Vet visits…how to prepare

[TAG_Your_it]

I am new to the board, so let me introduce myself first. My name is Marco and my family and I have adopted a 10 month TAG from a Bird Store (Bird Paradise, NJ.) Her name is “Gracie Lou Freebush” or Gracie for short. She has been with as a month and we are having great fun with her. She steps up, lets us pet her and has just started to say “hello” cluck cluck. So things seem to be going well.

My first question is this: What do I need to do to get Gracie ready for her first Vet visit. I imagine I will at least have to bring her in to get her wings reclipped. The fear I have is due to an aviary raised cockatiel (Zazoo) we have that we brought into have its wings clipped, just bit the heck out of the persons hand as it was not hand trained yet. Gracie is hand trained, but she won’t let me move her wings around and such so I am not sure how a Vet would do it. I would hate to have a bad experience for Gracie when the time comes and traumatized for the near future.

I have read about peoples using towels. Would I train the bird to relax in the towel and then what? Any ideas or support you can give us….

[Lisa B]

hi Marco ,,,and welcome....

First...we are having a fundraiser at Bird Paradise in April...you can find a post for it lower in this section.

as for Gracie..congrats.....My guys(5) I can clip while they are just sitting on a perch. They have become so accustomed to me touching them all over, they ignore me when I pick up thier wings....of course I have been doing this for 29 years so I know how to clip. and know to avoid bloodfeathers.
First suggestion is to make sure you are very hands on wiht Gracie so she is not hand shy...
you can also play peekaboo with the towel...you can teach her it is not a scarey thing to see the towel coming.
If you go to a vet....make sure they are ABVP...because I have seen some real buthcher jobs on Greys....and dont worry aobu thow the vet will handle her...If they are ABVP..they KNOW how to...
How far away is BP from you? Possibly Kathie can clip for you?

Good luck again....and if you have questions...just ask!!!!
Lisa

[TAG_Your_it]

Lisa,

Yes, for the wings being clipped we will go back to BP. For a newer bird person it was just wonderful to go there and see what freindly birds and people are capable of. BP is where the cockatiel bit the heck out of the person, maybe it was Kathie.

I am petting Gracie now, she is sitting on my knee as I type. I will continue to have fun with her and try to get "under" her wings more, so she can get used to it. I live in Northern Delaware, took me about 1:15 to get there the first time but only about 50 minutes once I learned a better way. I will take a look at the fundraiser. The people at BP were just marvelous to me and my family.

Now back to the towel. I guess (well I know) I do not know what "the towel" is for. I know for the cockatiel I could use it to get the untrained bird moved from Point A to B, but for Gracie you just stick out your hand and she jumps on. I will keep reading the board, for this is a new journey for my family and I!

Thanks!

[Lisa B]

A towel is used at the vet office..... thus making it scarey. It is really the only time...and they can become terrified of it.
If you play peek a boo,,and let her chew on it..she will know its nothing to be scared of. In the event...and yes...someday there will be an event....you need to take her to the dr..it is less stress when they see that GAWD awful scarey thing coming at them, and wrapping around them.... :aiwebs_01

[greyburd]

Hello Marco,

The toweling method that Lisa is talking about is a great one. If you haven't done so already, pick up a copy of "Guide to a Well-Behaved Parrot"
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...715963-2104722

They talk about the use of towels, and how to play games with your bird (with the towel) so it isn't afraid. There is a lot of other great advice in the book as well.

Welcome to the grey't world of greys (and to BB).

[Lisa B]

Hey Marco...just to let you know...it was Kathie that your tiel chewed on**LOL**
She said she would rather take a bite than towel...she also said to come back anytime you need to!!!
Lisa

[TAG_Your_it]

Kathie was a trooper. She was going to charge me extra for the blood. That was the same day we got gracie and all her initial investments, so i was already spending enough :0.

My wife and I were just trying to create an excuse to go up again. My two middle boys love to go up there and "experience" the birds.

We are facing our first vacation for 6 days so we are in mental prep for what do with Grace. I believe they board at Bird Paradise so if they have openings, that could be an option. Another is to pay a animal sitting service as we have lots of other animals as well. Have until Good Friday to figure out.

If you see her tell Kathie we are sorry (again!)

TO NPGSOUL,
I have bookmarked the book on Amazon and will order it or another book to give some good base information. Thanks for the link and the answer to my general toweling question. From the previous post it looks like the person I use (Kathie) may not use towelling, but I will prepare for the person that does use it.


Marco

[Peregrine Harlequin]

Welcome aboard, Marco. From all I've heard, the towel seems to be the best idea. But I'm probably less experienced than you when it comes to dealing with Greys (I've only ever held one once in a local store).

And to respond to what you asked me in my guestbook, no. I wish I had a peregrine falcon (and hopefully will someday). So the best advice I can give for peregrines (or any raptors) would be to try to find a falconer somewhere nearby. Or maybe a raptor rescue center. Unfortunately I don't know any falconers yet, and the only rescue center I know of is up by Washington's Crossing (in Mercer County, NJ). I don't know how much help a rescue center could be, but I'd imagine that if you found a fairly local falconer, he'd be glad to introduce a youngster to the wonders of birds of prey. But Lisa B sounds pretty well connected, so maybe she'll be able to get you in contact with someone who knows someone who can help?

And just so you know, here in NJ a falconer has to catch his first bird, and wouldn't be able to fly a peregrine for at least 2 years after getting his license (must start with either a red-tail or a kestrel). So if you find a falconer, he won't necessarily have a falcon. And the only time I've ever seen one fly around was at Medieval Times (and I didn't even get a chance to talk to the guy). So I'm sorry I'm not much of a help, but if I did have a peregrine, I'd already be arranging to show him to you.

[Lisa B]

Hey Luke..I just got married at the Washingtons crossing inn!!!
I might be albe to hook youup with some people who are into falconering(is that the correct term?)
At a bird show last year, I sat down with a friend and he was talking to antoher guy who was talking about his falcons.....I can email my freind to see if I remember the guys name right and see if I can give his email out.
They are in NJ too.
let me know if you want me to persue it.

Marco....Kathies a good egg....another hint with the towel...always bring your own for the vet or store to use.....the ones they have...they use on other birds...thus another reason Kathie prefers not to use one...
I can ask Kathie if she can recommend anyone for birdy sitting if you wnat...
Is there anyone who can come stay at your house(mother in law or such)
That is what I usually have done...this way in the middle of the night if something should happen someone is there.

[TAG_Your_it]

Luke,

Yes, my son is in the stage of dreaming from afar. He has done a lot of research on his dreams, and as you correctly pointed out he knows all about the licensing and what type of bird you can have and becoming an apprentice and so on. We try to break it to him nicely that our family is too busy to incorporate any of that. But he knows ALOT about birds of prey, studies the stuff. We do have a bird rescue here, Tri-state-bird and rescue http://www.tristatebird.org/). It is 10 minutes from my house, so that is good! They have some sort of bird of prey that is a permanant resident. He was too young to volunteer last summer, maybe this summer. If you want to visit drop me a note. BTW my son is 13.

Lisa,
Having someone come to our house is the preferred option. We are transplants to the state so no family close by, but we do have friends and our childrens friends (and parents.) If we go the boarding route I will drop you and Bird Paradise a message on some options. BTW, the local pet store gave us a closeout price on this huge (to me) cage they were trying to move, so it is really not moveable. This limits us to in-house boarding or boarding with someone with there own cage.

Marco (gracie is mumbling a lot more these days, hello is MUCH better and the cockatiel is teaching her how to whistle nicely!)