Looks like we may have a blue crowned conure joining our family

[Mimsy01]

We didn't have intentions on getting another bird any time soon, since we don't have a good way to quarantine. Plus we worry about upsetting the routine of Zeki and Foo. Ellie, the conure has been in a house without other birds, so I think that will work well enough.

The original owner contacted me about her because she had given her to her neighbor who it isn't working out with. Right now she is in a cage with no toys, just perches. (don't know what cage or perches) She is an older gal, they said she was wild caught and over 25 years of age. When in her old cage she would come out and sit on top of it. They threw her old cage out and since getting the new cage she doesn't come out at all. I also don't know if I will get her cage with her. So I'm concerned about the stress of changing homes and possibly cages again on her.

They said she doesn't perch well and is a little wobbly as well. She has good feathers, no plucking, no barring or oddities. She did have her beak clipped by the new owner. Too short and lots of blood occurred. Her beak previous to being cut looked like a normal conures. It's healed now, but short. I'll get her in for an exam, but it will probably be a month. Unless it turns out to be an emergency, appointments take about that long. I have my rabbit going in soon, so perhaps they will let me take Ellie in then too, for at least a look over.

She is fully flighted, though no one has ever seen her fly. I'm guessing she was clipped at some point of her life for a long time perhaps and she doesn't know she can? or perhaps she is just older and along with the unsteady perching, flight seems a little daunting. Or maybe she just is scared and it goes with not wanting to leave her cage or the cage top.

Ellie should be coming over the friday after Valentines day. We'll give an update and hopefully get some pics of her then. I'm pretty excited about about having her stay with us. I always have a special attachment to older animals. We don't mind if she mostly just wants to be a perch potato and it takes a lot of time before she trusts us. I'm hoping we can just make her feel secure and happy in the end.

Kristine

 

[Kyoto]

Good luck Kristine! Glad to see you're still around, and thank you for giving little Ellie a new chance at a good life.

 

[JamesC]

Good luck with her. I have a creaky old lady blue crown myself. She is a wild caught I think and as best as I can figure she is around 30 years old. Sometimes she can be a little unsteady but her feet are not in the best condition. Arthritic and I think she had a broken toe or two in the past that didn't heal well. She is fully flighted and does fly around, but at half the speed of my much younger male blue crown.

If there is anything that can share with what I have learned with my girl, I will be glad to help out.

 

[Mimsy01]

Thank you both.

Sarah-We've been around, just busy with the holidays. Had family staying with us and just having fun.

James-If you can think of anything special you do for caging to make them more comfortable when they are wobbly that would be awesome.

 

[JamesC]

Give a choice of perches of different diameters and materials. Rope, natural wood smooth and bark covered, and I have a concrete perch that Tootsie seems to really like. The bird should figure out what she likes and makes her feel more balanced and spend time on the perch. Some people have electrically heated perches. I should try that for Tootsie to see if the warmth will help her arthritis. A happy hut might help her feel secure too though you need to be careful of those for a tangle hazard. Especially if the bird is a chewer.

If she is wobbly and you can't get her in for a vet check, you might want to place the perches low in the cage just in case she does fall off so there is less chance of injury. Just high enough so that her long tail clears the bottom.

Blue crowns are really nice birds from my experiences. I have two and have known a couple of others in the past. All of them had nice personalities. Though Tootsie is a constant noise maker both loud and quiet noises. Of my 3 birds, she accounts for about 75% of the noise. And a lot of the noise the other two make are a joining in response to her squawks. I sometimes think if she stops squawking she will build up internal pressure and pop.

 

[Mimsy01]

Ellie made it here last night. Zeki and Foo are really interested in her.

She is scared, and does a lot of bluffing. She's made no hint like she would actually bite so far and has even accepted some head pets. She's taken some nuts and sweet potato chips from our hands. Apple she has tossed immediately.

 

[JamesC]

She looks pretty good. Her eyes are bright. Feathers look like they are in good condition. Though is something up with her left foot? It seems like the big toe is bigger than the one on the right. Could be just the camera angle and shadowing, though.

Blue crowns seem to like to bluff. Tootsie will bluff at objects she does not like. Rosco sometimes bluffs at me though he knows that the wrong kind of touch is not welcome and will result in my hand coming right back at him to chase him around so he rarely makes contact.

My guys seem to be picky eaters. Though the startchy stuff they go after like they are starving. Raw almonds are a particular favorite. And pasta. They loooove pasta! Tootsie was on a seed diet when I adopted her and it took me years and Rosco before I could get her to eat healthier. She started sampling what he would eat and eventually I was able to get her on a pellet based diet and I think that added some quality and years to her life. Though both of them have a very limited menu of fruits and veggies they will eat they get a fresh variety daily.

Tootsie had an open band like she does. I wonder if they came into the US through the same import station in Miami.

 

[Mimsy01]

They had her on "Sleek and Sassy" which is a mostly seed based diet. Not as terrible as some. I added a tiny bit of Roudybush to it so she can start tasting it. She seems to take most foods I offer her and give it a try. Though most she throws as far as she can. But I'm happy she will take it and give it a try.

Good eye on her toe, and yes it looks like they clipped her nails very very short and one was extremely too short, as in part of the toe. I think the unbalanced perching they saw was due to discomfort. It looks healed, and it's not red, but I think there maybe a permanent dis figuration to it. Apparently the lady that had her, always did everything too much. The neighbor that helped her said every time she clipped something the bird bled a lot. She unfortunetly clipped her wings way too short too. My other two birds are flighted and everytime she see's one fly she lifts her wings.

We got her a rope perch this evening and she seems to love that. Is making some really quiet cooing sorts of noises and went right to it. If we leave the room she yells a lot. She's not really comfortable with anyone touching her yet, but she would like us to sit by her cage and talk to her. I think given some time she's going to be a sweetheart. She does allow us to pet her though. You can just tell it makes her nervous.

 

[RavensGryf]

Congrats on the new addition Kristine . Ellie is beautiful. I know you can give her a fulfilling life where she will have a chance to open up. I'd love to see Foo and Zeki's reactions lol.

 

[Crazy]

What a precious bird best of luck to you and your little birdy!!!

 

[Mimsy01]

I'll have to get pictures of them. Zeki and Foo are intrusive nosey little things. Zeki is busy standing really close to her cage and serenading her. He seems to like to do this with all new people in the house. He stands up tall and opens his wings slightly and sings his little heart out. He also keeps diving into the cage anytime we open the door. We have to keep brushing him out of her cage. Zeki's cage is right next to Ellie's. So Foo's way of being close to the newbie is going into Zeki's cage and standing as close to Ellie's side as she can to watch her. Usually bringing some food item so she can eat and watch her. The bunny, Willow is even standing on her hind legs to look in at her. No peace she is going to get.

Being they are flighted it's a pain to keep them away from Ellie. I'd like to give her a little time before being bombarded by those two.

 

[JamesC]

Does she squint her eyes, stick her tongue out and shake her head like a little kid eating those awful veggies? Both of mine will do that whenever I give them something they don't like. It is hilarious.

Hopefully the toe will heal eventually in a way that she is comfortable with. Tootsie is missing a toenail and is fine with it. Though strangely, a nail actually started growing on the nub recently. Except it was small, white and curved upwards instead of down. Really odd. I have to nip it back to a nub every so often cause it could jab into her leg.

It is a shame that they treated her so badly with the clipping. Nipping the quick in a toenail is actually kind of expected once in a while with those black nails if you have to clip like I do with Tootsie. I try to just nip a tiny bit every couple of weeks so I don't injure her but I miss once in a while. Rosco keeps his nails short and in great condition so no worries with him. But clipping the beak until it bled is awful. Must have been really painful for her cause their beaks are so sensitive. Blue crowns naturally have a beak that is thin, long and sharp on the tip. They use that tip for picking out their food out of hard shells in the wild.

Glad that she likes her perch and I hope that it is helping her be more comfortable. If the cooing noise is like the little purrs mine make, it is a really cute noise.

Both of mine react when I leave the room. Especially Tootsie. She does not just contact call but goes into full voice with her beeps, squawks and even the blue crown version of "singing". Which is quite comical though can be loud.

Here is something that you can try with her and help develop a bond. Blue crowns have a kind of recognition display with some vocalizations. If you don't feel too silly, stand a few feet from her with her about eye level. Put your arms at your side or behind your back. Bow slowly towards her then straighten up quicker. Make a low "burrrrrrrrr" noise at her while doing that. Just keep doing it a few times and see if she responds. I can get both of mine bowing and "burrrrrring" in response and they can get quite excited doing it. Their eyes will flash all the while. It seems like they really enjoy the interaction. I usually give them a treat after. I wish I could get their reaction recorded sometime. But like most birds, put a camera on them and they just won't perform.

 

[Mimsy01]

Awe James, thank you for spending so much time discussing your fids. It sounds like Ellie is pretty normal blue crown.

My husband was really worried about upsetting the other birds routine, but when he heard she was an older lady...well his heart melted. He has a thing for older critters. He thinks old people should be spoiled and spend their later years doing as they please. She's bound to be spoiled rotten. It's been bedtime for the birds for several hours now and I keep seeing him sneaking over and peeking in at her.

 

[Piasa]

How exciting for you and Ellie She is so beautiful! Hope her toe, beak, and wings heal up quickly and well. It sounds like you will be great friends in no time.

 

[Mimsy01]

Ellie came out of her cage. She's looking out the window.

 

[JamesC]

She looks good. And if she is going to start exploring and take an interest in the world then it sounds as if she is going to do well. Thanks for the pictures.

 

[Mimsy01]

Ellie is c oming out of her shell fast. I was told by her last owner that she doesn't step up. Thats not true. She just doesn't like fingers. She will easily step up on my arm. She is a bit scared of my husband still.

She is worried about all things new. So very slowly introducing her to stuff. I touch it, and she carefully reaches out and licks it.

They threw away her old cage, and we did get the new cage they got her. But it makes new things rough..since she never had been out of the new cage, the top play area is a little scary.

I think she has some issues climbing down from things. Which added with the newness scariness is a little rough on her.

She will only bath if I hold a large bowl up for her. She doesn't want to go to a flat surface to do it her self. I think it's again problems with climbing down, and fear of new areas, even of her cage. I need to find something that attaches to the cage in a way she can get to easier.

She loves to just sit on my shoulder and mumble little sounds. (I know shoulders are supposed to be a no no with new birds..but well, is a nose really that important?) Though she does quite a bit of bluffing, she has yet to bite anyone.

I hate her wing clip. If she startles she pretty much just falls to the ground.

Zeki, the starling is getting along great with her.

Foo the gcc is not so good. She flew over to her and tried to start a fight and I had to pull Foo away. Elie was shaking and seemed really scared. Lucky for Foo considering how big Ellie is. With Foo having flight it will be a pain trying to get Foo to get some manners. I put her in her cage when she attacks. I"m unsure if that is just going to make her more mad at Ellie or if she will learn.

Ellie is still trying lots of new foods. She will eat the Golden obles and roudybush I have. If I pretend to nibble it, she is happy to try it too. At least food doesn't look like it will be an issue at all. So far her favorite is broccoli, carrot and strawberry baby food.

I wrapped the play top perch with some fleece and then vet taped it. She seems to appreciate that on her feet.

She is extremely loud in the early morning. When it's time to get up, ITS TIME TO GET UP!

It seems she is going to do just fine. I'll have to make an appointment for her to visit the vet. She's an old lady so I want to make sure we don't have any big concerns going on.

 

[JamesC]

Wonderful that she seems to be adjusting so well! Stepping up will happen over time. You might be able to tempt her up with a treat. My Rosco does not like hands either but over time he has grudgingly accepted that a level finger means I would like him to step up. But only on his terms. Some places he will not step up at all. He likes to sit next to me or on my laptop lid. But if I hold the finger level and say "step up", he will shy away then fly every time. Been working with him on that by holding treats and asking him to step up. Sometimes works.

I have a rectangular glass baking dish that I give to Tootsie and Rosco to bathe in. It is just the perfect size to sit on Rosco's cage front door which folds down. I painted the bottom on the outside blue so that they can see there is something there. It works great for them though sometimes Tootsie hesitates and sticks a foot in several times before she will step in. Is there a space for a dish on Ellie's cage? Shelf or on top?

I hope that she sheds enough flight feathers soon so that she can at least fly down at a safer speed.

Blue crowns tend to be vocal mornings and evenings. Both mine have a squawk fest in the mornings until I stuff a treat in their beaks. In the evenings, they get really wound up around 8 which is when I usually will put them to bed and turn out the lights in their room. You could try a cover on her cage so she will stay quieter longer. But I'd only partially cover her or have a dim light source so that she can see during the night. I usually tend to sleep in late on weekends. The cover I put on Tootsie and Rosco will give me that couple extra hours of peace before they decide that it is time for the neighborhood to get up.

Whats it like living with a starling? They are a type of bird that I never thought about having in the house. Mostly because I work in aviation and starlings cause us all kinds of problems making messes, building nests in planes and getting into bad places. I really hate pulling a plane into a hangar and finding a couple puffballs cheeping at me. Wildlife rescue shelters don't like to take them in because they are an invasive species.

 

[CarolineRose]

Lovely bird! Good luck!
I would suggest for the perches that you check out Home They are supposed to help file their nails and beaks so they require less maintenance. I've also found flat perches at the pet store in the area for rabbits/ginea pigs/small furry things, and both of my conures enjoy chilling on those. This website: I Got A Woody Bird Toys LLC - Home has some nice ones, too!
I've heard bad things about heated perches (getting too hot and hurting their feet) and happy huts, but my sun conure loves to sleep in a tunnel made out of timothy hay (again, rabbit section). He even has a hay mat that he cuddles with.

 

[Mimsy01]

James-We changed the playtop around today. The perch on it was really high, for no good reason. So we took it apart and now the perch is only a few inches from the top of the cage. She now is getting up and down with a lot more ease.

I have a heavy plastic bowl, meant for a large dog, that is working for bath time. Now that her perch is low she will get down and use it. It's just sitting on the top of the play top.

Ya I can't wait for her to get new flight feathers. When she opens her wings, they look terrible and ragged.

Starlings-They are a lot of fun. They are not huge on cuddles or pets. He does step up..or fly to your finger any time asked. His vocabulary is getting huge. If you look under the "others" forum on here I have a few video's of him talking. We need to get a new one, he's been whistling Mozart as of late. He heard it once and just loved it for some reason. Unlike parrots, he's extremely fast, total thief with the means of getting away quickly.

Our neighbor found him as a baby and as you said, the rehabbers don't take them because they are a pest animal here. As a pet...well he's extremely entertaining and personable. Though very pesty haha. He can get me in trouble with the parrots too. I'm using to shooing him off my head every few minutes and every once in awhile it's not him...and well parrots don't like to be shooed.

He gets along with both the parrots most of the time. He's doing much better with Ellie than Foo, our GCC, who is completely jealous.

Caroline-I'll look at those perches. Thats my worry about the warming ones..I also see the little snuggle heater that attaches to the side for them to lean on. I think it would be nice, especially if she is arthritic. But the worry of them getting too hot is still too much for me to try one so far.