Red belly with a wonky beak and a mystery leg band---HALP!

hhilgen2

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Sep 30, 2012
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Hey All,
Back story: I had a Meyer's parrot for many years that we lost unexpectedly several weeks ago. We loved having a poi and were open to the idea of getting another, when we stumbled across a red belly at a creepy little pet store this weekend. Said bird was in a budgie cage (at best), with no toys and an all seed mixture with some blue flakes? in it. The store people said "she" was too aggressive to handle and that we could basically take "her" if we wanted. So....here we are :)

This little bird is not mean at all. I was able to get him/her to step up today and was able to do a really good once-over. I was rather startled to find that there is some weird wrinkling of the upper beak, below the nostrils ( on the rhamphotheca). It isn't flaky, it almost looks like wood that's been water-warped if that makes any sense? Here's a crummy picture:
beakies.jpg



Also, I was wondering if there were any leg-band gurus out there? The band reads: JAN F 351. We were told that this bird hatched in April of this year...but...well, the place has enough strikes against it that I'm not 100%

For funsies, does this colouring look male or female? We need a name!!

Thanks!!!

p.s. Disclaimer: we've got our avian vet appt on Wednesday, just looking for some ideas in the meantime :)
 
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aliray

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Jan 28, 2012
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Rotonda West , Fla
Parrots
yellow sided green cheek conure,Chiquita Quaker parrot Sweetie Pie, African red bellied parrot Tiki, spanish timbrado canary Lucas
I have no idea about the beak but from the color she is a he. I bought a redbellied parrot about 2 or 3 mo ago whom the person that I bought the bird from craigs list said she thought it was a male an not knowing any better I bought him however he is a she and an absolute delight but looking at your picture she is a he I ended up looking online for pictures of 5 mo old rebellied parrots and he was a she. but i will tell you they are clowns and wonderful parrots maybe that was damage from when he was young but you might want to take him to a vet and check . I adore my Tiki and congrats:D
 

FineFeatheredFriend

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Aug 30, 2012
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Lovebird~Precious, Sennie~Snoopy,Hahns Macaw~Fiona
Congrads and welcome to the forum. Thank you for rescuing the Red Bellied. Have you though of any names yet? I already picked out a name for my future Red Bellied, Casper. The beak probably looks like that because of the poor diet that was being provided. I'm sure with the right diet, toys and lots of love from you, your friend will have a good bill of health. Thanks again.
 
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hhilgen2

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Sep 30, 2012
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We were thinking of the name "Robin" because we're incredibly cheesy like that :D
 

FineFeatheredFriend

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Aug 30, 2012
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Lovebird~Precious, Sennie~Snoopy,Hahns Macaw~Fiona
Robin is a good name. I named my Senegal Snoopy so I don't think you are being cheesy.
 

lene1949

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Sep 26, 2011
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Brisbane, Australia
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Cory: Short billed Corella -
Echo: Galah -
Max: Alexandrine -
Skye: Yellow Sided conure -
Luka: Green Cheek Conure -
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I think legbands are mostly so the breeder knows which bird is which... Some might also lead back to the breeder, if the bird is found... Out of all the birds I've had in my lifetime, no one has ever asked me where I live... Except for my eclectus which we require a license to keep...
 

Lintini

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May 5, 2012
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Bay Area California
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Margret-Mealy Amazon 28 (family parrot), Petri- Peach Front Conure 4, Chloe- Congo African Grey 24 and Rio- Blue Crown Conure 4 !! :D
very cute, I hope he/she has an awesome long life with you, and I LOVE the name Robin ....Robin Hood with Russel Crowe is one of my favs...even though I know you are naming her/him that because of the red breast :D
 
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hhilgen2

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Update: Vet visit went about how I expected.
1. The wonky bit of the rhamphotheca is likely due to hypovitaminosis A. As is his problem seeing at night.
2. Bloodwork showed an elevated CK and AST which point to liver disease and possibly starvation (poor chap has a razor keel). Hopefully this will be reversed with proper diet.
3. The "JAN" on his legband is probably his hatch month. Pet store were liar, liar, pants-a-fires.

He was so good for his exam! I showed the first-year veterinary students (I'm a fourth year) how to do avian exams and he just cheeped "step up" the whole time. He's a really sweet little guy and I hope his problems are easily correctable. Thanks all for the well-wishes!
 

madatter

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Jan 31, 2012
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Billy is 9 years old they told me he was 3, we got him 2 years ago and I often wonder how may families hes been passed round and what sort off a life hes had, at least he as a good home now and it sounds like Robin as one as well.
 

MonicaMc

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Sep 12, 2012
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Mitred Conure - Charlie 1994;
Cockatiel - Casey 2001;
Wild Caught ARN - Sylphie 2013
I would have assumed JAN was the breeder. Came across a goffin's cockatoo with the same thing on his leg band.

Was anything prescribed for his liver?


Glad to hear his visit went well overall!
 

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