Quarantine

[pilsdogurl]

At the moment, my new bird is in quarantine. My cockatiel's cage is in my bedroom and the parakeet is in the living room. What I do is I try to divide my time in order to spend time with both birds. I'll sit in my room for a half hour then I sit in the living room for another half hour. Since I had my cockatiel first, he's used to being with me at all times. When I'm in the living room, he's always screaming or if I leave the door open he would walk to the living room (which i think is very cute). Anyway, I'm curious, am I doing the "quarantine" thing right? Those who own more than 1 bird. How do you quarantine your birds? I also wash my hands after I'm done with one bird. I'm hoping to get ideas and how to make this easier for both birds. I don't want my cockatiel to think I'm neglecting him at the same time I want the parakeet to be comfortable.

[dlaura]

If the cockatiel is used to coming into the living room with you then he may be feeling left out or disgarded. Is there anywhere else you could keep the keet until quarantine is over. Didn't you mention that you had it in your sister's bedroom at first. BTW did the keet go to the vet yet -- how did it go?

[pilsdogurl]

That's what I'm afraid of, I don't want my cockatiel to feel left out. Yes, I had the keet in my sister's room but I was feeling bad that he's in there all alone. Is this Okay during quarantine? She's out of the house from 6 am and returns late. But even then, she spends most of her time in the living room. I'm just concerned that the keet would also feel left out. So is it okay even if the keet stays in her bedroom all alone? Perhaps, this might be better until he gets more comfortable with us?

I took him to the vet that my friend suggested. He told me that he's not experienced with little birds. He handles a lot of rescued pigeon and I don't think he's even an avian vet, but he was a very nice doctor :). So I'll just take him to my regular vet, we have an appt. tomorrow.

P.S. I apologize if I'm asking too many silly questions.

[dlaura]

Hey that is what we are here for --- so no need to apologize for asking ?s. I think I would put the keet back into your sister's room as long as she doesn't mind and just visit the little guy there. Or another alternative may be to move the tiel into the living room - where you are probably the most during waking hours - and put the keet in your room under quarantine. The second alternative might better as then you are not invading your sister's privacy by visiting the keet in her room all the time. Then if you pop by your room just to get something you could take a few minutes to talk to the keet and visit with him. When you return to living room to watch tv or read (whatever) your tiel could be on your shoulder and have a more normal time that it has grown to expect. Let us know what the other vet feels. Thanks for letting us share in your rescue of this little keet.