R2’s stressful day



R2 getting his claws trimmed by professionals. He doesn't
like it.



On March 23 we took R2 to get his wings and claws trimmed. Once a birds wing feathers get damaged they shed the damaged feathers and grow back new ones. This means if you don’t want your bird to fly, which during the warmer months is quite dangerous, you have to get their wings clipped. Also their claws grow fast and their talons can become like those of an eagle or hawk so unless you want scratches and holes all over your body they need to be trimmed. Unless your experienced in bird grooming it is best you let your vet or a professional bird groomer groom your parrot.



R2's carrier.



We waited till mid-day to take R2 out to get his grooming done since it would be warmer; parrots are not fond of the cold. We packed him in his little traveling case with a blanket and a vegetable cracker and headed out. R2 rarely goes for a drive in the car so he hates going on travels but at times we have to take him up and he gets all worked up. On the way to Exotic wings, the pet store we got him from and the ones who board and groom him, R2 would occasionally panic in his little carrier but he seemed rather quite.

 When we got to the store and took him out we found he had thrown up in his carrier so while he was being groomed we had to clean it. After he was groomed he had a bit of a flapping fit in our arms and cuddled close.

We let him pick out some treats from the store as an apology to stressing him out then when we headed home he threw up a little more before we finally got him home. Once back in his cage we gave him one of his new treats but he decided to give us the cold shoulder and wanted nothing to do with us the rest of the day. He’s been a little cranky since then but he has settled down and forgiven us since. He is having a little trouble grasping with his feet since he is not used to having groomed claws, his claws were originally like little fish hooks not the blunted chopsticks they are now.

Stress is just as bad for birds as it is for people. Many things can stress a bird from care rides and grooming to things such as a sound or object. All birds react differently to stresses. Some throw temper tantrums, some become aggressive, others like R2 get sick and cry and the most drastic is they die! Bourke's, a small

The Bourke parrot. Stress literally can kill them!

parrot from Australia and quite common in the bird trade, is famous for dying when stressed. These birds are preferable kept by the elderly or someone who can give them the highly stress free environment they require. Little kids running around and screaming could kill them! Bourke's are easily stressed and something as simple as a wing trimming can causes them to die. Kind of makes you feel lucky when you’re getting stressed. All us humans have to worry about from a little stress is a bad attitude, feeling tired and our hair falling out not the grave. Thank goodness R2 is a tough bird and doesn’t keel over from stress like a Bourke would. He’s better now but R2 probably won’t want to go for a car ride anytime soon.