Nancy M. is concerned about her young budgie,

Hello, a few months ago you helped me with a question about my parakeet with a feather cyst.

I now have another young parakeet since August who is unable to fly and seldom chirps or makes a sound. It appears to be a male. 

He can fly from the cage to the floor but is unable to obtain enough height to fly more than a few inches above the floor. His flight feathers have not grown.

He spends most of the day sitting on a lower shelf on the cart we keep the cage on.

He is able to climb very well and seems to be content and does engage with our other male parakeet while in and out of the cage.

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Denise M. wants to know why her conure won’t eat pellets,

Love your publication! I want to inquire about feeding. I feed sweetie bird conure food as well as apples, raspberries sugar snap peas, and grapes. He will not eat pellets. I hope he is getting enough vitamins without pellets. Thank you

Dear Denise

We can relate. Pellets do provide a diet that is complete with vitamins, but if they don’t eat them, what can you do?

If your bird does eat more pellets than other offerings, seeds, nuts, etc then you don’t have to be concerned about added vitamins.

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Louisa B. is concerned with air fryer toxicity,

I have been looking for an air fryer and all say nonstick, but no details. Are you aware of any that do not use Teflon? Many thanks. I have two birds.

Dear Louisa

It isn’t just air fryers, it is toaster ovens, fry pans, cookware, etc that state non-stick, but not all have surfaces that are toxic. In fact, they are getting a lot better at producing products that are safe for our pets and us.

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Betty M. wants to learn more about pet bird nail trimming.

I don’t know how much I should trim my AG’s nails. They are all black. I trimmed one nail too much, and it took a long time to clot.

I used the clotting gel which didn’t help much. Thanks.

Dear Betty

How do you know that your Greys nails need to be trimmed? Is it because when it is on you and they are sharp and pointy? If that is all then it is not a reason to cut the nails.

Birds need their nails to be able to safely perch and climb. 

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Zach K. is concerned about the noise his macaw makes,

We live in an apartment with a noise ordinance and have recently adopted a macaw. He sometimes starts screaming when people are home but in a different room than him. Is this something that we can train him to not do? Is it maybe a sign of anxiety? Or is having a macaw in an apartment with a noise ordinance a recipe for disaster?

Sorry to say Zack, but it is the latter statement. 

Macaws do not belong in apartment buildings unless your neighbors are also large bird owners, have noisy dogs and kids or don’t want the attention of the police themselves.

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Lou K. has a cockatoo that hates water. What can I use on her try skin areas that she scratches too much?

 

Dear Lou

It is not uncommon for birds who have not been exposed to showers or baths early in their lives to be afraid of or unwilling to bathe when they are offered, especially with cockatoo care.

 

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Carol G. is concerned with her parrotlet’s foot,

Hi, My parrotlet has been scratching her foot to the point where she has a deep cut along the side of her toe.

The vet gave me Hibitaine to rub on it but doesn’t seem to have helped much.

She sits most of the day with her toe in her open mouth almost like she is trying to keep the area moist.

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Louie L. is looking for a macaw carrier

Do you recommend a travel cage for a greenwing macaw, in the car, and maybe a weekend camping trip size?

Any input will help thanks

Dear Louie

Nice that you want to bring your macaw with you when you camp, travel. They are family members too.

However, you do want to keep them safe and they are so big and so strong.

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Tanya L. finds herself living in a love triangle.

I have 2 half-moon conures. they will be 7 and 6 on the 26th and 28th of this Oct.

They are both boys and have always shared a cage. 

They have always squabbled on occasion. 

They have never drawn blood though.

 Their names are Quincy (7 yr old) and Truman.

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Karen E. is concerned about her cockatiel’s egg laying,

My 4-year-old Tiel has now laid eggs for the second time in 5 months and plucked herself terribly!

She eats pellet and some greens and cuttlebone, mineral block.. she’s very picky at eating.

What is the best thing I can do for egg-laying to throw her off, and the plucking? Her health is normal since the last vet visit.

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