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Post by fuzzydragonfly on May 25, 2006 21:58:07 GMT 10
Hi, I've just recieved a few lorikeets from a friend of ours who said he didn't have any time for them anymore, I'm not sure how old they are but one looks like a youngster. I inspected the birds at home and I'm a little concerned about their heath, overall not in too bad nick but they have clearly been exposed to unsanitary conditions for a while. I'm quaranteening the lorikeets at my place for 2 weeks because I don't want any nasties to be passed on to dad's lorikeets. I'll be treating for worms and the like to make sure they're in good nick before meeting dad's lorikeets. They are very fightened and were very distressed when I was checking them out (I used a towel to restrain them for examination) although I did manage to get one to accept food from my hand this afternoon which is a big step in such a short time. Symptoms include slightly stained vent feathers and one has a pale beck (although I'm not certain if that's just the way it is or if it indicates a problem). Apart from that they all seem fine. I've given them an apple tonight and they all had good appetites. Is there anything else I've forgotten to do? These lorikeets are going to be difficult to tame, wish me luck with these guys. With a bit of luck I'll avoid getting nipped too hard  .  |
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Post by silvercloud on May 25, 2006 23:16:27 GMT 10
It sounds like you are doing the right things so far. Unless you take them to an avian vet for a checkup which you should do if you suspect anything, the best thing to do is observe them closely for any signs of illness. I hope all goes well with taming and training them, and I hope you don't get too many bites.  |
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Post by AussieBirds on May 26, 2006 10:37:09 GMT 10
If the picture you have posted are the birds in question they look fine, it's not unusual for lorikeets to be flighty especially in new surroundings and I wouldn't be too concerned about that as they will eventually come good when they get used to you.
Unfortunately due to the toilet habits of lorikeets, squirting, the vent may be stained this could also be because of the birds diet in the past, the pale back on one bird is not a problem more than likely just a colour thing.
You are doing the right thing by quarantining the birds for a period and worming them, well done it's the right thing to do.
I would suggest you pay attention to the birds diet and if they are in an aviary supply the birds with with blossoms from native trees including branches tied to the wire in the aviary, dry and wet mix and some fruit such as oranges cut in slices, grapes split and some apple all put in a dish and changed daily a small amount of sunflower seed will also be welcomed by the birds.
Other than that it sounds like you are doing the right thing keep up the good work and let us know how the birds settle in and how they are progressing.
John
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Post by fuzzydragonfly on May 29, 2006 21:34:33 GMT 10
Just an update, Overall these lorikeets have picked up really well. I know they can be a little timid to begin with dad's lorrikeets were like that too. Dad's lorikeets still don't like being handled but they still settled in well. They live in an indoor aviary. I'd say your right about the diet being the reason for stained feathers, I know they have runny fruity poop but these birds were passing what looked like runny pigeon poo. I've adjusted their diet which has improved the condition of the birds dramatically. The spark is definately returning in the birds and they have a keen appetite for harmony nectar/dry food, apples, mandarin, gravillia and bottlebrush  . I already knew what lorikeets eat but thanks for suggesting some foods anyway John. I haven't tried grapes yet, my rats like them, I should save a couple for the birds too. There's still just the one feeding from my hand, but it's still early days and even if I'm unable to tame them it's not a big issue so long as they're happy ;D. Thanks  PS: I'll have to remember to cut some branches for the perches, I keep forgetting  . |
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Post by silvercloud on May 30, 2006 0:33:01 GMT 10
They sound like they are doing really well. Keep us posted and put up more pics please. |
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Post by vankarhi on May 30, 2006 7:54:13 GMT 10
lovely looking pictures. From what I have read ........quarantine should be at least 4 weeks, just to make sure.
I do know someone who bought a couple of princess parrots a couple of weeks apart and did not quarantine and one of the babies had mega bacteria. She was terrified it would go through all her birds (she had 10 cockatiels as well and a quaker)..........lucky for her it did not and even the affected baby princess made it through.
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Post by fuzzydragonfly on May 31, 2006 1:38:24 GMT 10
Yeah I didn't quaranteen some guppies once, I lost half my tropical fish  , that's over $200 worth of fish from a nasty bacteria! But they were worth more then that to me so it was a really desperate struggle to save the rest. It was the bacteria kills within 24 hours of the fish showing symptoms (columnaris). I've learnt my lesson the hard way too  . Like I've mentioned somewhere before if I've got any major concerns I can always go to my avian vet. At the moment it's looking pretty good, I'd say it was mainly the diet and hygene which was the problem. |
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Peter
Addicted Member
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Post by Peter on Jun 1, 2006 9:11:43 GMT 10
You have done the best thing!
Although you would want to limit stress in birds, stress can make a bird show a disease it has that has been laying dormant so to speak. When the bird becomes stressed the disease fires up and the birds becomes sick, so it is not easy to tell if the bird is sick prior to the stress, so seeing a bird in it's home before you purchace it, and it looks really healthy, may be misleading. Once you move it and stress it, it may become ill and die, and perhaps pass it on to other birds!
You have done a top notch job! good luck with it all
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Post by fuzzydragonfly on Jun 2, 2006 20:47:16 GMT 10
I agree Peter,
Also the fact that birds tend to hide any problems, by the time symptoms show the problem is advanced.
They can be sick for long periods without showing any major physical symptoms.
I find that weight loss, change of appetite, lethargy, poop problems and feather quality are usually good early indicators of illness.
The best way I find is getting to know your birds character and noticing sudden changes in character, but as I haven't had these birds for too long it's hard to tell.
The birds are still OK ;D , Just need to get some updates photos this weekend!
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Post by fuzzydragonfly on Jun 8, 2006 0:10:19 GMT 10
Hi again Well a few days ago there was a huge fight. two of the birds were attacking each other, so I seperated the one which appeared to be the cause of the fight. I might try to tame the seperated bird because the other two seem to be a pair, dad'll have fun trying to breed those  . So looks like I've got myself my own personal lorikeet . He's a strange bird, he hold onto the cage bars and scapes his foot along the bottom of the cage like he's digging??? He's in my room at the moment, he's not very friendly but he's quiet bird, rarely makes a peep. Hopefully he'll soon get used to me so I can start letting him out of the cage. Apart from that one incodent the birds are still doing well ;D. |
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Post by silvercloud on Jun 8, 2006 1:08:41 GMT 10
Lorikeets are strange little critters. I'm glad to her they're doin well. My 2 have days where they fight quite fiercely it seems, but then everything is OK.
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Post by AussieBirds on Jun 8, 2006 9:48:28 GMT 10
Good luck taming the Lorikeete Klara they make fantastic pets, I have had one for years and she is a gem. They can get a little noisy at times but are so much fun and so affectionate.
John
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, that's over $200 worth of fish from a nasty bacteria! But they were worth more then that to me so it was a really desperate struggle to save the rest. It was the bacteria kills within 24 hours of the fish showing symptoms (columnaris). 
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