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Hi, Zazu is doing great. He is down to two feedings a day and only 6cc at that. He is eating everything fruit,veg,pellets, beans and pasta. HIs favorite is strawberries and lima beans. I would like to know if I can trim his nails yet and what is fledging, exactly? I know it has to do with him flying but how do I know he has accomplished this and when is it ok to trim his flight feathers? I want to be able to take him with me when I go places and let him ride on my shoulder.

Thanks for all your help
Naomi

For some reason I recall something about lima beans being bad... even though they are in a few bird food mixes and some well known people feed em as part of the birds diet...

You should be able to lightly trim/file his nails if you wish. Fledging is when they leave the nest and at least try to fly out of it. You'll know he has "accomplished" this when he starts to learn to fly!

IMO, he should have at least a months time to be able to learn how to properly fly and land as well as maneuver through the air. Once you clip him you should do a "moderate" clip, so that he can still fly but can't gain altitude.


Even a clipped bird can fly if there is enough wind... so it would be better if you harness trained him now (aviator harness is best although the most expensive-its worth it for your birds comfort) so when he's older he can go with you to various places with his harness on. Otherwise it would be safer to put him in a carrier.

Thank you for your advice. Do you know where I can find one of those harnises? I live in a small town and the only pet store here is small and didnt carry any. Also how do you train them to use a harnes? That sounds like a great idea.

Aviator Harness (I recommend)
http://www.theparrotuniversity.com/aviator.php

Feather Tether
http://www.naturechest.com/feattetbirha.html

Bird Diapers
http://www.bird-diaper.com/

Being that your conure is young you may be able to put the harness on him without much complaints. Once it's on, give him treats and love on him. Leave it on for about 10 minutes the first few times, but the more he wears it, increase the amount of time he's in it so that he'll get comfortable wearing it.

I also highly recommend the Aviator Harness. It comes with a DVD which is very helpful.

Before you trim you want to let them fledge (learn how to fly) very well and gain their confidence. Your birdie should be able to change directions in mid-air and land on what she wants "on purpose". You don't have to trim her wings you can keep her flighted. But if you do decide to trim let her learn how to fly well first.

Thank you for your help. I got really scared last night. I was walking with him from one room where I had given his last night feeding and was going to put him in the cage. He flew off my shoulder and hit the wall across the room really hard. The hit sounded so hard. He is OK but it sure scared me. I am going to get him the aviator harness. when he learns how to fly is there no longer a danger of him doing somthing like this again while being alowed to fly in the house?

Once he learns to fly (and if you don't clip him) there is less likely chance for him to fly into something once he learns how to maneuver and learns the boundaries of the room. However, even a frightened bird who's flown forever may still fly into things.

OK thak s alot for your adivice and help.