MagiStream

We have Giardia here too, and since Rosco does play in local bodies of water, that was the first thing he was tested for. Negative.
Funny story about Giardia. When I was in Zoology in college, we were supposed to examine some giardia under a microscope. The culture the prof had acquired must have died or something, because not a single one of us could find ANY. Fast forward a couple of weeks- I had acquired some river water and duck weed and had it sitting in my window at home for a few weeks. I had hydras and daphneas growing like crazy. I had one hydra who probably should have been officially measured, because he should have been some kind of record holder for size! Anyways, I wanted to see what ELSE was in that water, so I brought the container to the college, and took a sample and put it under the microscope. More giardia than you can shake a stick at! Plus lots of other fun, microbes.

Grizzgold, the problem with people like him, is he likely won't even put her down. He'll let her suffer until she dies, because she should 'just get over it." Sometimes humans are assholes.


Sazuria- what's a continental giant rabbit? And does the Jack get along with it? All the Jack Russels I've ever met before would try to kill it.

Budgies really are life savers. I have been nervous and depressed all week because of the medical stuff going on. The budgies seem to sense it becase they sing so swetly, sing their little hearts out whenever I am nearby. I love these little guys!

They need more food though. Anyone know how to enourage them to eat the Zupreem fuit pellets, which are better for them, over the plain Le Fabres? We mix the two so they have to eat both and there are more fruit pellets than the other but they aleays eat the other first and then waste a lot of what is left. Also, wr ave tried and tried to feed them fresh foods. I have had these guys since they were hatchlings and they just won't eat them. They won't bathe either.

Budgie babies are very ugly... xD As of yesterday, we had 2 little chicks (I assume chick applies to all birds..) and 4 other eggs. I'm really shocked that a bird that small laid 7 eggs total, one was laid outside the nest and broke. We'll see if they all hatch and maybe I can get a photo of the ugly little things tomorrow. Nearly bald, pink, with giant eyes.. it's amusing and so ugly.

@ Soliel - the only thing uglier than a newly hatched baby parakeet is a newly hatched baby cockatiel! They add nasty bulbous nares (nostrils) to the mix, lol!


@ Tx - My bird vet, and several other experienced bird people here said LeFaber was better than Zupreme. I gave my birds a mix of mostly LeFaber with just a bit of Zupreme for variety (and my birds liked it better, like candy) However, my keets preferred the cockatiel size over the parakeet size. They liked to be able to break them up and still have chunks worth eating.
Have you tried hiding fresh foods in a shredable toy that you know they'll dig into? Sometimes getting something as a surprise like that encourages tasting and then the discovery that, "hey! This is pretty good!"
For the food wasting, don't fill the cups. Only give them as much as they will eat in a day. That will also help you keep track of how much they are eating and know if someone isn't feeling well.

For bathing, just mist them in the morning. Not all birds like to dunk. You can also try different types of baths. Some don't like the enclosed plastic baths you can buy, so try a shallow, open tray. A lot of birds won't bathe in warm water, instinct says it's stagnant and not safe. Also, location can play a part, if you've been using a hanging bath, try one on the floor- or vice versa.

I think a lot of birds have to be taught by their parents about what is good food and how to bathe and stuff. My last cockatiel didn't even know how to preen! When he moulted, he would be covered in pin feathers until he simply scratched them open, and by then, the feathers were damaged. I tried to help, but he hated that.

They are horribly ugly with the giant black eyes protruding from the bald head. It was great.. I'll have to go google a picture of a baby cockatiel if they are more ugly than the parakeet!

eta:
Look at them! They're scary...

What's being used as litter in that nest box?

Yeah... butt ugly. There's a reason why parrots have their babies in dark holes. They don't want to look at them either!

TNHawke wrote:What's being used as litter in that nest box?

Yeah... butt ugly. There's a reason why parrots have their babies in dark holes. They don't want to look at them either!

I don't even know.. Something my dad just threw in there for the hell of it I'm sure cause he's stupid and just does whatever.

I bought him some kind of litter stuff from Petsmart but the birds kicked it all out into the bottom of the cage -_- apparently it was not good enough.

Hi guys. Had to share this with someone - my old cat Phoebe (see the avatar), who's multiple medical problems I've talked about here before, had to be put to sleep this morning She was 17ish and I'd had her for 7 years. She was diabetic when I got her, developed kidney trouble last year, and had an inoperable cancer in her cheek.

Yesterday evening the growth, which hadn't been particularly bothering her, haemorraged. And the same again this morning. So... In herself I don't think she was ready to go, but it wasn't going to get any better, so it was kinder to let her go. I'd been expecting it, but somehow not quite yet.

Soleil wrote:

TNHawke wrote:What's being used as litter in that nest box?

Yeah... butt ugly. There's a reason why parrots have their babies in dark holes. They don't want to look at them either!

I don't even know.. Something my dad just threw in there for the hell of it I'm sure cause he's stupid and just does whatever.

I bought him some kind of litter stuff from Petsmart but the birds kicked it all out into the bottom of the cage -_- apparently it was not good enough.

Kinda looks like crushed up dried leaves. Thing is Keets and 'tiels and a lot of other birds that don't build nests don't use any kind of litter at all. They prefer a bare surface to lay and raise their babies on. That's part of why the nest boxes have a dip in the middle- to help keep the eggs from rolling around too much.

Brynmala wrote:Hi guys. Had to share this with someone - my old cat Phoebe (see the avatar), who's multiple medical problems I've talked about here before, had to be put to sleep this morning She was 17ish and I'd had her for 7 years. She was diabetic when I got her, developed kidney trouble last year, and had an inoperable cancer in her cheek.

Yesterday evening the growth, which hadn't been particularly bothering her, haemorraged. And the same again this morning. So... In herself I don't think she was ready to go, but it wasn't going to get any better, so it was kinder to let her go. I'd been expecting it, but somehow not quite yet.

Aww, hun. I'm sorry to hear that. *HUGS* It's never easy, and sometimes we do have to make those hard decisions for them. And... they could live for a hundred years, but if they die before us, it's never long enough.



And speaking of never long enough... it's totally my fault. I got distracted and left the lid off the lizard tank. One of my cats caught my baby water dragon today. I don't know if she's going to make it. Cat popped one of the lizard's eyes out, but I'm afraid of bacterial infection killing her, even though she could live with just the one eye. I'm a little mad at the cat, and furious with myself. And I just feel so bad for the lizard. She was doing SO well, growing, eating like a pig, getting friendly. Just this morning she had climbed onto my hand, looking for foods, and I got to hand feed her. which probably added to the distraction that left the lid off. *sigh* If she survives the next 24 hours, she'll have a little bit of a chance. 48 hours and she'll have a bit better chance. If she survives the week, I'll be able to heave a sigh of relief. But right now... I'm thinking her chances of living through this are pretty slim.
I am so totally broke right now, I already had to take my dog to the vet earlier this week because, even vaccinated and 6 years old, he came down with Parvo! I have $0, so I can't get the poor lizard to a vet. I doubt they could save her eye, but they could probably finish removing it, and get her on antibiotics. No one takes payments anymore, the few people who skipped out on bills ruined it for the rest of us. All my friends and family already helped me out financially with Rosco and rent, they can't do it again for the water dragon.
So severely bummed right now.

Brynmala wrote:Hi guys. Had to share this with someone - my old cat Phoebe (see the avatar), who's multiple medical problems I've talked about here before, had to be put to sleep this morning She was 17ish and I'd had her for 7 years. She was diabetic when I got her, developed kidney trouble last year, and had an inoperable cancer in her cheek.

Yesterday evening the growth, which hadn't been particularly bothering her, haemorraged. And the same again this morning. So... In herself I don't think she was ready to go, but it wasn't going to get any better, so it was kinder to let her go. I'd been expecting it, but somehow not quite yet.

I know that feeling. Our cat Kyra was 17.5 when she passed away back in 07 from kidney trouble, and Whisper was 15 when he passed away last September from respiratory issues. Despite their long lives it still didn't feel long enough.