I have 40+ years with them.

And Clara just doesn’t have the same behavior I remember from Bella. Body language is not the same.
I don’t think I am projecting anxiety towards Clara.
Just extra solicitude (is that right word).

There are CAG on YouTube (Einstein the Texas parrot) that had the best of care yet plucked all his chest feathers off.
And I’ve seen in person CAG’s with very poor care and perfect plumage.

I just know I would feel like a failure if Clara ended up a plucker.

BTW she lost the corresponding tail feather today, was in bottom of cage when I was cleaning. I understand tail feathers molt out like primary flight feathers, one on one side then one on the other side shortly afterwards.

 

[HarleY 0654]

Oskivste is the perfect example of EXPERIENCE over PANIC.
Panic is caused by a lack of training(experience) particularily to most situations, and poor self motivation, insofar asto always thinking "what if?" -they become self trained, and better to assist in any situation,
Defence personnel are another perfect example. everything is pyramided from the top to the bottom, and after a few situations everybody knows their place and value. Nurses included. mostly by their history, which is the basis of their experience. Same with Ambulance staff - need I go on?
Everywhere in this forum you will see that every bird is different, reacts different, and likens very different things.
The only similarities in them is in their owners - some care more for themselves than they care for their bird/s.
I think that this forum is a magnet for owners who care. and in that there will always be those who have more experience that others,
But the essence is this - "Caring is for Sharing"

 

[Jcas72]

I’m glad to hear that everyone is getting along relatively well. You have a full house of big birds! It sounds like Clara is doing well for all the changes in her life in a relatively short period of time. It’s interesting that despite being the same species, you see distinct differences in Bella and Clara. They all have their own personalities don’t they? I hope things continue to work out well for you and the birds.

 

[texsize113]

I took Clara to my CAV a while ago for nail and beak care.
He was very careful with her claws. I didn’t want her to end up with dull claws and have trouble gripping perches. With missing toes she’s already at a disadvantage.
Vet said tail color indicates she is definitely a girl.

It’s difficult to tell who is saying what especially with the cages close together (relatively speaking).
But Clara says Cheddar and Bella and I think Bella is saying Clara.
Clara also says.
What’s wrong.
Poopy.
More stuff than that but I’m not keeping a log like I did with Bella.

She’s noisier than Bella with screeching noises.
She likes to bang on walls, mirrors, and windows with her beak something Bella has never done.
She likes sitting on the tree perch and looking out the window.
Ive had that stupid thing for years and no bird has made much use of it….

Well Bingo liked sitting there near the end but that’s a different story.

Anyway that’s the update for the two CAG’s.

 

[osklvste63]

I hope your two sweeties don't encourage each other. I chuckled when you said Bella never tapped on things. Well Nameliss does. Giving orders as she does. Also a few compliments, insults, sound effects.but Even telling herself to stop in my voice. I can hear that unharmonious synchronized tapping now. With sound effects. Get a good recording!

 

[ATLBirdMan32]

I have been home with Clara for 2 full days now.
To my surprise Bella is more fearful of Clara than the other way around.

There cages are about 4 feet apart and in view of each other.
Clara is very interested in Bella’s cage. I don’t know if it’s due to its larger size or more variety of toys.
Bella is reluctant to fly to her cage if Clara’s cage door is open regardless of whether Clara is in or out of cage.

Clara was nervous at night the first 2 nights, holding her foot up and trying to dig her way out. But not for too long. Last night she was calm at bedtime. I’m having more trouble training my human flock about behavior at night time.

Best of all I heard her crunching on some pellets today.
Seeds don’t make that distinctive crunching sound.
I am slowly reducing the amount of sunflower seed mix in favor of the Higgins California blend with out sunflower seeds.

As for the amazon’s. Their solution to all life’s problems is to scream at it.
They screamed at Clara the first day or so but seem to be back to their normal scream level.

And like Bella Clara likes the Cockatiels. At least she is relaxed in their presence. My son did their feeding with Clara riding on his shoulder supervising.

I would love to see a picture of them! If you already posted, forgive me, I didn’t see it yet. I think it is normal for inquistive birds such as cags to inspect another cage and show interest. Even we as humans want what we don’t have.

 

[texsize113]

I would love to see a picture of them! If you already posted, forgive me, I didn’t see it yet. I think it is normal for inquistive birds such as cags to inspect another cage and show interest. Even we as humans want what we don’t have.

Bella is on the right and Clara is on the left.
Yes my amazons liked to explore each other’s cages though Luna doesn’t do that.
That hasn’t happened in a while because Merlin and Luna…… well Merlin is jealousy and protective of Cheddar. Doesn’t want Luna close by and Luna knows it.

 

[wrench13104]

Picture could be entitled "Total Indifference".

 

[osklvste63]

Exactly. The total aloofness just seems to ooze. It's good to see them together.

 

[ATLBirdMan32]

Bella is on the right and Clara is on the left.
Yes my amazons liked to explore each other’s cages though Luna doesn’t do that.
That hasn’t happened in a while because Merlin and Luna…… well Merlin is jealousy and protective of Cheddar. Doesn’t want Luna close by and Luna knows it.View attachment 86350

Thank you for sharing! I'm contemplating a Timneh but haven't pulled the trigger yet.

 

[texsize113]

Clara has defeated the anti tampering feature of her lower food dish.
She has dumped the entire container twice today.
So far she hasn’t messed with the water dish that uses the same method of holding the bowl “secure “ LOL.
The upper food dish (larger) doesn’t have any way to secure it but so far she hasn’t messed with it either.

I want to get a better and larger cage for her but don’t want to pay 11% sales tax on top of shipping.
I hope to go to the bird fair this weekend and maybe find a good deal there.

 

[ATLBirdMan32]

11% sales tax. What state or country do you live? Wow, that's a lot.

I absolutely Love bird fairs! Good luck finding what you need.