Moving to London: problems with landlords?

[Eric&Rebecca]

I would get him checked out to be sure. Liquidy poops aren't great... it could just be stress but it would put your mind at rest.

Very good AV that I use John- Dr Stenson or Dr Wildgoose at Midland Vet Surgery, Leyton which is East London. Treat both our cockatiels . Type in on Google
They can test the poop right there and then and Dr Stenson is particularly good! He's an AV with over 25 years experience.

Just keep him warm and keep an eye on how much he eating and drinking. Check the poop for a change in colour and smell. I'd book an appointment for within 48 hours. Make sure he's getting at LEAST 12 hours non interrupted sleep.

[john212]

Just keep him warm and keep an eye on how much he eating and drinking. Check the poop for a change in colour and smell. I'd book an appointment for within 48 hours. Make sure he's getting at LEAST 12 hours non interrupted sleep.

Hello,
thanks a lot for your message! I'm close to Leyton so that vet will be handy. The only problem is that I am working during the day and I don't know if I can get there before saturday..

Anyway.. this new apartment isn't very big so during the day I keep him in the living room that is the room with more light and warmer and then in the evening if we watch some TV I cover the cage and bring him to the bedroom. Then when we go to sleep I bring him back to the living room keeping him covered until the morning. Poo color seems normal but I have to admin that I never tried to smell them.

About the VET, I've checked again and the midland vet surgery is very close to our aparment.. also I think that my girlfriend contacted them but they stated they are not bird specialist and that for a bird specialist we could contact the one in romford. ..but if you suggest me the midland vet I think it should be fine. Btw.. is the vet good at handling the birds? Mine bites and tries to escape / fly away even if he is tamed!

thanks

bye,
John.

[Eric&Rebecca]

Dr Stenson is a board certified Avian Vet I think they mean they don't have bird specialists as in nutritionists and behaviourists there permenantly, he's very good at handling them. He was a consultant to large parrot breeding aviary for ZSL and speicalises in the small parakeets like cockatiels and conures has over 25 years experience in avian medicine (he's been amazing for us!) and Dr. Wildgoose is wild birds and exotics but also has experience with small parakeets. They are very good at handling birds, Dr. Stenson won't let them fly around he holds them properly which can look a bit rough at first but they use the correct holds to sure the bird won't get hurt. They also teach you how to do this, I've seen macaws and Grey's go in there so a cockatiel won't be a problem.

Edmund and George are tamed but they still go to bite... he doesn't mind I have been to the one in Romford... I'm not a fan as they said seed diets were ok and birds don't need anything but seed and that Edmund was a girl... he's a boy! DNA tested. Maybe I just got a bad vet there :-/ Their bird nurtionist and beahviourist were very good.

The lady who lives downstairs with 5 African Grey's also uses this surgery in Leyton and Dr Stenson.

I would recommend waiting for Stenson he's also an avian surgeon! The surgery is open Saturdays and Sundays. He will teach you about health checks you can do for your bird at home and how to perform basic diagnostics yourself. A basic appointment is around £30- they also offer avian insurance.

[john212]

Dr Stenson is a board certified Avian Vet I think they mean they don't have bird specialists as in nutritionists and behaviourists there permenantly, he's very good at handling them.

Thank you for the information, very helpful!

I'm not a fan as they said seed diets were ok and birds don't need anything but seed

first time I hear this from a vet, and for me sounds a bit like swearing ..anyway mine had (my fault) a seed based diet but recently he started eating some fresh salad (maybe this could also be the cause of the more liquid poo)

anyway, I'm very glad I found someone that were able to give me direct feedback about a local vet! thank you again!

bye,
John.

p.s.
about sleep duration.. do you think that when the bird is healthy he could sleep a little bit less? I work in central London and I leave about at 8 / 8:30 am and get back around 19 - 19:30 so basically he'd have to sleep the whole time I'm at home now my GF is at home cause she is looking for a job but as soon she'll get one the pet will stay mainly alone during the day, at least from Monday to Friday.

[Eric&Rebecca]

If you're feeding iceberg lettuce or any not dark green lettuce yes this will cause runny poop or more urine whichis called polyuria. Also that has very little nutrition, try some watercress, kale, sometimes some spinach or lambs lettuce these are good greens. Our also like bell peppers, chillis, brocolli, asparagus and carrots. Also sweet potatoe mash... brown rice, brocolli and chilli powder so many things LOL.

I do use TOPS pellets, because I can't constantly get all these things so that helps with the nutrition when I can't provide.

Once he's healthy and settled in the new cage what about getting a second cockatiel as a buddy? We have two and its really helped Edmund We have Edmund and George

Call up ask for Stenson for a check up and registration. I'm sure you'll find Stenson more than adequate. I checked up the AV at Romford, they are exotics registered not Avian registered. I mean they probably still very good but try Stenson.

[john212]

Once he's healthy and settled in the new cage what about getting a second cockatiel as a buddy? We have two and its really helped Edmund We have Edmund and George

Hello,
yep thought about it but.. I've got very attached to this one and he is 10 years old now.. but then I don't want another one that could live another 15 years or more. But I don't wanna be selfish and when I got mine, 10 years ago, I had more time to stay with him etc. So well I could consider it but when one day my current one will pass away I think I'd give away the second one and it is not nice to buy another one with this in mind

Also.. problems mine has are sort of chronical so I don't know / think he'll ever get 100% healthy again. The new apartment has good windows and is warmer than the one I were in Italy and this will hopefully help but then.. fingers crossed.

Call up ask for Stenson for a check up and registration. I'm sure you'll find Stenson more than adequate. I checked up the AV at Romford, they are exotics registered not Avian registered. I mean they probably still very good but try Stenson.

Yes I definitely think I'll try Stenson, thanks.

bye,
John.

p.s.
yep I'm giving him light green salad, but not lettuce. Mainly for vitamins but I'm anyway giving him some vitamins drops in his water.

[Eric&Rebecca]

Seeing as your bird has had respiratory issues I wouldn't use vitamin drops in water... not only do they dissolve into being useless they are also breeding grounds for bacteria even if you clean everyday. Stenson will be able to prescribe a vitamin or a diet plan to help this.

Like green salads are mainly just water, dark greens have the nutrients

Anyway Stenson will help you with anything. Maybe ask to book a double appointment, he can really give you the rundown..

[john212]

Seeing as your bird has had respiratory issues I wouldn't use vitamin drops in water... not only do they dissolve into being useless they are also breeding grounds for bacteria even if you clean everyday.

Thanks for the tip, but why do they dissolve into being useless? My Italian vet suggested me to give them to him as the seeds based diet is not enough

thanks.

bye,
John.

[Eric&Rebecca]

The dilution process, not only makes them less potent but also over the time of being in the water bowl the actual vitamins and minerals break down. Like when you boil
Veggies for too long. If you want to use vitamin supplements you can but powders that sprinkle of foods retain them better. I don't use them personally but nutrobal or avimix are ok as far as artificial vitamins go. Also birds can only absorb so much in one go, and as they don't drink very much they get very little effect anyway.

You're better off doing it through diet though. Speak to the vet but I'd be more concerned about the bacteria build up. Especially if your bird has a history of respiratory problems. Soluble vitamins are pretty old school, they came about after grits and things which we now know aren't required.

Have you considered a pellet supplement like TOPS? It's never too late, I mean cockatiels live 25 years. We've had several live longer than that though.

It's great you're getting veggies in though, strong tasting fruits and veggies are best along with cooked brown rice and soaking or spouting pulses or beans. You can even sprout seeds