Galah advise PLEASE ?

[jazzie]

Hi guys, I'm a new member and a new owner of a galah. Had her (?) for 13 days, happy, appears healthy etc....however...I have just noticed that she has scratched through her feathers and just broken the surface of her skin just above her tail feathers and under were her wings meet on her back.

Can any one advise what I should do ?

I'm told she was bought as a baby and the last owners had her for 2 months.

Can any one help me estimate her age ?
And sex?
And at what age do they start to talk ?

100 question, I just love her and what to know more about her.


Thanks Jazzie

[carlsandclan]

Hey jazzie! Congrats on becoming owned by a galah! I am sure you will have wonderful times with your pink and grey bundle of fun!

OK, the spot you are describing is where they have oil glands which they will rub then preen - that's how they waterproof their feathers, and keep them in condition. You say you think she has scratched - is there any blood? The area should look kind of dirty - and yellowish. Without seeing it, it's really hard to say if it's just the normal gland, or something else. So if in doubt, take her to a vet.

If she was bought as a baby, she would have been about 3-4 months old. That is when they wean. So if the last owners had her for only 2 months, she would be 5-6 months old now. Young galahs have a lot of grey feathers on their chest amongst the pink, which they moult out at around 7-8 months old. All young galahs have black eyes, too.

Their eye colour changes at around 1 year old, when they mature, IF they are female. Males keep the dark brown to black eyes, whereas females will develop lighter reddish brown to copper coloured eyes. Keep in mind, though, that although all galahs with lighter reddish eyes are females, not all females have lighter reddish eyes! Or you can just wait and see if she lays an egg! Otherwise, if you really want to know for sure, you could have DNA testing done.

As for talking, my AJ was saying hello when I got her at 3 months old. She's now 9 months old, and she says a few words - scratch, peek-a-boo, hello AJ, night night, home and out (she tells the dogs to get out! lol)

Go through and read posts on galahs - there are a few of us who have or have had a galah as a pet. And just research as much as you can - before I got AJ, I googled myself silly looking for info on galahs! lol

Hope this helps!

Carls

[vankarhi]

As Carly has said........they juvenile galahs are more grey and have black eyes or dark eyes. When mature they lose that greyish look (they still have grey wings though) and the females have orangey coloured eyes.

If you wait for her to lay an egg you could be waiting 13 years........my girl layed her one and only egg at approx that age but I knew she was hen by the time she was approx 12 months old.

As for talking......my girl was not a good talker but could say a few words. But I did hear a male galah the same age as mine and he was an excellent talker. As for pets.........they are lovely birds to have as pets.

If you can post a pic of her we can possibly tell you if she is young or maybe even the sex if she is older.

[davewa]

Ditto to both of the above, if you think your bird is damaging itself ( it may be an Emo ) just keep an eye on it. I think it is as Carls said but look out for bald patches, if it does get worse look at its diet and environment. Make sure it has toys to play with and feed it pellets instead of seeds and give it lots of fruit and veg but check on previous threads about what NOT to feed a Galah. Getting branches from a Gum tree will help its chewing needs as well and try to give it a diet that mimicks in some way its natural feeding though it may be difficult depending on where you live!
Talking will depend on the individual bird they are like us all different, and beware they become scared of new things so be patient!

Have fun

[jazzie]

Thanks guys,
From what your are telling me and and see that there is a definite mix of grey feathers with in her pink area. so she must be young.
Her eyes are very dark in side and a orange brown around the outside.
I will get a couple of images to you when this computer decides to read the card in the camera.

She has seemed to stop with her spot that has blood on it.
I'm wondering if it was just the stress of the relocation all the excitement of being treated like a galah.

It would have broke your heart if you had seen the small cage she was in for 2 months and her perch... made out of wire, thin wire.
The same night we bought her home branch went in, wire came out.
Very next day, new large, large cage.
Poor baby !

She is like a puppy, destroys everything she is given, lots of curiosity and loves to be with me. I blows me away how she has bonded in such a small time.

As for the speech, hopefully time will tell.

Pictures soon.

Thanks for you encouragement......Jazzie

[davewa]

Thats really bad, I'm glad you bought her from those a-------s. She or he may be carrying some baggage after that its hard to say so just keep being nice and patient as you are. Sounds like it was a bit stressed and that would explain the behaviour.
When we found Bob he was wary as well of us but found that he had to be in the room with us so if you have him or her in another room away from all of you move it in so it feels part of the flock!!!

[carlsandclan]

BLESS YOU! OMG - I can't tell you how much it means to me to 'meet' people who save these beautiful creatures from such torture. What is her name?

Sounds like she's probably only around 6 months old. Galahs, like all cockatoos, can get very stressed, bless them. It sounds like she is settling in really well with you! That is so fantastic!

Have you given her a shower yet? She probably hasn't bathed properly her whole life! I take my girl, AJ, into the shower with me - she LOVES it. On a hot day, I use a water spray bottle. She could be very itchy, which could also explain some of the picking behaviour.

Galahs really don't get the credit they deserve in this country - which is such a crying shame! They are SO cuddly, funny, playful and SMART. Sure, they might not talk as well as some other parrots, but give them some buttons and they will have them undone in one min flat! (AJ loves it when I get home from work - she undoes all my buttons on my shirt, and then we have a shower lol)

Can't wait to see pics!!!

Carley

[vankarhi]

It sounds like she has a wonderful home now and it quite possibly without seeing the injury ....... could have been a scratch from the wire in her cage.

[jazzie]

Thanks all for your kind words
A food question if I may - Is fresh pineapple and rockmelon OK to feed her ?

[madaussie]

Well i give it to Fred but he is a pig and will eat anything .
jjjjj

[jazzie]

Go Fred

[davewa]

I must give that a try, I give Bob,
Tomato
Cucumber
Beans
Carrot
Apple
Corn
Capsicum, Loves his capsicum seeds
Just don't give him her Lettuce
Some birds take a while to change their diet so persist with what you try to feed them.

[jazzie]

She is trying everything I give her.
I think she is just please to have anything besides seed.
The previous owner only gave her seed mix.
Its not like he was a bad person, that said, as a animal owner you should know or learn what are the requirements for the animal you chose to keep.
It is like he didn't know better, but he should have found out.
At the end of the day she is mine now, or am I hers ?
She has her own shelf in the fridge door now with her goodies.
I got her for mother's day, a long story for another day, anyway, I have 3 young daughters and she is my 4th baby girl.
When my girls grow up and leave home I will have my Jazzie.
Most of our 30+ animals have a name starting with "J" so hence Jazzie, a good unisex name.
We have chooks, dogs, horse, sheep, an alpaca, goats and 1 cat Jerry and we love them all too.

[carlsandclan]

We are all owned by our birds. LOL We are their slaves! But we wouldn't have it any other way.

I spend as much time and money on AJ as I do on us. I buy organic vegies which we all share, not to mention all the seed, pellets, toys......she is one spoiled birdy!

Jazzie is a great name for a galah, Now we just need pics!

[vankarhi]

Hey I was watching the the 7 pm project (or whatever it is called) last night and I think it was Hughsie who said that "don't date women with birds" .......... they are usually crazy lol I almost took offence at it. lol

Well I think it was the 7pm project.........not sure now what I was watching. I just know it was not on "the modern family" or "survivor" lol

[jazzie]

Where do I get galah pellets from ?
She has seed, but I thought I would trial her on pellet as well.
I though our local produce store would have them.
They have horse, cow, pid, duck, chook pellets and more not not galah.


And a training question -
Alot of the websites I go to for training/trick use a clicker.
Is this something I should start ?
Ant thoughts for training ?


Pictures hopefully soon.

[avinet]

Pellets suitable for parrots should be found at reasonable pet shops that carry a good amount of bird stuff. Where about do you live - I might be able to recommend a local one. Alternatively they can be purchased on-line - try Vetafarm's site www.vetafarm.com.au

There is a very good account of clicker training in the Training section of the forum - by fotohijinx in the thread on Buddy the Cockatiel.
aussiebirds.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=Training&action=display&thread=9249

cheers,

Mike

[davewa]

I get mine from Better Pets and gardens but have seen them in other good pet shops. Bob loves the pellets and seems fuller than when he was on seeds, makes a powdery mess on the floor but seeds are no better and they are better for his health.

[carlsandclan]

I go to Pet Barn - the one here actually has really good prices. AJ likes the vetafarm - both the nutriblend and the maintenance ones.

There are a heap of online stores - I've bought through the Parrot Rescue Centre a fair bit, too.

[jazzie]

Thanks Guys,

The kids and I will try the pet shop at Campbelltown tomorrow.
We live out near Picton (NSW), not many specialized shops out here, but I was surprised when my local feed store where we get the horse food did not have it.

Another question please.........

She has changed her play with me and I was wondering if the following rings any bells with any one - Is this normal baby galah play ?

Like I said we have only had her since mother's day and she has defiantly become more confident with us everyday.
From what we can judge we think she is about 6-8months old.
She is by far bonded with me more than the girls and my husband (and I make sure they all get time with her)

Last night and ton git when we have "OUR" time together, when she would normally just sit on my chest (below the level of my face) whilst I watch TV and I would give her a gentle rub and just talk to each other.....Instead she pushes her head into my hand and does a sort of roll over like a dog does when they want their tummy rubbed and lets out a very loud stretch, wings and feathers go everywhere and gets HYPO !

To me I think -
Is she is telling me what she wants to do, dominate the play time
or
Is this just normal play for a young galah.

Normally is is very calm and I'm wondering if she is really starting to trust us and open up.

Question to you guys ?

Should I go with this play and just rub her when she wants and play the way she wants
or
When her play gets a bit loud and aggressive calmly but her back onto her cage ?

I don't mind if she is load, but I think she needs to know I am boss.
Or have I forgotten she is still very young...........


Advise please