Any one else do this?

[Lisa B]

It occured to me tonight, when I had to excuse myself from a phone conversation with Calvins mom to put Miss Emma in her house for night night, that I do have a routine. Maybe even a strange one...but maybe a good one????


Each night, any bird that will let me, gets a once over and personal preening time prior to going to bed. The birds that let me are Ollie, Sydney and Emma Lynn.
The preening session (by mom) included flipping them over, checking keel bones, vents, tootsies, under the lower beak, ears, nostrils, new feathers, beaks, skin and papillae if they let me. They have no clue as to what mom is doing since I am scratching them the entire time. Miss Emma even gets a song sung to her while this is happening. Because her neck is twisted, she cant reach certain spots on her back and neck so I have to preen extra there. Its funny to watch because she goes into a trance with her eyes closed, and like a dog taps her foot with a good scratch, she moves her beak, to simulate her cleaning herself.....I cant help by smile at the trusting soul laying in my arms....

this is routine at my house, but didnt relize it till tonight.....does anyone else give their birdies the once over before bed to check their daily health?

[CALVINS MOM]

I check keel bones all the time. Most of my birds allow me to touch them everywhere - and I do - so I suppose I indirectly examine them ... certainly not as thoroughly or consciously as you.

[gbird]

Pita & I have a routine. At around sundown, I lay on the couch, with the afghan over me, and wait........Pita starts saying in a high voice...."com'er"....then he climbs down his cage onto my shoulder, and under the afghan. I usually rub his beak, and feet until he finally lays out flat on his tummy, and then I just scratch his head. Then when it's time to go night night, about an hour or 2 later....he lays on my chest on his back, and I take him upstairs, giving him kisses the whole time.

Thats our routine....lol

Not really sure what I would be checking for unless it was something obvious. I wiegh him every morning, and give his eyes a good look over. I'm with him mostly all day so I'm always checking him over...lol

[bekfreak]

I do this with Bella at night before we goto bed the night time cuddles unless she's up to going to bed so we'll get them in the morning. She'll burrow her head into my neck to just be scritched all over especially now that she's going through her first big molt...poor baby...She just lays all over me and my face ends up hot. :)

[Lisa B]

Originally Posted by gbird

Not really sure what I would be checking for unless it was something obvious.

ahhhhhh one day if ya wanna talk bout it, I will Pm ya my number...I'll give ya the run down as to just what to look at for subtle changes....

[Lisa B]

Originally Posted by bekfreak

she's going through her first big molt... )

and is she being cranky with her first moult?

[bekfreak]

She's cranky + cuddly at the sametime. I give her nice good drenching showers and she'll request it when I'm home. I'll hear in the morning, 'Want shower!' I can take her in with me and there's no fuss about going under the spray after I finish up and give her some cold water.

Hehehe...I had Cops on tonight and when they started to sing, 'Bad Boys' I hear...'Bad Bird...' coming from Bella. :)