Animal Stories - People Talking About Birds



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Latest Animal Stories on Birds (4281)

kaitlyn coppinger - 2012-12-04
I am 20 years old I have a yellowed naped amazon. I have had him for two years. A friend of mine got him two years ago, and they couldn't hold him touch him absolutely nothing. They rescued him from an abusive environment. Well anyway they had him for a few months, before I moved in. After a yr in a half of talking to him everyday, I was finally able to scratch his head through his cage and was able to let him out without coming after me. I just moved back to my moms which is a two hour commute from where I was and I brought him with me. He was a hoot the whole way here he was talking up a storm lol. But ever since we got him situated in the house he has been pressing his stomach onto his birch and litteraly sitting on it. I don't know if that's a good sign or a sign to take him to a vet. I'm very worried I have no idea how old he is but he seems to be ok. We have been here for almost three weeks now I have only let him out of his cage once because I know he will go after my mom lol. But he is so funny he knows every swear word in the book which I did not teach him. lol He woof whistles he says hello ho goodbye who dat where you going and some others that he mumbles that I cant understand lol but he is definitely my best friend and I want the best for him and I want to make sure he is ok. And I would like to know how to teach him not to bite!!!!

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Charlie Roche - 2012-12-04
What is a birch? You say he presses his stomach into his birch.
Lynne - 2013-03-17
I think you mean 'perch'. If a bird is quiet, sitting low, and acting out of sorts it could be ill (or, it might be chilled and just trying to keep it's feet warm. Remember, parrots are 'prey' animals and are contstantly aware that they can be someone elses dinner, and therefore the HIDE SICK very effectively. They will work very hard to appear well even if they are sick, as any weak bird is driven from the flock in the wild. If you even remotely susupect the your bird is under the weather, you need to get the bird to the vet ASAP, and make sure that he has an annual 'chick up'. Also, you should get to know birdies poops and how heavy he/she is because the first sign of illness is weight loss. I weigh my bird every week on a gram scale, and if he looses weight more than 2 weeks in a row, I consult the vet. I think birdie needs a chick up... Good luck!
Lynne - 2013-03-17
Not biting... that's hard. Just be firm, and do birdie boot camp (step up training, and rewarding good behaviour with treats. IF a bird chomps down on you and they're on their perch tell them NO in a loud voice and don't pull away (which will hurt more and could tear your skin) but push back at them and if necessary, push them off the perch. If they are on your hand and bite, lower the bird and gently shake them onto the floor (safely) and tell them no... and BAD BIRD... NO BITING. Your vet can also help you futher, but basic bird boot camp is helpful. Also, try not to handle the bird when excited (when they are shouldering, strutting, pinning and shadowboxing) If you have to move them, use a stick or perch. An excited Amazon is simply not capable of excersising self control! Don't even think about touching them bare handed at times like that. You'll soon learn their body language.

jill oguin - 2012-11-30
Does anyone have a problem with there birds droppings smelling like urine any suggestions on how to get rid of the smell. I have another bird and its droppings do not smell.

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Charlie Roche - 2012-11-30
There should not be any odor to a birds droppings. There is usually something wrong if there is. I would cut back on fruit if you are feeding him/her a lot of fruit. If this doesn't work in 24 hours or you are not feeding him a lot of fruit, I would take a q-tip and take a swab of the droppings and take the bird and the droppings to the vet.
Lynne - 2013-03-17
Bird poo shouldn't smell.... ever. I think you need to get birdie to the vet...

Troy - 2013-02-14
I have a 14 year old yellow naped amazon; she is a really sweet bird that I have had since she was a baby. She is very loving and never bit anyone, but whenever she sees babies or small children, she goes crazy. Her eyes dilate, tail feather spreads back and forth, and squawks very loudly. She really can't be handled or touched because she will bite. Any ideas of why she gets so crazy around babies/kids?

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Lynne - 2013-03-17
Sounds like birdie is simply excited and is experiencing 'Amazon Overload'. This is common and there really isn't anything you can do about it other than to take care that the bird doesn't bite the children (or you) and that the kids don't hurt or tease the bird. He may grow out of it, especially if the bird is still young, but some things just excite certain birds. My YNA gets excited when my friend Susan or my mother visits and the only thing to do is give him a special toy and shut him in his cage. He looses all self control... poor thing! If she is out of the cage he will bite, and it's usually me who nees the bandaid... Just one of those quirky amazon things.... a birds gotta be a bird. Keep in mind that an amazon parrot is at MOST 4 generations removed from the wild. they aren't domesticated, they are still a tame wild animal! Good luck

Barb Foltz - 2013-02-23
We have a 25 year old Amazon who just laid an egg! She has never done this before and we are shocked! Is this normal?

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Jeremy Roche - 2013-02-23
It does happen. Nothing to be concerned with.
Lynne - 2013-03-17
This is not unusual, and the bird is likely very happy if it's laying. I would watch out, though and make sure to feed any hen laying calcium rich foods like a little cottage cheese, yoghurt, spinach, Kale and other high calcium foods as you can. Let birdie's vet know that she's laying and if she lays one egg after another, watch out for signs of hypocalaemia (twitching, seizures and if she breaks a bone, get to the vet ASAP. Also, make sure that she has frequent servings of vitamin A rich foods and exposure to natural sunlight! Good luck.

dalene - 2013-03-16
I want to know why did my canary stop singing is it to do with his food or can you plse assist me Many thanks

essy - 2013-03-15
My zebra finches became quite and sitting on perch most of the time but still chirping and singing (male mostly anyway) time to time. They also scratching themselves more, I have them last 4 weeks, they were so active, and female had 2 eggs then when i was carrying to the nest I have broken them then she laid another 3 but she is not sitting on them last 2 weeks. I am not familiar with them, i have them first time ever and I am worrying about them, they have very good diet, like eggs and egg shell, field salad, peas, spinach, nuts, dry fruit and millet and their usual bird food. I change bath water and drinking water regularly, I spray them with anti mite once a week. I have opened their cage let them fly in the room, then eventually they have gone in. They also were fluffy yesterday but today they look much better, but still spend their time more sitting than being active like last 3 weeks. Should I take them to vet if they keep sitting?

Mary - 2004-01-15
Hello, I just got my second Parakeet,a Budgie.yesturday. When I first pulled out of the parking space that I was in after buying my keet. He was perched on my finger verry close to the window of my car. Then after 8 minutes, He went to the top of my sterring wheel. It was verry funny. The bird was not afraid of anything. He was first facing oncomming traffic. Then he turned toward me. When I had to make a sharp turn, he started to go down, I had to put him in one of my hands, That was after I put him on the steering when again. He rode there most of the way home, 15 miles away from our home, Then we went to the drive thru at the bank. To get new pet toys. He was again on top of the steering wheel, until we went back home again.... If this were a Story A would call it driving miss tweety...

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kelly martin - 2013-03-15
that sounds like 'driving miss lazy' from a show called thats so raven SUPER :)

Trish - 2013-03-13
I am looking to get a budgie, but I don't want to buy it from a pet store. I would like to purchase from a breeder. Does anyone know of any breeders in the North Dallas, Texas area?

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Teresa - 2013-03-14
Trish, I was use to large parrots - as I've aged, my grandsons took the umbrella cockatoo and the timneh grey, and I down-scaled to the budgies. I did a LOT of research and personal visits to different pet stores and local breeders...I know parrots! Anyway, I purchased Butch & Sundance at PETCO. They are the best. It was my experience that the breeders wanted 2 to 3 times the price, and the birds weren't very socialized at all. Are you familiar with the parrot breed? Best of luck - you obviously will make the best purchase for what's available in your area. :)

chante greene - 2013-02-18
My goffin is almost 2 years old and ive tried all i can to get her to eat fruit and vegetables. She only eatsif there are seeds for her. Please help....how do i get her to eat better?

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Jennifer - 2013-02-21
That's tough. My bird doesn't really care for fruit and vegetables that much ether; I suggest you try all the ones you can and your just going to have to find the one he likes. Best of luck!
KNinVA - 2013-03-13
Hi, I am finding the same thing. However, lately I've tried cooked corn, carrots, peas, and broccoli heads and he seems to like that---but they have to be cooked and warm. Be careful not to give hot food to your bird. I have also noticed that he will eat apples, but only if they are cut up in very small pieces. I've also noticed he is liking freshly squeezed grapefruit and orange juice... My problem is, once he tried seeds, he has decided not to eat any pellets. So, I have to tackle that issue. Oh, another couple things mine like is oatmeal (cooked), rice, and cooked noodles (love this). Hope my discoveries help you. Basically when I talked with the vet about my concerns, he said that over time the bird's taste for things like veggies and fruits will change. He said just make them small bites, periodically available, and change the options regularly. Having the same food daily is not something they like...just like us humans....
jayashree - 2013-03-13
offer some corns in the morning then followed by few seeds. repeat i t for a week and gradually add some seeds with a cup of fruits. u must give variety of fruits (seedless grapes. similarly with vegetables. at beginning my bird was also refuse to eat fruits and vegetables. but now he is good in eating. so try this

Joseph37 - 2012-10-29
I have a goffin and he's around 3 years old and he keeps like gaging his self with his foot. why is he doing that ?

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Charlie Roche - 2012-10-29
They do that and it is pretty normal but to be on the safe side I would take a look at the inside of his mouth and make sure there is nothing stuck on the top of the roof of his beak or toward the beack to the mouth. Easiest way to do this is to hold him on his back and place a screwdriver/wrench/ something metal that he can bite down on but not break which will keep his mouth open and just look with a flashlight. He probably won't like it but should look.
KNinVA - 2013-03-13
I recommend you have your vet do this. If you in-inadvertently hurt your bird, he will remember that is loving owner hurt him....you don't want to start behavior problems. Your vet also has good tools and more helping hands...

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