Clover

Clover came to me by chance. I was not thinking of parrots when I walked into the bird specialty store. Just of a ladder and seed for my parakeet. I guess it was Clover's time to find a mother, because here she is - and here she will stay.

Clover is a plucked Quaker Parrot someone dumped at the store. The store did not get their name, phone number, health history, vet name. I'm glad they at least asked for her name! (I still think it's unbelievable they don't have the info, because from the ring on her foot my vet identified that same store as the breeder of the bird). Be it as it may:

The second day I had her she asked me "what are you doing"? while I was setting up her forever cage (a lucky Craigslist find). She asked for kisses and tickles, and seemed "fine", but still plucked.

I took her to the vet where she received a full exam, including blood test, nail trim, and wing trim (which the vet thought she needed). The vet declared her HEALTHY. I was concerned because she ate ONLY pellets. Refused fruit and vegetables, didn't even touch her "treat seeds" and the only thing she would accept out of my hand was soft white bread.

I did expect Clover to be a bit clumsy after the trim, but I was not prepared for her total transformation. I called the vet after day 2, when she just wouldn't come out of her hut, was just perching in it on one foot, all fluffed up - with closed eyes.

I let the vet convince me that it just was " probably too much for her being adopted, being seen by the vet" etc., and that she just needed time.
She was not eating or drinking, so I resorted to soft white bread and syringe-feeding her water to make sure she wouldn't dehydrate.

After day 5 of this I insisted the vet see her again. He couldn't find anything wrong with her but prescribed Metacam and Enrofloxacin twice a day, and advised to add Bene-Bac poweder to her water. A week later she was still not using the foot where they took the blood from, still not talking, still clumsy, she fell from the top perch to the bottom of the cage twice so I put her in her travel cage. No place to fall to, I should have thought of it right away.

This is Clover's 3rd weekend here. 2 days ago I found she had thrown up over night, her entire cage was covered - and she was too. She still threw up yesterday morning but by the afternoon she seemed to be doing better and even ate some pellets. She is finishing up the medication the vet prescribed.

Your thoughts are all appreciated!

Is she quarantined from your other birds? Do you have another choice in AVs? Does the pet store use a regular vet service? I'm not satisfied with your vet. I think you need a better one. An Avian Vet.

Yes Henpecked, she is quarantined from the other birds. I do have a choice in AVs but the one I use is the # 1 Avian Vet in my city (there are 3 or 4 smaller ones). The vet I took Clover to is an avian vet.

Since Clover had been thoroughly checked by an Av Vet and even had a return visit, I think Clover is reacting to the cascade of changes she's experienced recently. The new home, new cage, new people or person, wing trim, vet visit, nail clip, all happening at once. I've found quakers to be a little slower than other species to accept new things, including foods and toys. The meds she is taking could also make her feel bad. I don't think I would change vets but I would keep in close contact and continue to ask questions, the throwing up is a reason for concern.

Quakers can be seriously stubborn about new foods, but keep offering and she will eventually start tasting and liking her fresh food. The first thing Harry tried and liked was cooked sweet potato, she had it all over her face, but she didn't try it for the first fifteen or so times it was offered. It's great that Clover is eating pellets. Good luck and please keep us updated on Clover's progress.

Thank you Allee! She/He is doing better today. I'm calling her a HER for now... eventually I'll get the DNA results the vet sent in after her initial examination.

I took her and the radio in the garage with me today, and she "helped" me build her a parrot play gym. (Safely in her travel cage). She promptly asked me what I was doing, the first words she said after 2.5 weeks of silence. I think I'll have to keep her guessing or she'll stop asking questions!

First, welcome .
I have to say I agree with Richard (henpecked), as while I was first reading your post I thought to myself 'this can't be an avian specialty vet'. Even AV's, some know a bit more than others. Did he take a blood sample at least? It's so hard to declare a bird totally "healthy" based on a visual examination alone I'm glad the meds that he did prescribe seem to be the right thing though. Good to hear "she" is doing well today. All the best to you as you and your new little Clover get to know each other.

Hey there, I was happy to read this last update! Nice to hear Clover is already overseeing projects and inquiring about your activities.

I took her to the vet where she received a full exam, including blood test, nail trim, and wing trim (which the vet thought she needed). The vet declared her HEALTHY. I was concerned because she ate ONLY pellets. Refused fruit and vegetables, didn't even touch her "treat seeds" and the only thing she would accept out of my hand was soft white bread.

Click to expand...

A sick parrot is a scary experience, even after a reliable Av Vet checks them out.
Quakers are hardy little birds, but like any other parrot when they are stressed, sick, or both, they can give you such a scare, and even a vet visit doesn't guarantee an instant cure. My plucking quaker, Harry, was a pitiful sight the day she insisted I adopt her. Sick birds are often even pickier than usual about eating. Cooked brown rice, green peas, grains and fruit in a mash is a good way to tempt a bird with no appetite. Since Clover isn't flat out refusing pellets, you could soak some in apple juice to soften them up and give them a little extra flavor.

Has Clover said anything new since she's feeling a little better? How is Rocky settling in?

RavensGryf said:

First, welcome .
I have to say I agree with Richard (henpecked), as while I was first reading your post I thought to myself 'this can't be an avian specialty vet'. Even AV's, some know a bit more than others. Did he take a blood sample at least? It's so hard to declare a bird totally "healthy" based on a visual examination alone I'm glad the meds that he did prescribe seem to be the right thing though. Good to hear "she" is doing well today. All the best to you as you and your new little Clover get to know each other.

Click to expand...

The vet took a blood sample, a stool sample and gave her a general checkup. I think he hurt her leg while taking the blood sample, it took her almost two weeks to start using it normally again. She's a little less clumsy now, and VERY proud of it too! Today she took a "nap" with me while I was watching the world cup. She huddled between my neck and the couch, mumbling and nibbling on my ear. I hope whatever was ailing her is gone!

Allee said:

Hey there, I was happy to read this last update! Nice to hear Clover is already overseeing projects and inquiring about your activities.

I took her to the vet where she received a full exam, including blood test, nail trim, and wing trim (which the vet thought she needed). The vet declared her HEALTHY. I was concerned because she ate ONLY pellets. Refused fruit and vegetables, didn't even touch her "treat seeds" and the only thing she would accept out of my hand was soft white bread.

Click to expand...

A sick parrot is a scary experience, even after a reliable Av Vet checks them out.
Quakers are hardy little birds, but like any other parrot when they are stressed, sick, or both, they can give you such a scare, and even a vet visit doesn't guarantee an instant cure. My plucking quaker, Harry, was a pitiful sight the day she insisted I adopt her. Sick birds are often even pickier than usual about eating. Cooked brown rice, green peas, grains and fruit in a mash is a good way to tempt a bird with no appetite. Since Clover isn't flat out refusing pellets, you could soak some in apple juice to soften them up and give them a little extra flavor.

Has Clover said anything new since she's feeling a little better? How is Rocky settling in?

Click to expand...

Thank you for asking Allee! I wish I knew what Clover's 'normal' is like. I'll probably have to wait a while until the real "her" comes through. All I want is for her to be healthy. There is a lot I need to learn in order to accurately distinguish between quirks, funks, and possible illness. At the moment I'm still seeing lots of feathers flying, but I don't know whether that is "plucking" or whether she's molting. (Rocky is molting, so maybe Clover is too).

I know she doesn't like sweets. Fruit and vegetables are not something she's used to, she refuses to even try them and pushes my hand away with her beak. She takes her medicine like a pro (from the syringe) and I don't have to wrap her up. She sees the syringe approaching and opens her beak for the medicine. (I'm SO GLAD) !

She hasn't said anything new, but I'm happy she started talking today. I'm glad she's not afraid of dogs, she must be used to them. Do all parrots take a mid-day nap, or is this something Clover does because she's still not feeling well?

Rocky is acting as if she was here all along. She already chewed through her second perch and is the loudest bird in the house and doesn't stop whistling and chattering ! Parakeet babies have such beautiful eyes!

Thanks for your patience with all these ramblings and questions!

No patience required, just special interest! Clover's story is eerily similar to my Harry's story. I adore my quakers.

Harry's favorite places to pluck are her legs, she stripped them clean at first, the row of ruffles around her neck was missing, she's since allowed them to grow back, the spot on her upper back between her wings wasn't completely bare, but close, and she randomly yanked feathers from her chest and belly. Her Av Vet gave her vitamins, suggested an organic diet and frequent aloe baths. Harry's plucking escalates with her hormone levels. We do everything possible to help, and she's improved remarkably, but still reverts to plucking when she's stressed. Harry's intelligence continues to surprise me. She loves training sessions, she's a great talker, and as silly as it sounds, she seems to have a sense of humor and the capacity for sarcasm. My other quaker's personality is the polar opposite of Harry's, he spent his first five years alone in his cage with very little human contact. He has a permanent scar around his neck from an accident with a happy hut in his former home. He walks with his head down and reminds of a sweet little troll, he's very shy, but he's learned to fly and loves time out of his cage. After months of work, he loves attention and is no longer a hands off bird. He has a funny, raspy voice and has learned some of Harry's favorite words and phrases. It melts my heart when he runs to me or lands on my shoulder and whispers, "giveusakiss".

My entire flock takes a short nap early in the afternoon, if the house is quiet and they aren't busy with a foraging project.

I'm not surprised Rocky moved in and made himself at home. How does Pepita feel about the new guys. I know they are quarantined, but are they calling to each other?

~Allee

Clover update: she has completely recovered from whatever ailed her. DNA testing = female, and the vet recommends that I remove her "tent" in order to improve her disposition. She doesn't seem to make up her mind on who she loves or hates (depending on her mood). It's fine with me to be in the dog house one day, and the object of her affection the next

I bought a baby monitor and listened in to her closet talk. She knows how to say many, many things that she doesn't share with us! "Come here, stop it, hi Clover, thank you, come here, that's better" and I can't wait to hear what more she's got in store. She's practicing something right now but it's not "language" yet.

Clover is slowly warming up to eating apples and cooked corn on the cob. Soft white bread is still the ultimate treat! She now sleeps in the bird room with Rocky and Pepita. Pepita thinks it's neat that there are other birds in the room with her, and Rocky is far messier than Clover could ever be!

Thanks for the update, I'm happy to hear Clover is feeling better. The baby moniter is a clever idea. Clover sounds delightful. It's almost eerie how my female quaker not only speaks clearly but also in context. Harry also has radical mood swings, some days she can't wait to give me kisses and other days she charges out of her cage looking for a fight, she even yells, "C'mon and C'mere".

It took both my quakers some time to convert from just seed and pellets but even Harry prefers fresh food now. If Clover's already eating some fresh food, she'll be eating healthy in no time. Quakers are prone to fatty liver disease, maybe you could find a substitute for her favorite white bread without making her too angry. There are some great birdie bread recipes in the Parrot Food, Recipes and Diet - Parrot Forum - Parrot Owner's Community section, if you haven't already looked there. Birdie bread is a good way to get reluctant birds to eat more nutritious foods.

I'd love to see photos of Clover, Pepita and Rocky.

Yay good to hear Clover is back to her normal self! "It's a girl!!" I think it's always nice knowing.

Yay! Always good to hear such a good bird/Quaker story. I'm thrilled that Clover is doing okay.
Is she still plucking? I had a parrotlet that plucked. He had just about grown in his feathers when he passed away.
My new Quaker, Dexter is just 7 weeks old. I'm hoping he doesn't pluck. It's very frustrating trying to figure out what us causing it. Best wishes to you and your flock.

Here finally are photos of Clover the poor wretch.....and Clover now, feathering up nicely and enjoying her daddy's shoulder (although I said not to let her up there). Also a pic of Rocky and Pepita! (Sorry for the small photos, I'll do better next time).