IndianRingNeck.com

Hey Ya'll:

I have a huge problem. My breeder can only do trims on weekends where he has a booth at the flea market. He doesnt take his birds there but other booth holders have birds.

Thereby, making my babies exposure to disease high, yes? Or am I being rediculous? No booths are in his wing of the flea market. But' it is sort of 'open air' like, if you know what I mean.

I can literally go right into his shop and not through the market. He lets me park there and do that because he knows what a freak I am.

Am I being too over-protective or smart? Could disease blow 1000's of feet away? My babies all need trimmed but I havent taken them due to this dilemma. I cant do it myself, despite everyones help. Thank you so much for trying to help me but I just CANT DO IT.

Furthermore, if I was to take them to Petsmart, would the risk of disease be any less? I dont see how because they get their birds from local breeders such as he and others at the flea market.

More than anything, their nails are hurting me. The wings are still ok... for a bit longer. Maybe I can file them? Hrm... Imma try that. If I lose a finger, you'll be the first to know.

Have I mentioned what a princess, stuckup lil ho Baby is? She will never go for a home beauty treatment. She thinks she is waaaay too good for any such.

1000's of ft? How far are you talking? Is it an enclosed space, or open air? Is he using sterilized equipment for each trim?

I used to take our birds (Mazzie especially) in to be groomed, but over time I learned that the birds like it more if I do it. Maz gets ticked of course, but she got ticked with the groomer too. She calms down faster with me doing it.

You could look for a groomer that will come to your house to do it, getting recommendations from friends or from a local bird club. I go to friends houses and do their birds, not as a "groomer" but as someone who knows how to do it and wants to lend a hand.

Oh, and on the nails, do you use sandy or concrete perches at all? Some birds will do really well with them, some will never use them, and some will over use them. You can know until you try. Micha (CAG) uses hers just right and I don't have to trim her nails more than twice a year.

Athena

She has a very nice sand perch that looks exactly like natural wood, even bent like it... hussy wont touch it.

I know what I could do though... put it somewhere she likes to hang out, then put her on it. Then she'll have no choice.

Thanks!

I always have Hane's concrete perch even with his highest perch so he likes to be on it. His nails stay nicely dulled most of the time. But Tsume just refuses to use his so we just tip the nails ourselves.

The biggest issue with me would be sterile equipment if I took any of my birds to be groomed.