I really need some help here

[wildheart]

Ben, both of you are in my thoughts and prayers today. I am going away till next week Thursday so I might miss the update, I hope I dont, otherwise I am going to be worried until I am back.

Please update as soon as possible, I know we have a huge time difference.

 

[Aussie Ben]

Okay so I took Eddie to vets.

He has had feathers plucked (under anesthetic) for tests and they have been sent away. He also had blood taken, but unfortunately the machine would not accept the sample. Apparently the red blood cells burst for some reason in the test tube. The vet said it is quite a common thing that happens to blood samples, can't remember what he called it but it started with 'h'. Because Eddie is a small bird and is kind of weak atm, he didn't want to risk taking more blood, so we don't have anything to report on there.

So I have to wait till next Tuesday to get results. If they turn up nothing, then another blood test will be done.

Eddie is quite happy and very alert. He squeaked and whistled all the way to the vets and then again all the way home lol

Thanks all for your support. Watch this space for more updates.

 

[Von1983]

Oh my heart is hammering in my chest......

Tuesday now....ok!

I was thinking of Eddie last night in bed and trying to work out the time difference to see if you'd got the results.

I am still crossing everything and hoping hard for some sunshine for Eddie.

 

[wildheart]

It is going to be a long wait then.

 

[Aussie Ben]

It is going to be a long wait then.

Yea unfortunately. I already knew that the feather tests wouldn't be done till next week. They need to be sent away, bathed in some chemical for a few days and then examined closely for bacteria and infections. Although, I was really hoping to receive a clean blood test today. At least I would be able to start narrowing down the problem. I am happy with my vet making the decision to wait to take more blood. We all know how risky blood tests can be for our fids, so there is no point in elevating it by taking 2 samples in one day.

 

[bogo1]

The h is hemeolysis...and yes it is common with small samples and doesn't mean anything bad about the blood itself ...it is a collection thing. Thinking about you two frequently.

 

[Aussie Ben]

The h is hemeolysis...and yes it is common with small samples and doesn't mean anything bad about the blood itself ...it is a collection thing. Thinking about you two frequently.

Thats the word, Thankyou . Yea, he said its nothing to worry about, but too risky to take another sample so soon.

 

[pityu]

I have been following this thread ever since it came actually. I'm not soooo good @ these parrot behavioral problems BUT I must point out 1 thing:
You said that he is chewing on the bells. You seemed calm with that though... wich made me worried. Cause I have actually red MUCH about toxids and stuff you should not put to you birds. And I have Been told that these clocks ALSO makes a threat against birds. It depends on where you buyed them. If they where sheep, they can actually contain toxids as nickel, zink and stainless kemicals!! Wich makes your bird devolop all kinds of freaked behaviors. Sadly... many birds have died this way
And try to not have colored plastics in the cage. An easy rule is to THINK AS NATURAL AS POSSIBLE!
Hope I could help and REALY good luck with your beautiful bird.
GOOD LUCK!

 

[Aussie Ben]

No results yet unfortunately. I rang to find out and they have not arrived yet. Apparently they results have to be sent up to Queensland o something before they get sent back here, so its not odd for them to take longer than the estimate. So I'll just have to sit and wait.

Eddie has not been too bad. I have been spending as much time as I can spare with him and making sure I respond to his whistles. Barb, I went and bought a new fan. I faced it against the wall on the other side of the room and let it run. It worked....okayish, it was a busy day so he was louder than usual, so it wasn't really a fair test. Also, if Eddie does has something contagious, am I paranoid to think the fan could help spread what he has to Buddy's cage? They do share the same air space.

I went to look at the other place that has cages today. I found a great one, well atleast the best I could find. It is in the same style as his current cage, so it wouldn't be too much of a culture shock to him lol. It measures 570x570mm. I didn't measure the height, but it comes to about shoulder height and extends down, a bit short of the floor. The bar spacing is around 20mm. The cage has a play-stand on top too which is a huge bonus. Sorry I didn't take my camera with me, but it looks like this (only a few differences):

Are those dimensions too small for an Ekkie? He won't spend all his time in there obviously, but if he has to be in there for an extended period, I want him to be comfortable. Eddies main cage is pretty darn big, so I am not sure how small is too small lol.

 

[Aussie Ben]

I have been following this thread ever since it came actually. I'm not soooo good @ these parrot behavioral problems BUT I must point out 1 thing:
You said that he is chewing on the bells. You seemed calm with that though... wich made me worried. Cause I have actually red MUCH about toxids and stuff you should not put to you birds. And I have Been told that these clocks ALSO makes a threat against birds. It depends on where you buyed them. If they where sheep, they can actually contain toxids as nickel, zink and stainless kemicals!! Wich makes your bird devolop all kinds of freaked behaviors. Sadly... many birds have died this way
And try to not have colored plastics in the cage. An easy rule is to THINK AS NATURAL AS POSSIBLE!
Hope I could help and REALY good luck with your beautiful bird.
GOOD LUCK!

Thankyou for your concern

I am aware of toxic metals and as we all know it is so hard to keep harmful things from our birds, especially when they are marketed as 'bird safe'. Eddie has had many nickel plated things in his cage over his lifetime, I only buy stainless steel products now. I just bought him a couple of stainless steel bells the other day and he is having a ball with them. I have spied a few toys in his cage that I can't be 100% sure about their safety, so I am removing them. Chances are they are okay, but just to be sure.

I try to be as natural as possible in his cage. His main perch is natural eucalyptus wood from across in the park, as is his playstand. I use sisal rope for tying things up too. Eddie doesn't chew, he fiddles lol, so I allow him to have acrylic and other non toxic plastic toys. When he plays, he just sits there tapping his beak on them and making squeaky noises lol. Being in design,I spend a lot of my uni time studying up on materials, so I am aware of the dangers that lurk in the materials that we have been led to believe are 'safe', but I still worry a lot (it is actually scary how people don't realise what chemicals there are in every day products).

Question: How does copper go in bird toys? Eddie has had some copper bells in the past and I have always wondered. They seem to be sold everywhere here.

 

[Von1983]

Still thinking and hoping for you both Ben. So...any day now?

With regards to the cage, I thought the general rule of thumb was if the bird can stretch out it's wings fully and flap then it's ok. I know what you mean about not knowing(that's got to be some sort of record?) because I think nearly everyone buys as big as they can get! Cal will never outgrow either of her cages but the "shop" one.....I want bigger lol.

 

[Aussie Ben]

Yea I heard that 'stretched wing' guideline too, but honestly, if I had to spend half the day in a box that I could only stretch out my arms in, I would not be a happy camper lol, so I got him a bigger one . Eddies current cage is at least 2, maybe 3 times the minimum recommended. This is great (at least it used to be) if you have to go out for long periods. Eddie has plenty of space to move around, stretch and entertain himself .

Yes, results SHOULD be any day. They said they would call ME this time to make it easier.

 

[Von1983]

Yeah...same here! This is why I could never have a big bird lol! I'd be all cage and no house.

It's just a shame Cal's "shop" cage has to be portable. I still want bigger all the same! She uses her huuuuge cage as a playden lol.

I hope they call you the minute the results come in.

How's our little trooper doing? Still having fun regardless?

 

[Aussie Ben]

lol, well at least Cal has lots of people to talk to when she is in the shop. I think that makes up for any lack of space

Eddie is doing fine, you saw the video lol. He is still screaming but I am dealing with it best i can. The thing that is still worrying me is the quivering and increasing 'over preening'. He is not 'picking' at his feathers, he is just continually adjusting them. The vet says the feathers are not coming through properly, so Eddie is in a constant frustrating battle to make them sit right and they never will

 

[Von1983]

She's always a busy one that bird of mine....

If regulars she knows well now come in she will say "hello" on repeat until they come see her! I know it's plenty big enough but you know....you always want the best possible for them!

hehe, yes indeed...he's such a honey.

He must be confused as to why nothing "feels right". Still hoping and crossing my fingers for a curable diagnosis <3

 

[Aussie Ben]

So found out the minimum for eclectus is 60x60cm. This one is 57x57. Do you think it will still be okay for just a sleep and play cage?

 

[Beilana]

Awh! Ben I just saw this thread and read it all the way through. I REALLY REALLY hope and pray that Eddie is OK I can't even imagine what a hard stressful time you are going through and my heart goes out to you both!

I also don't see why a 57x57 wouldn't be ok as long as its just for sleeping and such. Could he still stretch his wings out???

 

[Aussie Ben]

Thank you Beilana

I also don't see why a 57x57 wouldn't be ok as long as its just for sleeping and such. Could he still stretch his wings out???

Yea i think he could, I might have to go measure him lol. Not sure if he will be too happy about that, but I'll give it a go.

He will spend some hours at a time in there, so I do want him to be comfortable.

 

[Beilana]

Some "wing spreadedge space" never hurts and yes spreadedge is a highly technical term.....:54::54::54::54:

How is he doing with the screaming???????

 

[Aussie Ben]

lol spreadedge, sounds kinda funny. :09:

Well, I have managed to narrow the worst of the screaming down to a few triggers. Here are some of them.

1. When the front door opens
2. When there are people in eye sight that aren't talking to him
3. If I have him out and leave the room for 30 seconds
4. If someone new walks in that he is unsure of
5. When someone is cooking (in which case he is not allowed out anyway)

More often then not, at least one of these situations is always in play, so it gets noisy lol.

Other screams do occur but they are kind of random and probably just your normal/natural Ekkie squawks, which are expected any way. Kind of annoyed, because Eddie is teaching Buddy bad habits. Buddy has started non stop chirping now, but at least its not an ear piercing screech lol.