Conference 7.286::pet_birds

	I would recommend that you see a good avian vet NOW....do not wait!
	I really don't believe in magic, nor do I believe in birds curing
	themselves...

	-dick

    let us know what happened...
    
    Ed
    

    Well friday doctor Kilgore decided that she should keep him over night.
    Saturday morning he was still throwing up and not eating much. She did 
    a CBC (?) which is a blood test and found out his white blood count was
    up. So she started to treat him for an infection. She called me sunday
    night.(get this, @ 10:00pm. This lady is great) and told me that he
    started to eat and that he was no longer throwing up. She also said
    that I could take him home on monday but she would like to see him stay
    on the anibiotics (they are injections) I said that I would rather see
    him stay in her care and have her give him the injections rather than
    have me loose a knuckle. So he has to stay on the antibiotic for 5
    days. So I guess I will be picking SpartaGus up on wednesday :^)
    The only thing she can not figure out is where he got the infection
    from. So I took his cage outside over the weekend and cleaned it with
    soap$water and then bleach. Hosed down real well and returned it to his
    room. Also Dr Kilgore siad it might be wise to change his food.
    Thats where I have the problem: This bird is so pickey. I have tossed
    more money because this guy will not try anything else. He wont even
    eat Toppers Scwoz (sp). I also dont want him to starve himself.
    Any ideas???????????? So its mostly all good news, except for the bill.
    
    
    
    any help on getting him to eat something else would be great!!!
    
    
    
    Bob
    

    I feed Roudybush maintenance pellets (12% protein) to my macaw, plus
    lots of table food.  You might also try Lakes or LaFeber's (both of
    which my macaw will empty onto the floor, your mileage may vary).
    
    Ed
    

	I have got to try these pellets....Avalon will eat ANYTHING, except
	any form of pellet...

	Unfortunately, I have not seen them stocked anywhere in the Boston
	area....*sigh*

	Hmmmm.....worth a try...

	-dick

    My macaw has actually never seen a seed.  I feed her everything but. 
    She eats Roudybush primarily, and then it's supplemented.  I might
    mention that she did like the SQOZ, but not on a regular basis.  She
    loves garlic bread, pizza, spaghetti, and especially those Keebler
    peanut butter crackers (the orange ones).  She actually becomes
    somewhat uncontrollable in the presence of those crackers. Well, it's a
    partial list of her likes.
    
    Ed
    

    How is your bird doing?  Hope no news doesn't mean bad news.....
    
    Have you tried brown rice (instant or long-cooking) mixed with
    wheat germ and cut corn and French-cut green beans?  All our
    birds love this, but we don't have macaws..... (I also put in
    PRIME powered vitamins by Hagen and Nekton-MSA).
    
    Linda

    SpartaGus is doing fine now, He was a little stressed out from the stay
    at the vets. I have started him on a new diet. Abba green nestling
    food. This stuff is hard to find but DR.Kilgore says it one of the best
    complete diets for a bird. You mix the stuff with warm water, If you
    want to be creative you can add rasins and things. He loves this
    stuff...and its a soft food like oatmeal. And talk about expensive....
    Luckily I found a distributor (sp) in Fla.
    Its amazing what how "healthy diet" can change a birds personality,
    he's much more fun,loving and aggressive.(I dont know if thats good
    tho)
    
    
    
    B.

    Hi Bob,
    
    That's great news about Spartacus!  I've used the Abba Green Nestling 
    food too, and it is super.  I have also used the Topper Handfeeding
    Diet for the same purpose, but it is a little thin for a macaw!!
    
    Linda