For more info on the Orange Wing Amazon please click here and here or for the Cherryhead Conure please click here. |
No the vet wasn't there, so I went back over to check on her. Such a lil trooper she was, she had to be in excruciating pain, her lil feet had skin hanging from them, her belly was burnt. This went on for 6 wks, she always had an excuse as to why she didn't take her to the vet. So I got mad one night and Butch and Jason went over to get her for me, Jason came in and said, MOM when did you see this bird last, (he isnt a bird person). When I said about a wk ago, he said your going to be sick, I'm surprised she isn't dead. All I could do was hug her and hold her, this lil girl fought for 6 wks to stay alive and fight off infection, she would have been dead had I not have given the lady Baytril. The next morning I called and got her into my vet . She was so amazed that *spike* was still alive. Spike had an infection which I already knew, she was so good, she never complained about what they had to do to her. She had vet visits everyday for about 2 wks, then every other day then 2Xs a wk, until the infection was gone and her feet weren't so bloody raw. This took about a yr. After I knew for sure she would live I changed her name, Crystal wanted to name her Lucky, and Charlotte wanted to name her Charlie, so I call her LC. LC will always have to have her feet in vet wrap and gauze. Whenever I take off the bandages she chews her feet til they bleed. The skin just never heals, and changing the bandages puts her body into shock. She will shake and be cold for a couple of days after and needs the heat lamp. I guess if anything is to be learned from this is.. KEEP YOUR BIRDS AWAY FROM THE KITCHEN AND if they have their homes in the kitchen take them OUT!!!!! For more information on the Cockatiel please click here and here. |
We were Second hand parrots? Stories submitted by the members of Edited by Di, Alaska |
Because Malika is blind her cage has been set up in a certain way and remains that way, with just toys changing and the reason for this is so she is able to move around her "home" knowing where everything is, what to step on without fear of falling and where to go next. Even with changing toys, her condition is taken into consideration, for example, replacing a chewed on toy, I use the same size, same texture and although the colors are different (she can't see that) she is comfortable knowing that it's the same or very close to what was there before. Malika loves chewing wood, so she is given different sizes to those I would use for the Amazon's, smaller and more often thinner pieces are used. If and when I introduce new things, I will ALWAYS let her "fear" with her beak, if it's something I know she will like but may be afraid of at first, this will be introduced while she is out with me alone in the evenings, it is placed very close to my face and mouth and when she approaches for kisses she will feel it, generally this means that she will test is knowing it's safe as it is so close to mommy, then I will put her in the cage and place the toy in there, telling her all the time what I am doing and making a lot of noise with the toy while placing it in its place. At this time Malika will go and investigate, which I watch very carefully as sometimes when she bumps into the toy she will make this little alert sound, if she investigates after that it's fine, but if she alerts several times that means she is not ready for the new toy and we start over again until she is satisfied it will not hurt and is in fact in the cage just for her. This little girl is the sweetest, most gentle and loving bird. She loves to be held, get kisses on the head, scratches and tickles and will often lay with me watching TV for hours. She is a joy in my life, and has taught me so many wonderful things about herself and myself. I was blessed the day I met her and have been each and every day since. For more information on the Congo African Grey Parrot please click here and here. |
SECOND HAND BIRD "MALIKA" CONGO AFRICAN GREY by Di, Alaska |
Because Malika is blind her cage has been set up in a certain way and remains that way, with just toys changing and the reason for this is so she is able to move around her "home" knowing where everything is, what to step on without fear of falling and where to go next. Even with changing toys, her condition is taken into consideration, for example, replacing a chewed on toy, I use the same size, same texture and although the colors are different (she can't see that) she is comfortable knowing that it's the same or very close to what was there before. Malika loves chewing wood, so she is given different sizes to those I would use for the Amazon's, smaller and more often thinner pieces are used. If and when I introduce new things, I will ALWAYS let her "fear" with her beak, if it's something I know she will like but may be afraid of at first, this will be introduced while she is out with me alone in the evenings, it is placed very close to my face and mouth and when she approaches for kisses she will feel it, generally this means that she will test is knowing it's safe as it is so close to mommy, then I will put her in the cage and place the toy in there, telling her all the time what I am doing and making a lot of noise with the toy while placing it in its place. At this time Malika will go and investigate, which I watch very carefully as sometimes when she bumps into the toy she will make this little alert sound, if she investigates after that it's fine, but if she alerts several times that means she is not ready for the new toy and we start over again until she is satisfied it will not hurt and is in fact in the cage just for her. This little girl is the sweetest, most gentle and loving bird. She loves to be held, get kisses on the head, scratches and tickles and will often lay with me watching TV for hours. She is a joy in my life, and has taught me so many wonderful things about herself and myself. I was blessed the day I met her and have been each and every day since. For more information on the Congo African Grey Parrot please click here and here. |
Malika came to live with me in March 2006. She was living with a lady who'd bought her so she wouldn't have to return into a breeding program. Malika is a Congo African Grey. She is 21 years old, was a breeder most of her life, prior to as well as after loosing her sight. She is now retired and might I add spoiled rotten. This sweet bird is blind and has been for many, many years. She has no sight at all, does not see even the brightest beam of light. This does not affect her daily routine, playing with toys, chewing up toys and flapping out stretched wings to the point of taking off and hovering a few seconds and then landing back in the middle of my bed (not always gracefully). Malika does not talk in human language, prefers several different squeaks, peeps, clicks (Grey sounds) and whistling to get my attention. She will whistle once which I don't acknowledge but, when she does two notes I will go to her and either take her out or at least acknowledge her calling. If I'm busy and call to her to hold on, she will sometimes wait and other times will burst out whistling over and over till I stop what I'm doing and go to her. |
One Sunday afternoon I was called by a *friend* of mine, I had met her about a yr before that online, she was upset telling me her tiel flew into a pan of boiling water she had on the stove, when her son had opened the cage she flew straight across to the kitchen and into the pan. I went right over to look at her, her name at that time was *spike* SHE isn't a male, lol Anyhow it was awful I felt so bad I cleaned up her feet and belly as good as I could, put some Neosporin on them and gave her some Baytril I had, for Infection. I told her get her to the vet right away in the morning, I set up a hospital cage (fish tank) and got her settled for the night. Called the next morning. |
Second hand bird "LC" Cockatiel by Sandy E., Ohio |
We were Second hand parrots? Stories submitted by the members of Edited by Di, Alaska |
No the vet wasn't there, so I went back over to check on her. Such a lil trooper she was, she had to be in excruciating pain, her lil feet had skin hanging from them, her belly was burnt. This went on for 6 wks, she always had an excuse as to why she didn't take her to the vet. So I got mad one night and Butch and Jason went over to get her for me, Jason came in and said, MOM when did you see this bird last, (he isnt a bird person). When I said about a wk ago, he said your going to be sick, I'm surprised she isn't dead. All I could do was hug her and hold her, this lil girl fought for 6 wks to stay alive and fight off infection, she would have been dead had I not have given the lady Baytril. The next morning I called and got her into my vet . She was so amazed that *spike* was still alive. Spike had an infection which I already knew, she was so good, she never complained about what they had to do to her. She had vet visits everyday for about 2 wks, then every other day then 2Xs a wk, until the infection was gone and her feet weren't so bloody raw. This took about a yr. After I knew for sure she would live I changed her name, Crystal wanted to name her Lucky, and Charlotte wanted to name her Charlie, so I call her LC. LC will always have to have her feet in vet wrap and gauze. Whenever I take off the bandages she chews her feet til they bleed. The skin just never heals, and changing the bandages puts her body into shock. She will shake and be cold for a couple of days after and needs the heat lamp. I guess if anything is to be learned from this is.. KEEP YOUR BIRDS AWAY FROM THE KITCHEN AND if they have their homes in the kitchen take them OUT!!!!! For more information on the Cockatiel please click here and here. |
LC resting on her special hammock |
My husband had bought me a Quaker and of course it was a major topic of conversation at work. A man came in and told him that he had seen 2 birds at a yard sale. Bud sent a guy who knew about birds to go look at them. They had been living in the garage. Well, they were an Orange Wing Amazon and a Cherry Head Conure for only $200. Bud gave him the money and said "Get them and take them to Janie" The Quaker, Moochie, was my very first bird and now I had 2 more! The Amazon was tame and loved my husband on sight, but the little Conure was a different story. I named him Buttons because of his red head--Red Buttons. He was wild caught and has the open round band. He also had that one wing cut and it was butchered so badly that it has never grown out in the 9 years he has been here. He had never been handled and was scared to death. When I approached his cage he would throw himself against the cage bars. I had to take it slow and easy with him. I opened his door and let him come out. He would not let me touch him, but did not try to fly away. I think he knew he couldn't fly. He started going over to visit Buck, (the OWA) and Buck accepted him. I almost cried. Now he had another being that he would let love him. I started getting Buttons on a perch and moving him around. That led to me turning the perch so he could step off onto my shoulder. My husband begged me not to do that. He was afraid Buttons would take a chunk out of my face, but he never has attempted to bite my face. Buttons is still a touch me not birdie, but he knows he is loved and will bob up and down, dancing, when I sing to him. He started over preening Buck and pulled all the feathers out on his neck. I had to separate them. He got a new cage and toys, but I don't think he is happy When I'm cleaning the birdroom, I let him go to Buck, but tell him "NO" when he starts preening him. It's so cute. He stops immediately, but will start again when I turn my back. I have said "him" about both of them, but I really think they are both girls. It doesn't matter to me. |
Second hand birds Orange Wing Amazon and a Cherry Head Conure by Janie - Missouri |
For more info on the Orange Wing Amazon please click here and here or for the Cherryhead Conure please click here. |
Page created by JudieW. September 23rd, 2008 |
