EVanskiver
12-18-2013, 02:49 PM
About a year ago, /u/Missesxhopeless and myself were in a local pet store when we saw a female Eclectus that had been plucking sitting on a guys shoulder. We walked up and talked with them for what was probably 20-30 mins and ended up exchanging some facebook info which Misses has kept in contact with them through.
A year goes by and I am browsing Craigslist when I see a local person selling an Eclectus. The add listed that the bird had been plucking ever since they took her in to attempt to help her. She has been laying eggs and they believed that her recent aggressiveness had something to do with her hormones. Either way, Layla needed a new home.
I called the phone number at least 5 time in 2 hours fearing that I may be too late as the post was made on 12/9 and the price was only $400 with a very nice cage.
On my last attempt around noon, I was able to get in touch with someone. After a little talk I learned that Layla was still available and I could pick her up today and pay when my taxes came in.
The people are very nice, welcoming, and very much in love with animals. Upon walking in I was mauled by a tiny puppy who demanded to be picked up and given attention. The attention was thus given.
While talking I see Layla in her rather large cage and she looks much worse then before. She has obviously been plucking even more as of late. I also immediately noticed the smell of a fire place about 10 feet from her. The smoke wasn't visible, but you could certainly smell it and I feel that perhaps her recent behavior was due to respiratory irritation from the smoke.
After about 5 minutes, I braved the dangers and while talking nicely offered her my hand and she started her beak to my hand, braced, and walked on. This surprised me as I had been told that she really wasn't a fan of anyone at the time but it certainly looked like good news.
We packed up and left after a good hour of chatting. Layla was in her makeshift travel cage consisting of a 10 gal fish tank with lid and a towel on the bottom.
We took a detour to see some of my family and eat on the way and she sat on my shoulder the entire time we were visiting family mumbling something close to "Hello" every 30 seconds or so.
Fast forward to getting home, I got the cage set up while she visited the family and halfway through I got her and brought her in on my shoulder. After a couple of minutes of working, she climbed on the cage and supervised my work.
Due to the smoke in the house, she smelled like smoke and her feathers felt a bit coarse. I decided that a shower was called for and she happily accepted while saying "hello" through the entire thing.
Afterwards, we laid down, and I worked on drying her off and started talking to /u/Missesxhopeless on the phone while she sat on my arm. She comes up to me and breathes on me and I can smell the smoke in her breath.
Her previous family are wonderful people, I just do not think they knew how bad smoke was. I am starting to give her fruits,vegis,zupreem, and about half the normal dose of multi-vitamin as to make sure she does not start "tapping" due to overdose. She has not been receiving vitamins as of late and I read that a vitamin-a deficiency can be the main cause for her plucking.
With all hope, Layla will be covered with toys and feathers soon. I worry about the smell from her breathing but I imagine all that can be done is let her heal. I plan on taking her shopping for toys as soon as money opens up.
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A year goes by and I am browsing Craigslist when I see a local person selling an Eclectus. The add listed that the bird had been plucking ever since they took her in to attempt to help her. She has been laying eggs and they believed that her recent aggressiveness had something to do with her hormones. Either way, Layla needed a new home.
I called the phone number at least 5 time in 2 hours fearing that I may be too late as the post was made on 12/9 and the price was only $400 with a very nice cage.
On my last attempt around noon, I was able to get in touch with someone. After a little talk I learned that Layla was still available and I could pick her up today and pay when my taxes came in.
The people are very nice, welcoming, and very much in love with animals. Upon walking in I was mauled by a tiny puppy who demanded to be picked up and given attention. The attention was thus given.
While talking I see Layla in her rather large cage and she looks much worse then before. She has obviously been plucking even more as of late. I also immediately noticed the smell of a fire place about 10 feet from her. The smoke wasn't visible, but you could certainly smell it and I feel that perhaps her recent behavior was due to respiratory irritation from the smoke.
After about 5 minutes, I braved the dangers and while talking nicely offered her my hand and she started her beak to my hand, braced, and walked on. This surprised me as I had been told that she really wasn't a fan of anyone at the time but it certainly looked like good news.
We packed up and left after a good hour of chatting. Layla was in her makeshift travel cage consisting of a 10 gal fish tank with lid and a towel on the bottom.
We took a detour to see some of my family and eat on the way and she sat on my shoulder the entire time we were visiting family mumbling something close to "Hello" every 30 seconds or so.
Fast forward to getting home, I got the cage set up while she visited the family and halfway through I got her and brought her in on my shoulder. After a couple of minutes of working, she climbed on the cage and supervised my work.
Due to the smoke in the house, she smelled like smoke and her feathers felt a bit coarse. I decided that a shower was called for and she happily accepted while saying "hello" through the entire thing.
Afterwards, we laid down, and I worked on drying her off and started talking to /u/Missesxhopeless on the phone while she sat on my arm. She comes up to me and breathes on me and I can smell the smoke in her breath.
Her previous family are wonderful people, I just do not think they knew how bad smoke was. I am starting to give her fruits,vegis,zupreem, and about half the normal dose of multi-vitamin as to make sure she does not start "tapping" due to overdose. She has not been receiving vitamins as of late and I read that a vitamin-a deficiency can be the main cause for her plucking.
With all hope, Layla will be covered with toys and feathers soon. I worry about the smell from her breathing but I imagine all that can be done is let her heal. I plan on taking her shopping for toys as soon as money opens up.
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