A Happy Ending...

About 3.5 weeks ago I posted a panicked status (http://www.parrotforums.com/questions-answers/58592-quick-help-graphic-images-enclosed.html) about leaving a home filled with parrots and other animals in harm due to dirty conditions, inadequate nutrition, and various other issues. I'm overly excited to say that 80% of the animals belonging to the owner have been under vet care and will be going to rescues in the near future. The other 20% of the animals were returned mainly because they were housed in another area that passed "inspection" if you will.

That is good news part A...

Good news part B is that two of the parrots I met at this gentlemen's home are now joining my flock. They have been quarantined by the vet, tested, and given the healthy bird stamp.

Peanut is my new Yellow Collared Mini Macaw. Peanut was found in his cage with nothing but dirty water and sunflower seeds and...peanuts...He came to the vet only eating peanuts and sunflower seeds. They began converting him to Zupreem fruit and nut flavored pellets and I will take over and convert to fresh foods and Roudybush pellets. I was told that he was absolutely terrified of hands and wouldn't step up for anyone...After some clicker and target training, he stepped up within a day. Peanut is 4 years old.

Savannah is the new Quaker in my flock. Thankfully, she was found in a cage with about 10 other Quakers that were kept in fairly good condition. She was given a horrible wing clip, most likely prior to fledging, and cannot fly at all. She can barely get 6 inches off the ground. She is terrified of everything...except my Nanday Conure. They are already in love it seems. Savannah is 4 months.

I wasn't expecting this, but am very happy about the outcome.

Family, please welcome Peanut and Savannah!










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Stephen, this is GREAT news!!! Started all thanks to you .

Wow, 2 new birds! What lucky ones for sure. That's amazing that the Quaker is ALREADY in love with Conure West! It was obviously meant to be. Now he has someone close to his own size to be friends with . Such a feel good story. Looking forward to updates!

Congratulations, Stephen! I'm so glad that you did the right thing by all of the animals housed in those terrible conditions. And both Savannah and Peanut are quite blessed with their new home and parront. A well deserved respite after what they've been through.

Only thing I have to point out though, much as I hate being the wet blanket, is that the 2 - 3 weeks quarantine and vet checks that they've had aren't enough to guarantee that they are disease free. No vet can make that proclamation in so short a period of time. Not with diseases that only register while actively shedding.

Given the less than hygienic circumstances in which you found them, Stephen, I'd advise at least another month's quarantine. If not two.

I am so happy for you and the birdies. I'm glad that things turned out good for that bad situation.

I'm jealous you got Peanut!! I hope you enjoy him. I had one as a foster once and adored him.

sonja said:

I'm jealous you got Peanut!! I hope you enjoy him. I had one as a foster once and adored him.

Click to expand...

Yeah. YCM's are great birds. Probably the best temperment of the mini macs, good trick birds, too.

All that stuff people tell you generally has to be taken with a grain of salt. "Doesn't step up" only means "Won't step up for you..." it's not necessarily a universal truth.

Afraid of hands, often means afraid of the way you just approached him...

"He bites." often means he just hasn't been handled in years and/or has never been trained NOT to bite.

You've always got to form your own opinions on things like that. More often than not, it's wrong...

And if it's right? You do the behavior mods, and the behavior changes. Then it isn't a problem anymore.

Congrats on the beautiful new members to your flock! They are going to feel like they have hit the lottery

Anansi said:

Congratulations, Stephen! I'm so glad that you did the right thing by all of the animals housed in those terrible conditions. And both Savannah and Peanut are quite blessed with their new home and parront. A well deserved respite after what they've been through.

Only thing I have to point out though, much as I hate being the wet blanket, is that the 2 - 3 weeks quarantine and vet checks that they've had aren't enough to guarantee that they are disease free. No vet can make that proclamation in so short a period of time. Not with diseases that only register while actively shedding.

Given the less than hygienic circumstances in which you found them, Stephen, I'd advise at least another month's quarantine. If not two.

Click to expand...

I will definitely take your advice here. My wife is awesome and is letting me house him in the living room.

Dumb question here...but does actively shedding = molting? I havent heard that phrase before.


He hasn't bitten me yet and when he looks like he wants to..I just back off. Savannah picked up the target stick within a few minutes.

StephenAndKyleigh said:

...Dumb question here...but does actively shedding = molting? I havent heard that phrase before...

Click to expand...

Not a dumb question at all, Stephen. Never hesitate to ask away.

But no, it doesn't have anything to do with molting. The shedding in question refers to the period during which a disease is active and, therefore, detectable in the bird's bloodstream.

Sometimes a bird who has been infected by a disease (such as PDD) will test negative simply because said disease us not actively shedding at the time. This is why birds suspected of carrying certain diseases are usually retested after 60 and 90 days. That span of time gives the greatest chance of catching the disease during its active/shedding phase.

It's also why so many recommend 90 days as a quarantine period.

True quarantine would require a separate air systems, but most of us don't have those kind of resources. But just remember to change out of whatever clothes you were wearing when around the QT'd birds, and to wash your hands thoroughly. (Showering and washing your hair is even better.) Pain in the butt to maintain for any length of time, but given the circumstances...

I'm totally late to the party on this thread, but had to say congratulations on your newest family members!

They are so fortunate to be a part of your flock!

Yes! Go Stephen - so cool!

I haven't been on the computer in weeks so I'm getting caught up on everyone's news.
Thank you Stephen for your rescue efforts..you are an inspiration.