EPPA Gazzette

 

August - September 2004

 

Ellerslie Harvest Tea

 

September 18 & 19 2004 we were invited to attend the yearly Ellerslie Greenhouse Harvest Tea. This was a new event for the club and turned out great. Thanks to all who attended with their birds and helped out.

 

Sands Show

 

On September 26, 2004 we had our show at the Sands Hotel. There was a lot of traffic that came through to see the birds on display. As with the Ellerslie Harvest Tea, the EPPA sold raffle tickets and club memberships. During the two events the club sold close to $1000.00 in entry fees, raffle tickets, and memberships. Thank you to all who participated and came out and brought their birds to the show. We had a wide variety of birds and plenty of people on hand to explain about our birds to the public.

 

 

 

Letter From The President

 

This EPPA year has gotten off to a good start with about 25 new members.

 

At our next meeting (October 27th), Lu Carbyn, co-owner of The Wildbird General Store, will talk about, and show us slides from his trip to Namibia: Land of the Lovebirds.

Lu is a Research Scientist Emeritus with the Canadian Wildlife Service and an adjunct professor at the University of Alberta.  He has over 30 years of experience in wildlife research. His involvement in research on mammals, birds and conservation has taken him across Canada and around the world.

 

In conjunction with Lu’s presentation, Deb is going to bring a few of her lovebirds and talk about keeping a lovebird as pet and what to expect from them.

 

Looking forward to seeing everyone at our October 27th meeting.

It should be a good one!

 

 

 

 

 

Pet Of The Month

 

August: Laura brought two chickens, Aspen and Enzie. Aspen is a dark Brahma hen and Enzie is a white Leghorn hen. More information on Laura’s chickens can be found at http://www.eppa.ca/meetings/chickens.html 

 

September: Shrek was the pet of the month for September. He belongs to Maggie & Gene. He is an Orange Winged Amazon.

http://www.petbirdbreeder.com/orangewing.htm

 

 

Recipe Of The Month

 

Birdie Pumpkin Bread
1 can of organic pumpkin or sweet potato puree (15 oz)
4 oz yogurt
1/2 cup applesauce (instead of oil)
Some ground flax seed
1 whole egg (including shell)
1/4 cup of mango or carrot juice
2+ TBL quinoa
Mixed un-sulphured dried fruits and raw sunflower seeds
About 2 cups Arrowhead Mills Organic Cornbread mix-enough to make a stiff batter
 
EXTRA Nutrition: If you have a juicer, add the pulp from carrots or other great veggies. Other items can be added, just adjust texture using more mix or liquid. Almond Milk is just as good as mango juice.
 
Bake about 30 minutes @ 375 degrees

Freeze in sections; keep 2-3 days worth fresh.

 

 

 

EPPA Member Discount Listing

 

10 % Discounts

 

            Baker’s Aviaries Feed & Seed: 9784 – 51st Ave                              490-4434

            Tiffany’s Décor On Whyte: 10135 Whyte avenue                             434-2414

 

Champion’s Feed & Farm Supply: 13723 Manning Drive                 406-2233

(5% off 25 lb bags and 10% off 50 lb bags of parrot food.)

 

 

10 % Discount on bird food

 

                      The Wild Bird Store: 4712 – 99 St                        439-7333

 

 

All PJ Pet stores offer 15%

 

P J’s Pet Centre: #337 – 3414 Gateway Blvd            436-7387

P J’s Pet Centre: Phase III 1498 WEM                     444-7387

P J’s Pet Centre: 742 Kingsway Mall                         474-1700

P J’s Pet Centre: L66 Londonderry Mall       472-7387

            Superpet: 160 Mayfield Common                   481-8000

 

 

Poem of The Month

Something to Share

" Bird crazy " is what they call me.
And parrots are my game.
This name I have been given.
Is an honor, not a shame.

I love them. I care for them. I comfort them too
I also work with humans
and teach them to follow through.

When you bought this lovely creature.
You probably did not know.
Just how very smart it was.
Nor how your life would go.

Sometimes they bite. Sometimes they scream.
They make lot's of messes too.
Another thing to remember is;
They'll probably out live you.

Parrots are wild creatures
But live in homes you see.
They depend on us to give to them.
All the things they need.

They need to have their showers.
Don't forget their Doctor too.
They cannot live on seed alone.
So Sad That many do.

They need Love and Understanding
when they are scared or hurt or sad.
They do not understand it when
we are tired, stressed, or mad.

We must always remember.
They were meant to be free.
We must give them more than just a cage.
For they would really like a tree.

So when you take a parrot home.
Please keep these things in mind.
It's up to you to understand
And always to be kind.                                 By: Tammy Murphy

 

Gazette Tidbits

Reasons for Plucking and Chewing Feathers

MATURITY - In reaching maturity, parrots go through a period of hormone imbalance very similar to that of a maturing teenager. This period is very confusing to them because they don't understand what they are feeling. This does not necessarily mean that they are ready for breeding or parenthood any more than a teenager would be. In fact, a pet parrot would be even less prepared for a breeding situation. They don't have other parrots or peers to learn from. Breeding and raising young is not instinctive for parrots. If they live with a flock in the wild, they learn from other parrots. As a pet bird, their flock is a human family. They have not learned to relate to another parrot or to raise young. Very often a pet bird will be abused or even attacked by another parrot. Putting a maturing pet bird into a breeding situation would be even worse than forcing a teenager into a marriage. Not only would it be doomed to certain failure, but it would feel deserted at a time when it most needs support. If a pet bird is to be put into a breeding situation, it should first be allowed to get acquainted with the bird that you have chosen for a mate. Before they are allowed to live together, make sure that one does not bully or abuse the other. Most often, if parrots that do not get along when they meet, they will probably never really become bonded. The best you could hope for is that they will learn to tolerate each other. If you decide to breed your pet, and it becomes bonded to its intended mate, you will have to accept that it will probably no longer be a pet. Most parrots must give up their human bond to become bonded to another parrot. If you decide to help your pet through this difficult period, instead of giving him up for breeding, you will likely have a companion for life.

ABUSE AND NEGLECT - Although abuse and/or neglect are most often blamed as the reason for feather plucking, these reasons, in the true sense, are seldom the cause. Both assume intent to harm. I have heard of a few very remote cases that a parrot was the target of a person taking out their anger and frustration, but, in most cases, what seems to be neglect, is ignorance of the parrots needs or a life too busy to include the bird. It is also possible that the parrot has developed habits that can no longer be tolerated, and so was shut into an area that it is always alone. This is something the fate of cockatoos that have started screaming in demand of attention. Granted, these things can be viewed as a form of abuse or neglect, but it isn't generally intentional. There are cases of neglect and abuse in parrots, just as there are in children, but it is definitely not the most common reason for plucking. So, if you decide to "rescue" an abused, plucked parrot, keep in mind that the reasons for the plucking are likely to be one of the other reasons described here. You will probably have other problems, behavioral or nutritional, to overcome, and may have to accept the fact that the bird may never grow his feathers back - even if you change his diet and environment.

DIETARY DEFICIENCY OR IMBALANCE - An improper diet that is deficient in, or has an excess, of nutrients may also be a cause for plucking or chewing. For example, a diet that does not have enough protein may cause a parrot to start eating his own feathers to supplement his diet. Sometime a diet too low in fat will cause plucking in some greys. Each animal is an individual and will metabolize nutrients differently. So what works for one, may not work for another. If you parrot is plucking, it would be wise to have a complete physical done by an avian veterinarian to try to rule out a deficiency as the cause. The deficiency of some nutrients can be determined by blood tests.

BOREDOM OR LACK OF STIMULUS - Boredom and lack of stimulus is probably the most common cause of plucking. Parrots are very intelligent creatures. If left for long period with nothing to play with and nothing to watch, they will find something to occupy themselves. Pulling feathers, one by one, and watching them float to the bottom of the cage can be fun to do if there is nothing else available. Try to imagine how you might feel if you were left alone for long periods in a 6' x 6' room with no window and nothing but a chair in the middle. At the very least, you might start chewing your nails.

If you must leave your parrot alone for extended periods of time, make sure that he has a few different toys to play with. Even leaving on a radio or television for him will help to keep him entertained while you are gone.

CHANGES OR EMOTIONAL UPSET - Parrots, like people, often become very comfortable and secure with routine. When the routine is suddenly changed, they become very upset to the point of being physically destructive. African Greys are notorious for this behavior. Relocation to a new home, or even moving the cage to a different room, can set off a sudden desire to remove every feather within reach. By moving the cage to a more secure location, the plucking can stop as suddenly as it started.

Emotional upset is also a common cause for many parrot species. The loss of a loved one or even emotional upset and high tension in the family group can cause them to start plucking in frustration. They are upset and feel helpless to do anything, so they take out their frustrations on themselves. Children in similar situation will rebel with negative behavior, become introverted and fearful, or develop psychological problems. As intelligent as parrots are, why should they react any differently?

OVERGROOMING BY A MATE - Sometimes you can put two beautifully feathered parrots together only to find in a short time that one or both has had all or most of their feathers removed. In some cases, this can be caused by an overzealous mate trying to do a really good job in grooming his beloved mate. Since some our breeders may have been pets at one time that were bonded to a person, I believe that some of them may be trying to make their mate look more like the person that they loved. That person probably didn't have feathers. I have seen less plucking in imported parrots that have never bonded to a human.

HABIT - When a parrot has been plucking for a long period of time, it very often becomes a habit, like nail biting. Even if the original cause of the plucking is remedied, they continue to pull feathers. If you are confident that every possible cause has been investigated and eliminated, and the plucking persists, the next step would be to help your pet to break the habit. You must keep in mind that persistent and long-term plucking can damage feather follicles so that new feathers may never grow in.                                   Written and Published by Judy Leach Parrot’s

 

Member Advertising

 

Orange Winged Amazon 4 months old $800.00 DNA Male call Maggie 483-6905

 

Deb (973-3267) has parrotlets and lovebirds for sale.