My parakeets won't eat a cuttlebone and is too scared to get his/her nails clipped.HELP!(How do u know M/F?)

Question

I got two new parakeets, like a month ago, and I need help...please...i have two cuttlebones. One hanging on a holder, and one thats covered in poop on the ground. I also have a perch that has sand things to help wear down their nails, but they hardly go on it. I have toys but they never play with it...HELP!

Answer 1

Chewing on a cuttlebone is not a real delema, really. As long as they have a supplemental calcium source (calcium water drops, scrambled eggs or use a chesse grater and mix it in their foor with a little water) they will be fine. The best thing to have them on is a kibbled diet. It does not have a lot of calcium in it, but there is enough to help avoid problems.

Remove the sandy-crap from the cage. Those are actually rather dangerous to parrots. A bird's feet are very important, and rarely, as they should not, do they ever leave their feet. The sand and gravel may cut the mushy pads on the bottom of their feet, which can get infected easily due to their over-use, and take months to heal. I believe, if we would not want to walk on sand paper or jagged, lumpy cement, why should they need to?

Toys are usually put on the back burner if you have more then one bird in a cage. They my enjoy wanting to be with each other more, which will keep them more then occupied. If you find you are still concerned, remove ALL toys from the cage and pout in one at a time. Chenge the toy every week to keep them on their toes. This usually just amuses them :)

To clip nails:
Lightly wrap them in a small hand towel or washcloth and flip them on their back. If you wrapped them properly, the wings will be pinned and the feet will be easily accessable. Please, only clip the tip. If you cut too much, they may bleed to death through that little cut. If you do clip too much, use the towel end and pinch lightly- the pressure will help it to clot quickly. If you are still timid, call a certified avian veterinarian to aid you.

To sex parakeets:
Parrots have a waxy flesh above their beak called a "cere". This is, basicly, their nose. The colors can tell gender, and most of the time DNA, blood or feather sexing methods are not needed.

Males have a light blue to dark purple cere, and females are light pink, beige or brown. Lutinos and Cinnimons can have somewhat of a white, and those are also female.

Answer 2

Okay. Get rid of the sand paper covers; they're no good and your birds will probably eat them, and they won't do anything for the nails. Second, get rid of the cuttlebone--I have heard many stories of birds dying of infections because the bone on the back broke and cut the backs of the throat. Get mineral blocks instead.

And get rid of the one on the floor. It's covered in feces and could cause infection for your birds.

As for the perches, there are some natural wood ones that are permanently encased with a fine layer of sand--these conform to the natural shapes of trees and your bird won't get "bumblefood", which are infections when a bird sits on the perch too long with pressure on the same points. A bird's circulation is not very good in its feet, thus limiting its ability to fight infection. These perches may be a little hard to find, but they are well worth the effort.

one place to look is www.featherheads.com. they ship, I think, and that is where I got mine. They are located in Sterling, Virginia

Answer 3

Parakeets are mature at about 6 months. Males have bright blue seers (the area directly above the beak) and females have pinkish to lavender colored seer except when ready to mate and then it turns brown.
Parakeets do not need grit in the diet, nor do they need sand paper or sand covered perches. Several products are available at pet stores that keep the beak and toenails the right length. Either get a pumice perch or concrete perch(ladder,or swing) and the problem is taken care of
Cuttlebone is essential, especially if feeding a seed diet. It provides calcium in the diet. It is best for the bird's overall health to feed fresh fruits and vegetables and a pellet diet like "Zu-Preem". Feeding strictly a cheap seed only diet will shorten the birds life, mainly from dieing of fatty liver disease.
Parakeets are curious birds and like swings with bells, links, mirrors and beads.
They like to bathe in a birdbath also.
Many good books are available, one suggested is "Parakeets" by Barron's books and available in many pet shops for under ten dollars.
By using the above suggestions, you will probably never have to use an avian vet. Regular vets are not recommended because they are not proficient in avian care.

Answer 4

I have had parakeets in the past that will have nothing to do with mineral blocks, toys or cuttle bones. I now have a quaker parrot that actively chews on her wooden perches and toys but still requires regular nail, wing and beak trimmings.

If their beaks are growing too long and you are concerned, consider seeking an avian vet to help you take care of these issues. I see a vet at the PetSmart vet clinic and it's $20 a visit to have beak, wings and nails trimmed. I only have to do it about once every 4-5 months. It doesn't hurt them at all.

Answer 5

I have 2 parakeets that never had a cuttlebone and rite above the beak if its blue its a boy if its peach its a girl.

Answer 6

Cuddlebone is not for thier claws, it's for the beak, and also a source of calcium. Why do you think they need to wear done thier claws? And clean the bottom of the cage. There shouldn't be poop all over anything!

Answer 7

Songbird is the one to listen too..everything that person said was right on.. don´t forget to have a bath on hand for the birds as they love to bathe

Answer 8

you need gravel for them also.[get it at the pet shop] put in with the food. they need it to digest food..
your birds have not adjusted to their new home yet ,it can take up to 6 months ...remember to cover them up at night at the same time..they are scared right now ,give them time.. before you know it they will be chattering up a storm...
males==blue nose band...girls==pink or tan nose bands

Answer 9

Go, take them back to whereever you got them from, tell them you bought the birds from them, tell them to clip the wings, nails , and band.They'll do it for free.

Answer 10

best thing to do is take them to a bird groomer and have them groomed. only 100% way of sexing is by dna


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