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Parrots/Questions
| Subject | Date Asked | Expert |
| Our Baby Eclectus | 2/8/2012 | Rev. Dr. S.August Abbott |
| Q: My partner Kris and I brought home our baby Eclectus parrot last Friday night from her breeders. She ... A: --- Hands are a common fear of caged birds. A hand entering their cage can sometimes launch them ... | ||
| Cockatiel that bites! | 2/8/2012 | Rev. Dr. S.August Abbott |
| Q: I have read everything I can find and have followed everyone's advice but my Cockatiel keeps biting. ... A: -- Time to hit the re-set button! Check my step by step guideline out here ... | ||
| African Grey Parrot | 2/7/2012 | Rev. Dr. S.August Abbott |
| Q: I have a 15yr old or there abouts african grey and until today i thought it was male but she laid an ... A: -- Egg laying is something that every female bird can do without benefit of male birds. Of course ... | ||
| my conure | 1/30/2012 | Rev. Dr. S.August Abbott |
| Q: how can you tell if your bird is sick my bird has been closing her eyes alot don't know how old she ... A: - A sick, injured, diseased or even dying bird will quite often look exactly like a perfectly ... | ||
| crazy biteing green cheek conure | 1/26/2012 | Rev. Dr. S.August Abbott |
| Q: he came for an abusive home. which is awful. he is very mean and dose not like anyone near his cage ... A: -- Nearly all of the birds that come to my rescue were abused, neglected or both. I've been able to ... | ||
| egg found in cage | 1/25/2012 | Rev. Dr. S.August Abbott |
| Q: We have a Quaker Parrot and a Sun Conure Parrot they about a year old they have been together most ... A: -- If the birds (or even one of them) is tending to the egg, let them keep it. It will help curb ... | ||
| Please Help | 1/24/2012 | Rev. Dr. S.August Abbott |
| Q: We bought our african grey parrot approximately 1 year ago, he was hand reared and tame when we ... A: -- There is a possibility this is the result of breathing in bird dander, dried droppings, etc.. ... | ||
| African Ring-neck | 1/22/2012 | Rev. Dr. S.August Abbott |
| Q: Piccolo is 7 yrs. He began talking at 2 yrs. many words and sentences. His speech has slowed in the ... A: - This isn't as strange as it might sound. I've seen it happen in many different psittacines. I ... | ||
| My cockatiel doesn't trust me | 1/22/2012 | Rev. Dr. S.August Abbott |
| Q: I have a cockatiel who is about two years old. When I got her she was really sweet and she came out ... A: --- When dealing with a bird that has been well cared for, encouraging more out of cage time is ... | ||
| pink eye | 1/22/2012 | Rev. Dr. S.August Abbott |
| Q: I have 2 macaws and a cockatoo...I also have pink eye which has now spread to both eyes, my Dr is ... A: -- Pink eye is viral, often with a bacterial component (side effect). It's a virus exclusive to ... | ||
| Eclectus parrot | 1/21/2012 | Rev. Dr. S.August Abbott |
| Q: I have a 5year old male Eclectus parrot and he has been acting really funny lately. He does have a ... A: -- This isn't as 'funny' as you think. It's relatively typical of a sexually mature bird. While he ... | ||
| Talking Parrots | 1/17/2012 | Rev. Dr. S.August Abbott |
| Q: I am looking into buying a talking parrot. I would like to know which species(and gender?) are the ... A: --- Each bird of each species has their own personality. I've met some pretty aggressive, cranky ... | ||
| Cockatiel tail feathers not growing | 1/16/2012 | Rev. Dr. S.August Abbott |
| Q: I have a pearl cockatiel hen named Willow. She was born March 13th 2008 and I've had her since ... A: -- This is something you must start with a vet with. Let me tell you why: When feathers change, ... | ||
| My electus parrot | 1/15/2012 | Rev. Dr. S.August Abbott |
| Q: I have a 2 and a half month old electus and lately when I am am hand feeding him he is always taing ... A: You are seeing him regurgitate. This can be his attempt to bond with you, but at this young age I ... | ||
| aggressive pacific parrotlet | 1/9/2012 | Rev. Dr. S.August Abbott |
| Q: recently I was given an all blue pacific parrotlet. for the past year or so the bird was in a room ... A: -- The bird is what's called 'cage bound' at this point. While being caged isn't ideal and not ... | ||
| Grey upchucking | 1/9/2012 | Rev. Dr. S.August Abbott |
| Q: Have had no previous issues with my "Danny" an African Grey, but she started vomiting some (a ... A: -- She's not vomiting. What you're describing is 'regurgitating'. First things first: STOP ... | ||
| nippy lovebird | 1/8/2012 | Rev. Dr. S.August Abbott |
| Q: I got my little lovie about 2 months ago and he is currently around 7 months old. For the most part ... A: --You're right, the information out there is too much and too inconsistent. It's easy for people to ... | ||
| blue and gold macaw/fell off perch and her foot is balled up | 1/5/2012 | Rev. Dr. S.August Abbott |
| Q: my female blue and gold macaw fell off her perch last night and now she is having trouble with ... A: -- Let's start with how many years she's been with you. Then, what is the base diet? What this ... | ||
| My first parrot | 1/3/2012 | Rev. Dr. S.August Abbott |
| Q: I'm 18 years old got about 900 quid saved in my bank and have always wanted a parrot since my nanny ... A: -- Each bird of each species has their own personality. I've met some pretty aggressive, cranky ... | ||
| emphysema | 1/1/2012 | Rev. Dr. S.August Abbott |
| Q: I was diagnosed Dec 21-2011 with emphysema and a 5 mm nodule in my left lung. At the same time I was ... A: - I also have systemic Lupus and surprisingly, an allergy to birds; however, this does not keep me ... | ||
| behavior | 12/28/2011 | Rev. Dr. S.August Abbott |
| Q: Sydney, my Alexandrine Parakeet, has started displaying funny behavior and not so funny behavior. ... A: --You're it! The companion that is. You're sharing mating behaviors. He doesn't need company and ... | ||
| Conure throwing up under wing | 12/27/2011 | Rev. Dr. S.August Abbott |
| Q: My 3 year old golden capped conure, Sammi, has been throwing up or regurgitating under his wing for ... A: -- Hi Amanda. Where in CA are you? I'm here in the Sacramento area and would like Sammi to be seen ... | ||
| Wild Peach Cheek Love Bird | 12/27/2011 | Rev. Dr. S.August Abbott |
| Q: I just moved and find that I have wild love birds that frequent my backyard bird feeder. One bird ... A: -- An injury as you describe is not likely to repair on its own. It's also very possibly not ... | ||
| african grey broody | 12/26/2011 | Rev. Dr. S.August Abbott |
| Q: i have a african grey that in the past 3 wks has laid 2 eggs , how do i deal with with and what do i ... A: -- You're not the only one! I've got a macaw that just won't quit with her broody behavior right ... | ||
| Parrot does not speak | 12/26/2011 | Rev. Dr. S.August Abbott |
| Q: I have brought an Indian parrot about 4 days ago.But he has not uttered a single noise or word.What ... A: --When a human gets a bird for conversation and the bird doesn't speak, believe me, it's not the ... | ||
| The peony parrot fight! | 12/26/2011 | Rev. Dr. S.August Abbott |
| Q: I got two peony parrot from my friend, and they are sibling, their relationship were always very ... A: -- Unlike humans brother and sister; brother and brother; sister and sister or even parent and ... | ||
| sulfur crested cockatoo | 12/25/2011 | Rev. Dr. S.August Abbott |
| Q: I have a male cockatoo at home and he is not young yet not old. I am thinking of owning 1 or 2 more ... A: -- Good question! Best that you asked first before something awful happened. No, they cannot ... | ||
| Love Bird | 12/23/2011 | Rev. Dr. S.August Abbott |
| Q: I read somewhere that Love Birds need Heat lamps or some kind of special light if they can not get ... A: -- Good question and it's actually sort of correct. --- Many bird owners are surprised to learn ... | ||
| Time for my parrot | 12/23/2011 | Rev. Dr. S.August Abbott |
| Q: I am priya, staying in chennai. I am a working lady and staying alone. I afraid to leave my parrot ... A: ---A lot of people need to work or leave for other reasons for several hours during the day. When ... | ||
| Princess Parrot | 12/21/2011 | Rev. Dr. S.August Abbott |
| Q: i have a male princess parrot, i have had him for nearly a year i love him to pieces and he loves me ... A: --Don't give up. These birds are a lifetime project, not something that has a fixed amount of time ... | ||
| how to tame a baby bird out of the cage? n what r harmful plants? | 12/20/2011 | Rev. Dr. S.August Abbott |
| Q: I got 2 baby parrots..they r the size of sparrows..the guy said they were 2months old.. I got them ... A: --- When a bird is new to a home you have to be very patient and very careful. It's easy to let ... | ||
| Budgie and his biting | 12/20/2011 | Rev. Dr. S.August Abbott |
| Q: why is he still mourning after nearly a year? he is eating and drinking obviously but how can i get ... A: -- I'm very sorry for your loss and certainly your little one there misses their partner; however, ... | ||
| Biting aggression from neglected male parrotlet | 12/19/2011 | Rev. Dr. S.August Abbott |
| Q: Rev.Dr. Abbott, I'd like to thank you in advance for being available in a forum like this for bird ... A: -- First and most importantly Tracie, the thing that matters here is that YOU are willing to hit ... | ||
| I think my mexican conure has fleas | 12/16/2011 | Rev. Dr. S.August Abbott |
| Q: I just got my mexican conure less than two months ago and she is always very itchy and I thought it ... A: --The good news is that birds don't typically get fleas, especially a conure that's in a home. The ... | ||
| Parrotlet aggression | 12/15/2011 | Rev. Dr. S.August Abbott |
| Q: I have two parrotlets (both female around 1 year old). One is very passive (green) the other ... A: -- Separate them immediately. -- Sometimes these things happen and we never really find out ... | ||
| identifying a bird by band number | 12/12/2011 | Rev. Dr. S.August Abbott |
| Q: Abbott, I have found a cockatiel with an NCS band on its leg. However, in looking online, I cannot ... A: -- Not nearly as easy as it should be, but one day we hope to see a clear database -- My first move ... | ||
| macaw | 12/12/2011 | Rev. Dr. S.August Abbott |
| Q: I have a blue and gold macaw can I turn my furnace down at night and during day while at work to ... A: -- That's fine. I just recently rehomed a rescue that was living outside with nighttime temps at ... | ||
| Cockatiel Labored Breathing | 12/10/2011 | Rev. Dr. S.August Abbott |
| Q: I have a cockatiel that is 19 years old, recently I have noticed he has had pooped on the feathers ... A: -- Whenever you notice respiratory symptoms in a bird there is never a 'wait and see' policy. By ... | ||
| Sun Conure and Quaker Parrot | 12/8/2011 | Rev. Dr. S.August Abbott |
| Q: I own a Sun Conure (appox. 3-4 years old) whom we just discovered is female.She shares a cage with ... A: -- Although the eggs won't be fertile, any two birds can seem to 'breed'. Yes, leave the eggs ... | ||
| Conure and rope perches | 12/8/2011 | Rev. Dr. S.August Abbott |
| Q: I adopted a nanday conure from a friend about 5 months ago. She is around 7 years old. I believe she ... A: -- Probably by the time you read this she'll have been on the perch. It's perfectly natural for a ... | ||
Rev. Dr. S.August Abbott
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
Certified Avian Specialist; Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council member; Own animal rescue org; National Wildlife habitat #66378; bird care, nutrition & behavior consultant; International Assoc. of Animal Behavior Consultants Associate; National Wildlife Federation Leaders Club member; published bird care, info and behavior articles and guides. Ongoing education in exotic bird behavior and nutrition I can answer behavioral, nutritional, environmental, characteristic/personality questions as well as general health and health care. No animal emergency can ever be addressed on the internet. We cannot see your animal, perform an examination, provide necessary care or medication. Please value your companion for the priceless, living creature they are; not for what you might have paid for them.
Experience
Certified Avian Specialist.
For more than 30 years I've worked with veterinarians, protective facilities, nature centers, preserves and on my own in providing care and education with regard to multiple animal species, including raptors (hawks, kestrals, owls, etc) and marsupials. In recent years I've focused on parrots, usually rescued from abusive or less than ideal situations and helping educate owners as to proper care. Expert in behavior studies and modification of problem behavior.
Organizations
4AnimalCare is the organization I run as an animal ministry; World Wildlife Association, Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, National Wildlife Federation Leaders Club and more
Publications
Bird Talk Magazine articles about rescued and problem macaws.
Education/Credentials
Doctorate, Ordained Minister
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