Sign In

Close
Forgot your password? No account yet?

Any parrot people? by sinereous

So we have a Senegal.
This is Jazz : https://www.dropbox.com/s/guwsjfwldpg4fvb/BhzQ0GuIEAAYgyp.jpg

He's 15 years old, and came from a very awful place ( picture an 8x10 windowless spare room that housed at least 6 other large parrots in various stages of distress and a permanent cloud of cigarette smoke) so I kind of expect some health and behavioural issues along the way. He's currently quarantined in our bedroom alone with us (unless the bun has wandered in) and is surprisingly quiet and sweet given his circumstances (will already "step up" and beg for head scritches.) He also sleeps like the dead, which surprises me.

Myca has been into parrots for a while, so this isn't completely spur of the moment.. and so far we have read every site and care sheet and book I can get my hands on - but I know these guys are whoppers in the emotional-care department and I will be frank in admitting I don't speak bird very well. I have worked a little with conures and parrots before but I basically only speak cat and rabbit and he's like an adorable alien to me.

TL;DR: I am basically trying to find someone with bird experience who would be okay with the occasional weird questions or concern message as New Bird and us get to know each other.

Any parrot people?

sinereous

Journal Information

Views:
215
Comments:
7
Favorites:
0
Rating:
General

Tags

Comments

  • Link

    Farouche

    I wish I could help! Only bird person I know, I'm not sure they have a Weasyl: http://redsixwing.dreamwidth.org/
    They're adorable though, I think they would answer question or direct you to appropriate resources.

    • Link

      sinereous

      Thank you, I will definitely say hello :)

  • Link

    Pemm

    The Bird Crazies thread on SomethingAwful's forums sounds like what you need. You do need to pay $10 for an account to read/post, but it's really worth it and gives you access to the rest of the forum too. I learned an enormous amount about parrots just from reading the thread (they're usually several hundred pages long), and they're always happy to help people out and very active.

    • Link

      sinereous

      Ahh that sounds amazing, I can't currently afford that but in a week or two maybe! Thank you for the heads up :)

  • Link

    Brevity

    Aaaaaah, I'm sorry, but if you've never had a bird before, getting an abused rescue Poicephalus species wasn't a very good idea. Even ones without problems are NOT beginner birds by any means. I understand that you had good intentions, but if I were you, I would really, really think about looking into rescues that might be able to better handle the kinds of issues he might have-- or to at least talk to about what you can do to make things easier on him.

    For the time being though, I would definitely take him to a vet. Cigarette smoke (well, any kind of smoke) is very, very bad for any bird's delicate respiratory system. Cancer is a very real possibilty, as are several mental disorders, from both the smoke and the poor, stressful living conditions. Parrots, being highly intelligent, are very easily made neurotic.

    I would also not allow any other pets to be in the same room with him at all. All they will do is cause extra stress which, it sounds like, he really doesn't need.

    I'd also pay really close attention to the way he sleeps and the way he acts when you aren't interracting with him. Senegals should have a lot of energy, as they're an energetic species, so the fact that he "sleeps like the dead" is very worrisome. Does he sleep on one foot or two? Does his tail bob up and down when he breathes? Does he keep his feathers fluffed even as you approach him?

    I can try to answer the questions you have to the best of my ability-- but the best thing for him right now is for his environment to be as stress-free as possible and a thorough vet check. Remember to get him checked by an avian vet specifically-- not just a general DVM.

    • Link

      sinereous

      Thank you so much for your reply!

      I think in retrospect I should have said "don't speak parrot", instead of "bird". I have also worked with larger , similar birds ( younger cockatoos, macaws, etc.. as well as herons and hawks- basically spending 5-10 hours a day with them, but not having them at home). And while I really do appreciate and understand your concern, I did not go into this expecting it to be an easy "pet". I know there are going to be issues and extra vet bills. I know I am going to be bit. I know there's a possibility he'll never be "okay" in one way or another, and that that this is about what he needs and wants, not what I expect. Before we decided to take him on permanently I read everything I could possibly get my hands on about the species and care, as well as horror stories about rescued birds, and since I posted this I've read about 300 behavioural anecdotes to hopefully "read" him better. Also I do already have a 24/7 vet on speed dial ( an animal hospital bird/exotics specialist that also sees our reptiles.) He is slated to go in early next week! I will keep the rabbit out of his sight for now as you recommend, and I have also decided to contact the parrot rescue in the area in order to get a discourse going in case there does happen to be something we can't handle at home, but I hope that there won't be.

      He has been more and more playful and less lethargic each day and shows interest in his new toys (one at a time, as to not overwhelm), though it has only been a few days. He is absolutely wonderful in hand and on his cagetop "circus", though we're limiting him to less than 4 hours a day with us being in his face until he's settled and had his vet check. He gets classical radio on low volume when he's in his cage and we have him on a 12-14 hour "sleeptime" schedule at the moment, with natural sunlight for the first time ever. He does sleep tucked with one foot off the perch and so far I haven't heard or seen any sign of tail bobbing or other distress, but we will see!

      Do you think a cage move would be stressful at this time? He is in a "cockatiel" sized cage at the moment that he has been in all his life that he can move around in but isn't very roomy. The logical part of me wants to get him something larger and sturdier, but I don't want to cause any damage while things are so tenuous.

      • Link

        Brevity

        Well, that's a bit of a relief! A lot of times I see people who have never EVER had a pet parrot before get something like a large cockatoo or conure or Poi-- or a rescue parrot, thinking it'll be the same as a rescued dog-- and it's very distressing. Nine times out of ten they later decide "oh, it's too much work!" and then the poor bird gets moved from home to home and it's really sad. But I'm glad you've got some experience!

        If it's only been a couple days I would avoid giving him a different cage at this moment. I would definately get a bigger cage, though, and at least introduce it to him. Put it in his room, by his old cage, and let him get used to it for a few days or a couple weeks-- whichever he needs to not be afraid of the new enclosure.

        You can also try leaving the doors to both cages open. Some birds will be immediately attracted to a cage with more space. Maybe try figuring out what foods he likes best, and put a couple of his favourite toys and treats in the new cage-- so he'll see it as something good and fun and exciting, and not something scary!