New CAG -- abused

schtickl

New member
Sep 18, 2010
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Austin, Tx.
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Tui, a 3 year old rescued CAG.
Hi there! My name is Rachael and I am new to this forum. I thought I'd join since I just got anew CAG. Shes awesome. about 3 years old. However, when I got her home I realized that she had some serious issues. She has an appointment to go to a vet this coming week but wanted to see what you all thought. She has an overgrown beak, wings, and nails. She also has a large bald area on her belly/vent area that has red scabs and swollen red sores. You can see her belly bone. Im most worried about the scabs/swollen areas.

Her cage was also EXTREMELY dirty and is even rusty a bit. There were ants all over the cage due to her being left outside (in TEXAS heat!).

Thats just some of the stuff I noticed. Needless to say she has a MUCH better home now!

Attached are pics of the scabs/swollen areas. Can someone tell me their opinion?
 

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SharonC

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May 26, 2010
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That poor bird has been so neglected, and abused:mad:...Good for you for taking her. :) I'm not terribly experienced with health issues, but at least my comment will bump this post up a bit. A vet visit is crucial which you already know. Get the bird on a very healthy diet, which I'm sure you already know. A bath, and a very clean cage until the vet visit. I suspect she's been severely plucking...watch carefully for infection.

Maybe try to get vet attention asap. as infection is really dangerous for birds.
 

greycloud

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Mar 21, 2010
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Please have your vet test her for Pacheco's Disaese! This is a highly contagious and dangerous illness. She needs to be seen ASAP! Do not let her have contact with any other birds!
 
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Bobby34231

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Jun 25, 2010
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Sarasota,Florida
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Joey - Yellow Crown Amazon, Ashley - CAG
Hi Rachael and welcome to the forum, sorry its under less than favorable cercumstances, the loss of feathers and the sores are most likely from plucking as mentioned in other posts, the cause for the plucking can range from a number of different malladies, poor diet, parasites, stress or disease, or a combination of any or all of these, getting the bird to the vet as soon as possible as recomended would be best, but until you can, as Sharon said, a clean cage and a good soaking shower with warm water may help with some relief, getting the bird on a good diet as soon as possible would also be suggested, a pelleted diet and plenty of fruit and veggies, a few pelleted foods to recomend would be zupreem, roudybush, tropamix by hagen, or if you prefer organic you can try Harrison's, its harder to find, you can ask your vet, some carry Harrison's in their office, good luck on getting the little guy back on the right road to health, please keep us posted on how things progress :)
 

Spiritbird

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Aug 20, 2009
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GC knows what she is talking about and I would try to get your bird to the vet ASAP. Thanks for taking her in. That makes you an awesome person in my world.
 

antoinette

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Jul 6, 2009
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Sunny South Africa !!!
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African "Grey"
"Mishka"
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Hi and welcome
OMG how did that poor bird survive for so long?
As mentioned above a visit to the vet a.s.a.p., rather sooner than later
Glad the bird is in a better home, where he will be care for properly

Please keep us updated, praying all goes well
 

Bobby34231

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Jun 25, 2010
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Sarasota,Florida
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Quincy - Blue Throated Macaw, Skittles and Dusty - Rose Breasted Too's,
Joey - Yellow Crown Amazon, Ashley - CAG
Sigh.......everyone's getting a new CAG but me :31:
 

CrypticDelirium

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Sep 16, 2010
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Welcome! It's so wonderful you got the poor baby out of that situation! There's not much more I can add than what's already been said except as far as diet goes I would if possible go for harrisons, since it's organic it doesn't have any artificial colors and may be a bit easier to transition her too. I'm glad you're taking her to the vet, but as everyone said as soon as possible is definitely best in case she'll need some antibiotics for the wounds to prevent/stop infection. Good luck and I hope everything goes well! = )
 

Von1983

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Sep 3, 2010
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Oh the sadness that little girl must have felt....

Congratulations on taking her in. I hope the vet has some good news for you and her external problems are able to be mended promptly.

I love to see a happy ending, please keep us posted on how she's doing and well done to you xx
 

AndrewH

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Aug 22, 2010
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Dayton, OH
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Both my birds are rehomed rescues. Samantha, Umbrella Cockatoo (HD: 2002)
Lucky, B&G Macaw (HD: 1990-ish?)
Good luck to you. I'm sure the bird will be just fine now.

@Bobby: or a used CAG, as it were ;)
 

madparrotwoman

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Jun 29, 2010
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How very sad that this poor grey has been neglected to such a degree, what she has been through doesn't bear thinking about. I'm sure that any life you can give her has to be better than the one she has had previously. You may find she will have trust/biting issues for some time to come and can you really blame her? I am so glad you have found each other and from here on it's all good for the both of you.

I echo the previous posts on diet and vetinary care.
 

wolfsnaps

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Jul 19, 2010
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I hope we find out whats going on. Perhaps, as others have said, over plucking to the point of open wounds (ewww, btw). Except for the sores, sounds like how I found Paco....dirty cage, plucking, overgrown everything (Paco has a slight maloclusion).


Good luck with the prognosis. I was lucky that Paco was going to be ok. I wish the same for you!
 

bogo1

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You all are going to think I am nuts but I wondering if her skin distress might not be a reaction to ant bites. I have seen such reactions in babies that tangle with ants in my work. We use benadryl creams.I AM NOT A VET. Do not put benadryl cream on a bird for I haven't a clue if it is okay.something less dramatic that can help post cleaning is wet tea bag. Again talk to vet first!!! But this can progress fast to a very sick baby and I concur with all rest urging vet consult asap. Be sure vet knows about the ants and doesn't just default to "plucking Dx" especially if You don't witness plucking behavior.
 

Cowtown

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Aug 4, 2010
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Abby 2 year old Female Eclectus & Solomon 12 year old Male CAG & Dickens 4 year old CAG.
Thank you for rescuing that poor baby... I applaud you for that.

What part of Texas are you in? I am in Southwest Fort Worth.

It is amazing she survived the heat this summer..

Keep us informed on her progress.

Mike
 

antoinette

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Jul 6, 2009
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schtickl

New member
Sep 18, 2010
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Austin, Tx.
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Tui, a 3 year old rescued CAG.
  • Thread Starter
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Thank you SO much all for the kind words! Sorry I couldnt get back to you all sooner, I thought my e-mail would notify me when I get responses but it didnt... how can I fix that?

The first day I got her she wouldnt even be handled without biting. So far I have taught her to cut the biting down b/c she LOVES pistachios and fruits and other nuts (just like other birds :p) so its a great inticing treat for her not to bite me. However, she does still bite quite a bit. She has also started talking... A LOT!!! She meows, she says "kna kna kna" from the 3 stooges, and she says "bow chica wow wow" lol. LOTS of whistling, too!

I am def. gonna take her to a vet this coming week. What is Pacheco disease?(sp?). I dont have any other birds, just reptiles and a dog :p. She eats quite a bit and bathes herself daily so thats good. Im just trying to teach her to cuddle a bit more and not so bitey - any suggestions?

Its been 3 days and I am STILL finding ants all over her cage. Any suggestions on how to rid ants w/o hurting her? Also, I heard I cant use febreeze anymore -- ANYWHERE in my house or just near her?

Do birds typically have a stomach bone you can see when they pluck or does that mean shes malnurished? Hers is pronouced!

The big sore on her vent/belly area is nasty looking. Really gross actually. It looks like a small hill lol. She needs her nails and beak and wings trimmed badly but I dont think shell let me do it, suggestions again? ;P Her nails keep getting stuck on her cage and even in my arm b/c they are SO curled up.

She also seems to be pooping, a lot... how often do your birds poop? I would love to train her not to go potty on me.

Shes a very good preener though. Cleaning herself a lot! Havent noticed ANY plucking since shes been here. Its nice that her tail is BRIGHT and Red and not plucked lol. Ive seen that before on some other Greys.


On top of rescuing her I have also rescued 10 baby bearded dragons, 3 adults and 2 snakes all in the same week! Im overrun! lol. However, Tui (my CAGS new name) is going to stay and be a pet whereas the others are going to be up for adoption.

I want to go get a Harness for Tui so I can take her outside -- where can I get one?

Sorry for the LOOONGGG post lol. Lots of questions for a new CAG owner :)
 

nofearengineer

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Sep 8, 2010
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Gandalf - CAG (1997-2010) R.I.P. my baby boy.
Bitty - CAG (2 yrs old? and working on spoiling her rotten)
As far as cuddling goes, it will be when "Tui" is ready for it. Given how she has been treated, that may be a long time, maybe even never (I hate to say that, but it is possible).

Just be thankful when she starts letting you give her head scratches, and work from there.

I'm not sure I'd want to be the one trying to put a harness on her anytime soon. ;)

But it sounds like her life has already improved 1000%.
 

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