Thank you to everyone who sent in their question for Rosemary Low. Below you’ll find answers to some of those questions, we’ll add more as soon as we can.
Question:
My Conure Jessie is about a year old and is afraid of EVERYTHING. We try introducing things slowly, not making sudden movements or loud noises but nothing seems to work. All our other birds are so confident. I tried to offer him a small piece of par boiled carrot and he screamed until we took it back out of his food bowl. He has toys in his cage but we like to change toys around for enrichment but he won’t accept any new toys even if we get him used to them outside the cage. We are a bit lost for ideas! He came from a large local breeding aviary when he was around 4 months old and ‘out the back’ with the others past their cute sellable age , he had no experience of toys just a plain aviary with a single perch and 8 siblings. Just to add he has bonded to us really well, loves to cuddle, but won’t come near us if we are holding anything in our hands, even if it’s a simple tissue. We did question whether I may have been mishandled in the breeding aviary at some point?
Answer:
You are right. This is a problem due to past care, or lack of it, and mismanagement at the previous location. Obviously there was no environmental enrichment, there, which is very sad. He has been badly handled, I think, and will never accept your hands. You have to accept this and just be pleased he loves to cuddle.
Question:
We have a lovely little Meyers Parrot called Lola who is 8 and a half years old. When she was younger we taught her lots of words and she often spoke. As she’s gotten older she just doesn’t seem to speak anymore. She will occasionally still say nite nite’ when it’s bed time but other than that she just doesn’t pick up new words and doesn’t say any of the old words she used to, even with encouragement and repetition. She’s still very vocal, but not with words. Is there anything we can do to encourage her to repeat words again?
Answer:
This might be a disease problem. I believe you should consult an avian vet.
Question:
What is the best floor covering for our cages, we use substrate and then change to newspaper and then back but what should we be using for our Black Capped Conure and Budgie
Answer:
In my opinion, the best floor covering is simply newspaper. Also, some birds – Conures – like to sleep underneath it. Must be changed daily, Put extra sheets where they normally place their droppings so you can easily remove those throughout the day.
Question:
Hi, we’ve had our Indian Ringneck for 12 years now & he still won’t let us anywhere near him. He’s very timid, & tries to bite us…..has succeeded a few times. Unless we have food, then he will land near us until we give him some. We got him at 6 months old.
Answer:
How do you know he was six months old? Was he closed ringed? Did you buy from a dealer or a breeder? If from a dealer he could be a wild-caught bird who will never become tame. He would be better in an aviary with a female.
Question:
Good Morning, My house needs redecorating. I wonder if you could tell me which paints are safe to use on walls and wood trim while my Sun and Jenday are living here in my bedroom?
Answer:
Today’s paints do not contain lead. Contact Lakeland paints for ECOS ORGANIC PAINTS – zero carbon paint – Eco Paint – Organic – Natural – Breathable Paint – zero emissions paint – Odorless Paint – Chemical Free Paint – Paint for Lime Plaster
Question:
I’ve had my Ozzy 3/4yrs now he is 5. He is not a cuddly bird less it’s on his terms. However he gets overly excited and then he tries to nip or pinch you. He is definitely all beak. I’ve tried over the yrs to stamp out this behaviour but nothing works. My older one you don’t know you got him. He is bonded to another older macaw who’s 16. And lately trying his luck with him. Although the older one will take so much then put him in his place. You don’t know you’ve got him tbh. I can’t have him on my shoulder as he will sit for 5 then get what I call these energy busts and then the nipping or biting comes. He’s far from stupid in fact he learns pretty quick. He is on the go all day and has to be occupied all day, he’s also a ex-plucker which I’ve got control over now… Is there any way to calm down these energy busts he has and how as I’ve tried everything. Both are ex rescue birds
Answer:
Which species is Ozzy? A Macaw? It is never a good idea to have a Parrot/bird on your shoulder. As soon as you cease to give it attention it will nip you. He needs constant environmental enrichment in the form of fresh branches to gnaw every day.
Congratulations for his plucking habit ceasing. This is so hard to stop. You are doing a lot of things right but without knowing the circumstances it is very difficult to advise.
Questions:
My Quaker Parrot keeps looking underneath himself when he’s out of his cage. Why? Sorry – no idea.
He is also reluctant to eat sprouted seeds, but does eat fruit and vegetables. If he eats fruit and vegetables that is good. Some birds do not like sprouted seeds. Every bird has different preferences. I would not worry about this. You could try adding some chopped fruit to sprouted seeds but I really doubt this will work.
He’s very hormonal at the moment and possessive of his toys and food.
Well, that is not unusual. You just have to wait for the phase to pass and don’t touch his toys. Is anything triggering the phase, such as an item he could nest in? How do I deal with this. He is a very intelligent bird, can talk in context, with a vocabulary of over 209 words/ phrases and is very affectionate. He sounds like a happy bird. Perhaps you worry too much.
Question:
Hi my B&G Macaw had five eggs over few weeks and she doesn’t have a mate. Will this happen now every year thanks.
Answer:
Try to discourage the incentive to breed. Is she in the main living area? Reduce light levels and hours of artificial light. Or cover the cage early. Is she handled a lot? Do not stroke or kiss on her back.
It is not possible to predict if this will be an annual occurrence. The important factor now is to increase her calcium supplementation as after laying five eggs her calcium levels could be depleted, unless she is fed pellets which should provide a good level of calcium. It is a waste to put a calcium supplement in the water as she will not drink enough. Buy a powdered avian calcium supplement and sprinkle on her favourite food or feed in a teaspoon with yoghurt.
Question:
My main issue at the moment is getting my Conure back into his cage. He’s OK to return at dusk, but during the day he’s a nightmare.
Answer:
Yes, I had a Conure like that and eventually for him an outdoor aviary and a companion was the best solution. I let him out only at night so that I could turn out the light and gently put a towel over him. He actually loved being in a towel. If I put his favourite foods in the cage he went back very quickly. So withhold favourite foods until you want him to go in. But mine was a rescued adult and had never been trained to step up.
