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Post by Meliawen B on Jun 12, 2005 5:59:19 GMT -7
Hello to you all! I much appreciated your advice on getting my grey, Chivalry, to shower. However, now lately he's been biting at us even when we try to pick him up (something he used to love!) We aren't really sure why he's acting so cranky. Should I get him to the vet? What's the general consensus?
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Post by lidiam on Jun 12, 2005 8:22:41 GMT -7
They can be moody little buggers, Meliawen. If he is still eating properly and his droppings are okay, then he is probably perfectly healthy. Unknowingly, you may have done something to upset him, or changed his routine in some way that he doesn't like. He may be grumpy because he is molting and his new feathers are coming up and are itchy and driving him mad. Add to that, they can just go through nasty phases (that they usually grow out of). Also, Chivalry (great name!) could just be in a bad humour. Just continue loving him and being patient with him, and I am sure all will be well. Lidia  |
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Post by Jane on Jun 12, 2005 9:53:59 GMT -7
Yes I agree with Lidia. Greys can be very moody and can be affected by things such as changes and molting. In fact Mitzi is molting at the moment and has been quite moody. Sometimes there can be a slight injury, such as bumping themselves, which can cause discomfort and make them irritable. Something like that can in turn lead to biting.
Just keep an eye on him.
Jane
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MJ
Weaned Todd
Pete
Joined: April 2005
Posts: 31
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Post by MJ on Jun 15, 2005 11:24:42 GMT -7
I agree very much - they are sooooo moody. If I only change something in his room , he doesn't not talk to me for days..... I just changed his cage and this morning I was cleaning the bottom , he bit my head = my little monster I love so much.
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Post by Bailey on Jun 18, 2005 18:57:37 GMT -7
hehehe, mine will do the same thing when I'm cleaning his cage! nothing serious, just a HEY watcha doing to my cage?? I'm over here ya know!! My 7mth old was nipping me for a week or two -- but I made sure I made NO big deal out of it ( and especially didn't yell OUCH!) -- he's stopped now! I guess he was trying to figure out what he could get away with! Sometimes now though when he's out playing he gets REALLY excited - running and jumping ( lol!!) he'll run over to my hand and pretend like he's going to bite, but he doesn't, he just runs away again! and back and forth - throw the toys on the floor etc... I pick them back up... they get thrown on the floor etc.... AS FOR showering -- I've had mine since Feb and he's just starting to go into the shower now. I started in my kitchen sink and actually had to cup my hand under the water and put it over him - he's still not really used to the idea, but he doesn't seem to mind it -- just keep trying!! they are sooooo fuuunnyy!!
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Post by tweetiepie on Jul 1, 2005 3:55:47 GMT -7
My African (Mylo), hates to be sprayed but does take a dip in his water bowl. One on occasion tho, I had put a saucepan full of water on the hob to boil altho hadn't turned the oven on. In a flash, Mylo had walked along the worktop, and was having a full on bath in the sauceapan! I was amazed and happy but a little worried cos he snuck in there !! He really enjoyed it... water... everywhere .... but that was nearly a year ago and other than me spraying him now and then and flicking water at him, he hasn't had a proper bath since (other than in his water bowl). I sometimes leave big bowls out on the floor for him but he normally likes playing with the bowl and trying to knock it over (successfully unfortunately!!). Hey Ho !!!  |
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Post by lidiam on Jul 2, 2005 4:17:14 GMT -7
To my great chagrin, Joshua hasn't had a bath in years, and nothing I do encourages him to. He used to love bathing, really love it, but something turned him off it and he won't go into a bathing bowl, no matter where I put it (whereas he used to dive bomb it). He sits on the shower rail in the mornings with me all right, but won't come in for a dip. When I lived somewhere with a bath, he used to sit on my knee IN the bath, but alas I only have a shower now. He's not particularly smelly, though he is extremely dusty, which is making me sneeze a bit at the moment. How DO you get a sixteen year old parrot to bathe? Lidia  |
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mermaidp
Just Hatched
Joined: July 2005
Posts: 5
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Post by mermaidp on Jul 6, 2005 10:37:36 GMT -7
Lidia, How do you get a 16 year old Parrot to bathe. 1) Put a towel down on the counter and cover everything in sight. 2) Fill the bottom of a pan (18 x 20) with about 1 to 2 inches of water. (I find the bottom tray of my oven broiler pan is perfect.) Place in middle of towel. 3) Next place stubborn bird on counter next to pan. 4) Dip your fingers in the water and flick it on him repeatedly while keeping hand over the middle of the pan (that way he cannot grab it to get you to stop) I found that after playing this game with Buster a few times, he would come to the edge of the pan and try to reach me and then would stick his beak in the water and start to pay with it. After a while this was his favorite thing. It is the only way to get him to voluntarily take to the water. He hate the rain and a shower. Good luck. Buster looks so funny when he is all wet but he is so proud when Itell him what a clean bird he is.  |
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Post by lidiam on Jul 6, 2005 13:54:02 GMT -7
Mermaid,
Thanks, but that doesn't work, tried that, have a few of the teeshirts. Would welcome more suggestions, though.
Lidia
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