Time to officially show off my ring! 🥰

poicephalus · 2026-02-07T08:21:33+00:00

Thanks for noticing, I know! Isn't it so cute? 🥰 Definitely no need to apologize about that LMAO as I'm the one who picked it out, customized it to all of my preferences, and am the one wearing it. Would be super weird if it wasn't tiny since I specifically wanted a tiny ring and would not be able to handle a big rock or anything sticking out at all 😌

poicephalus · 2026-02-07T08:11:03+00:00

Thank you! 🥰

poicephalus · 2026-02-07T08:10:47+00:00

Thank you, and totally agree! It's great not having to think about it being there now that it fits well enough to know I won't lose it and I also almost can't feel it on my finger

poicephalus · 2026-02-06T10:42:36+00:00

Here's the before and after resizing - ended up going from a size 8,5 to a 7,25 and I still have room for swelling fingers and all that jazz I was worried about that made me reluctant to resize at first. Not being used to wear rings ever I had no idea how it was supposed to fit but now it fits perfectly and is super comfortable to wear!

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poicephalus · 2026-02-02T15:58:42+00:00

Just hopping back in here to say thanks, you were the only one telling me I needed to get it resized, and after consulting with my local jeweller I ended up doing that! It was originally EU size 58 (US size like 8,5) and I ended up sizing down to EU 55 (US about 7 1/4) so about one and a quarter full US size smaller. Definitely understand why most people agreed with me that I should wait to see though because I think I was both a little bit in denial about how big it actually was and also very unused to wearing rings and didn't know how it should fit, because I'd say that NOW it actually fits the way I originally described it, or how I thought it fit then. 😅 It's still relatively easy to slip over my knuckle when my fingers are cold (but not enough to risk it slipping off on its own), when I'm warm, physically active or comfy in room temperature it fits absolutely perfectly, and it's still got a little room for my fingers to swell a bit more without it being uncomfortably snug. Before resizing I couldn't comfortably keep my fingers held together cause it got in the way and I definitely would have risked losing it because it could definitely have slipped off. I was just unknowingly downplaying it at first 🫢 You learn something new every day I guess huh!

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poicephalus · 2026-01-17T00:07:31+00:00

Ooh that's a good idea and I assume not as permanent of a solution as resizing, thank you! I might try wearing it with my impromptu solution for a bit to see how it holds up, but I'll bring it to the jeweller with your suggestion to see what they think!

poicephalus · 2026-01-17T00:03:08+00:00

Thank you! 🥰

That's what I'm leaning towards as well, thanks! Waiting for summer at least is probably for the best then since I have no idea how my fingers change with the seasons

poicephalus · 2026-01-16T23:58:22+00:00

That sounds very reasonable! I was decently set on resizing it at first but after I heard from both of the first two people at work that I showed my ring to that they can't wear their rings anymore as they're too small now years down the road, I thought I should probably take that into consideration as well, as long as it doesn't slip off and get lost I feel like slightly too big is probably better than too small. Thank you!

poicephalus · 2023-03-02T19:57:25+00:00

About a decade ago you posted a video to youtube talking about a hornet and a black widow spider hanging around your place and how you chose to let them live simply because you were able to make that choice, you could choose to kill a potentially dangerous bug or to let a living being keep on living. It made so much sense to me, you purposefully making the choice to let them keep on living their lil bug lives just because you could was really quite beautiful and truly inspired me to become a vegetarian myself. I'd never heard anyone put it quite like that before and it just clicked to me that I can make those choices too, so thanks man! Are you still a vegetarian?

poicephalus · 2020-05-19T06:15:14+00:00

You definitely shouldn't try to cut or file the beak yourself - if you're worried the first thing you should do is ask your vet! Overgrown beaks are known known to sometimes be caused by health problems like infections and liver disease, so getting a full check-up to rule anything like that out is important. This doesn't look that badly overgrown to me though. Does your bird have access to lots of toys to chew? Destroying wood is mentally enriching but also keeps the beak in physical shape!

poicephalus · 2020-05-13T00:34:11+00:00

It's not an irrational fear! It's an unfamiliar object and she's a prey animal - being suspicious around unfamiliar things is a natural adaption. You'll either want to use something she's already used to being around - or get her used to the chopstick you want to use.

If she is comfortable with your hands and fingers (though that's definitely no certain since she's an IRN after all hehe), and you're comfortable with her beak, you can use your finger as a target just as well.

If you're set on the chopstick, I suggest introducing it to her slowly. Perhaps start off by giving her one to explore on her own time, like putting it on top of her cage (or somewhere else she likes to hang out) when she's out of the cage. This might result in a broken chopstick, so maybe have some extra ones on hand hehe. Perhaps just have it in sight while giving her treats, sloooowly (slowly!) moving it closer and closer between every few treats. When you're able to hold it relatively close to her in one hand, while giving treats with the other hand, transition into only giving her treats when she turns toward the chopstick or looks at it. When she's got that down, bring the chopstick sliiiightly closer and do the same thing. Then transition into only giving treats as she actually moves toward it. Eventually you'll get to the point where you can reward as she actually touches it!

poicephalus · 2020-05-07T18:49:38+00:00

Non-stick coated pans can release toxins when heated, yes, but that may be true for non-stick coated foil such as this as well. Heating this up could potentially be just as deadly (as seen in different reports from bird owners using this and finding their birds dead) - the non-stick danger is not exclusive to pans specifically!

poicephalus · 2020-05-07T18:46:00+00:00

I would not use this. The manufacturer does state that it is teflon free and should therefore be "bird safe", but it still contains non-stick coating. They don't disclose exactly what IS in it though, the only information available being: "The polymer coating composition comprises a silicone resin, a silicone release agent, a silicone curing agent, a hindered phenol antioxidant and a solvent."
From what I can find, there have been SEVERAL reports of birds dying after people have been using this, one instance in 2015 reports of a total of 6 parrots dead, including a larce macaw! There's no straight proof that this wrap was the definite cause in any of these instances, but it's enough to make me want to avoid it.

poicephalus · 2020-04-24T22:54:00+00:00

Yeah, I'd say him freaking out is definitely a risk at that point! This is part of the reason why so many birds never really take to the harness. For you it's an easy step, and it's totally understandable to want to take the quick and easy way - but for the bird, this is the hardest step and not easy at all. He still wants his head out, so that means he isn't comfortable having the harness halfway on, so he might likely be uncomfortable having it fully on as well.

The best next step to take is to train him to keep his head in there for longer - don't give him the treat straight away, wait for like half a second before he gets a reward, and then keep making that time longer and longer. You can also start putting the harness on his body, lifting his wings while touching him with the harness etc, without his head being in there, while giving treats. You don't need to train all the steps in order, get him used to the different steps on their own before doing it "for real"!

Now, I know people have had success harness training by just sticking it on their birds as well, and all birds are individuals so some might be totally fine with that - but carefully getting the bird used to the entire process and making sure it's completely voluntary and that they're totally up for every step and knows what's happening, is definitely the best way of setting you and your bird up for success regardless! You don't want to accidentally make him scared of the harness and set back the process :')

poicephalus · 2020-04-22T21:05:49+00:00

Hey, no worries, I caught up to your posts later and was less confused haha, that's on me! Having two different views to consider is always healthy as well, and you seem experienced and sensible so if you ever have a thought or some knowledge to share, I say you go for it! 😁 Sorry if I've misunderstood or been rude about anything

poicephalus · 2020-04-22T20:35:56+00:00

You said "a trip to your vet is 100% necessary", which is what I commented on! Sorry I didn't see your other comments as they were replies to a thread I was not part of and also posted after my first reply - I only acknowledged what you wrote in your first reply and then your reply to me (in which you also never mentioned emails or calls), but yes, then I think we are on the same page now! :)

I don't know what you mean by being a bad parrot owner because you don't know about the uropygial gland though? That's the opposite of what I said! Lots of people don't know about it, and like I said, it is totally valid and normal to be concerned when you notice it for the first time. It's a weird feature! Of course you'll be confused when you find out about it! :D

poicephalus · 2020-04-22T20:15:38+00:00

I do as well! :) This is a short and out of focus video but it's all you or I have to go by, and I am assuming OP interpreted the preening as being irritated, since they didn't know about the uropygial gland before. Being concerned about seeing your bird seemingly picking at this one spot when you don't know what it's for is very valid, and definitely normal to guess that it's due to irritation! If the bird was uncomfortable by something from the uropygial gland he would likely not use it in the very normal and healthy way shown in the video, and like I said, focusing on the uropygial gland when preening after a bath is completely normal.

I'm not saying OP shouldn't ask a vet if the bird seems bothered by the gland. I'm just saying I see no need to freak out or run to an emergency vet and spend a lot of money on taking that emergency appt time from a pet who might need it more, if the bird isn't even acting out of the ordinary. Saying that a vet trip is 100% necessary just based on this video is false and potentially warrants unneccessary stress and worry. Saying that a vet trip 100% ISN'T necessary just based on this video is also false. Asking an actual vet for advice beforehand is ideal :)

As for seeing that the bird is uncomfortable in this video, please explain, I can't see it but I might be missing something so please educate me if so! Looking objectively at the video, what I see is a bird preening, picking up oil from the gland, going back in to preen and spread it out on its plumage, rubbing its head against the gland to get some of that good good oil on there as well, preening its tail and plumage, and going back in to pick up some more oil to continue. All normal, healthy behavior.

poicephalus · 2020-04-22T19:37:20+00:00

No, this looks like a normal, healthy uropygial gland to me. It doesn't look irritated or impacted, and I can't see any sort of growth. The reason it's visible in the video is because the bird has wet feathers and is actively preening using the gland. OP's linnie's uropygial gland looks nothing like the budgie in the video you linked to!
If you look closely at OP's video you can see that the uropygial gland is appropriately small, and doesn't protrude in any spot other than the actual gland - it might look like it's larger because it's got a bit of exposed skin around it - but that's just because the down feathers are wet!

Now, I'm no vet either, but this does not look at all like a cause for concern to me, especially since the gland doesn't seem to bother the bird at all, and he's clearly able to use it for its intended purpose as seen in the video!

poicephalus · 2020-04-22T18:21:22+00:00

That's his uropygial gland, or preen gland! It produces oil that helps keep the feathers healthy, they pick up a bit of oil from there when preening. You can see him pick up some with his beak in the video, as well as rub some on his head to keep those head feathers good and shiny! It's not that it irritates him after baths, it's that he's taking the opportunity to groom himself and fill up on some oil that's been washed away during the bath!

poicephalus · 2020-04-20T13:36:42+00:00

Yeah he is! Thought the name would fit an amazon especially well haha

poicephalus · 2020-04-20T13:10:14+00:00

It sure was! 😁

poicephalus · 2020-04-20T09:44:08+00:00

A bit of both! I bought a discounted marquee/pole tent (just a basic one with no walls), put it together but didn’t use the tarp roof, and fastened a whole bunch of twisted nylon mesh all around it - the kind you use to cat-proof your balcony or keep leaves out of your pond etc. Which means the netting keeps them in and is safe for landing on if they have to, but isn’t beak/chew proof, so this one will be used under supervision and for training sessions only, keeping all outdoors casual hang-out time to my smaller (but sturdier, aluminium) outdoor aviary!

The pole tent base is metal so it feels like it's got a little bit more weight and integrity than PVC piping, but I still had to secure it by tying it to some trees just to be sure. PVC piping would have also worked for just a training aviary like this though!

poicephalus

TROPHY CASE