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ArowanaLover

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I have never seen a bird cage that was cylindrical...i don't like it either, but that is a beautiful bird.
 

BlueBaby1023

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So Kisses has been doing pretty well the past few days, but I just noticed he pulled out two feathers today, and at least one of them was from his wing and it bled a bit on the wing and on his side. I knew this was a possibility from the stress of rehoming, plus he was pulling before, but is there anything specifically that I can do to help curb the urge for him? The toys we got him seemed to not fill the cage enough, so we got a few more ladders, perches, and toys, but he is uninterested in them. I'm not sure, frankly, if he even knows what they are.

Short of getting him a friend, is there anything other than toys and attention? Is there something we can do to make toys more appealing than pulling?
 

rocky'smom

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take that round cage and STOMP:tmsmakesme: it flat or use it as tomato cage.
 

Monica

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Try placing bits of food and pieces in, on and around the toys! That might help to pique his interest!
 

blewin

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We've had Budddy for four years, and she's never known another bird. The only time she really gets upset is if she's kept away from the "action." If possible, when you're home you should make sure that Kisses isn't isolated from what is going on. If you're not home, try playing music or putting a television in her room.

If you do get another bird, you might want to wait until she's bonded with your family, otherwise she might mostly bond with the other bird. The other thing you need to consider is that she may not like the other bird, and then you have two birds who don't want to have anything to do with each other, and are competing for you.

Paterson Bird Store (the bird specialist in our area) actually discouraged us from getting another 'tiel because Buddy was so attached to us. 'Tiels apparently don't do well with other species, either, because they are so laid back.

As long as Kisses is happy, he'll be fine.
 

BlueBaby1023

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@rocky'smom : I think my garden is a bit too big for this cage. ;) Its approximately 2500 sqft (25x100ft patch).

@Monica : Is there something sticky to hold treats on? He came with some cashews as treats, but I don't know how to "attach" them. :)

@blewin : We don't really want to get him a friend, that's why I said short of getting him a friend. Unfortunately, we have five cats in our main living space that would love to make mince meat of him if given the chance. Since he cannot fly due to his plucking (they also clipped his wings regularly), I'm nervous having him out for extended periods of time with me. I can't constantly give him attention because I do have work and school to get done, but if I let my attention slip I'm afraid the cats will take the opportunity to pounce.

We want to get him a perch for the living room, but it's not in the funds at the moment, and it would have to be somewhat cat proof. He also like to try to fly to me whenever I walk more than a few feet away from the countertops (where I've been having him hang out when he's out with me).

We also can't put anything with cords (radios, tv's, etc.) in the room because our rabbits have free run of the room and would chew through it in a matter of minutes. When they broke into our office at the apartment, they ate an internet cord and a printer cord. :/
 

Monica

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You can get millet and put pieces of that into toys. Certain toys you can place pieces of food in, on and around it. My mitred conure had no interest in a yucca toy (bird kabob) until I placed safflower seeds within the yucca itself. He then worked on chewing it apart! You may need to look into some new toys, toys made out of craft sticks, yucca, balsa, etc that are easy to chew, maybe even some made with small acrylic pieces?
 

BlueBaby1023

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We have a few craft stick toys for him, and put them right next to the perches so they are within easy reach, but he hasn't touched them. How would you get millet to stick? The craft stick toys we have look like this...

All Living Things® Popsicle Stick Bird Toy | Toys | PetSmart

Here are some of the other toys we got for him. I'm not sure how to get seeds or millet "in" these?

All Living Things® Palm Leaf Tower Bird Toy | Toys | PetSmart
All Living Things® Vibrant Cluster Bird Toy | Toys | PetSmart
All Living Things® Rainbow Criss Cross Bird Toy | Toys | PetSmart
 

Monica

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I would get spray millet and wedge the stick of the millet into the beads, if possible, or even making holes on the craft sticks to wedge the millet spray into. Two of the other toys look even easier to put millet into!

When I'm talking about millet, I'm talking about *THIS*....

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/images/Categoryimages/larger/lg_818500_12962D.jpg

Although many stores tend to sell the *small* stalks of millet spray and I generally prefer to buy the larger sprigs of it. :)
 

BlueBaby1023

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Ah! I was thinking about the bags of it you can get from a grocery store. It comes as individual little grains approximately quinoa or cous cous sized, so that is why I was having trouble conceiving how to get it onto or in the toys! :roflmao: Full sprigs of it make much more sense.

I'll have to have a look tomorrow when we go into the city to get a few things. We live about 20 minutes away in the country. :)
 

Sadieladie1994

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Just a few random thoughts.

First, Kisses is darling. Everyone wants a bird as personable as Kisses

Safety/comfort. The doors on your cage are often referred to as guillotine type doors as an animal can partially lift and the door may drop on their head or neck before they get out. If they can get out others can also get in... This may not be your case but just thought I would mention it over all.

Where does Kisses perch? That will be a comfort zone. They usually like to perch a little higher and towards the back for security. Then they only need to watch the sides and front. Some like snuggle buddies. I am careful with tents for females as they may see it as a nest and tiels have been known for chronic egg laying.

Ambien attention is just as important as actual one on one. Why not hang a play area above the cage. Some have bought scarf holders from Ikea and birds love perching in them. Won't break the bank, look nice and birds do enjoy them.

Congrats on your knew little one and my, the energy you have LOLOLOL.
 

BlueBaby1023

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@Sadieladie1994 : The doors aren't guillotine? They all swing outwards. :)

Kisses perches mostly on the higher two perches when he's in his cage, but when I have him out with me he likes to hang out on my hand. I tried on my shoulder for a bit but he's far more comfortable on my hand.

I'm not sure what you mean by a play area above the cage. When he isn't out with us, he has to be locked in his cage. He can't just hang out on top of it because he often flies down (when I'm in the room, of course) and cannot get back up to his food, water, etc. because he can't fly. Not to mention we have free roam rabbits that, although may not seemingly pose a danger, could easily kill him with one slip of a back foot. I've seen it happen to guinea pigs that are housed with rabbits in the same cage, let alone a bird that weighs 1/5 of what guinea pigs weigh. :(

Thanks! It takes a lot to keep up with the pets :bounce1:

You should see the farm critters we have in our garage, too... :laughin:
 

Sadieladie1994

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@Sadieladie1994 : The doors aren't guillotine? They all swing outwards. :)



I'm not sure what you mean by a play area above the cage. When he isn't out with us, he has to be locked in his cage. He can't just hang out on top of it because he often flies down (when I'm in the room, of course) and cannot get back up to his food, water, etc. because he can't fly. Not to mention we have free roam rabbits that, although may not seemingly pose a danger, could easily kill him with one slip of a back foot. I've seen it happen to guinea pigs that are housed with rabbits in the same cage, let alone a bird that weighs 1/5 of what guinea pigs weigh. :(

:laughin:


Thank YOU for clearing that up about the doors. I went back and looked with glasses on. I can just see you cleaning the room and that he would enjoy some time on top of the cage eating, bathing or hanging out. If there is a dish with seed they will spend their time there.

I hear you about the rabbit back feet!
 

BlueBaby1023

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I'm not 100% sure, but I don't think Kisses has ever had millet. I got some from the store today, but he refuses to touch it and seems afraid of it. I left a few on and in his toys, but no luck yet. :(
 

Monica

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It's a rare thing when a bird doesn't like millet! Tomi Girl didn't know what millet was either at first! I ended up placing it in her food dish, and she was able to see other tiels eat it, and that's when she realized it was food, and thus, edible!
 

BlueBaby1023

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I tried holding a small bit for him to try, but all he did was lunge and the try to fly away. I may put some in his food tomorrow morning to see if I can convince him it tastes good.
 

blewin

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We have a ladder that goes from Buddy's cage to the floor. This way, if she hops off, she can get back on.
I understand what you mean about the cats. We now live with my mother in law, and she has two dogs. Buddy's been grabbed twice (our fault, she was on the cage, and then she decided she wanted off when our backs were turned). The dog that goes after her doesn't bite down, but it's still very dangerous and scary.

My suggestion is that you have a second cage where she can reside around you when not in the room. If you keep her in there with the cage door closed, she will be fine and not feel isolated. The other option (which is what we do) is if the cage is on a stand with wheels, you can wheel it around the house. Our office (the rec-room) is a dog-free zone, so Buddy can be with us (on our desks) and still be safe.

Can you create a cat-free zone for Kisses outside of his room? I know it's difficult with cats, but it is doable...
 
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