upatsix.com - Your Source For Pet Bird Information

Zynx_n_Luna wrote:what on earth is a band?

It's a metal ring fitted around a bird's leg containing identification information. Ornithologists have been doing it for a long time. In aviculture, it's used in a fashion similar to microchips in cats and dogs. Here's an article on the subject, pertaining to parrots.

That was an interesting article, Petter. Does anyone know if it is common for cockatiels to get caught on their bands?

I have another 'tiel, Lady Gwen, whom I've had since last June. She is also banded. I'm thinking that maybe I should have her band removed.

Of course, the toy that caused Yadira's problem was thrown away at the vet's office, but I have a lot of bird toys. I've been examining them to see if they might have the same dangers. I don't want this to happen to Lady Gwen too.


Thanks,
-Maija

I've long since had most all my many birds' bands removed to lessen the risk of injury. We read of injuries regularly on the chats, though no more for 'tiels than other birds. It can be extremely beneficial to buy toys from a company that prioritizes safety: http://www.greyfeathertoys.com/ Even then, close scrutiny is critical.

Paca

I've never heard of it before, but I am very far from an expert. That same article makes a number of cogent arguments against removing the band, but the choice is obviously yours -- just make an informed one.

My parent's cockatiel got his caught on something on his cage too, but luckily my mom was right there and saw it happen and was able to free him-----BUT they had these things on the sides of the cage, little metal clip things to hold things on the cage and a band can get caught in it-----they just never thought of it til it happened. I make sure everything in woody's cage is totally closed and no open ends that can catch on it. Woody is the only one banded, and when I get my new baby, I will ask the breeder if he can leave the band off. I think if my lovie was banded I would have it removed because he is so active and climbs all over and hangs upside down and just too wild!

My oldest tiel is banded and will stay that way. I also band the finches that I breed for tracking purposes. It is benificial since small birds cannot be microchipped. It is up to us to do our best to keep them safe. We are not perfect, and what works for one sometimes isn't the best choice for others.

All of my chains are welded shut, and all my attaching links are closed. Even in an empty sleeping cage, a bird can be injured. The scrollwork on the lifting doors of cages poses the same threat.

The best we can do is inform ourselves of the choices out there and research. Here is a great site dedicated to keeping birds safe. http://www.birdsafe.com/

Yadira likes Nutriberries! Of course they have a lot of seeds in them, so they're not so different from what she normally eats. I bought some other things like egg biscuits and popcorn treats to try too.

She still doesn't trust me. I've been talking to her a lot. She doesn't like to be touched and it's hard to know what hurts her. I don't really blame her--getting grabbed and wrapped up and cleaned and medicated six times a day...

-Maija

I'm glad that she likes the nutriberries!! I am big on letting a bird eat what they want when they are sick or injured. They need the calories to heal. Worry about a really good diet later.

She probably hurts all over, so I wouldn't be suprised that she doesn't like the treatments. She will heal though, and pain will lessen.

What did the vet say about pain medication?? Will she chew on the willow twigs?

The vet prescribed a narcotic for her, and I have noticed after I give it to her, she sleeps for 15-20 minutes, then wakes up and starts eating and showing some interest in her surroundings. I think that since the prescription is pretty strong that I'm going to just use that and maybe give her the willow branches when it's time to stop the prescription. I wonder if birds can get addicted to pain meds...

I had just started switching her to Lady Gwen's healthier food when the accident happened. She hadn't accepted it yet. Like you said, I think it's more important that she eat right now than that she eat healthy, and there are a lot of vitamins listed in the nutriberries and other treats I bought.

Since this is going to be a long-term condition, I'm going to ask the vet what his thoughts are on feeding. I've been told that antibiotics can kill the good bacteria in a bird's stomach along with the bad, so yogurt or some kind of active-culture food supplement is needed to get the good bacteria back after treatment. I don't think I have enough info on this, and I certainly won't do anything without discussing it with the vet first.

I've only had birds since last May (cockatiels since June) and never one that was sick or injured. There's a lot to learn...

Thanks again!
-Maija

I'm a bit surprised the vet didn't prescribe some Bene-bac if she's on an antibiotic. Yes, a/b's tend to kill the good flora in the gut, and to keep it from going south, you can use either yogurt or bene-bac, which is a gel-like stuff that comes in a tube. You don't even need a prescription to buy it. When I had birds on antibiotics, I was to feed (read administer / dose) her with the bene-bac at a dose of 1/2 gram per day, or after each dose of a/b. The stuff is kind of messy, but I found if you put it on your finger and "wipe" it into and across the side of the beak, you could get enough in there that would do some good. 1/2 gram is considerable in volume, and I doubt I ever got that much into Ginger, but she didn't mind, so apparently it does not taste bad.

HTH

Yes, Ben e Bac is available in pet stores. Make sure you get the gel one though.

As for yogurt, plain is the only one you should give. Will she eat bread? Maybe you could give her pieces with benebac or yogurt on them, or let her eat the "treat" from a spoon.

I wouldn't worry about getting addicted to the pain meds right now, she needs them. You can wean her off of them when the leg is healing more and the pain should be subsiding. Some birds self mutilate when they are in pain and we don't want her to start that.

Thanks for the advice on Ben e Bac. I will check with the vet first (no offense intended ) and then see about getting some. I'm glad to hear it tastes good. Maybe she won't add it to her list of reasons to hate me.

She played a little today, just for a minute, with a small (and very safe looking) toy that I hung from the edge of the carrier. I'm watching her closely while I work. I read everything you sent me about bird safety, Christie.

Thanks,
-Maija

I'm glad to hear it. We don't realise that some of the great looking toys out there are dangerous. It kills me that some cage designs are dangerous but still being sold.

All we can do is learn from each other!

why a gel form of benebac over a powdered form? I have a powdered form of benebac. I dust it on millet and give it to my birds when needed.

Unless put on wet food, powdered supliments are not normally ingested. The bird hulls the seed, leaving the powder and suppliment dropped to the floor.