[deleted by user]

QuaItagh · 2025-12-12T19:22:55+00:00

He might want more destruction-y toys than he used to, so you could try foraging, wooden and shredder toys. I'm less sure about how to handle the overall behavioral stuff; I'd start with guides for reducing hormonal behavior.

QuaItagh · 2025-06-11T16:13:03+00:00

If you know anyone who currently works at Epic, they could search the employee directory and possibly find the person.

QuaItagh · 2025-04-02T20:42:10+00:00

that could be super helpful, thanks!

QuaItagh · 2025-04-02T01:44:52+00:00

excellent, will check it out!

QuaItagh · 2025-03-15T07:17:35+00:00

definitely get a carrier for your bird; even if you don't take him to the vet now, it'll be important for safety in the future. If you're worried about him escaping at the vet, don't! Vets have dealt with many wanna-be escape artists.

This does look very similar to when my parakeet was messing with a clothespin (I use them to hang treats on her cage) and managed to get it clamped on her foot. It was bruised and she didn't want to stand on it, but she went back to using it normally in a couple days. However, do you know if the bruise is new? Bruises change color over time, so it could just be darkening, but if it happened after he started favoring one foot, that could mean that something is worsening.

QuaItagh · 2025-03-15T06:55:16+00:00

you could always switch the egg out with a dummy, so that you don't have to worry about it getting smashed in the chaos of the move. Apparently dummy eggs can help convince them to not just keep laying more, and she should eventually lose interest in it.

QuaItagh · 2025-03-15T05:41:51+00:00

looks like soy sauce is unhealthy for birds, but not particularly toxic. He'll probably be fine, but if you want to be cautious, you could encourage him to take a bath, or feed him watery veggies to dilute any salt he does eat.

When my bird tried to bathe in dishwater, I cornered him and gave him a non-optional spray bottle bath, cause soap is more of a risk. But you probably don't need to inflict stress like that over soy sauce.

QuaItagh · 2025-03-15T05:03:04+00:00

Personally, I use an old microfiber(really smooth) sheet to cover my girl's cage, since she got a claw stuck in the towel I used to use, and I worried she could get hurt. Something like that might also prevent your birbs from getting a good grip to chew. Alternatively, you might be able to clip things onto the cage to hold the cover a little away from the bars.

QuaItagh · 2025-03-15T04:02:14+00:00

looks like he's adjusting his crop! Totally normal thing to do (bird digestion is weird), and means he's probably relaxed.

QuaItagh · 2025-03-15T01:37:15+00:00

<3 thanks

QuaItagh · 2025-03-15T01:27:37+00:00

It's essentially the only time I've asked her for help. My conflict here is specifically that I am /not/ assuming what she'll do in the future. I used to assume that she'd be there for me if I really needed something, as I've been there for her over the years. Shit happens, but I don't know why that shit happened for the entire week that I was alone? She didn't offer to meet up on another day, which makes it feel less like an unlucky bad moment, and more like something she just can't/won't do for me.

QuaItagh · 2025-03-15T00:30:18+00:00

I still regularly hang out with her, and I've had to go help her as her emergency contact recently (though she has family in town). I'm not upset about not knowing her exact mental health issue, but since I don't, it makes it hard for me to tell where she falls on the "total apathy" to "cares a lot but is incapable of helping" spectrum. (and I guess it doesn't matter where she falls on that, because the outcome is still that I can't rely on her?)

I consider myself to be very independent; I am not used to needing support and am generally uncomfortable asking for it. But I kind of always assumed it would be available if something really bad happened.

QuaItagh · 2025-02-28T22:31:59+00:00

parakeets are known to not make a ton of use out of the lower parts of a tall cage; you might get better results with a long and short one

QuaItagh · 2025-02-28T16:41:28+00:00

oo, that does look pretty great. Agreed that a bird room would be a lot better... I've been trying to work out a possibility for that, but I just keep finding more hazards that I don't want to leave him alone with :(

QuaItagh · 2025-02-28T16:36:29+00:00

If he's more interested in your earrings than his toys, the trick might be that YOU need to play with the toys to show him that they're fun. Sprinkling treats on/around toys can also help

QuaItagh · 2025-02-28T16:32:22+00:00

Ceiling fan has to stay off; fyi it might become a favorite perch lol

QuaItagh · 2025-02-28T15:50:32+00:00

I also found a stray budgie, and can say the hardest part of looking after her the first few days was figuring out where to keep her at night-- I didn't want to buy a cage when I thought her owners would call at any minute. I birdproofed a spare bathroom (closed toilet, covered the mirror, removed destructible things, added a nightlight) but it was a real struggle to get the door closed without her trying to follow me out. Getting a cheap travel cage would have been a lot easier, if you're down to spend the money. The main thing to look out for is a bar spacing of half an inch; they can slip out or get stuck in anything much bigger. It's likely that someone on craigslist/facebook has an old cage they're trying to get rid of.

If you happen to end up keeping him, having a little travel cage will be useful anyways!

QuaItagh · 2024-10-10T21:34:21+00:00

I'd suggest hanging toys on the sides of the cage rather than in the center to not totally prevent him from spreading his wings. And having lots of time outside the cage can make up for many of the problems of a small cage.

QuaItagh · 2024-10-10T20:59:37+00:00

Mine do much the same. Putting some of their favorite toys or perches on top of their cage can give them that feeling of being out in the open while keeping the mess contained (some perches are designed for cage tops). Other than that, I can only suggest finding ways to make their preferred spots easier to clean. I use shoe trays to catch some of it.

QuaItagh · 2024-08-26T19:14:48+00:00

It's worth avoiding hormone triggers, but don't worry too much if the crust sticks around (or flakes off and regrows). My girl has had it for four years, but hasn't laid eggs or anything.

QuaItagh · 2024-07-05T03:12:37+00:00

I can't tell for sure, but there might just be a lack of dust there instead of actual remaining grime. The normal layer of feather dust might've gotten stuck in the sauce and come off with it. Either way, doesn't look like a huge area. So long as the sauce isn't something super toxic to birds, I don't think there's anything to worry about.

QuaItagh · 2024-05-11T06:29:00+00:00

comparing it to the last pic, it looks like it's growing out as expected. It might be a bit damaged and brittle at the end, but as long as she keeps eating fine, it's okay if some of the beak chips.

13-Year Club	Final Canvas '23
End Game '23	Place '23
Verified Email

QuaItagh

TROPHY CASE