| Re: questions about my new tiel - CLICK HERE for the Pet Manual Forum Home Page |
| Just Molly |
"Sam" <green1ever@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:703aff3f.0406071231.66d2323d@posting.google.com...
> hi folks,
>
> i have 2 questions about my young new cockatiel:
>
> -it likes climbing the cage walls and sometimes uses its beak to
> support its weight while it finds its footing. should i be worried
> that the bird may damage its beak climbing? has this happened to any
> of your birds? if this is a real problem how would you discourage the
> bird from doing this?
You *don't* discourage your bird from doing what birds do. What did you
*think* it should do, sit on a perch and chirp occasionally?
>
> -the bird spends a lot of time scratching.and since I have got the
> bird so do i! I am getting covered with little bite marks - they look
> exactly like mosquito bites but they cant be mosquitos as they are
> under my clothes. any idea what this is and how to clean my bird from
> them?
I doubt very much that the bites you have are anything to do with your
bird. Do you by any chance have a cat also? Indoor birds rarely have mites
and even if it *did* I doubt they would get onto you and bite you. If you
suspect your bird has lice, take it to a vet for him to check it out and
treat appropriately. In the meantime try to get hold of a book called
'cockatiels for dummies' as you will find it full of really useful stuff so
that you will understand your bird and learn how to care for it properly.
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| John Hines |
green1ever@yahoo.com (Sam) wrote:
>-it likes climbing the cage walls and sometimes uses its beak to
>support its weight while it finds its footing. should i be worried
>that the bird may damage its beak climbing? has this happened to any
>of your birds? if this is a real problem how would you discourage the
>bird from doing this?
A hookbill such as a Cockatiel or other parrots, use their beak the way
people use their hands.
No, I wouldn't worry about damage, that shouldn't happen.
You do need to keep cuttle bone, and some stone perches (the ones with
crushed coral in them are popular with the birds) for him to keep his
beak trimmed, as it does continue to grow.
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| Wheeler |
Some folks have a reaction to the claws, something like hives, my wife will
break out on her arms and hands if the smaller bird climb on her. Oddly the
Amazons do not seem to bother her only the small conures, tiels and
parrotlets.....
Bob W
--
Check out our web site,
A few new features and new pictures.
http://www.onemorebird.com/
"Sam" <green1ever@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:703aff3f.0406071231.66d2323d@posting.google.com...
> hi folks,
>
> i have 2 questions about my young new cockatiel:
>
> -it likes climbing the cage walls and sometimes uses its beak to
> support its weight while it finds its footing. should i be worried
> that the bird may damage its beak climbing? has this happened to any
> of your birds? if this is a real problem how would you discourage the
> bird from doing this?
>
> -the bird spends a lot of time scratching.and since I have got the
> bird so do i! I am getting covered with little bite marks - they look
> exactly like mosquito bites but they cant be mosquitos as they are
> under my clothes. any idea what this is and how to clean my bird from
> them?
>
> thanks,
>
> Sam
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| Eric |
Our cockatiel is about 21 years old and still climbs around using his beak,
not a problem.
Not sure about the scratching, but preening is a favorite cockatiel
activity. Expect lots of bird dander. Getting the bird used to bathing may
help settle the dust.
Also, don't panic when it gets to be molting time and LOTS of feathers fall
out in a short period of time.
Most importantly, enjoy your new friend.
Eric
"Sam" <green1ever@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:703aff3f.0406071231.66d2323d@posting.google.com...
> hi folks,
>
> i have 2 questions about my young new cockatiel:
>
> -it likes climbing the cage walls and sometimes uses its beak to
> support its weight while it finds its footing. should i be worried
> that the bird may damage its beak climbing? has this happened to any
> of your birds? if this is a real problem how would you discourage the
> bird from doing this?
>
> -the bird spends a lot of time scratching.and since I have got the
> bird so do i! I am getting covered with little bite marks - they look
> exactly like mosquito bites but they cant be mosquitos as they are
> under my clothes. any idea what this is and how to clean my bird from
> them?
>
> thanks,
>
> Sam
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| Eric |
Our cockatiel is about 21 years old and still climbs around using his beak,
not a problem.
Not sure about the scratching, but preening is a favorite cockatiel
activity. Expect lots of bird dander. Getting the bird used to bathing may
help settle the dust.
Also, don't panic when it gets to be molting time and LOTS of feathers fall
out in a short period of time.
Most importantly, enjoy your new friend.
"Sam" <green1ever@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:703aff3f.0406071231.66d2323d@posting.google.com...
> hi folks,
>
> i have 2 questions about my young new cockatiel:
>
> -it likes climbing the cage walls and sometimes uses its beak to
> support its weight while it finds its footing. should i be worried
> that the bird may damage its beak climbing? has this happened to any
> of your birds? if this is a real problem how would you discourage the
> bird from doing this?
>
> -the bird spends a lot of time scratching.and since I have got the
> bird so do i! I am getting covered with little bite marks - they look
> exactly like mosquito bites but they cant be mosquitos as they are
> under my clothes. any idea what this is and how to clean my bird from
> them?
>
> thanks,
>
> Sam
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| Cookie |
green1ever@yahoo.com (Sam) wrote in message news:<703aff3f.0406071231.66d2323d@posting.google.com>...
> hi folks,
>
> i have 2 questions about my young new cockatiel:
>
> -it likes climbing the cage walls and sometimes uses its beak to
> support its weight while it finds its footing. should i be worried
> that the bird may damage its beak climbing? has this happened to any
> of your birds? if this is a real problem how would you discourage the
> bird from doing this?
Completely normal bird behavior. Ignore it and let the bird be a bird.
Don't discourage!!!!!!!! It would be like discouraging a small child
to run around and play.
>
> -the bird spends a lot of time scratching.and since I have got the
> bird so do i! I am getting covered with little bite marks - they look
> exactly like mosquito bites but they cant be mosquitos as they are
> under my clothes. any idea what this is and how to clean my bird from
> them?
Your bird is probably molting (the new feathers coming in itch.) I
very highly doubt that your bird would cause your scratching. Perhaps
you have poison ivy, went through a nettle patch, prickly heat rash,
have fleas.............
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| Claudia Engel |
Eric <esmail@optonline.net> wrote:
> activity. Expect lots of bird dander. Getting the bird used to bathing may
> help settle the dust.
Yes, I've gotten an air cleaner to help with this. I have 7 birds, all of
which have powder-down.
> Also, don't panic when it gets to be molting time and LOTS of feathers fall
> out in a short period of time.
Again, with 7 birds, I have feathers all over *all* the time :/ Vaccuuming
is a daily chore with all those birds... Well, at least no one can claim
my house isn't clean :)
--
Claudia Engel (no emails please)
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| Mamabird |
"Sam" <green1ever@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:703aff3f.0406071231.66d2323d@posting.google.com...
> hi folks,
>
> i have 2 questions about my young new cockatiel:
>
> -it likes climbing the cage walls and sometimes uses its beak to
> support its weight while it finds its footing. should i be worried
> that the bird may damage its beak climbing? has this happened to any
> of your birds? if this is a real problem how would you discourage the
> bird from doing this?
Like everyone else has said, it's perfectly normal. That beak comes in
handy for lots of things birdies do.
> -the bird spends a lot of time scratching.and since I have got the
> bird so do i! I am getting covered with little bite marks - they look
> exactly like mosquito bites but they cant be mosquitos as they are
> under my clothes. any idea what this is and how to clean my bird from
> them?
Is he scratching or just preening his feathers? Birds like to keep their
feathers in good condition and will spend hours a day doing what might
*appear* to be scratching.
Just don't, PLEASE don't buy any of those pet shop "cures" for things like
mites. Caged birds rarely get mites anyway, and some of those products are
downright dangerous for birds... plus, they don't work.
Just wanted to warn you ahead of time in case someone (like a pet shop
employee) tells you your bird might have mites and they just happen to have
"the cure" sitting right there on the shelf. Your bird doesn't need to be
"cleaned."
I have no idea what might be causing your itching...
--
Mama
~^~^~^~ Visit Mamabird's Nest: <http://iluvbirds.tripod.com/> And My
Photo Albums at: <http://photos.yahoo.com/iluvbirdz>
~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~
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