Julie - How is Carl Today?

[Larry, Baby and Me]

Just wondering how my little fellow is doing.

[Julie]

Sorry, I normally don't check in too often on the weekend....

He is out of his cone, because he is acting terrified of us still. He has always been scared of the cone, but ever since the other night when he bit hubby, he has been a bit more than usual.

He is still picking, though thankfully not horribly bad. I have been trying to make sure to get him extra exercise, and away from the cage time. He seems to be enjoying it, but I do not know if that is changing anything. We were out 1/2 the day yesterday, and when we came home with visitors, he was not his normal hormonal self with one of the visitors specifically. Normally he terrorizes her, and he sat there and played with foot toys on the top of his cage while we all visited and listed to Duch jabber for a couple hours.

He did have a shower yesterday, and a REALLY good one just now. He was doing the "Happy Birdie shower dance" with me, and a 1/2 blow dry. He begs if you don’t pull out the dryer a little bit....

That’s really about it. Hubby is going out of town again for work this week, so if the picking gets bad, I will have to brave getting bit and put the cone on with the help of mom. He still wants his love, and is intrigued by the new clicker. I am not trying the training on him, but he sure does love the noise it makes, and is trying really hard to figure out how to work it....

Will keep you updated! :smiles:

[Larry, Baby and Me]

I guess we have to take one day at a time. Let us know how he does tomorrow.

[EasySpirit]

Sorry, I normally don't check in too often on the weekend....

He is out of his cone, because he is acting terrified of us still. He has always been scared of the cone, but ever since the other night when he bit hubby, he has been a bit more than usual.

He is still picking, though thankfully not horribly bad. I have been trying to make sure to get him extra exercise, and away from the cage time. He seems to be enjoying it, but I do not know if that is changing anything. We were out 1/2 the day yesterday, and when we came home with visitors, he was not his normal hormonal self with one of the visitors specifically. Normally he terrorizes her, and he sat there and played with foot toys on the top of his cage while we all visited and listed to Duch jabber for a couple hours.

He did have a shower yesterday, and a REALLY good one just now. He was doing the "Happy Birdie shower dance" with me, and a 1/2 blow dry. He begs if you don’t pull out the dryer a little bit....

That’s really about it. Hubby is going out of town again for work this week, so if the picking gets bad, I will have to brave getting bit and put the cone on with the help of mom. He still wants his love, and is intrigued by the new clicker. I am not trying the training on him, but he sure does love the noise it makes, and is trying really hard to figure out how to work it....

Will keep you updated! :smiles:


I will be getting a toy from someone on MT. She has added a few things to the design one of which is adding velcro. My G2 is a plucker. He gets bathes, eats well, is flighted, is not caged (unless I am out of town). He knows how to play on his own and has been to the vet. One thing I found that caught his interest was playing with velcro on my gymn shoe. He has played anywhere from 1-2 hours opening and closing the velcro. Wow...talk about a toy that works. When watching him he is as intense or a better word is almost neurotic in the behavior like he gets when plucking. Nothing deters him and he is very one minded when it comes to his velcro.

Just a thought

[Chrissy and Flock]

AngelBaby likes the velcro on my shoes too, I found that out when I first went to the breeders to see her. She would not leave it alone, guess what I wore the same shoes the second time I went there again she had a blast playing with it. I may have to give her my shoes as a toy LOL

[Larry, Baby and Me]

Velcro is okay as long as the bird does not chew it. Made of plastic - and that ain't good for birds to ingest... not to mention the little barby things that make up the velcro - I would hate to see what would happen if some got stuck in its throat.

So - a velcor toy - for a bird that wont chew it and is surpervised while playing with it... shouldn't be a problem at all.

[Julie]

I might have to go by the craft store and see if I can get some velcro. I have a very difficult time trying to get Carl to play. He play's fetch with me at night, and likes his soft rubbary toys, which they are not supposed to have, but thats really it. Oh and to un-tie leather and let the beads fall off.... "Whad-u-drop?"

[birdie]

Julie, I have a big soft cloth ball the Stella loves to toss around on the floor or the couch. It's an infants 1st ball type of thing, she really gets excersize with that. {just another idea}

[Julie]

Right now we are playing ball with this large (aprox 3-4 inch) ball made out of fleece strips all tied together.... He does not chew on it, as I know fleece is not safe for them. He only has this on the outside of his cage only. With it being about 100 strips of fabric, it is really easy for him to catch and throw back. He is about 1/2 the size of Stella afterall. And you are right, they love to play fetch. It actually helps my hips to feel better too, so I dont mind. Hubby gets annoyed when he gets pelted up side the head. I think he has been aiming lately.... Hehehehe

[Chrissy and Flock]

My question is who is doing the fetching I know in my house its me, sheesh even the dogs make me fetch the toys LOL

[Julie]

Ok, back at it again...

Tonight when I cam home, I greeted everyone like "normal" and got our afternoon snack. Then I started playing with everyone, only to find that Carl would not play. He had no intentions of playing, in fact if he was not preening, then he was trying to show me how good of a boy he was being by "kissing" up to me. If this does not sound like guilty child written all over it I do not know what does.:sadeyes:

I made sure to spend some extra cuddle time tonight, because I know as soon as that cone thing is pulled out his neurotic-frightened behavior would be back. When mom got home we did put him back into his cone. I was so scared he would bite me like he did hubby, but luckily he did not. I do not know why, but he did not even try to bite. Carl has 2 pretty good size holes in his chest now. So I do not think he will be getting out of his cone for at least a couple nights. He will eat well if I hold his dishes up for him and offer him food. I know he eats during the day a little.

So I’m back to square 1. We will wait a little while, with the cone on, and let him heal. Once he has improved, then we might just try a cardboard box.

Thanks all for the support, I am just a little frazzled after having to chase him around the living room enough to tire him down, so us girls could administer the dreaded cone.:rant:

[birdie]

:hgz:Julie, I have no advise on this. Just wanted to give you a hug and hope that someday soon Carl won't want to hurt himself.

[too&me]

Hugs for you both, it must be very hard to live with a self mutilator. Will he chew or pluck other feathers like a duster or a boa? Having a feather boa to destroy has helped Harry but he is a barbarer not a plucker or mutilator. More hugs & support.

[Julie]

I had tried a peacock feather, but he was scared of it. Maybe a white boa will work. I will definately have to try and find one.... He should not be scared of a white one!

[FoxersArtist]

I had tried a peacock feather, but he was scared of it. Maybe a white boa will work. I will definately have to try and find one.... He should not be scared of a white one!

Great big hugs Julie. you are such a softy and I know how much you care about mr Carl. You are doing a great job with him - the best that anyone could do. Keep trying new things and hopefully some day soon something will help with this yucky digging. I have been thinking about you!
-Anna

[Chrissy and Flock]

Julie, Cassie likes to go after the feathers in my dream catchers, but is terrified of the feather duster. What I'm getting at is maybe feathers in a smaller quantity from a feather duster may be acceptable to him. Good luck and I pray you find a solution soon for both your sakes.:pray:

[too&me]

Harry loves to take apart the feather boas, I hang one at the top edge of his cage & wrap it around the bars down one side of the cage so he can't tangle himself. I always try to use the white ones to avoid any dyes. He won't touch a feather duster just ignores it. He doesn't like the short downy ones just the full feather ones.

[Julie]

Thats a good point about him getting wrapped up in it. I will use some zip ties to hug it down the cage. I think I just might have to go to the crafty store tonight!

[Larry, Baby and Me]

HI Julie,

Check those zip ties carefully before you buy or use them. Some have a tiny metal piece in the head that keeps the tie in place when you tighten them - others do not.

I don't use any zip ties becuse Baby would chew them apart and they are made of plastic (PVC). I only use leather strips to tie stuff to the bars.

[Julie]

You know, if I use some medium lenght leather strips, and also put beads on it, may be it will help him to realize that it is a toy.... Better safe than sorry...

We have a large back of plastic only zip ties. Hubby uses them in the garage/work all the time. Always best to check.... Thanks!