Animal Stories - People Talking About Birds



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Latest Animal Stories on Birds (4282)

Denise Fisher - 2013-04-19
I have had my Cockatoo, a male for 22 years! Over the past year, he has become a biter! If I have people over, he will run towards me and start pecking at my ankles. A couple weeks ago, I let him out of the cage while a friend was over and he went right by my friend on the couch and attacked me. I quietly put him back into the cage were he bite me two more times, sending me to the hospital for a very serious bite. I am told he is hormonal and sees me as his 'mate.' I am petrified to let interact with him for any length of time. This was once a darling, bird, with excellent temperament. Now, obviously, I am aware I can't let him out with anyone home. But how can you build trust after this... He is unpredictable.

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Clarice Brough - 2013-04-19
That's a challenge, but a 22 year relationship speaks of a good friendship. I would analyse the environment and all the things you are doing to see if there are any changes in your lifestyle that may be causing some sort of upset with your bird. Try to figure out what's become different (besides your bird's reactions) over the past year.

Olivia - 2013-04-07
I am thinking of selling my goffin cockatoo he has became to much work for me. Between school and homework I don't have enough time for him. how would he do if I sell him? would he adapt well since I have had him for a few years?

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Clarice Brough - 2013-04-08
You could sell him yourself, or consign him with your local pet store. In either case it helps to have the prospective owner spend some time with the bird. This helps them make sure they really want the bird, that the bird likes them, and that they are prepared to give it a proper home. The better the match, the easier it is for a bird to adjust.
Brent Trehern - 2013-04-17
Cockatoos, especially Goffins, are a mystery unto themselves. How he was raised will greatly affect how he will adapt to a new home and owner. One of my Goffins (this is not the first home for all three of them), a male named Coconut by the previous owner, has something of an unknown past and is afraid of men. He will listen to me and step up, but is otherwise afraid of me (or any other man for that matter). However he will cuddle with my fiance...even though I've had him for a year and a half and she's been in my life for only a year. If you raised him from a baby (and I mean after he was fully weaned...not from when he was hatched, mind you), and he's a sweet bird you've introduced to various people over the years, then he should adapt well to any loving home. However there are cautionary notes to selling or rehoming your bird. First, if you choose to use a local pet store to consign, make sure of the store's reputation. A good example (I live in Phoenix, Arizona) would be a store we have around here called Cageworld. The last time I visited this bird store I knew much less about pet stores than I do now so I was ignorant of how horrible it was to house a dozen birds in a single large cage. Not only did they pack the birds in cages but there were more than a few reported incidents (which you can find online) of birds being boarded there who 'accidentally' got sold. So be sure the place you go to has a positive reputation from either word of mouth or multiple websites (reviews can be faked so...check around). Whether you consign or sell directly to an owner, as recommended, make sure you meet the potential new owner and ascertain their suitability. You don't want the bird going to a home for the wrong reasons such as for breeding, being a gift to a kid who will lose interest once the newest video game comes out, or someone who says they can't afford the price of a consigned bird (if they can't afford the bird from a shop then how are they going to pay for food, toys, and vet visits?) just to name a few. Finally check with family who may be able to home the bird for few months (or years) to give you time to either catch up with school or finish it. This would be the easiest on your heart, as you would not truly be parted from your companion...as long as someone agreed to it.

jayashree - 2013-04-16
hi, my 6 months old Alexandria has lost his feathers in the face but he is active and eating good. is he normal or any problem with him? when the molting period starts? what are the symptoms of 1 st molt? how long it will take for molting?

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Clarice Brough - 2013-04-17
Losing the feathers on his face is not a sign of molting. Not sure, but you may have a problem with mites, which indicates his environment is not all it could be. They need a clean cage and their food needs to be fresh. They need plenty of room to move around, and companionship too (either regular attention from you or a companion in the same room) to keep them from getting bored. These things help alleviate problems. But... you do need to figure out why his facial feathers are lost, so keep researching or ppossibly see a veterinarian:) Best of luck to your an your Alexandine Parakeet!

Max - 2013-04-15
I have a pair of budgies, it's their second time they bred. But I did not get any baby budgies from those eggs. I don't know what the problem is so any help would be appreciated. They are a confirmed pair.

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Clarice Brough - 2013-04-17
Gosh not sure... but with most parrots it has to do with the temperature, foods while breeding, and the environment. Look at all those elements and what breeders suggest, and you may find the clues you're looking for. (I've only bred cockatiels, Amazon parrots, Macaws, and Conures... so just not familiar with budgie requirements.) Good luck!

manuela rutledge - 2012-01-23
Hi I'm the proud owner of an female soloman eclectus. Annie was a rescue bird. I got her from a couple who did not want to bother with her anymore and they got her from a petstore where the previous owner brought her after 3 years. Anyways the last owner did not want to bother because after they had her for a month she started eating her feet and peeling the skin right off. So I took her and brought her to the vet done all the bloodwork ,it came out good oh and she is toetapping and wingflipping also. They said she does it because she was bored but watching her she bites because it is very annoying the cramps in her feet. So I did everything I could find on it out on the net ,my vet is clueless she never had that in her office and she is an avian vet arghhhhh lol.So I am surging everywhere in the hopes someone out there has others idears . sorry for writing such a long story ...

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Charlie Roche - 2012-01-23
Many people use doll rods for perches and just about destroy a birds feet without realizing it. There are many types of 2 - 3 inch perches avaiable to put in a cage that allow the parrot to step on it more flat footed and way easier to hold on to. Cholla wood, sanded manzanita, branch from a fruit tree. Birds don't sit on the narrowest end of the perch on a tree - they are in the widest part - almost flat footed and well balanced. The birds feet should not be able to go around the perch - Toe tapping. Toe tapping can be a normal body expression for a parrot in that they stamp their feet. Sounds like yours might be doing it to stretch out tendons.muscles and excercise or maybe the perch is so small, his feet are actually flling asleep or cramping. The parrot is not going to go down and wlk on the bottom of the cage - they don't go down. Wingflapping - again could be body language but also could be keeping balance. I'd get way wider perches - cholla - works and Golden Cockatoo has a web site and you can order them from there. They screw on. Did the vet check for gout? Many vets say they are avian but they just took a two day class. Just thoughts. Good luck.
Loree McKee - 2012-03-12
in response to toe tapping - it is possible that your bird may be having a reaction to colored dyes in food. My eclectus did this once when we changed his diet and gave him colored food (from teh pet store) as soon as we changed his diet back to all-natural (no dyes) he stopped this behaviour. Also, I am not sure where the previous writer got his birds, but mine absolutley love to "come down" to the bottom of thier cage - they play with foot toys there, and their food dishes are ob the bottom of the cage as well. I have ladders that dangle all the way to the floor - so they like to walk around the house on teh floor. You can try a resting stone also, these can be placed in the cage on teh floor of the cage, or attached to corners like a shelf. Mine like thiers a lot. - Good luck!!
Abi Leonard Al Omari - 2012-07-24
I have done resaerch that eclectus are very sensitive to lack of appropriate vitamins, which causes itchy skin. Make sure you are feeding your bird LOTS of fruit and veggies. Leafy greens, citrus, and legumes. I also use a vitamin supliment in my birds water. Ekkies have very different diets than most birds, You need to limit seeds and provide a half a boiled egg once a week. My female had feather loss and wing flapping from her previous owner, and a change to a correct ekkie diet was all she needed. I also feel a correctly sized pearch would be helpful.
Kaori - 2012-08-24
Hi Kelly,Thanks for writing in .sorry to hear about your Lab gitteng pancreatitis well wishes for a full recovery! The most important dietary management strategy for pancreatitis is a LOW FAT diet. Be careful with canned food in general, it tends to have more fat than dry food of the same variety. Always evaluate the fat content of a food on a dry matter basis, so you can easily compare canned and dry foods. Good Luck. Dr. Donna
manuela - 2013-04-14
Hi sorry it's been a while since I've been on here, well we found out what's wrong with annie. She got diagnosed with the borna virus and is on celebrax now and doing good. She does not eat her feet as long as she is on the meds she still toe taps here and there but not bad anymore. Overall she does great. Thanks for all your input.

glen - 2013-04-13
I have a Military Macaw I got her from a rescue , I can lay a blue sheet in the bottom of the cage and she will go to it and start bobbing her head and makeing strange noises. Can any one tell me why she is doing this.

gordon - 2013-04-13
More than a comment; a question that perhaps you may be able to answer me, I would appreciate the help. I have a female white dove (smaller kind) with red eyes...she was lonesome for 3 months and yesterday I found a fantail male dove and I put the male fantail in the cage with my white dove and after observing them for a few hours I figured it would be ok to leave them alone for a short time but I heard some ruffling about and when I looked, the male was pecking on the female, giving her a wound on her neck...there was also a little blood on the newspaper on the floor, but no blood on the white dove, only a mark on her neck where she was pecked...I am afraid the bigger fantail male will kill the smaller dove if I leave them together...is this a posibility? Should I not put them together? I would hate myself if the male hurt the female more...will they get over it? Will they possibly become friends/mates? Thank you for any answers, comments...gordon.

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Jasmine Brough Hinesley - 2013-04-13
It sounds like they aren't getting along all that great right now. If I were you, I'd keep a VERY close eye on them and see if they start getting along better. I wouldn't leave them alone together overnight until there have been no more episodes of fighting. It is quite possible that they could decide to be friends and become mates. But, you will just have to wait and see and monitor them in the meantime.

Winny - 2013-04-12
My neighbor has several dozen doves in an enclosure. They coo 24 hours a day. It is not a loud sound, but, a sound that I would prefer not to hear 24 hours a day. Is there anything that I, or my neighbor, could do to give me some relief from the constant cooing? This has been my world for 20-30 years and I am just wanting to hear the other birds in the area and/or a bit of silence when I am in my yard.

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Clarice Brough - 2013-04-17
Well, doves will be doves. Not sure that you can change their behavior, maybe the neighbor could move the dove cote to the other side of their yard.

Melodee Essex - 2012-11-13
I absolutely adore my Harligold 'Kokomo'! We hand .raised him from the day he hatched. (I owned his parents) He is 7 mos. Old now and so beautiful, lovable & fun! This bird has personality plus and then some... Loves to cuddle and play, but definitely not afraid to let you know when he isn't pleased... Lol. He is a wonderful addition to our family!

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Rob Tome - 2013-04-12
I am about to adopt my first baby Harligold Macaw. The father is a Harlequin and the Mother is a Blue and Gold. I am so excited!

Erwin - 2013-04-12
I really interested to your Yorkshire,I wanna to keep please give more inform about your Yorkshire. that possible i want to buy?

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