Hi, new to parrots and to the forum.

[gemkitty24]

Sorry for some reason I posted twice... but either way hope all has been helpful to you so far.

 

[JoSweetDreams]

It has, I never thought I would get so much help, everyone is lovely

Bobby's pellets arrived today, along with a new wooden perch and a shredding toy for him to try. Don't know what to do about getting his wings clipped. Was really set to get it done but stumbled across some negative things about it online. Also, won't he need to fly to get exercise? I really want to get him out the cage though, but don't want him hurting himself so I really don't know what to do

He is using his new rope perch cause I put it right next to his food bowl. Plastic budgie has moved out, so his only friend is now Tweetie Pie, who will be leaving tonight.

 

[MonicaMc]

There are pros and cons to both flight and clipping. If the bird is not aggressive (i.e. doesn't fly to people to bite), will not hurt itself (flying into things even after being introduced to the house) and you can provide a safe environment, then by all means, allow him flight!

Flight is instinctual. Not flying into things, turning, banking, landing, etc is all learned behaviors.

Here's one article that tries to point out the pros and cons of each
Should you clip your parrot


If you try to start working on taming him from inside the cage using his favorite treats and allowing him to meet you half way, then it would be easier to allow him flight.

However, if you start training him outside of his cage where he has the chance to get away from you because he's afraid of you, then it's easier to clip him... however, you are then forcing him to be with you rather than giving him the choice to.


[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUx81WHTUwk]1 Bird in hand Leads to Many - YouTube[/ame]


[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlSm4uFZzVU]More Budgies!!!! - YouTube[/ame]




[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9w9w8nMRmw]Hesitant Faye - YouTube[/ame]


[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rH9ZWxhCSAE]Not So Hesitant Faye - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Dharmawaits]

It has, I never thought I would get so much help, everyone is lovely


He is using his new rope perch cause I put it right next to his food bowl. Plastic budgie has moved out, so his only friend is now Tweetie Pie, who will be leaving tonight.

LOL Tweetie pie getting kicked to the curb!!

There is debate about clipping. A lot of it. Most parrotlet owners feel you should clip parrotlets. They can get extremely aggressive. How Peapod is now, I can't imagine her flighted she'd be an insane dictator. As it is, I think she is plotting to take over the world. Flighted I believe she could. Not to mention I live in Arizona there is always a ceiling fan on somewhere. With that said she has cruise flight. Basically I clip enough that she doesn't drop like a stone. She can easily fly from say my shoulder to the coffee table. She is able to fly in her cage....She's half mast so to speak.

My personal opinion when training a little one like a parrotlet it might be safer if they are at least partially clipped. That way if he panics he isn't hitting a window without realizing it. They always grow back. It does not have to permanent.

Now if he is acting aggressive in anyway. Lunging, striking at you. Clip him, at least until he is comfortable with you guys.

 

[JoSweetDreams]

Just a quick reply for now (I'm at work) but I finally found a vet who will clip him so I can train him... but they use anesthetic. I wasn't expecting that. Worried now!!

 

[JoSweetDreams]

Thanks for those videos Monica. Just watched them. I'll sit again tonight with a handful of food and see if he's tempted. I read somewhere about taking food away a couple of hours before trying to tame/train so they're hungry and more inclined to want food. I might have to try that, cause so far I can't get him anywhere near me even with his favorite sunflower seeds.

 

[Dharmawaits]

WTH??! Why in the world would they use a anesthetic? Maybe I'm out of the loop but I have never EVER heard of that. I'd leave him full flighted before doing that.

 

[JoSweetDreams]

When they ring back I'm going to check they do know it is a parrotlet, I did tell them but maybe the message didn't get passed on. Little Bobby is NOT getting knocked out. Poor little guy.

 

[MonicaMc]

I handfed first thing in the morning... i.e. only fed enough food to last one day. First thing in the morning, offered food from my hand for about 5-15 minutes. If they were interested, great! If not, refill their regular dishes and try again the next day! If he has food left over at the end of the day, you can try removing his food from the cage until the next morning after you try feeding by hand.

For birds who are absolutely terrified of people near them, it helps to use a sprig of millet, sit next to the cage, and offer the millet through the cage bars near a perch... then allow the bird to come over for it. As the bird gets more comfortable, slowly shorten the sprig of millet and then try feeding from the cage door - but don't put your hand inside the cage. Let the bird come to you at the door of the cage and work from there.

Here's what the millet sprig/spray looks like if you aren't sure.
Healthy Select Spray Millet - Millet Spray and Bird Treats from petco.com

 

[loishuffman]

welcome, we love to hear about our parrolets and other birds. I have two, one a female blue parrolet, Bonnie, and a red bellied Conure name Picasso. Adorable, but not together. Birds are so territorial and do not like to share time together.
Fun to play with and see how they love to interact with us "humans"!

 

[JoSweetDreams]

Another parrotlet owner, yay How long have you had yours for Lois?

I sat by his cage, with his door open last night and he was happy sitting there preening while I put his feed into the new containers I bought. As soon as my hand went in he hid behind Tweetie Pie again.

The problem I have with millet Monica is he doesn't seem too interested in it He does however seem less worried when we move around and go up to the cage. he now looks quite interested in what we're doing which is a step forward

 

[MonicaMc]

Ah, sounds like he may be one of those birds! I have one cockatiel that didn't know what millet was! Left it in her cage for well over a week and she completely ignored it! Not even a nibble! Now though, she knows it's food!

If your guy is the same, you can try leaving small pieces of millet 'chunks' in his dish and see if he'll eat those... then again, when I was working with the budgies and cockatiels, I used their regular food that they are used to, and even used pellets later on with the tiels... they still readily accepted it!


Don't give up hope, though!

 

[JoSweetDreams]

He has been nibbling at it, in fact after I'd sat by his cage for half an hour last night he went over to eat it, so I think he's slowly figuring it out yippee