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Post by Sue A on May 27, 2006 6:08:13 GMT -7
I have a mini McCaw 7 months old. My question is, is she old enough to have her nails grinded down. Some breedrs say never grind down naiils some say do it. Direction please, do I grrind or not. Her nails are so sharp they hurt and I have the perches that are suppose to grind nails.
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Post by John on May 27, 2006 8:08:48 GMT -7
What do you want to use to grind her nails?
A nail file would be fine, if they are too long they should be clipped and filed. She should be able to stand on a flat surface and her toes should not be lifted by her nails.
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Post by Jane on May 27, 2006 8:36:12 GMT -7
I think you could take the sharp points off. The longer nails get the harder they are to clip without them bleeding because the blood supply is nearer the tip. With regular trimming it retreats further back.
I find the nail trimming perches work very well but they do have to be the correct size for the bird in order to work properly.
Jane
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Post by Sue A on May 27, 2006 9:01:44 GMT -7
Thanks I think I will bring her down to have them trimmed and filed once.
Can you help me with cage size. I will be getting my TAG in about 6 weeks and want to buy a cage however size is an issue. Would a 30 wide, 24 deep and 36 high cage be good. I work so the TAG will be in the cage. I have a 26 wide, 19 deep, 36 high that is in the Florida screened room which I use during the day for a few hours at least it is a change of location RE:from the livingroom. I also have perch time for the parrots about 45 min to an hour a day in the am and sometimes in the evening. Some breeders say the cages I have now are ok however I think they may be a little small. I want to do this right once I want a happy bird. The two I have now are very happy (mini mccaw & caique).
I have never seen a full grown Timneh so it is hard for me to visualize the size. Is it like an Amazon? I know the Congo is much bigger so when vendors are trying to sell cages on line are they talking about the Congo because that is a big parrot. Well I am rambling so I will close for now. Help please. Sue
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Preston
Super Talker
NEED HELP? WE WILL ANSWER AS FAST AS WE CAN (Note: Preston passed away in 2012. We hold his memories dearly, he was a great person and super moderator.)
Sisika and Pete
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Post by Preston on May 28, 2006 9:18:22 GMT -7
Hi Sue, That cage is a nice size, He/She will be ok. My TAG (F) is about half the size of my CAG (M), but she is still growing, and should stop at about two thirds his size. Bar spacing is important also as they can get their head caught and hang themselves 3\4" 1" no bigger! Look for a cage that has the crocks on the outside so they can't do their business in it (California Cage), this is Andi’s cage. kookaburra.catalog.com/viewProduct.cfm?item_id=641227 800-492-8220 ask for John, and see if he has a number for Cal Cage to find a distributor in your area. I left the seed guard off because as you will find out Greys are clumsy, and will hit it on the way down. Get a plastic chair pad from office depot to put under the cage to protect your carpet; they are a bit high, but worth every penny during cleanup. I always advise: Get the largest cage you can afford or fit into the planned area. I hope this answers your questions. I foresee a problem with a TAG and that small amount of out time, but we will cross that bridge when it comes. |
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Post by Sue A on May 28, 2006 16:26:27 GMT -7
I hope he/she will like my roommate and I equally. If she/he does not bite my roommate then there will be more out of the cage time. My caique like both of us however since spring he/she has begun to bite my roommate who was just getting use to having the parrots around. The last time it was out the caique jumped on her and began to bite my roommate in her neck. She felt like the movie the birds where the women in running for her life. So now my roommate doesn't take him out during the day when I am not here. I will be totally retired next August 2007 and will have alot of time with my birds.
Thanks for the input on the cage.
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Preston
Super Talker
NEED HELP? WE WILL ANSWER AS FAST AS WE CAN (Note: Preston passed away in 2012. We hold his memories dearly, he was a great person and super moderator.)
Sisika and Pete
Joined: January 2005
Posts: 5,912
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Post by Preston on Jun 2, 2006 0:46:02 GMT -7
Gracie,
I'm sorry that I missed your answer. I have a Senegal that will fly a short distance to bite me (mamma's bird), but I have never seen a grey intentionaly fly from the cage to attack someone if they are clipped. I don't think that will be a problem with a TAG. They sense fear and will, if inclined, bite the person servicing the food and water bowls if they hesitate. I have friends that help me with Andi when they stop by. I tell them not to hesitate, just reach and get the crock and she will retreat. I have also noted that Greys will mill around the outside of their cage and rarely leave unless spooked especialy if there are enough toys to play with. Clipped birds will not go far enough to to loose track of "home" and will climb back by themselves. Clipped correctly a Grey can pretty much care for itself, and if you teach it "go home" it will without your roomie ever touching the bird. If unsupervised they will wander around and get in trouble, but can be hearded back without a bite. That is my experience with 1 CAG and 1 TAG.
Andi spends her morning playing with her toys. I have several of my grandson's toys he has outgrown in there for her. Oscar the Grouch in a bulldozer is her fav, and another sesame st charature in a dump truck plus four clear plastic blocks that have trinkets inside that rattle; she tries her heart out trying to get into them. I finally thought outside of the box for toys, they don't have to be the pet store toys, Andi spends hours stalking Oscar and his bulldozer, she lays on her back and throws it and stalks it again. I look up and see her with her pouty face on and know it went on the floor, I simply put it back in and she's on it again. I really think they are comfortable knowing that the door is open, I guess they feel they are free although inside of the cage, but it isn't long before you retire so everything will fall into place.
Good Luck.
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