Button & Ava

[LaManuka]

He loves being held like this and having his head scritched.

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Look at that happy little face Please give him extra scritches from me!!

 

[nkrbkr]

Ava bird will be getting a little black Aviator harness in her stocking for her first Christmas with us. I’ve continued training “gentle touch,” where I rest my hand lightly on her back. She does very well with it, and is actually very sweet about it. In preparation for harness training, today I started training “wing.” After a single try, this bird is letting me lift her wing! She is such a sweet little girl. I plan to watch the Aviator videos soon to see what other things I can train her to do that will assist with harness training in the new year.

 

[rheashard2]

I enjoy reading about how well birds do with training. Hopefully Ava will become like Nameliss. Harness means outside for trips and fun times.

 

[nkrbkr]

I hope so! I think she would really enjoy being outside without a carrier!

 

[rheashard2]

I hope so! I think she would really enjoy being outside without a carrier!

Nameliss does! She periodically says... Nameliss go bye I have to put her harness on and take her outside. It doesn't matter how far or where. She just wants to go

 

[nkrbkr]

This beautiful floof has her footie tucked, and is making the cutest Amazon happy noises.

 

[rheashard2]

This beautiful floof has her footie tucked, and is making the cutest Amazon happy noises.

Looks absolutely contintet!

 

[Vampiric_Conure]

Looks absolutely contintet!

Content bird noises are the best!

 

[GivemeSeedsorgivemeFlesh]

This beautiful floof has her footie tucked, and is making the cutest Amazon happy noises.

I love the little foot tucks.

 

[nkrbkr]

We got some short clips of Ava recall training. She can fly further than this, but was feeling a little less confident this evening. I’m still amazed how well she can fly, even though her wings are very aggressively clipped. Particularly if she has some elevation to start from, she can make it across the room.

 

[onamom]

Go, Ava!! This reminds me of Ona when she was clipped, and today she is a very strong flyer. Even when she was severely clipped, she would try to fly. I bet Ava ends up a strong flyer, too!

 

[nkrbkr]

I think she will be a strong flyer too. I’m thankful she hasn’t lost the will to fly, like many birds clipped this way do. It’s easy for them to fall/crash, lose confidence, and then they’re scared to fly again.

 

[nkrbkr]

This dang dry weather! Ava had an unexpected vet visit this morning. She was picking at some dry skin on her leg yesterday, caused some bleeding, and was struggling to leave it alone. I was only able to get an appointment this morning, so did my best to distract her yesterday with playing, training, and extra food. Luckily, she left it alone overnight. I did check on her once in the night to be sure. For now, we’ve got to take an anti-inflammatory for a few days, as well as a topical anti-microbial ointment. Hopefully, it does the trick and she doesn’t pick at it more and lets it heal. If not, we’ll have to go to plan b, which is either a bandage or a collar. Keep your fingers crossed for us! I did have her leg band cut off as well. The vet said it was too large for her, and there was a risk of it getting stuck high up on her thigh and cutting off circulation.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

The only problem with taking off her leg band is if you have to travel outside the country (I think).

 

[nkrbkr]

The only problem with taking off her leg band is if you have to travel outside the country (I think).

I kept the band, and have her hatch certificate with the leg band number on it. I guess I’ll cross that bridge when (if) I get there. Button doesn’t have a band at all, as his breeder doesn’t use them.

 

[LaManuka]

I kept the band, and have her hatch certificate with the leg band number on it. I guess I’ll cross that bridge when (if) I get there. Button doesn’t have a band at all, as his breeder doesn’t use them.

I always have leg bands removed. My Lilly got her leg stuck in the tracks of a Venetian blind one time, and just the other day I read about a budgie who got stuck to the door of his cage because of one. Not worth the risk IMHO.

 

[nkrbkr]

I gave Ava her first dose of medicine at home. I’m so relieved to say that my plan of putting it in her most treasured (and most rarely given) treat worked. I sliced some banana very thin, sandwiched the anti-inflammatory between slices, and hand fed them to her in small chunks. So happy it worked.

Plan B was to put it in some apple or pomegranate juice in a spoon and try that. I really did not want to have to attempt to towel her and give it with a syringe. I think syringe training is going to be on our to do list very soon, so she’ll do it willingly.

 

[onamom]

Glad it worked! I did syringe train Ona BUT when it came to real medicine... it went out the window. Even the flavored kind. She just didn't like it. Of course mine are small enough that I can easily just hold them and give it to them, so that's what we do. A bit different with Miss Ava!

 

[nkrbkr]

Glad it worked! I did syringe train Ona BUT when it came to real medicine... it went out the window. Even the flavored kind. She just didn't like it. Of course mine are small enough that I can easily just hold them and give it to them, so that's what we do. A bit different with Miss Ava!

I was wondering about that. It’s easy to syringe train when juice is involved, but when it’s something they don’t like…then what? lol. I think the best bet is to continue to train being able to touch Ava, like I’ve been doing. I’m trying to progress into being able to hold her on her back. So far, I can rest my hand on her back and lift both of her wings. I think we’ll get there. Button is easy…Ava is a whole different story. Thank goodness for bananas in the meantime.

 

[nkrbkr]

Ava makes this cute sound when you kiss at her.