I got scammed

[wolfsnaps]

Hello everyone. My name is Tiffany. I just bought an african grey. I was, as you guessed it...scammed. I went to a lady's house I met through craigslist. I had gotten my excellent dog from a craiglist ad so I lost my apprehention. Anyways, the lady sold me a grey with Beak and Feather disease. As smart as I am, I am really dumb. I bought into everything she told me...she was sick, possibly dying. (to even type it out makes me realize how stupid and gullible I am)

The place was dirty, she had excuses for everything...the bird is plucked bald in some spots and has a malformed beak...excuses for that too. I was not familiar with beak and feather disease (even though I work at a petstore and ITS IN THE TITLE, BEAK AND FEATHER der). I was blinded by trying to help someone out, naitivity, excitement, and impulsiveness. And

I have done so much research on just about everything else, behavior, diet, enrichment. Didnt think to research scammers, or diseases either. I still get a knot in my stomach thinking how ridiculous my rational is. I was "helping the bird" saving it. Not knowing that I was bringing home a highly infectious parrot with numbered days.

You live, you learn.

I am having the poor thing put down this weekend. There is no hope, it seems to be severe and not just because "it wants attention" either, like the lady told me. For what I paid I could almost buy a baby from a breeder. Makes me sick. Poor thing looks miserable.

Now down to my question if you are still with me...lol. How long can I wait before I can have another bird? Can I have another bird? Ever? I live in an older trailer. Can I vaccum enough to ever get all the dust and feathers with the virus out of my home? Does it have an expiration date, so to speak.I have always dreamed of owning a grey. I had a brown headed poicephalus for many years. I am ready to take on the challenges and rewards of owning a grey. Did I completely ruin all that? I can wait, but how long?

Thank you so much for reading, and please help!

 

[Aussie Ben]

Welcome to the forum.

I am so sorry to hear about your grey, that really is awful.

I am sure you will be able to have another bird, but you should thoroughly disinfect everything and vacuum up.

 

[Mel]

I'm so so sorry to hear about your sad news. Don't beat yourself up, when you're an honest person you don't anticipate how low some people can go. I purchased my first parrot from a dirty house and like you should have known better. Cooper was always sick and although I had him for 18mths I spent a lot of money on vet bills trying to find out what was wrong, it ended in heartbreak.



We'll be thinking of you this weekend and hope to see you back here with a new parrot some day

 

[madparrotwoman]

Oh you poor thing, don't beat yourself up about it. You were taken in by a little old lady, you aren't the first and won't be the last.

The best way to find out about beak & feather disease is to phone an avian vet who can best advise you on disinfecting your home, timescales and so on.

Don't allow this woman to turn you into a cynic, not all people are like that but unfortunately some are and you have to be alert to it. I don't think you will be so easily taken in next time. Stick around and hopefully you will soon have a feathered friend you can tell us about.

 

[HRH Di]

Wow, that sucks. So many reasons why I love my birds and dogs so much. Sounds like you have a vet that you've been in contact with, I'd check there. I know that with parvovirus in dogs you're supposed to wait 4 years before getting a puppy, but I don't know anything about this virus.

I really am sorry that this happend to both you and the Grey. If it makes you feel better, you probably made the end of her life good. She was in a home that wanted her and was given medical treatment - even if it was too late.

I hope you get good news about getting another parrot. Greys are wonderful so good luck with your next one.

 

[Spiritbird]

Welcome to our forum. Wish you all the best with getting a nice grey. The vet can advise you on the disinfection of your home so that another bird could live there. There are many scammers out there that know they can do that because we love our animals. At one point I was in contact with a lady who said she had 2 greys and their cages for me if I would send her $500 for the shipping charges. Now tell me if that is not a scam!! I would have never seen the birds for sure.

Try to keep a posative attitude and think of a new healthy baby. There are lots of good breeders and rescue org. out there for us to use. My bird came from African Queen in Fla. Breeder's name is Jean Patterson and she has been breeeding the African parrots for over 20 years. Please keep us posted.

 

[SharonC]

From what I uderstand, the virus is difficult to "clean up" ...and there is no disinfectant that will kill it. However, there is a vaccine(experimental, I think) that can be used to protect uninfected birds. I could have this wrong though...maybe someone else knows more about this....

 

[greycloud]

I am sorry this happened to you. Don't feel bad it happens to many good hearted people. I do want to ask though, did you actually have the bird tested and it is positive for PBFD? or are you diagnosing yourself?
If it is positive you ill need to speak with an avian vet as to what precautions you need to use in order to bring another bird into your home.

 

[parrotqueen]

That is so sad, bless your heart. I'm so sorry about all that you've been through, but don't beat yourself up about it. You were excited, just as anyone else would be if they were getting a new bird.

Like greycloud mentioned, did you get the bird tested? If not, then what if the bird has something else. When you say th bird looks miserable, that can also happen to a bird suffering from severe vitamin deficiency. I too would rccomend asking a vet (strictly an avian vet) about how to sanitize your home in such a way that it's safe for your new bird.

Best wishes!

 

[wolfsnaps]

Thanks to all who replied. I appreciate it, I have been beating myself up about this. Paco the parrot is speaking behind me right now. They must not have worked with this bird much as it only mumbles things, doesnt say anything clearly. It could be a young bird too, not sure.

I called my closest avian certified vet, thought I would let you know what he said. He said to use a bleach solution and scrub down everything in the affected area. After that, give it two weeks before getting a new bird. I will be waiting longer than that. I am tearing up the carpeting and putting down laminate flooring. I will be contacting a breeder I met at a bird fair a few weeks ago. Since I blew my "bird" money, I am going to make payments on a baby.

I have been trying to give Paco a nice last week. I spend time talking to her, I give her anything I think she might like. I dont think she got many different types of foods. She has rejected most of what I offered her. She only seems to want to eat her zupreem pellets. I have tried watermelon, red pepper, pasta, pistachios (high in salt I know...but does it matter?) honey grahms, cereal, etc.

The way her beak is, it looks uncomfortable. She gives up easily on anything too hard to break open and I think it is because of this. I feel so bad for her but I can not fix her.

I will keep you all updated about my future bird and I will quietly check out this forum. Thanks everyone.

 

[Beilana]

Your story made me cry I can't believe there are people like that out there.....GRRRRRRR
Its wonderful of you to give her a nice last week, probably the best week of her life...

 

[SharonC]

Poor Paco. I had a TAG for two weeks, but had to return because I had an allergic reaction. He loved Salmon...or any fish, really....and steamed veggies, especially potatoes and carrot. you could try those. It's nice to give him a good last week.

 

[greycloud]

So was the bird actually positve for PBFD?

 

[wolfsnaps]

I have not taken the bird to the vet. I don't know what to do. I THINK it has beak and feather, all the signs are there. She picks a lot, to the point of balding, and has a misshapin beak. I want to do whats right, and I also want to cut my losses. I made an appointment for the vet and then I cancelled it. Ergh. I just don't know what IS right.

And then, if I put her down, do I get a baby grey? I am kind of hesitant now. There is a conure at work (I work in a big box pet store) that LOVES me. So different than this bird. I hand fed the conure and now I cant go into the bird room for fear of passing this potential disease to them. Everytime I pass it, the conure begs and pleads for attention. I am the only one who works there that makes an effort to give the conure attention. I take it to lunch with me everyday (not now though) and everyone says I should just buy him. I am turned off to greys now which is so sad because I have been researching them for months and months and I thought this would be the right bird for me.

Someone just tell me what to do....lol. I have to have a bird though, I LOVE birds. Just one, so it gets all the birdie attention it wants.

 

[SharonC]

Oh dear! I understand about cutting losses...but if you have access to an Avian vet, maybe you should have the testing done. Cags often pluck when they are stressed, and you may be wrong about the beak and feather disease. I assumed the test had been done and was positve. The beak may not alter the bird's life...and he may turn into a birdkeepers dream with a little love and care.

 

[parrotqueen]

SharonC is right. There's still a chance that it's something more minor than PBFD; plucking can be a bad habit resulting from something as simple as boredom or stress. The beak problem could just be a deformity that was there since birth. It'd be a good idea to get the bird tested.

 

[Beilana]

I agree about getting the bird tested. For some reason when I read your post I thought you already had. Taking her to an avian vet asap could mean a longer life for her. With time, patience and love she could turn out to be a wonderful companion depending if it IS PBFD or not. Here is a link on PBFD Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease (PBFD)

 

[greycloud]

Hi, I definitely think you should have the bird tested. 2 reasons, if you decide to get another bird you definitely need to know if she is contagious and she could very well be negatively. Beak malformation can be caused by nutrition and liver disease. The plucking could be behavioral. This bird deserves a chance. If she is negative you could call a an area rescue to take her and get her back into shape. Where are you located? I have many contacts. I recommend you have a blood panel done as well as PBFD and polyoma. I really hope this bird can be saved.

 

[Mel]

I agree 110% with the above posts, get her tested so you know what your dealing with. The balding could be something as simple as going through a really rough moult.
Please keep us posted