Shelle P. has concerns for her bird’s future,

Hi Catherine and Mitch, I have followed your birdy brunch and multiple bird store locations around Chicago for years.

I’m owned by 2 beautiful DYH and 1 grey who is way too smart. Anyway, I’m getting up in years and have health problems and need to start thinking about where my babies can be rehomed or sanctuary.

Just wondered if you have any thoughts or experience with others on how to start this difficult process/point in life. My family is small and are not “bird people”. I’ve tried some google searches of areas and am not sure how reliable they are. Thanks!

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 Karen R. is concerned about her grey’s lack of vocalizations.

Sam, our African Gray has been living with us for almost 15 years.

He had at least a few homes before us.

When he first came he was chatting up a storm, I felt like he was trying to call his flock.

Since then, he has only spoken twice in the 14 plus years he’s been with us.

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I read your post on full-spectrum light treatment for birds laying eggs.

I am going to try it with my Eclectus parrot.

I have the lights, do I start with a 72 hour on period and then go to 12-hour cycles?

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Sandi H. is interested in Superb Parrots,

The superb parrot (Polytelis swainsonii) above, also known as Barraband’s parrot, Barraband’s parakeet, or green leek parrot

I’m thinking of getting such a bird. Please give me the pros and cons.

I at present have 3 rainbow Lorikeets. Love, love, love them.

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Anita J. is seeking added protein possibilities,

May I feed my Noble Macaw, Cockatiel, and Sun Conure any 100% Fish treats?

Like the soft sealed packs of Salmon and Tuna for cats.

Need some different proteins for birds recently moved from S Florida to Central PA.

Added the heated perches and heated panels to sides of cages added to their timed Sunlamp in their room.

Noble (a picker) needs some incentive to eat more.

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We have had numerous requests for help from Lisa regarding her troubles with her 2 Conures one of which is a Biting Conure.

We have suggested lighting to help control hormones, more toys, cage placement, and more which has helped somewhat, but it seems the problem continues and is getting worse over time.

We have decided to ask our readers to chime in here and give her some suggestions or solutions that have worked for them.

Please reply below this Blog post and she will see them. (more…)

Melinda T.  was wondering about her yellow nape amazon.

He is 39 years old. I had him from a chick. He has stopped talking. He just does a word here and there. He used to sing nursery rhythm and everything else Why would he stop. I had him checked out everything is good. The one vet said he said all he wanted to say and he’s done talking. What are your thoughts about this?

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Denise Mc. asks about lighting for her GCC.

I have sweetie (green-cheek) in the front window & around Christmas, I move the cage to a different location & he is not happy. I heard it’s not good for a bird to be in the window at all. I would like to move him & how can I make it less stressful for sweetie. Merry Christmas 🎄!

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Kiki St. H. asks about Millicinth macaw care,

Hi!

We adopted a Millicinth macaw, Tupi, about a year ago following her owner’s death. She was previously used as a show bird doing tricks and greeting crowds. To keep her working she was kept hungry, fed dog biscuits every other day along with vitamin supplementation, and then clicker-trained using sunflower seeds. She was transported in a small metal box and housed without proper light or perching in a cage too small to turn around.

Her vet visit when she first came to live with us revealed she had at some point broken both a wing and a leg on her left side which had not been treated and so healed wrong, and her right leg is developing arthritis as she uses it to compensate.

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Barbara K. has a biting lovebird,

Hi- I bought a hand-fed female lovebird from a respectable breeder. She was hatched in January 2021. She still bites my fingers very hard. She lands on my head, shoulders, lap but doesn’t want my hand near her. I have her in the main living area with 2 cockatoos and a macaw. She enjoys visiting my cockatiel, but when she lands on the big parrots’ cages I say no!

I walk there quickly and hope she will fly off the cage.

If she doesn’t fly I catch her in my hands.

So I think that could be why she’s afraid of my hands.

Is it better to keep her in the same room as my other birds, which include finches besides the parrots and cockatiel?

Or in my bedroom where I wouldn’t have the worry of the big bird cages, but I’m not in there as much as the living area.

It could be temporary, while I work on her learning to come onto my hand?

Or is it true female lovebirds are more biting no matter where they are, compared to males?

Thanks much. 

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