Mysdrym
Meeting neighbors
Last Friday, I came home from work to find a parakeet in my front yard. It stopped me in my tracks because the only thing I really knew about parakeets was that they were people's pets, not wild like sparrows and cardinals.
Being a dog person, I tried talking to it and approaching slowly, but the bird just flew away, and I thought that was it. I did put some extra seeds out to hopefully get it back, but there are a lot of wild birds that come to my house, so more seeds didn't necessarily mean I'd see the parakeet again.
However, the next morning, I came out to find my neighbor setting up a trap to catch the parakeet! I guess she just hid in a tree overnight. I'm amazed she made it that long, because I have a small hawk that frequents my yard and it nabs other birds more than we'd like. I helped him catch it and ended up putting it in a dog carrier because I didn't have anything else.
The dog carrier was for pomeranians, and it was kind of dark, so I got her a cage after I put out some missing signs. I've been looking for her family since Saturday, but so far there's been no luck. If no one contacts me after the ads I put in the paper expire, I've decided to keep her.
In the last week I have looked up every little thing she does to make sure she's not sick or hurt, and checked what I can do to keep her happy and healthy. I still have a lot to learn, but she's started chirping and perching on one foot, which I read means she's relaxed.
I've come to this forum among others and the answers have always been helpful, so thank you!
I do have a couple questions though.
1) I got her one of those things you hang on the back of the cage to keep away/get rid of mites. I've had her since Saturday, but yesterday (Wednesday) was the first time I saw her itching her toes. Today, she was tapping her toes and I saw that might mean mites. With the thing hanging on the back of her cage, do I need to do more, or will that take care of any mites? I've also put some lettuce in her cage, because I read that can help with zinc deficiency, if that's what's making her tap her toes.
2) I've put water in the cage for her to bathe in 3 different days, but she never does. I know they are very cleanly birds, so is there a way I can get her to take a bath? She's very shy and I still can't really pick her up without scaring her.
Being a dog person, I tried talking to it and approaching slowly, but the bird just flew away, and I thought that was it. I did put some extra seeds out to hopefully get it back, but there are a lot of wild birds that come to my house, so more seeds didn't necessarily mean I'd see the parakeet again.
However, the next morning, I came out to find my neighbor setting up a trap to catch the parakeet! I guess she just hid in a tree overnight. I'm amazed she made it that long, because I have a small hawk that frequents my yard and it nabs other birds more than we'd like. I helped him catch it and ended up putting it in a dog carrier because I didn't have anything else.
The dog carrier was for pomeranians, and it was kind of dark, so I got her a cage after I put out some missing signs. I've been looking for her family since Saturday, but so far there's been no luck. If no one contacts me after the ads I put in the paper expire, I've decided to keep her.
In the last week I have looked up every little thing she does to make sure she's not sick or hurt, and checked what I can do to keep her happy and healthy. I still have a lot to learn, but she's started chirping and perching on one foot, which I read means she's relaxed.
I've come to this forum among others and the answers have always been helpful, so thank you!
I do have a couple questions though.
1) I got her one of those things you hang on the back of the cage to keep away/get rid of mites. I've had her since Saturday, but yesterday (Wednesday) was the first time I saw her itching her toes. Today, she was tapping her toes and I saw that might mean mites. With the thing hanging on the back of her cage, do I need to do more, or will that take care of any mites? I've also put some lettuce in her cage, because I read that can help with zinc deficiency, if that's what's making her tap her toes.
2) I've put water in the cage for her to bathe in 3 different days, but she never does. I know they are very cleanly birds, so is there a way I can get her to take a bath? She's very shy and I still can't really pick her up without scaring her.
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