Some thanks & an update

[AzillaFinch]

At last writing I was fretting because I'd brought home a new Zeb & Spice and had them in quarantine and beyond that, really didn't know much else what I was supposed to be doing. Thanks to you all and your helpful advice, links and pointing me in the right direction, me and my new boys and 3 other guys have gotten all sorted out!

Since my original 3 never got quarantine (I never knew better) we're just doing a "whole house" 60 day quarantine, treating for mites/worms/parasites and getting some NV in there and probiotics when we finish up with all these darned chemicals. The kids have been eating better too... trying eggfood (a hit), peas (a miss) and broccoli (some like and some not sure). Their menu is getting totally revamped... I've read lots on the forum and had no idea how much I could have been giving them, so we are going to try lots of things till we see what they like. Tomorrow spinach is up to bat.

I was VERY tentative about having to handle the birds. I have owned the original 3 since Feb 2014 and never had to handle them or pull them out of the cage (remember, I didn't know about quarantine, so I never handled them to put Scatt on or anything ). So on the 1st I did the first round of Scatt and had an escapee. Jacques the Spice was flying free in my studio apt for 3 hours because I am too short to catch him and he flew right over my head. I had to call my 6 ft tall landlord over and we both tried to corner him. We eventually caught him, but not before I stood on a chair and stepped on a table and it toppled and sent glass vases and lamps and a large planter (and me) flying... leaving me sitting in the middle of crushed glass and dirt So I had to pull Jacques out of his cage today to trim his nails because they were obscenely long and he got caught on a perch. I knew he needed it done (my Zebs and RCCBs all have always-short nails THANK GOD) but was hoping I could put it off until Scatt dose 2. But nope, now it was a safety issue... ugh!! Read up on the forum about how to catch birds because I was terrified of another escape. This time took the cage in the bathroom and caught him and performed the operation in the doorway of the cage incase he should wiggle, I would let go and he would still be in the cage. IT WORKED!!!! He didn't wiggle or complain at all, actually. It went smoothly and I was proud as heck!! I think handling them must get easier with time. Well, hopefully.

Just want to say thank you to you guys for the help!! I LOOOOOOVE this site! It has been a life saver! You guys are amazing and the knowledge you share is priceless! I was totally spazzed out that I was doing so much wrong and in reading up on various topics on here I see that a lot of it is trial and error and finding what works for you individually, just keeping safety of the birds in mind. So I feel a lot better.

So keep posting all the things you know... you guys are awesome and you really help those of us who are just starting out!

[lovezebs]

AzillaFinch

I'm happy to hear that all is going well for you and your gang.

Got quite a chuckle over the Spice hunt. It so sounds like some of the adventures I've had chasing after an escape artist. I find that the Waxbills, are the absolute worst, due to the fact that they are so maneuverable, and so tiny, and can hide anywhere.

You might want to invest in one of those long handled nets, that they sell in $ Stores for kids to catch butterflies with. They come in handy, when you have short arms (like me )

Oh, spinach will be a success. Try English cucumber next, they will love, love you.

Elana

[debbie276]

So glad everything worked out for you and your more comfortable handling and dealing with your birds. Your well on your way to being a very good bird keeper.
best of luck in the future

[Babs _Owner]

AzillaFinch

OMG what a mess, you are lucky you didnt get hurt.

But your landlord has quite a fun tale to tell his family over dinner

[Sally]

What a story, I really felt for you when you ended up in the middle of all that broken glass! Glad things are getting easier for you, and as you have found, it is sometimes a trial and error process to see what works for you and your birds. It is a continual learning process, you never stop learning something new about these tiny creatures.

[dunker817]

Azillafinch,

You're spot on about the help, advice, and support found on this forum. I learn something new every day. It's good you're comfortable handling your birds. I'm not there yet. I have fat clumsy hands and my birds are so tiny. The thought of giving one medicine or trimming a claw scares me.

[AzillaFinch]

lovezebs Actually, I did buy one of those immediately after the escape. Decided that the landlord will probably tire of coming over here every time I let Mr Spice float out of my hand, so I better invest in a good net Fortunately my new handling procedure seems to be going well... but I still don't trust these goobers!

[AzillaFinch]

dunker817 I am SO with you! I never handled the birds until now and the escape of the Spice was totally due to my nerves... I just simply let go of him because he was squirming. I was in no way hurting him, I just got chicken and let go. I totally dreaded yanking Mr Spice back out for his toe nails. But 1) not doing it was not an option...it was a safety issue and 2) it was either me do it or me pay 65 bucks for a vet visit for the vet to do it. I'm not rich, so it was me that had to do it. Once I did it successfully without an escape or me harming him, I feel confident about handling and doing nails. I think it's a "first time sux" kinda thing. Do it once successfully and you'll feel ok about doing it again. I fumble at chasing them down in the cage, but it was a little quicker the second time. I have bad eyesight, so doing it in the dark like people suggest prob wouldn't work for me, so I just hafta chase em down in daylight. I must say, I am grateful that some medicine can be put in their water! How do you give yours meds?

[lovezebs]

AzillaFinch

I have been beyond lucky in the meds department, and have never had to administer medications in all the years of bird keeping, which goes way back to pre-finch days, back to Lovebirds, Canaries, and Budgies (way back when..)

The most I've had to do, was doctor up little owies, and some big ones, with a bit of hydrogen peroxide and Polysporin, and we're talking ( though I hate to admit it) 45+ years of different birds being a part of my life.

Usually, when I lose a bird, it's due to sudden unexplainable dropping dead, tossed infants or old age.

I count myself 'extremely' lucky, and pray to whatever bird gods there are, that bird luck remains with me.

If however I did have to ladle out meds, God forbid, I would follow the instructions on the bottle, and of course ask the Finchers on the Firum, lol.

Elana

[dunker817]

Azillafinch,

My parrot finch, Kele, needed antibiotics when I first brought her home. My vet gave them for me. I took her to the vets office in the morning, dropped her off, then picked her up in the evening. When I saw how much she resisted and even got away from the vet (that was fun trying to catch her in the exam room) I didn't want to try it at home. I chickened out. I'm hoping my birds stay healthy and won't need medications. Next month I plan on joining the local bird club and I'm hoping they will information on to wrangle a finch.

[AzillaFinch]

dunker817 Wow! That's crazy that a vet couldn't keep ahold of her! Vets are supposed to know what the heck they're doing! Well, I am running a full-house quarantine, so I'm administering preventative doses of Scatt which requires me to catch them to give them one drop on the skin between the wings on the back of the neck. Couple of rounds of this (separated by weeks, thankfully).

Lovezebs- I kinda said "meds" meaning these kinds of treatments too. I was kinda feeling like I must be a weakling for being all scared about it the first time or two, but I think a lot of people must feel like that. But I am getting used to it. I've had two rounds of pulling them out of cages and Mr Spice has been out 3 times now since I gave him a pedi So, they're getting used to me being all up in their business and I'm getting used to doing it. I've been spending time with my hands in the cage with millet (like 15 minutes per day) so that they can get the idea that every time I come to the cage I am not coming to rip them off a perch and they don't need to fear me. It seems to be working and they are slowly less nervous. Instead of feathers flying and the bird equivalent of "OMFG!" if I make a move other than food or water (to, say, move a plant or adjust a light), it is more like they just step to the back of the cage and let me do what I need to.

[lovezebs]

AzillaFinch

Spending time with hands in the cage offering goodies, is a wonderful idea. If you spend enough time doing that, you might even get them to eventually land on you hands to eat some yummy millet .

As to catching them, you have to be as fast as a cat, and try your best not to make eye contact with the bird your going for.

Elana

[AzillaFinch]

lovezebs No eye contact... REALLY? Them little suckers fly onto the sides of the cage and turn their heads sideways and eyeball me while I'm trying to get em. Evil little ones! Okie dokie... I shan't engage them in any stare downs then

We didn't have any hand-in-cage time today, but I spent a good 45 minutes hovering over their cage with tools custom-making a light fixture prop and they were totally chill with the cage getting moved all over and me doing all kinds of "hey, what's the big pterodactyl doin to our cage?" kinda stuff. It was almost amusing... a bit of a rustle when I cage moved, but then right back to "meep meep meep" then a tool bang... quiet... then back to "meep meep meep." I LOOOOOOOVE MY SQUEEPS!

The quarantines were way more spazzed about their light shelf install, but they survived .

Tomorrow there are no treatments for them, so they are getting a big plate of egg and salad mix and some new millet... it will be a bouncy happy birdie house tomorrow

[lovezebs]

AzillaFinch

Sounds like tomorrow will be a happy birdie day.

Elana