Pionus - Constant Regurgitation / Sour crop??

[Pajarita]

Well, I am Hispanic myself and the constant encouragement that Americans need is not something that I have noticed in our culture. In my personal experience and for what I have seen in my dealings with people from Latin America and Spain (I used to travel a lot, both for business and pleasure), we do praise and encourage children a lot but not adults. Did you, by any chance, come here when you were still a child?

I also use seeds for my birds. They are a natural part of their diet, they are easily available, they are inexpensive, they provide the amount and type of protein they need and they like them a lot so, as long as they are eating cooked whole grains and a large range of veggies, fruits and greens and the seed portion is measured, they are getting a better diet than if they eat pellets.

If she is eating all the time and regurgitating all the time, you really need to take her back to the avian vet for more tests because that is not normal. Regurgitating is not the same as vomiting but the process is almost the same - and, unfortunately, the damage it does to the lining of the throat is identical. Imagine how your throat and chest would feel if you threw up constantly...

[flappybird]

Yeah, I figure if I give her an almond /peanut / pistachio / very tiny amount of seed mix every couple of days, that's good. Definitely trying to keep her diet balanced, not trying to give her the same exact thing everyday or overload on any one food... Giving her different fruits or veggies when I get them. I think the thing that is lacking most right now in my variety is the grains, she definitely gets some but feel like she could get more. I baked a large variety (including 7 grain cereal) into some birdie cornbread I made, but I can never tell if she actually eats any of it because she enjoys mostly turning all of it to very even crumbs. I will be making other kinds of birdie bread in the future to see if she takes to that.

Tomorrow her big new cage arrives, I'm excited about it and I really hope it all goes well. She'll be watching me assemble it for a while I'm sure and then I'll have it sitting in the same room so she can get used to it. Then see how that goes. I also recieve my aviator harness in the mail, and we'll start the familiarity process with that too. It seems like she's already a better flier in the three weeks I've had her (even though it's been a collective less than 5 fluttering incidents) and that is by far the thing that has got me the most nervous. Other than actually figuring out how I'm going to manage her inside the house once she is actually flighted. She doesnt listen to me when she doesn't want to so I'm afraid I won't be able to successfully do any targeted flight or give her direction. Anyways.. that's for a different thread probably.

[flappybird]

I really haven't noticed that encouragement in general for Americans is a "necessary" or super frequent thing. I don't really know what you're talking about. Also, I really don't see how my initial comment about how it seems like you don't say many positive things could lead to a discussion about cultural differences in encouragement habits. It's ridiculous that you would take my small piece of constructive criticism (that was really relevant in a situation like this, where you are trying to guide and teach people into doing the right things for their pets) and proceed to make a (kind of silly, in my opinion) sweeping generalization of the American population. That just seems a tad bit overblown, and possibly a bit condescending.

In addition, it's technically irrelevant when I moved to the States because it doesn't change the cultural values or habits of the family that is actually raising me. It's not like I went away and immediately ceased contact (in person or otherwise) with all the non-american people & family that I know.

ANYWAY. Let's keep talking about birds, and not that.

[Pajarita]

Sure, no problem, from now on, we will talk only about birds. No need to go on with this subject, your answer told me everything I needed to know about the reason behind your 'constructive criticism' so, yes, we are done with it.

But, you can't just give her seeds only every other day unless you are giving her some other source of high protein for dinner. To be honest with you, I find your postings quite confusing as to what you are feeding and what you are not...

[flappybird]

Sure, no problem, from now on, we will talk only about birds.

Couldn't have just stopped there.. just had to add that bit of snarky condescension. Glad you get your kicks some way or another.

[Pajarita]

We all do our best with the little we have.