[mommy4syd]

I thought I would give you all an update of Mickey Bird! he/she is doing great!! He has started to talk in the last 2 weeks surprising me w/ his words, he says Mickey bird in the same sing song way that one would say Mickey Mouse (as this is the way we say it to him) he yells WHAT?, and is now saying Whatcha doing? I hope to get him to say lol Getrdun lol lol and Peek A Boo! He is a riot, and loves me in his cage but doesnt really want to come out of the cage, I can get him out but he actually shakes when he is out of it, I have been trying to get him out and hold him close but he is so pitiful when I do, any advice on that?

Also about roudybush pellets which is his main diet, he makes a fine powder from his pellets, do I throw it out (I have been) or is he going to eat that? Thanks you all and hopefully I can get some new pictures of him this weekend!

[Siobhan]

I don't know about the pellets -- Clyde hates pellets as a rule and will hardly touch them except to dump them in his water dish -- but about the being afraid to come out of his cage: Have you tried leaving the door open and just letting Mickey decide to come out on his own? If it's his decision and if you're patient, he'll eventually see there's nothing to be afraid of. If you force it, he might be thinking you're going to do something to him. Do you know what his life was like before he came to live with you? He might have a good reason to be afraid and it will take time to convince him otherwise.

[Larry Bird's Mom]

Yeah throw it out. That is the dust that is left when he is done with it.

[mommy4syd]

I don't know about the pellets -- Clyde hates pellets as a rule and will hardly touch them except to dump them in his water dish -- but about the being afraid to come out of his cage: Have you tried leaving the door open and just letting Mickey decide to come out on his own? If it's his decision and if you're patient, he'll eventually see there's nothing to be afraid of. If you force it, he might be thinking you're going to do something to him. Do you know what his life was like before he came to live with you? He might have a good reason to be afraid and it will take time to convince him otherwise.

Oh yeah we have tried leaving the cage open, he will come out and grab onto the front of the door but wont venture on top of the cage or even on the door for that matter to sit!

And he is a hand fed baby that I got at around 12 weeks or so I weaned him myself

Yeah throw it out. That is the dust that is left when he is done with it.

It is majority of the pellets then, I am having to dump his crock daily and its a third the way full of nothing but crumbs/dust! UGH I used to only feed Kaytee and never had this happen so this is new to me, I dont feed Kaytee now as I have heard so many horror stories about the product in the last few years but this seems so wasteful to me! Any hints on how to "use" the dusty mess? lol

[msdani1981]

Would he eat veggies coated in the pellet dust? I think I would try that. Or make birdie bread and put the pellet dust in it.