What would you do

rheashard2 · Apr 23, 2026

I had a dilemma. Nameliss my active CAG was very ill. She showed no signs. I was to limit activity to save calories. I was to remove toys to avoid stimulation. Keep area darker and more. TV off, earlier bedtime etc. I left her 3 favorite toys, turned off TV, no video games in her hearing, kept her sleeping area dark and lights out two hrs early. She ignored lights out, played until normal time. Sun through curtain sides gives indirect lightning. No toys meant cage destruction attempts. I increased out of cage time. Mischief increased. Cage is open top. She learned how to turn locks and bang tops. Her beak ran constantly. In short how would you limit activity to get your very sick bird to rest. My daughter suggested a straight jacket, muzzle, and locked box with time out. When I found her at the freezer that looked good. Excessive limiting seemed cruel and would cause increased stress. I decided to ask. Having a bird who denied from the beginning she wasn't sick. Just like a lot of humans.

Zilga · Apr 23, 2026

We ended up in a somewhat similar situation with a very ill pionus. We moved her to a warmed travel cage, partially covered it, and tried to make her (limited) entertainment food-based since the major challenge was keeping weight on her. Different fun, constantly rotating snacks were her primary entertainment outlets. We left a few easy-to-chew toys, but mostly she just had different food available everywhere she looked. My husband was also interacting with her as much as possible to try and keep her entertained. It sucked, but she got through it. It's a difficult situation - you want to keep activity down but not overdo it so much that it stresses them even more!

TiredOldMan · Apr 23, 2026

I liked your daughters idea

wrench13 · Apr 23, 2026

T.O.M - not helpful. But humorous.

I like Zilga's suggestion. How long is this supposed to last?

rheashard2 · Apr 23, 2026

Zilga said:
We ended up in a somewhat similar situation with a very ill pionus. We moved her to a warmed travel cage, partially covered it, and tried to make her (limited) entertainment food-based since the major challenge was keeping weight on her. Different fun, constantly rotating snacks were her primary entertainment outlets. We left a few easy-to-chew toys, but mostly she just had different food available everywhere she looked. My husband was also interacting with her as much as possible to try and keep her entertained. It sucked, but she got through it. It's a difficult situation - you want to keep activity down but not overdo it so much that it stresses them even more!

Unfortunately I dont have a travel cage she can't destroy. It's amazing how fast that beak can work. The ones anti beak proof are to heavy for me to carry. I looked on line at some ...sold our

rheashard2 · Apr 23, 2026

She's recovering well. Apparently over the hump. Stll needs feeding. As long as she's eating the feeding paste no need for syringe feeding. I am still supposed to keep activities minimal until clear bill of health. In other words until she's well. I wonder if I can make it.

Zilga · Apr 23, 2026

Yeah, the one we used is either this one or very similar, which may be a little small given that our pionus is about half the size of a CAG. The whole recovery process was wretched. Good luck!

cnyguy · Apr 23, 2026

When QP Ralph was sick, he wanted to do all his normal activities up until the last two days. At that point he just wasn't up to it anymore. He even resumed doing some things he hadn't done for a long time, like pulling spoons out of the silverware drawer and sitting on the towel bar in the bathroom. I was happy to go along with whatever he wanted to do and he seemed happier when he was busy.

wrench13 · Apr 24, 2026

So that design, Zilga and Reashard3, is very common and readily available from many sources. They are TANKS, and I agree as a travel cage way to heavy. I have one too. I use it for Salty when he goes out on the deck for awhile to soak up some sun or when I have to bring him to a gig. But portability - not great because of its weight. FOr Dr visits I use a Pak-O-Bird. A parrot, even a very smart one, is not breaking out of that iron cage.

If someone made this in aluminum, now THATS a travel cage I could get behind! I wonder, aside from cost, why they dont make it in aluminum.

Zilga · Apr 24, 2026

wrench13 said:
So that design, Zilga and Reashard3, is very common and readily available from many sources. They are TANKS, and I agree as a travel cage way to heavy. I have one too. I use it for Salty when he goes out on the deck for awhile to soak up some sun or when I have to bring him to a gig. But portability - not great because of its weight. FOr Dr visits I use a Pak-O-Bird. A parrot, even a very smart one, is not breaking out of that iron cage.

If someone made this in aluminum, now THATS a travel cage I could get behind! I wonder, aside from cost, why they dont make it in aluminum.

I don't, either. We bought it as a travel cage because we weren't paying enough attention to the weight, then realized it was really inconvenient for travel. It has been a great hospital cage, though.

rheashard2 · Apr 24, 2026

wrench13 said:
So that design, Zilga and Reashard3, is very common and readily available from many sources. They are TANKS, and I agree as a travel cage way to heavy. I have one too. I use it for Salty when he goes out on the deck for awhile to soak up some sun or when I have to bring him to a gig. But portability - not great because of its weight. FOr Dr visits I use a Pak-O-Bird. A parrot, even a very smart one, is not breaking out of that iron cage.

If someone made this in aluminum, now THATS a travel cage I could get behind! I wonder, aside from cost, why they dont make it in aluminum.

Thank you! I looked at something similar and they were sold out! I definitely will get the super chewer. Still have doubts. I'd be happier if it said 'super anti chewer and super disassembler'!

wrench13 · Apr 24, 2026

Pretty sure you can find that very common cage elsewhere for a lot cheaper.

rheashard2 · Apr 25, 2026

wrench13 said:
Pretty sure you can find that very common cage elsewhere for a lot cheaper.

I have looked at other sites. I have seen several. The choices and variety are less. Some had questionable pictures. Because I have a disassembly expert those sites make me hesitant. I can not stress having a disassembly expert. She can remove zippers, velcro with them inact, untie knots with them mostly intact. Pick threads apart. I am kina glad she's not a chewer. Picking up something having it fall apart at the seams is kinda funny, annoying and frustrating.