Desperate for help- new beginning

newtobirds · Oct 3, 2012

Hi!

I just went and picked up this Jardine's that I found on craigslist. The bird is a 10 year old male. The people were chain-smokers. The bird has been living on sunflower seeds and pizza. He is a plucker and a biter and is cage-bound. I want to help him. I REALLY want to help him.

I picked him up today. I can place him with a rescue in a few weeks. However, I would be open to keeping him if I thought that I could help him enjoy whatever time he has left. PLEASE help me get off on the right foot and help this poor thing.

Oh, and he hates dogs. I have 3...

Advice? Here's a pic:

friedsoup · Oct 3, 2012

I'm sure he doesn't hate them just doesn't trust them and they move to fast. First off don't try and change 10 yrs of neglect in a few days. This poor guy will most likely be having ncodine withdrawl and be very grumpy so get him to a vet asap. There will be others with suggestions soon.

newtobirds · Oct 3, 2012

I am sure you are right about the dogs and the rest. I will just protect his space and let him adapt. My dogs are bird-saavy and ultra-respectful. They won't encroach on the cage. Thank you for responding!

SweetPeasFriend · Oct 3, 2012

he's very cute
glad he has someone to look out for him

BillsBirds · Oct 3, 2012

Thanks for taking in this beautiful angel. After a diet like that for a long time, expect a SLOW transition. Give him a good seed mix & pellets to get him used to new food besides sunflower seeds. Forget the pizza, but, try some whole wheat pasta, with a bit of sauce (mine love it). And offer all kinds of fruit & veg. The vet can advise you about the nicotine. 10 years is not so very old. He lived 10 years in THAT environment, so yours should help extend his life. Good luck, and take things slow with him. Progress has to go at his pace. Biting, plucking & being cage bound can be changed, but take a lot of time & patience. Give him time & love. Be patient, consistent & persistent. You have your work cut out for you, but, the reward will be worth it.

newtobirds · Oct 3, 2012

He keeps doing this constantly. Any ideas what this behavior means?

BillsBirds · Oct 3, 2012

Birds are little bundles of OCD behavior. This may have become a habit from an action that once served a purpose. If there are no negative side effects, don't worry. It may be a result of boredom, if his previous owners didn't interact much with him.

Mare Miller · Oct 3, 2012

Ohhh, thank you for taking this bird in, what a lucky bug!

DebsFlock · Oct 3, 2012

At 10, he may have quite a good amount of time left! As often as it seems parrots die spontaneously when everything has been done right, there are also parrots who lived to very ripe old ages despite all-seed diets, etc.

I'd have a vet evaluation if you are thinking of keeping him.

I also wouldn't make changes too suddenly. Let him get used to the new envirornment before trying to make new demands.

The behavior on video almost looks like attention-getting behavior, but it could also be a stereotypy, which is a fancy way of saying a repetitive behavior that has no obvious benefit. It covers cribbing and weaving in horses, rocking in autistic children, etc.

MonicaMc · Oct 4, 2012

I wonder if the behavior is his way of wanting attention or wanting out of the cage.

I would suggest getting him started on a sprouted seed diet. Find a sprout mix that you can make up for him daily to add to his dry mix. This may help give him added nutrition without changing things too drastically.

His beak does appear thickened, so I suspect some organ failure. He probably needs a blood panel done to check his overall health.

kc_y0 · Oct 4, 2012

Bless you for rescuing that poor baby. May he live a long and happy life with you!

Rana · Oct 4, 2012

As KC said - Bless you for giving this guy a nice home! he looks adorable and i still can't believe there are people out there who would put a bird through something like that... both my partner and myself smoke, but ALWAYS outside. sigh anyway, he can only go up from here on out

Little B. was on a similar dietnwith her last owner as well, and it took ages to get her to eat healthy again. but then one day she just took to pellets and she loves them now!

Featheredsamurai · Oct 4, 2012

You should check out the bird tricks course on training abused birds, it's $89.91 and you can return it within 30 days no questions asked if you don't like it. I think it would really help your new buddy and help you to understand what he's going through.

also check out this article

008kenichijouji · Oct 12, 2012

I took in a sun conure that had better conditions than THIS little guy, but still had mediocre nutrition and treatment, and it took me 3 years to change only a FEW of her habits.... This guy might need some work. But he's still a cutie pie...

I'd say be persistent and CONsistant as well, and he should warm up to you eventually. Go to your local library and try to find parrot books; soak up as much knowledge as you can. That's what I did. I read them front to back. Tons of them.

Hopefully it won't take too long for him to have some trust, but...it's impossible to say really.

Good luck.

Desperate for help- new beginning

newtobirds

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friedsoup

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newtobirds

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BillsBirds

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newtobirds

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Mare Miller

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