Okay, so the history here isI got Buttercup and Wesley (Sun Conures, bonded pair, 4 years old) from a lady who was providing less then ideal care. Cockatiel seed. No pellets, no minerals, treats, toys, vitamins, cuttle, etc. Tiny cage, no exercise.
Now, the pair have bred and have begun laying a nest. But, I've taken the nesting box away and put the eggs in a brooder (I've raised chickens from egg before so luckily I am all set up). I need to get Buttercup to stop laying because her behaviors are really starting to scare me!!
What she is doing:
She can barely climb the sides of the cage. She falls often and sometimes from about a foot up. When she is on the bottom of the cage she sways back and forth. If she is out of her box it's because she knows I am nearby and is either going to throw a fit, or try to get me to give her something through the bars. She is not eating much; Wesley fights her out of the bowl so I do have 2 set up across the cage from each other. She just seems weak, unbalanced. Add that to not eating much...
What I'm doing:
My Avet is out of town until Monday, but is seeing her first thing. In the meantime she has told me to remove the box (done) and any eggs she lays in the cage if she does. She said to get her to eat - even if it's "junk." She will take 10 or so sunflower seeds from me and will entertain a nutri-berry or two, occasionally she will eat apple pieces. Keep in mind I have to give Wesley 3x as much as I give her just to keep him away from what she has. I also have vitamins and calcium in the water, a cuttle bone perch (they don't use), flavored oyster shell in a dish if they choose to eat it (they don't), and a pellet and seed mix in their bowls (which they throw the pellets out of). Plus, I am giving them fruits and veggies every day which I sprinkle ground pellets onto. I also got some egg protein powder mix but have not tried to offer it yet.
Is there anything else I can do? What if I separated them? I don't have a divideable cage but watch me do figure out how to do it or I can get another cage if need be. Would this be too much for them with me pulling their eggs, the fact that I've only owned them a week, and that they are not tame at all...seems like so much stress...but I want to do whatever it takes to help her...
Thanks for any help and advice...Scarlett is so healthy and loving and playful...and she eats everything I give her (she gets everything they do). I'm so confused and sad
Now, the pair have bred and have begun laying a nest. But, I've taken the nesting box away and put the eggs in a brooder (I've raised chickens from egg before so luckily I am all set up). I need to get Buttercup to stop laying because her behaviors are really starting to scare me!!
What she is doing:
She can barely climb the sides of the cage. She falls often and sometimes from about a foot up. When she is on the bottom of the cage she sways back and forth. If she is out of her box it's because she knows I am nearby and is either going to throw a fit, or try to get me to give her something through the bars. She is not eating much; Wesley fights her out of the bowl so I do have 2 set up across the cage from each other. She just seems weak, unbalanced. Add that to not eating much...
What I'm doing:
My Avet is out of town until Monday, but is seeing her first thing. In the meantime she has told me to remove the box (done) and any eggs she lays in the cage if she does. She said to get her to eat - even if it's "junk." She will take 10 or so sunflower seeds from me and will entertain a nutri-berry or two, occasionally she will eat apple pieces. Keep in mind I have to give Wesley 3x as much as I give her just to keep him away from what she has. I also have vitamins and calcium in the water, a cuttle bone perch (they don't use), flavored oyster shell in a dish if they choose to eat it (they don't), and a pellet and seed mix in their bowls (which they throw the pellets out of). Plus, I am giving them fruits and veggies every day which I sprinkle ground pellets onto. I also got some egg protein powder mix but have not tried to offer it yet.
Is there anything else I can do? What if I separated them? I don't have a divideable cage but watch me do figure out how to do it or I can get another cage if need be. Would this be too much for them with me pulling their eggs, the fact that I've only owned them a week, and that they are not tame at all...seems like so much stress...but I want to do whatever it takes to help her...
Thanks for any help and advice...Scarlett is so healthy and loving and playful...and she eats everything I give her (she gets everything they do). I'm so confused and sad
I do not want to say that Your Vet is Wrong-But I would NOT take eggs away from her-Taking the eggs away will only encourage Her to Lay More eggs-further weakening Her already weak system!Keep Us Posted and Good luck with Her
