[dawnkyung]

Hello everybody!

My name is Dawn, I'm 27 and live in Florida. I recently brought home my baby TAG, Sachi. I am very fortunate to live near a specialty bird store called the Golden Cockatoo, which is where I got Sachi from. I started going to visit her from the time she was around 10ish weeks old (she was born April 12th). I brought her home last Friday and she has been doing well so far. They said she weaned herself sooner than expected - I've been so paranoid about her eating, but so far she seems OK. She eats Zupreem natural pellets and some seed - I've discovered she likes raw cauliflower and carrots. We went to the avian vet on Saturday for a wellness check up and I am waiting on her culture results. They said her white blood cell count was a little high but it could be nothing. I'm nervous!

I am so excited to have her home and nervous as well - today is my first full day back at work since I've gotten her so she's going to be alone all day!

Anyway, nice to meet you all and I'll see you around the forums!

[Titch]

Welcome to the site I've answered your other topic.. Not sure about high white cells, I'm sure someone with knowledge of that area will clear things up for you.



T.

[TPG]

Welcome to AnAG!

I looked at your posts the wrong way round!! Sachi is very cute indeed!!

[Roseilee63]

Hello and welcome to our international family, where you wil make lots of lifetime friends. I know you wil soon love it here as much as we all do.

[Mama2ManyMouths]

Welcome!

I would definitely get her blood test redone sooner than later. An elevated white blood cell count could easily be a mild infection, and that won't necessarily go away on its own. Better to catch an infection early and get it dealt with before your baby gets sick enough to LOOK sick.

My TAG Kumiko just finished his medication for a Gram-Negative bacterial infection he picked up, and we are very careful when we handle him, BUT he does try to steal food right out of mouths. We've since begun caging him at supper time to reduce the chances of him being reinfected.

Milk products also expose birds to Gram-Negative bacteria, so avoid letting your bird get access to milk, cheese, etc. Hand-washing is also extremely important, as we are the major source of Gram-Negative bacteria - our saliva, tears, and nostrils harbor all kinds of dangerous-to-birds germs. Whenever you kiss your bird, only kiss the top of the head or nape of the neck, and no wet kisses - keep it dry.

As for diet, it sounds like you are well on your way with Sachi. Just keep offering a nice variety of healthy foods and she will develop well as she grows.

[Picco]

good on you for getting her to an avian vet check up, she's lucky having you as a parront im sure. as to a slightly high WBC as mama says could be a mild infection but also likely to be transporting and handling stress while at clinic which is a physiological change in WBC due to stress. if your avian vet finds some sign of infection he will advise you on meds, for now you go on being the happy momma and enjoy your baby TAG.

[dawnkyung]

Thanks everyone for the welcomes!

I'm supposed to get the results back from her blood test/cultures on Friday, which is when they'll tell me if she needs any medication or not. My other 2 birds had elevated WBC also when i brought them in for their initial wellness check-ups - theirs turned out to be nothing, but I know that Sachi's may or may not!

She's been doing well so far, she survived the day alone and was very happy to see me when I finally came home from work.

[ReneeNoelle]

Welcome! Nice to have you join us. I'm looking forward to pictures and stories of your flock.

[Birdlette]

welcome to the forum... we have alot of friendly and knowledgable folks here... I'm sure you'll enjoy it.