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Conference 7.286::pet_birds

Title:Captive Breeding for Conservation--and FUN!
Notice:INTROS 6.X / FOR SALE 13.X / Buying a Bird 900.*
Moderator:VIDEO::PULSIFER
Created:Mon Oct 10 1988
Last Modified:Tue Jun 03 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:942
Total number of notes:6016

622.0. "Night fright/blood feather problems" by CAPITN::MAPPES_DO () Mon Nov 04 1991 18:30

    Blood feathers?? Night Fright??
    What is a mom to do?
    
    I gave my little sister (she is 17) a cockatiel and a budgie
    the cockatiel has always been prone to night frights
    but now he has all the birds going, and everyone is breaking blood
    feathers. She lives with our parents so Mom keeps pulling out
    blood feathers but is their something we can do to make the birds
    feathers stronger? The budgies and cockatiel would not ever touch 
    fresh veggi's unless we put them on top of the seed and then they
    only pick it up to move it. 
    
    Any sugestions?
    Donna in California
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
DateLines
622.1ROYALT::PULSIFERI GOT SMART/QUIT AT 12 YEARS OLDTue Nov 05 1991 10:0812
    Hi Donna,
    
    To help stop the night frights, you should use a night light. I read in
    Bird Talk today that it is less painful for the bird if you use cornstarch
    or flour rather than Quick stop to pack the wound after removing blood
    feathers.
    
    I never got my budgies to eat much veggies, but found that they love
    corn(frozen or on the cob) and cooked rice. Other things they like a
    little are, lima beans, breads, apples.
    
    Doug
622.2try a clip itCHET::MACDONALDfalling star catcherTue Nov 05 1991 14:196
    
    Attach the veggies/fruit to the side of the cage near a favorite perch.
    I used a "clip-it" I think.  My budgies went crazy over carrot, green
    bean, Granny Smith apple, corn on the cob.  Just keep trying.
    
    MaryAnne
622.3an after thoughtCHET::MACDONALDfalling star catcherTue Nov 05 1991 14:203
    
    You may want to use a small piece of millet at first to get them used
    to the fact that there is "good stuff" in that specific place.
622.4Not a fussy eaterELWOOD::CHRISTIETue Nov 05 1991 18:506
    My budgie used to eat everything that I ate, potatoes, steak, oatmeal,
    toast, veggies, cereal (Rice Krispies were the funniest to watch her
    eat).  Just keep trying.
    
    Linda
    
622.5night lights do work!CSOA1::DIRRMANWed Nov 06 1991 17:4412
    
    	We have 5 teils and we use a night light. It has stopped their
    night flights. and it doesn't seem to bother the conure or Congo
    grey. They will always do some wing flapping as it is their exercise.
    
    The teils are pretty fussy - but we started feeding them the rice
    mixture - recipe is in these notes - and they went crazy over it.
    Even the older ones.
    
    	Good Luck!
    
    		Dora
622.6VEGGIE CRAZED TIELSABACUS::BOURGAULTThu Nov 14 1991 15:1625
    The night light definitely works well.  As for getting budgies and
    cockatiels on veggies,  try canned corn (Delmonte' puts out a nice
    yellow corn with NO Salt - look for the red "NO SALT" banner on the
    label.)  I had the fussiest tiels and budgies, but after a couple
    of months dropping in a few kernals right on top of their seed each
    night (removing uneaten pcs daily), along with a couple of sprigs of
    fresh broccoli florets (some love it others don't). I started noticing
    that there was less and less that I had to toss out each day.  Now
    they wait for their veggies each night.  Some of the budgies like
    fresh spinache leaves as well.  I found that they don't care much
    for the frozen ones.  I have tried the frozen mixed veggies too and
    with little luck,  I think it is what they get used to.  They also
    all love fresh corn on the cob but they only get that in the summer.
    Oh yeah, another thing that I found out they like recently is shavings
    of fresh, raw carrots.  I take a potato peeler and gently shave a
    carrot and place a few shavings on each of their seed dishes.  I have
    rarely found any leftovers the next day.
    
    Please note that this takes time to get them used of veggies.  It is
    not an overnight process.  But if you put in right on top of their
    seeds each day, they finally start to nibble on it and acquire a taste
    for it.  Just like kids.
    
    Good luck
    Denise