Here we go again....

[Monica]

I almost have enough money saved up to buy enough wire to make an aviary out of GAW... though I may end up spending the money on other stuff instead... I need to get some more dishes but can't find the ones I really want, and need to look into some more toys, but been saving up the money instead to try and put it towards something even better... the inside aviary I'd like to build...

I recently had a problem with one of my bourkes, and thankfully she's doing a lot better now! She has stabalized her weight, but she's not up at the weight she used to be... Nevertheless, she still has a good amount of meat around her keelbone so she's doing fine. Poor Smurf looks almost like a plucked chicken, which I take to overpreening by his mate, Sophia, however in the bald spot on the front of his head, he's got a bunch of pinfeathers, so I'm just keeping a watch on the two.

And in the mean time, I have Tom, a "healthy" male cockatiel whose health went down when *he* started laying eggs, and they starved her. They had found Tom, and was one of the kids responsibilities, but he's having too much fun smoking who knows what with his buds, and completely ignoring Tom for the most part. I don't know how long she has been starving, but when I managed to get a weight on her (after she ate some food), she weighed 63 grams!!!!!! I wouldn't have been surprised if she was slightly below 60 grams before she ate any food. I force fed her some handfeeding formula to help boost her energy, let her have some more seeds, then took them away for the night.

When I brought her home, she had 7 eggs... She's been laying eggs for months, and normally the eggs are taken away. (chronic egg layer comes to mind) She was being fed the cockatiel diet by 3-D pet products from Walmart. I hope to be able to get in touch with my avian vet tomorrow, but in the meantime, I cleaned out my carrier (it was in use, so had to move temporary resident and clean it out), put some paper down, and two containers, one with food (taken out until morning, so as to not over-sretch her crop... thinking she may be dehydrated a bit, so she gets gatoraide/water in the morning) and one with water.

I am NOT keeping her however. I had promised someone that if I ever got her, that she would be theirs, however they are in the middle of some things and cannot manage to take Tom until after they are able to find a house/buy it/move in... But then again, Tom wasn't given to me... so I hope to be able to get her back up to where she should be weight wise, and get her eating better. Once she's back up to good health, she will go back to the family and another family member will take care of her. If her health goes back down, then I will take her without asking (tell them first, of course!), and find someone who CAN care for her properly.

[jimpierce7]

wow you sure got your hands full. I'm gonna concentrate real hard and send a power poof your way............

[Monica]

Thanks Jim! Looks like I MIGHT have another cockatiel coming here... I don't really know for sure, but I guess it's a wait and see game.... Story goes, they had two whiteface cockatiels, later were given two normal cockatiels, the female from the whiteface pair died, and I got Clyde... Had Clyde for 6 months before finding him a home where I knew he'd be happier in, since he didn't fit into my flock here.... well, just recently (within the past couple of days, if not today), the male out of their normal pair died.... and they were going to give her to me, until they realised that the birds "belonged" to the step-father, and they want to keep her.... why??? probably for the pure pleasure of just *HAVING* a bird... I believe the male died just like the female did... starvation... And to make it worse, I had to go over to the house to remove the bird from the cage (the male...), put him in a bag, then left him on a table... went home after that! It really pisses me off, but at least the female still seems in "good health" (as far as good health can go while being fed a wild bird seed diet only...).

As far as Tom now... well, I couldn't get a hold of my vet and he wont be back until next week... I was given a number to another place that has an avian vet, called, but no one was available... so now it's a waiting game.... Tom isn't eating much, but her weight is at 58 grams. Tried force feeding her but she wanted no part of that... not too interested too much in food, just eating enough to stay alive... so I hope that once she settles in some, she'll start eating more food on her own... I really hate to see her the way she is, and am hoping she can make a full recovery! And also waiting to get any further possible advice from an avian vet... If I see it fit, I may see if an avian vet would be willing to take her in and give her more hands on care (crop feeding if it's a must-since this is something I am not able to do myself) to ensure that she makes a recovery...

[Monica]

Guess I really haven't been having the best of weeks... Been really stressed out over a few things, and well now I'm sick too... Doesn't help that I can't get a hold of any of the vets, either. In the least bit though, I've been weighing Tom 2-3 times a day at least, highest weight reached so far is 63 grams, though I don't know what her current weight is.... Yesterday morning weigh in was 59 grams (1 gram up from previous days), and todays weight was 62 grams, however I'm pretty sure she ate before I was able to weigh her... so hopefully tomorrow morning we'll find out! She normally eats 3-4 grams of food in a day.

With the constant handling of taking her out of the cage (easy to do since she's so weak... can perch, but can't fly or move as quickly as she should be able to) and weighing her she's been getting a bit friendlier, and easily knows the routine of taking her out, weighing her, and putting her back. I know it wasn't the smartest thing to take her in, but I couldn't leave her there to die! I am hoping that this week I can get a hold of an avian vet since I couldn't last week.

Been having to do extra cleaning with two extra "guests" here, which one should be leaving within this week *YIPPY!!!!!*

In the least bit though, here's two photos of Tom... They don't really show how thin she really is, but it gives you a good idea of what she looks like (of course) and what she has had to endure, sadly... (or to say, she really doesn't seem sick, just weak... though I'm sure she could possibly have a bacterial infection or something else????)

[homebird]

Oh Monica - I'm very impressd with your efforts. I don't know if I could return her to these people though. I'm afraid my blood pressure is rising!
Have you considered giving her some baby food, or is that what you're giving her already - apparently it can be soothing. Recently I was at my Mom's & brought the tiels some Zupreem pellets that after opening them, I dubbed "Fruit-loops"! The tiels went crazy - they love them & Mom said today [after 2 wks on the new diet addition] that they're so much livelier. Not being in charge of them, getting fresh veggies etc, I thought the pellets might be best.

I had asked the care giver to set up the small trial gym I devised, & let Alice out more & leave the cage door open [the sun room is easily closed off]. Well it was a surprise but Mo got out too. I was happy but apparently they rushed around to get him back inside as he isn't tame. Pity. I think I'll work on them about that too. It would be great for him to play outside too.
But he doesn't step up - however he is attached to the cage & i think he'll be happy to go back after a little freedom - I also plan to use one 'out' session to trim his nails & maybe a few feathers. . I'm tempted to take him home with me & try & work with him but my 'cat' still is an issue [she's my shadow].
All the best - chin up

PS - when my mind is busy with all the issues facing me I write them down & put them in order of priority & need. You will wear yourself out, trying to do everything - like a super mom. Somethings can wait or someone else could help(?)

[CraftQueen]

Oh...Poor baby. I'm glad you are looking after Tomi. Monica you take care of yourself. Take some extra calcium and some extra vit C. I hope you get to feeling better soon. Some ibuprofen and a 7-Up and crackers wouldn't hurt either. Sure hope you 2 are feeling Chipper soon.

[Monica]

I've tried giving Tom various types of foods, and so far she'll peck through em looking for seeds, but not actually eating any, so I'm just going to wait till she's around 70 grams before trying again (I don't have enough dishes to have 3 or more in each cage, so when they get fresh foods, they don't have seeds). Tried her with handfeeding which she refused, but I do have baby food, just need to think up some more recipes I can make with what we have here! (I cannot make cornbread for the life of me... maybe I'll figure out it someday!)

I'm not really a pellet fan, so don't feed them, and besides, all of my birds do eat fresh foods, so I don't normally worry about it... cept for Tom who has refused fresh foods thus far... As far as your mothers two tiels, I'd suggest 50/50 pellets and seeds as both are as bad as the other alone, although they are better together (say pellets in the morning, seeds in the evening, or at least as a treat before bedtime).

As far as my budgies, they love to come out of the cage and fly around (all are flighted)... after a few minutes (or after their food dishes are replenished), I either let them go back in on their own, or chase them towards the cage... After a few days of doing this, they got to the point they'd all go back in together when it was time to go (or to say, when I started to chase them, they got the hint quickly!). As far as the tiel family, if I leave their cage door open, only Kirby will come to the door, but he wont come out. It would be nice if they all could come out, however saying that two are wild and go nuts with a human around, it's not the best of ideas (my hope for an aviary.... they could do their own flying!).

[Monica]

Oh n Craftqueen, thanks! Ibuprofen normally doesn't help me unless it's a strong dose... I've been taking Dayquil gel pills, which don't really seem to be helping either (don't have any Nightquil, but those are stronger and tend to work a LOT better!). I'm sure though that given a few more days I'll be feeling better, just hope Tom continues to improve!

[Monica]

I wasn't sure if I was imagining it or not, though a couple days ago she was 59 grams (one up from lowest recorded weight), and the next day (yesterday) she was 62 grams (though was pretty sure she ate before weighing!). Well today, she weighed in at 61 grams, borderline 62!!! So I know for a fact she's gaining weight!!! She's making less and less fuss when I handle her (although her wings ARE NOT clipped), and this morning she finally ate in front of me! Take that as a good sign!

Least bit though, going to call vet's office today and see if he's back either today or tomorrow (Tuesday as I recall).

[homebird]

Excellent !
I hope she is really getting better - sounds like it.

PS - Alice & Mo are getting 2/3 seed [premium tiel seed mix] to 1/3 pellets [Zupreem]. I think they're having a positive effect in this situation. & they get whatever fruit or veggie is around.