Sally my red lored amazon

[Birdman666]

This was one of the worst biters we ever had. She had a panic disorder. She had been beaten by her former owner, and panicked anytime anyone even approached the cage. (Humans approaching = I am about to be beaten with a stick.) She didn't trust anything, or anybody. She inflicted a severe degloving injury to her former owner, and was taken to the vet to be destroyed. When the vet found out what the woman was doing to this bird, he refused to put her down, and had her sign the bird over to the rescue. She festered at the rescue, because she attacked anyone who tried to work with her. (Inflicting a second degloving injury on a volunteer.)

I took her for all the wrong reasons. In part to keep her from being destroyed, but mostly to prove that my methods work.

Two months later, she would go to anyone and was out and about trained...

And we were bonded to the point where I couldn't live without this one. She is my flock leader.

And for years, she has mother henned me. Before leaving the house, and the first thing she does on my return home, is preen my eyebrows, and my eyelashes...

 

[Birdman666]

 

[Kiwibird]

Sally is beautiful! I bet you wish you could have beaten her prior owners with a stick until THEY feared everything like poor Sally did Unreal how much mental anguish people can inflict upon an innocent animal. On the other hand, Sally is also a shining example of parrots ability to forgive and love. I just love the eyebrow preening pic. Kiwi does that to my husband, it's such a show of mutual trust

 

[aliray]

That story gave me goosebumps when I read it. If she beat that bird with a stick she deserved the injury. How on earth in 2 mo did you undo all that damage? She looks like such a happy trustworthy bird and obviously well loved.

 

[Birdman666]

Five hours a day, seven days a week, for two months.

You can see my then FIVE year old daughter could handle her just fine. When I first got her she could not be handled except wrapped up in a towel.

It was extreme training, but it worked.

And my reputation down at the rescue was actually made by this bird... people who had been around enough to know better had given up on her.

 

[labell]

She is beautiful and it seems to be you took her for all the RIGHT reasons, I am sure Sally would agree! Look at how far she has come and how much she is loved and is able to return love, there is nothing wrong about that, I got a little weepy, I admit it!

 

[thekarens]

What a sweet girl!

 

[RavensGryf]

Sally is a BEAUTIFUL Red Lored!!! She has such a sweet cute face too, that little mother hen...

 

[henpecked]

Very nice pics. Thanks for giving a problem zon a new chance at a happy life. because this is a family forum, i won't comment on her earlier owner. After reading about Sally, i was a bit surprised to see the pics of her preening the nape. Good job!!

 

[Birdman666]

Very nice pics. Thanks for giving a problem zon a new chance at a happy life. because this is a family forum, i won't comment on her earlier owner. After reading about Sally, i was a bit surprised to see the pics of her preening the nape. Good job!!

The only amazon she hasn't gotten along with is the one I have now, for some reason. Sally, and my Pecker bird were ear muffs most of the time....

I've had at least 8 foster zons over the years... Bob stayed the longest.

 

[Terry57]

Sally is gorgeous and what a wonderful success story!
She must feel like she hit the lottery after coming home with you, brought tears to my eyes to read what you have done for her, and she for you

 

[getwozzy]

Sally is gorgeous!!!

It's ridiculous and disgusting what people do to their animals- so sad. Her story makes me cry, but it's so wonderful to see her so happy!

 

[Taw5106]

Great pics and an amazing story. I can't stand it when people abuse their pets. So much so I took my brother in laws dog away after finding out how badly they were abusing and neglecting him. There were words but I got the dog and he's a sweety, well trained and well mannered. Dogs are easy compared to birds in my mind. You've got same great skills, glad Sally found you.

 

[95talongirl]

What a beautiful little zon!

Glad you got to save her. It's pretty rediculious that her owner took her in to get destroyed over a bite... THAT THE BIRD WAS ONLY USING TO DEFEND ITSELF! Ugh. Have someone beat you with a 2X4 and see how you react.
UGH!!!

So glad she's in a loving home, now.

 

[Anansi]

Amazing pics once again, Mark! You never disappoint! And it's amazing what you managed to accomplish with Sally, considering all she'd been through. Simply amazing!

And your daughter is such a little cutie! Haha! Sweet pic! That one has to be my favorite. My older son is six, and he's shown a lot of interest in getting to know Bixby. So I've been working with them and now Bixby will even fly to him... on occasion. Lol! Work in progress!

 

[lpolliard]

What exactly is a 'degloving' injury?

 

[Anansi]

A degloving injury is when the skin and underlying tissue is peeled back and away from the skeletal structure and muscular tissue beneath, much in the fashion that a glove is pulled off of a hand. Hence, "degloving". Ouch, I know.

 

[SoCalWendy]

Wow she is beautiful, and very fortunate to find someone who was willing to work through her issues. Maybe you can help me. My 1.5 year old Sennie hen has experiencd nothing but love. But right now she insists on biting me for everything. She bites me when after holding her for about 5 min. On to the finger she goes. When I go to put her down, she will bite me as if to say, I don't want to be put down. I'm not sure if I have caused this problem because I have plays with her beak allowing some pressure in hopes to teacher her about pressure. Now she is just bratty about it, and if she doesn't get her way, I get bit. Any suggestions. Btw, I do not allow her on my shoulder for this very reason, no control. But that doesn't mean she doesn't try , and when I ask her to step, she acts like she doesn't want to which results in a bite.

 

[noblemacaw]

I am in awe of your story and how healthy and beautiful Sally is. Her colors are gorgeous and I would never get tired of looking at all the colors. I can tell she is your favorite out of all the parrots.

I know most won't admit it but I think it is normal to have a favorite in a flock. I had to be told who my favorite was and I denied it so strongly. In time I accepted that what was told to me was true. I loved all my parrots for they were such individuals and had my heart for different reasons.

I wonder if it took me longer to bond to Valentino because of the death of my 17 year old noble macaw two months before Valentino was old enough to come home. The timing of this didn't help any of us but we got through it. I still miss all my boys very much but I can honestly say Valentino helps heal my heart.

The degloving injury makes my blood run cold. I cannot even contemplate having that kind of injury done to me. The hardest/worst I have ever been bit left a bruise and I had trouble moving my thumb for a couple of days. For my injuries it was pressure not blood drawing/cut flesh. I look at Valentino, who is the biggest/strongest parrot I have lived with, and wonder if he could "deglove" a finger of mine. I am sure he has the strength I have seen him split huge chunks of wood into splinters with such force the wood piece flies across the room. I am not sure I can call my experiences with bites as bites more like nips or grabs. The only scars I have are on my right forearm from cleaning Valentino's cage.

I am thankful and feel blessed my parrots did not feel the need to injure me badly. I still have many many more years with Valentino and am still waiting for sexual maturity to come in and what personality my RFM will develop as a maturing adult.

I really enjoy your stories and your pictures of your flock and experiences. Your wealth of knowledge and experience are very valuable to me and I have learned so much from your posts. Thank you for sharing with this form.

 

[Birdman666]

That little bird and I have been through a lot together. She is my flock leader. I've had her for around 14-15 years now...

And yeah, in terms of degloving injuries, she would use the 'egg tooth' of hers, clamp down, and then rock side to side with her beak. It wasn't just a bite, it was a slash...

Somewhere I have a picture of a towel that she shredded when I first started working with her. The towel was wrapped around my arm at the time it was shredded... It has a gash taken out of it the length of my forearm...

So, when I got her she was actually quite dangerous. But I was determined... and my reputation was somewhat "made" in the rehab community by this bird. Which is okay, but somewhat incorrect. This was her real personality once you got past all that fear and panic. She's actually very sweet.

Wish I could find my other pictures.