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Max's vet visit

Posted by Diane on 8/6/2025, 6:20 pm

The vet was here. She said Max was a good weight. She also thought my cage was to Hugh, the lighting in the bedroom to dark and sh gave me ideas on how to rearrange the inside of the cage.
I purchased a smaller cage to put beside me on top of the night stand I HAVE so he can fly from one spot to another. It's hard to do all of the things she said because my bedroom is so small. I stay in the bedroom with Max a lot. She probably thinks I'm crazy but I do do with with him for at least six hours during the day. I work at home and I have one of those beds that go up and down and I watch tv from my iPad. I don't want him in the living room because It would probably be to difficult to get him back in the cage. I already know this apartment is not the best scenario to have birds. My other apartment was much better. I already tried a type of bird stand by the window and Max wouldn't go. He used to sit on top of the armoire with Dorian and eat the cardboard box. He won't do that anymore. He basically states on top or on the side of the cage. I will try different things but I know he won't go for it.

I listened in to a bereavement meeting for pets that died within the past year. I still can't get over Dorian.
She mentioned adopting another older bird for Max but I don't think I'm in a good place mentally or physically right now to do that, especially because if something happens to me I won't have anybody to care for them. Sometimes it's hard to a younger person that.

Re: Max's vet visit

Posted by Diane on 8/6/2025, 7:42 pm, in reply to "Max's vet visit"

I will try some of her suggestions like the lighting. I'll try the second cage that I bought and put it on the nightstand and keep the millet in there and see if she starts to fly off of his cage. I'll put the play stand back on the nightstand by the window. I know Max won't go on it because I tried it before. I'l put more flat perches underwear his food oowels to make it easier for him to stand and eat on. And I'll get more shredding toys for the big cage and the second cage. Putting him in the living room is definitely a no.

Re: Max's vet visit

Posted by Seesthru, TC advisor on 8/7/2025, 12:08 am, in reply to "Re: Max's vet visit"

Mine are in the bedroom, too. They had lots more room in the old place. But in this apartment, the living room has the only door, and it's too risky when they are out and about to have them so close to accidentally getting out if I forget and go outside.

Tweets used to chew up boxes with Riley, but hasn't touched a box since Riley passed. I wish I could open the curtains, so they could see out, but it's facing the parking lot, and people are always walking by on the sidewalk and can see in.

I'm looking at a full spectrum lamp for them. I used to have one, but it quit working. I know now, to only use it for an hour or two each day.

You can put a lamp in. There's a cheap lamp that has five lights, and you can adjust them. I got one and put LED lights in it so it doesn't get hot. Since even with the light on, it seems kind of dim in here, too, I'm going to bring it back here from teh living room that I never sit in. I'm like you, I stay in the bedroom with the birds.

She has good ideas. But yeah, getting another bird might be too much. I've thought of it, but in the end, there will always be the one bird left, and we have to simply make them as happy as we can.

Do the change slowly, the ones that you can do, in order to keep him comfy. I got Tweets a shredder toy, he's completely uninterested in it. I hope the budgies like it. None of the birds like the little play Gym I bought. ugh!

Did she do a poop test?

Re: Max's vet visit

Posted by Diane on 8/7/2025, 8:29 am, in reply to "Re: Max's vet visit"

She did a poop test but I won't get the results for a couple of days.
I'll look for a new light this weekend and I'll put a flat stand under his food cup in case he makes it easier. I'll also put up the second cage and see if he'll go to it. I really wished I'd known about this service years ago.

Re: Max's vet visit

Posted by Cathy on 8/7/2025, 12:33 pm, in reply to "Re: Max's vet visit"

I used to get the plain no sugar ice cream cones and tie them to the right-hand side of the cage that had a perch going from front to the back so they could comfortably stand and nibble. All of my birds over the year, including Shiloh loved to chomp away on them. Maybe Max would enjoy that, too, in lieu of shredding boxes.

I would get the avian FSL bulb from Redbird Products. It was nice and bright. It screws in like a regular bulb. I'd turn it on in the morning before I left for work for a bit then turn it off and turn it on again for a little bit when I got home from work.

https://www.petsmart.com/reptile/environmental-control-and-lighting/light-fixtures/zoo-med-reptile-mini-deep-dome-lamp-37914.html

Red Bird Products, Inc. (redbird@directcon.net)

Cathy

Re: Max's vet visit

Posted by Nancy on 8/7/2025, 1:02 pm, in reply to "Re: Max's vet visit"

Where do you live that a vet comes to you. That is awesome! I hope her suggestions help and the poop test comes back fine. I like Cathy’s idea with the cone.. I think Angel would love that

Re: Max's vet visit

Posted by Diane on 8/7/2025, 1:55 pm, in reply to "Re: Max's vet visit"

I think Cathy's idea is good also. I'm definitely going to try it.

Re: Max's vet visit

Posted by Diane on 8/7/2025, 1:54 pm, in reply to "Re: Max's vet visit"

Ok. It sounds good.

Re: Max's vet visit

Posted by Seesthru, TC advisor on 8/7/2025, 5:46 pm, in reply to "Re: Max's vet visit"

I remember in the early 200's I gave mine cones like that to shred. Some of them loved them!

Re: Max's vet visit

Posted by Cathy on 8/11/2025, 11:31 am, in reply to "Re: Max's vet visit"

It used to make me feel good that they were able to keep their beaks busy and pass away the time. I had totally forgotten about the cones.

Cathy

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