Baby CAG coming home this weekend - Advice?

[Xray Susie]

My fiance and I are bringing Sydney home on Saturday morning. It's about an hour and a half drive, so I'm sure he'll be stressed when we get home.

He is already nervous about me - he is the only one who hollers when I enter the room. There are other birds in there. His CAG sister, a B&G, a Mulloccan, a goffins, and some caiques. But, after the breeder gets him out of the cage and puts him on the couch with us, he calms down.

We also have an 11 year old Rottie (probably uninterested) and an 8 month old Great Dane puppy (I'll keep away). Sydney's cage will be in the living room.

Any advice on how to treat him this first weekend?

[birdlady49]

I haven't had a baby CAG in a long time (my CAGs are 15, 11 and unknown age but at least 17) but here's what I'd recommend:

Keep him isolated from your other birds and dogs. This is not only for your new baby's sake but also for the sake of your other animals. Quarantine is important so you have a chance for the new baby to settle down and you have a chance to observe any potential problems. During quarantine, bring your baby to your avian vet for its new bird checkup.

I'd offer a fairly quiet environment for the first few days, and offer food in several areas of the cage. Leave the cage door open when you're in the room and talk softly. Offer your hand, perhaps holding a treat. He'll probably be anxious to step up and be with you. But let him come to you on his terms. I'd keep the interactions to 20-30 minutes each time, then let him rest, eat and get used to the cage. Gradually, you can increase your interaction times and by the end of a week or two, he can become a full-time member of your family. But quarantine should last about a month.

[Lisa B]

birdlady had some excellent advice.

I would also pad the bottom of his cage, and keep his perches and bowls low till he gets used to things. This will also help if he gets spooked with seeing the dogs. If he has never seen dogs, he will be scared and try to fly, so the best is to keep the dogs away at all costs till he settles in, and you can see how he reacts from a distance till he gets used to the puppies.

[Xray Susie]

I don't have any other birds, so quarrantine won't be a problem. My breeder has instructed me to copy the cage as it is at her house. The cage is the same style, the perches are in the same positions, and the boing is in the same position, also.

At the breeder's house, he is always on the upper perch when I get there, but I can certainly pad the bottom of the cage. My rottie probably won't even notice her (she's 11), but I'm sure my Great Dane puppy will be interested. What should I pad the bottom with - towels?

I will take him to the vet. I have him tested for B&F disease, but what else? And vaccinations? I guess the vet will know. I also want him sexed. The breeder thinks he's male, but I guess she could be wrong. I want to know if I'll have to be concerned with egg problems in the future.

[birdlady49]

Your baby will know it's not the same cage even if you put the perches etc in the same place. Smells, colors, etc. will be different. But it won't hurt to have a similar arrangement certainly!

I like this site for information on what to expect when you go to the vet: The Well-Bird Veterinary Checkup (except for the blurb about spaying or neutering a bird!!????) Keep in mind that it won't be cheap! But that's part of what parrot ownership is all about.

The suggestion to pad the bottom of the cage is a good one! If you use towels, make sure they're not the big loopy ones. You don't want little toes getting caught. If you opt to use paper towels or newspaper, expect the little guy to shred it to pieces. That's okay! But it'll be a royal mess.

[Parrotpeople]

Congratulations! I'm not sure how often you've visited at the breeder, but the more the better, I say. We went to see Poppy and Ziggy every day until they came home, so they knew us well. Poppy is a very well adjusted, laid back bird, takes to anything and anyone quickly, we have to introduce things more slowly to Ziggy.

[Lisa B]

you can use towels with paper toweling on top...this way there is not as much to shred, because they will

[Xray Susie]

I have visited him 3 or 4 times each weekend. He's 80 miles away, so it's impossible to do it during the week.

Thanks for the link about the vet visit...I'll check it out.

How quiet should we be concerning TV and music? I know better than to watch Animal Planet with a lion catching an antelope, but just noise in general?

Also, with scented candles - are they ok if he's downstairs and we burn them upstairs? How severe is this threat?

[birdlady49]

Originally Posted by Xray Susie

I Also, with scented candles - are they ok if he's downstairs and we burn them upstairs? How severe is this threat?

ABSOLUTELY NO NO NO SCENTED CANDLES IN THE HOUSE! Look at this article for confirmation: Scented Candles Can Be Fatal to Birds

[janejacinto]

The one thing I tell everyone getting a bird:
Do today what you will be able to do the rest of the birds life.
Many will spend all kinds of time when they first bring home a bird. As time goes on and life goes on, the bird gets less and less time spent with it. Causes all kinds of problems later on.
Jane