Please advise

[Alien J]

I posted a dilemma I'm having with Oscar in Toys and Cages. If any of you experienced with Quakers could help me, I'd appreciate it!

 

[Emma&pico]

@Pixiebeak

what question do you need answering about toys ?
mall my birds love balsa wood toys if that helps any

 

[Alien J]

It's mostly about cages! And getting Oscar into another cage. It's long!

 

[Deleted member 57370]

Your first original cage he is in now seems perfect to me , and I've kept mine years in thst style before switching to the white nearly identical but higher off the floor ones.

Nothing wrong with the new more expensive one. Personally I just prefer the other .

Some quakers ( or any parrot really) hate change . Penny used to not be able to tolerate change with freak outs, anger acting out, freezing in new cage for days . For everyone one else I had the new cage set up for a day next to their old cafe . The next day I'd just shove them in it and all was fine . But for those needing more time....a few days of side by side set up , and all food and treats done in new one. Everyday I'd remove more perches from their old . Also I'd have them step into new cage and right back out to me for praise and treats randomly through the day. But not locked in or anything. By the time I'd get to just having one perch left in old cage they'd likely already moved into new one in their own . If not while they were out . I'd just remove old cage from the room .

love to see pictures update!

 

[Alien J]

I've been pretty much doing as you've suggested. The new used cage is next to his current cage. When I am in the room with him and I open his doors I put treats in the smaller cage. He steps in now, but always with a wary eye on me and the door as if he suspects something! I can't have him step in and out as he seems to be deathly afraid of anything resembling a stick, and of course hates hands. I can't imagine being passed around as he has been. 4 or 5 new places, cages, other birds in a space of 4 months is just so much for him (or any bird) to deal with. I just think it will be easier to transfer him into the travel cage for the vet from the smaller cage. The cage he was in where I got him from was only 18"wx18"d. I'm not sure how tall it was but there was already a Quaker in it and he was just shoved in with that one. She only had a couple of small toys at the top. Pretty much looked like they didn't use the bottom half. So the smaller cage is way bigger than what he was in. You don't think those extremely skinny bars are hurting his feet? I worry about that. He won't walk on paper.

He is pretty isn't he? The other day when I fed him he said "thank you"!

 

[WillowQ]

What a good looking boy!
Maybe he’s scared of the new cage because new cages happen when moving?
I rescued a bird who did lots better with me until I began packing to move. He seemed sure that he was going to be dumped and started tearing out his new feathers.

Also, Quakers are very attached to their nests. Cage probably equals nest; he spent all that time getting the poop in the right place and NOW you want him to move?!

I’ll take a look at “toys and cages”. My Quaker didn’t get many new toys in his first several years and is scared of anything new. I have started rewarding him for touching new toys because otherwise they are avoided for weeks or months. I mostly refurbish his years old toys and he’s happy with that. But bribes for touching the scary new ball really help.

 

[Deleted member 57370]

Hi is supper cute!
No I didn't think skinny bars are doing anything or causing any problems

 

[WillowQ]

Climbing problems can come from very long toenails, too. The mail is only supposed to curve 90 degrees. If more than that, they’re too long.
I’ve seen birds tripping over long nails. When they’ve been overgrown for a long time, it can be best to clip in two or more stages, just taking off a bit each time.
That looks like a fun toy! My boy just got one called the “octopus” that has lengths of straw cut and slid over shoelace-like strings. My Quakers have enjoyed building materials, foot toys they can carry and arrange, and intricate toys they can fuss with.

 

[Alien J]

Hi is supper cute!
No I didn't think skinny bars are doing anything or causing any problems

I feel better!

Climbing problems can come from very long toenails, too. The mail is only supposed to curve 90 degrees. If more than that, they’re too long.
I’ve seen birds tripping over long nails. When they’ve been overgrown for a long time, it can be best to clip in two or more stages, just taking off a bit each time.
That looks like a fun toy! My boy just got one called the “octopus” that has lengths of straw cut and slid over shoelace-like strings. My Quakers have enjoyed building materials, foot toys they can carry and arrange, and intricate toys they can fuss with.

His toenails are circles! This vet appointment on the 25th was the earliest I could get. There's only one Avian Vet within 100 miles of us. A lot times Oscar uses his beak to pick up and place his feet in the next position.

 

[WillowQ]

His toenails are circles! This vet appointment on the 25th was the earliest I could get

There’s your problem. Well, that’s two weeks away. Can you wait that long? Maybe a pet store could trim his nails.

 

[Alien J]

I don't know. I only know of one pet store. It's in Charleston, just like the vet. I could have gotten into the vet on the 11th, but, at that time we thought George would be on his way to CA and I would be without a car, so I made it for the next earliest date. I think it's important to have him get a full exam. I'd also like to wait to leave for more than a half an hour at a time until George gets his heart catheter in, which should be within two weeks.

 

[Emma&pico]

I don't know. I only know of one pet store. It's in Charleston, just like the vet. I could have gotten into the vet on the 11th, but, at that time we thought George would be on his way to CA and I would be without a car, so I made it for the next earliest date. I think it's important to have him get a full exam. I'd also like to wait to leave for more than a half an hour at a time until George gets his heart catheter in, which should be within two weeks.

You have a lot doing on at minute and have a vet appointment booked I would keep it and let them trim his nails and give him a full check up I know it’s two weeks away but you are and have done so much for him already plus you don’t want to upset him twice then it can all be done at once

 

[Alien J]

Thank you for this. I was feeling guilty letting him go so long. I know it has to hurt him. But I just can't leave George for the 4 hours or more it will take, unless he's had his procedure already.

 

[Emma&pico]

Thank you for this. I was feeling guilty letting him go so long. I know it has to hurt him. But I just can't leave George for the 4 hours or more it will take, unless he's had his procedure already.

I know you have to put George health first too no need to feel guilty you can only do what you can do and just keep thinking you have already made his life so much better you don’t know how long he’s been like that two weeks and it will be sorted just keep thinking that

 

[Alien J]

Bad news. The vet called me this morning and said the Dr wouldn't be in on the 25th and I had to reschedule till the 3rd of November. That's actually when we had hoped George would be on his way to CA, assuming his procedure has been done. Don't want it have him go too late in the season and have him return to wintry conditions he's not seen since he was in his 20's. I made the appointment anyways. George says he'll wait til after the 3rd, but I won't do that. We haven't heard from his primary care Dr yet about scheduling the heart catheter. I'm making sure George calls her tomorrow.

 

[April]

Bad news. The vet called me this morning and said the Dr wouldn't be in on the 25th and I had to reschedule till the 3rd of November. That's actually when we had hoped George would be on his way to CA, assuming his procedure has been done. Don't want it have him go too late in the season and have him return to wintry conditions he's not seen since he was in his 20's. I made the appointment anyways. George says he'll wait til after the 3rd, but I won't do that. We haven't heard from his primary care Dr yet about scheduling the heart catheter. I'm making sure George calls her tomorrow.

Aw no I'm so sorry that's rotten luck. Is there any way you can try to towel him and cut them yourself? I know you don't want to risk losing any bond you may have no but the sooner you can trim the nails the better for him. Any local pet stores that may offer nail trims? It's not normally a risk I'd take with the chance of infectious diseases but at this point it really sounds like he needs them trimmed.
I'm really sorry that it's turning out so difficult to get his nails taken care of.

 

[WillowQ]

Could you take him to a pet store for nail clipping? Or check with an animal groomer to find someone who knows how to do it? Is there a local parrot club that you could ask for help?

I’m sorry you’re in such a tough situation.

 

[Alien J]

Aw no I'm so sorry that's rotten luck. Is there any way you can try to towel him and cut them yourself? I know you don't want to risk losing any bond you may have no but the sooner you can trim the nails the better for him. Any local pet stores that may offer nail trims? It's not normally a risk I'd take with the chance of infectious diseases but at this point it really sounds like he needs them trimmed.
I'm really sorry that it's turning out so difficult to get his nails taken care of.

I guess deciding we wanted to live on the top of a mountain, way out in the boonies, far from lots of humans, has it's drawbacks. It's a 4 hour minimum just to go to the closest Walmart, shop and get home. That's when I've placed the order on line and only have to go in to shop for my fresh produce (I made the mistake of letting them pick my produce once... never again!). I'm checking with the vet we use for Charlie and Dusty. They have a vet who is only there a couple of days a week who will trim birds' nails. I've taken TD there. I had just been trying to limit the amount of trips and since I really wanted to have him examined by a actual avian vet I just figured I'd get it all done at once. If I would have known George wasn't going to be able to leave on the 9th for CA I would have taken the appointment on the 11th. This really changes things though. Hopefully I can get him in to see the regular vet for a trim and still keep the appointment for November 3. Good practice for George getting Oscar into the travel cage!

Could you take him to a pet store for nail clipping? Or check with an animal groomer to find someone who knows how to do it? Is there a local parrot club that you could ask for help?

I’m sorry you’re in such a tough situation.

I sure didn't expect all these circumstances to keep changing. Seems like the universe is trying to keep poor Oscar from getting that trim! It seems I'm very fortunate on a lot of the big, important things in my life, but unlucky in everyday circumstances and events. Seems like I have to fight a lot of unexpected odds just to accomplish the most simplest of tasks!

 

[April]

I guess deciding we wanted to live on the top of a mountain, way out in the boonies, far from lots of humans, has it's drawbacks. It's a 4 hour minimum just to go to the closest Walmart, shop and get home. That's when I've placed the order on line and only have to go in to shop for my fresh produce (I made the mistake of letting them pick my produce once... never again!). I'm checking with the vet we use for Charlie and Dusty. They have a vet who is only there a couple of days a week who will trim birds' nails. I've taken TD there. I had just been trying to limit the amount of trips and since I really wanted to have him examined by a actual avian vet I just figured I'd get it all done at once. If I would have known George wasn't going to be able to leave on the 9th for CA I would have taken the appointment on the 11th. This really changes things though. Hopefully I can get him in to see the regular vet for a trim and still keep the appointment for November 3. Good practice for George getting Oscar into the travel cage!

oh my goodness I didn't realize yall were that isolated. Hopefully the other vet will be able to get his nails trimmed and yes that's true about the practice. That's a way to look at this positively.

 

[WillowQ]

I have lived in the middle of nowhere and I know what it’s like. If you feel up to it you could towel the Quaker and just take the tips off of his nails. One or two millimeters, if you use the metric side of a ruler you can see what a millimeter is. You could even take it off with people nail clippers when they’re so long. The cat claw guillotine scissors work the easiest but nail clippers will work.
I wish I could help but I am an airplane ride away. If you are interested I can find directions online. I think if you can clip dog nails this isn’t much different.