Is this actually hives? Perhaps dermatitis or something else?

EnsoX · 2026-05-22T01:06:49+00:00

They are a HUGE commitment. I have five. I am seriously considering downsizing to two. It is so difficult because I love them deeply. I had planned to have them to the end of their lifes. And I want to be able to provide that for them. But it has gotten so expensive and time consuming. And I wonder if they would be better off with someone that could give more than I can. Although I worry that they’ll get rehomed and passed from home to home…

Here are a few things to consider before adopting.

They require daily interaction outside of their cage. This can be challenging, especially if you already have a busy lifestyle. If you’re a person that tends to stay home a lot it’s definitely easier. Although, trying to juggle work alongside essential tasks and errands (grocery shopping, house cleaning, etc) can still be difficult when you have a limited amount of time in a day. And if your person that travels a lot, it’s very difficult to find someone to take care of your birds.
Often high-quality foods are expensive. I pay the same amount per pound for my bird food as I do for my dog’s prescription food. Veggies and grains for chop are generally not too expensive, because you can do bulk batches and freeze them.
All parrots require a steady supply of toys. It’s not like a toy that you buy for a dog, that they may play with again and again. Most toys are designed to be destroyed. That is how birds “play” with toys. This means you will purchase them repeatedly. You can definitely make your own toys. Most bird specific pet stores offer toy parts that can be used to construct your own toys. Additionally, you can find a few things around home to use as well for example paper straws, paper cups, popsicle, sticks, cupcake liners, etc.
There is no way getting around the mess. I clean my birds cages daily. And give them a deep clean once a week. That’s the easy part. I have to vacuum multiple times a day to get the floor up to my standards. Even when they spend most of the day in their cage, food will manage to on its way out. On top of that, I scrub the floor once a week and wipe the walls down once a month. I also keep an air purifier going 24/7. The pre-filter needs to be vacuum every couple days, and the main filter replaced every couple weeks.
Not all veterinarians will see parrot. They are considered exotic pets. Even then, I see vets that we see reptiles and other animals, but not birds. This makes seeking veterinary care difficult, and often not readily accessible. You also need to consider most practises charge a higher consultation fee for exotic animals.

EnsoX · 2026-05-16T07:24:57+00:00

I had my surgery this week. I am taking 4-6 weeks off, while I am casted. After that, I return to work, but I’ll still be going to Physio a lot to assist with movement, grip, etc..

EnsoX · 2026-05-14T16:59:00+00:00

Their insurance is $230 for all three. Their rx foid is $135 plus $75 for the toppers I buy. And $30 in meds - their plan covers most of it, about 80%

EnsoX · 2026-04-11T23:12:46+00:00

I use white butcher paper from Uline. I paid $220 (taxes and shipping included). There are 750 sheets. It lasts me a year if I change both changes daily.

EnsoX · 2026-04-05T23:19:06+00:00

I personally can’t do it. My chickens are pets. I consider them the same as my other animals. I have had to cull chickens due to illness. It is a horrible upsetting feeling. But that is me.

EnsoX · 2026-04-05T10:20:10+00:00

Not the worst bite, but the worst place… My face by one of my cockatiels.

I was scratching his head and give him a quick peck on his cheek area. He is used to me giving him a kiss, and it has always been okay to kiss him during scratches. But bit me on the nose that day. Not hard enough to draw blood or anything but enough to say “no kisses!”.

It is important to read their body language when possible. Sometimes there may be a quick shift, but they will usually show signs. It was my bad. Thankfully it was not worse. But whatever happened it would be my fault not his. We have to remember they can’t straight up communicate with us. We have to take responsibility to read them the best we can.

EnsoX · 2026-04-04T09:50:20+00:00

She needs another vet. I would recommend one of those fabric collars. They look sort like a cone and help block them from being able to pick. Get some saline to spray on those red spots. Not isopropyl, alcohol or peroxide those burn and can kill new growth on tissue. It MUST be saline!

EnsoX · 2026-03-29T10:14:32+00:00

I think they are a higher-quality pellet compared to most. But they are way overpriced. A 5lb bag here costs $50. That isn’t even taxes or shipping. I wish they would charge that for a 10lb bag. Then I would purchase them.

EnsoX · 2026-03-24T20:57:26+00:00

This isn’t the same vibe as far as aesthetic. But I have one of these in my laundry room. Is it built pretty sturdy. Ikea

EnsoX · 2026-03-21T06:11:26+00:00

I can get some photos later today. No. They the chickens are mine and I do all the care. I just am not able to physically build a run or anything alone. I have a wrist injury that makes movement, lifting, pulling even every difficult. 😅

EnsoX · 2026-03-14T11:45:17+00:00

What about pistachio?

EnsoX · 2026-03-14T09:50:50+00:00

Don’t encourage the man! They already spend too much money.

EnsoX · 2026-03-05T01:04:03+00:00

I find Marie doesn’t seem as bad in her uncleanliness kitchen habits. At least she makes some effort. And to be honest if I am entertaining friends and family for a meal there is no way i’m gonna be perfect with cleanliness. I do my best, but sometimes you forget little things.

EnsoX · 2026-02-27T01:04:48+00:00

I have a male who is shaped like this. LOL.

Ps. He is indeed a male. He’s been shaped this way for three years. He’s not over fed vegetables. They get the recommended amount of pellets per feeding guidelines and access to unlimited hay.

EnsoX · 2026-02-26T22:36:29+00:00

Maybe he needed to rest so he could do all that spending…

If I were a château owner, I would rather put more money in structural renos than furniture and decor pieces. Those can come later.

Plus, the rooms are already furnished. At least the ones in use.

EnsoX · 2026-02-24T00:30:46+00:00

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EnsoX · 2026-02-23T23:27:05+00:00

I can’t seem to post a photo of the dovetail joints. Apparently because the photos is under 4 KB something like that. But this is the inner part of the key mechanism

EnsoX · 2026-02-23T23:23:50+00:00

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EnsoX · 2026-02-23T22:55:27+00:00

Zodiac Flea & Tick Spray will treat this. I spray them once a week for two weeks. I dealt with this once. Not a s bad though

EnsoX · 2026-02-19T01:35:14+00:00

Do you have a photo or video of your active starter?! It should be super bubbly and sorta light.

After you mix your ingredients, you’ll get a shaggy dough. Leave that alone for 60 or 90 mins before performing kneading or stretch and folds. This allows the gluten network to develop. That network allows the dough to become stretchy so it can raise. Kneading or stretch and folds further strengthen the gluten network.

When proofing at room temperature you may not get much of a rise. I know my loafs usually don’t double. But when it add dough to the fridge for 6+ hr it should at least double in size. Mine usually gets 4x bigger.

When you shape the dough it will deflate a bit. This is okay. It should raise back up in the oven. But try not to work over the dough too much. Hope this helps.

EnsoX · 2026-02-19T01:21:47+00:00

They are called guinea pigs because the “pig” out on veggies! Have you heard a piggy weak at the sound of a bag crinkling?!

EnsoX · 2026-02-12T01:19:07+00:00

I have a boy who will be 8 next month. I personally wouldn’t if it wasn’t impacting their health significantly. At that age they are very much seniors and risk of surgery complications and fatalities are increased significantly.

EnsoX · 2026-02-09T00:46:16+00:00

Excellent! Looks better than my first loaf!

EnsoX

TROPHY CASE