Louie is doing better, but he continues to have extremely high cholesterol. All signs point to atherosclerosis. In addition to his current medications, we will put him on statins next, which are largely untested in eclectus parrots. Continue reading Managing Cholesterol in Eclectus Parrots: Louie’s Atherosclerosis Journey (Update)
Louie’s 2020 mojo molt fit the year. It was a bad molt this time around and lasted around five months. Since my most popular posts are all about Eclectus Mojo Molts, I figured it was time for an update—and provide a progression photo series so others can see how these can go. We saw the first hints of it in early August, 2020: Slowly and … Continue reading Eclectus Mojo Molt: Progression Pictures
Last year in July, I took my flock to the vet; she noticed the big ones’ nails and beaks were a touch overgrown, but this was especially true for Louie the eclectus. The vet recommended we get our parrots’ bloodwork done, because contrary to my earlier/misinformed belief, any bird who has a concrete perch in his cage (concrete, not sandpaper) shouldn’t have a problem keeping … Continue reading Holy Liver Values, Batman! How We Lowered Our Eclectus’ Cholesterol Through Diet
Oh, the holidays–friendship, cheer, the season of giving… What more could a bird want than a bit of pizza crust? Unfortunately, Louie acquired a mild case of toe-tapping to go with it. 😦 This performance brought to you by pizza: I gave Louie a tiny bit of pizza crust (standard practice when we feel like spoiling our birds.) This particular pizza crust came from Old Chicagos, … Continue reading Allergies Don’t Disappear: Mild Toe-Tapping
2020 Edit: This is my most popular blog post, so I thought I’d write a follow-up with better pictures! If you’re looking for a variety of mojo moult pictures over the years, you are welcome to also check out these images of his various moults (hard ones and easy ones) from 2015-2020.
Otherwise, keep reading to see photos of a hard moult and a mojo moult happening in one poor eclectus parrot at the same time!
2016: Is he sick? Does he have scabies? Is he dying?!!
No, no, and no.
Mr. Lou is going through the most intense mojo moult of his life right now, coupled also with a hard moult. He has to be beyond uncomfortable, but he’s still our cheerful little Lou! Our handsome boy is not so handsome.
Louie met one of his kin today at the bird shop, a Red-Sided little dude who, at four months old (and still growing!), is the same size as Solomon Island Louie. Actually, junior might be a little bigger. That’s the closest I’ve ever seen a bird come to an existential crisis. Louie’s eyes got HUGE, he muttered a bewildered, “Hi Louie!” as if he were looking … Continue reading Prepare for trouble… make it double!
One of the hardest parts about teaching for me is that I have to leave my fids at home. Sure, my admin *might* be open to my bringing of my feathered friends to school occasionally since they don’t leave potential allergy-inducing dander behind, but let’s be real–I teach middle school, and kids do stupid things to each other. Who knows what stupid things might accidentally … Continue reading Teacher In-Service Days = The Best
…than kids with dogs, in my humblest of opinions. xD So do teachers, it seems. Continue reading Kids with birds have more legit excuses…
Today was a snow day, which meant I had time to make my birds a foraging toy! Hurray! Behold the fury that is Louie: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Snowpack Deactivated (@the.snow.pack) Easiest toy ever–cut a slice off the side of a fairly large bell pepper, stuff the inside with a bunch of fruits and vegetables (this one was filled with … Continue reading Foraging Toy – The Stuffed Pepper
There is one simple sign many parrot owners overlook that can be the canary in the cave of your bird’s health, and that sign is your parrot’s weight.
Buying a gram scale and weighing your parrot regularly could save your feathered friend’s life, especially if he or she is a newer member to your flock. Continue reading A First Sign of Illness: A Bird’s Weight
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