Bit of a bird issue

[purplesmurf]

Most of the information is covered here, but I think a few more specifics will help.

My family has had birds since I was in fifth grade. We started with two parakeets, Yoshi and Spike. After about a year we decided on Archy, my 3 month lutino. He is now 8. To keep him company we got Pumpkin. She is now 9. Archy and Pumpkin had a baby, Blueberry. Unfortunaly we had an incompetant pet sitter and he managed to fly away. As a surrogate son we got Birdy, and soon after Krystal. This was it for three or four years, then some friends had to move and gave us two more parakeets.

Now, my family is really busy and it's easily said that the birds in our hose don't get the attention they deserve. There have been times when they have been without food for two or three days. I find this unacceptable, and for the last few months have been trying to take proper care of all seven birds. However several severe problems have arisen: We had a parakeet die. I do now know of what, but the remaining three have been healthy for several months. A while back I took Archy to the emergency clinic after I discovered he was bleeding profusly from under his right wing. I had thought it was the result of a mouse attack or fight with Birdy, but it turns out his injury was self inflicted. I believe he has avian giardia and am having him tested.

However, despite the newly arisen problems the lack of care as come to a peak and I am preparing to relinquish all three parakeets and potentially Krystal and Birdy to a rescue in order to help increase their chance at longevity and happiness. But I need some advice to make sure I go about this the right way.

I will post pictures of Archy tomorrow and give the results of his fecal smear.

http://purplesmurf.com/?p=26

[paultheparrotlover]

2 months ago you were looking for free cockatiels.

[wildirish]

There have been times when they have been without food for two or three days. I find this unacceptable, and for the last few months have been trying to take proper care of all seven birds

Well considering you stated that they have gone without food for days I would also bet that means the cages haven't been cleaned either, so yep they have probably gotten sick. I am glad for the past few months you have been trying to care for them, but still don't undersatnd how if you still live in the same house that they could've been left in a situation that you yourself said was unacceptable????

I think it is a good theing you are giving them up, there isn't really any advice to give, if you have checked out the rescue then by all means let them have the birds.

Sorry, that I am not very sympathetic towards you, I don't know you or anything about you, however I will never understand how anyone can let an animal starve for days. I have a house full of rescues and have no sympathy left!

[Adi]

I've noticed that on your web-site, you now say that you are keeping two of the budgies. After you have mentioned that the birds sometimes go unfed for 2 to 3 days, I'm actually quite surprised that you aren't considering rehoming all of them. The workload involved in caring for several budgies is not much more than caring for 1 or 2 of them.

I understand that it might be difficult to do and the effort that you have recently put towards their care is nice. However, I'm still not convinced that you're doing the right thing for the birds. Keep their health and well-being in mind.

As WildIrish said, it is difficult to believe that you would let your birds starve for several days. Unless you make a complete turn around, your birds will have to pay for your lack of attention with their health. (And I it seems like they already are...) Please reconsider finding them all some good homes.

[purplesmurf]

Originally Posted by paultheparrotlover

2 months ago you were looking for free cockatiels.

You must be thinking of someone else.

Originally Posted by Adi

I've noticed that on your web-site, you now say that you are keeping two of the budgies. After you have mentioned that the birds sometimes go unfed for 2 to 3 days, I'm actually quite surprised that you aren't considering rehoming all of them. The workload involved in caring for several budgies is not much more than caring for 1 or 2 of them.

Archy and Pumpkin, the pair I will be keeping, were the pair of cockatiels that bred several years ago. I have moved them into my room where I can look after them, play with them, socialize with them more, and take care of them while I do my daily fish feeding/tank maintainence. I plan to keep them there permanetly after making several modifications to my room, and will most likely take them with me to college where I can ensure their well being.

Part of the reason the birds were neglected (not making excuses, just stating fact) lay in the fact that there was no place for them to play. My parents hated them pooping on the furniture and wouldn't allow us to use house hold items to make play things for them. However, I'm planning on constructing a small play place inside of my room.

I have a small inset in which I keep a fish tank on a table, the space about 4'W x 2' deep and with two shelves placed above the table I could make a nice are to place ladders, veggi clips for fruit and millit, swings, bells, and balls. Naturally I'd have a good sized lip on the edge of both platforms and place a cloth hammock just below the bottom most edge to keep anyone from falling off and into the fish tank should I leave the hood open.

I really want to care for my pets, but I need to make adjustments in order to do so. My life is pretty hectic, so giving seven birds two hours of attention a day is out of the question. But if I limit myself to two then I can play and talk with them all the time.

[Dayna]

I think everyone was less concerned about the attention you were giving them and more concerned about you not feeding them for 3 or 4 days in a row. These birds are in cages and have NO CHOICE in their lives. I can only imagine how birds must feel if someone "forgets" to feed them. They can't get out of their cages to get food or water. My daughter is 8 years old, and she never forgets to feed her cat 2 times per day and give him fresh water and scoop his litter box DAILY. If an 8 year old does not need to be reminded, neither does a young adult.

If you can't spend a few minutes per day feeding 7 birds, I cannot begin to understand how you could possibly spend two hours per day playing with 2.

[Adi]

Part of the reason the birds were neglected (not making excuses, just stating fact) lay in the fact that there was no place for them to play. My parents hated them pooping on the furniture and wouldn't allow us to use house hold items to make play things for them. However, I'm planning on constructing a small play place inside of my room.

I really do appreciate what you are doing and I can see that you are really trying to create the best environment for them. However..... it's not really the attention issue that has been bothering me, it's the fact that they have gone unfed for days! Even though your parents did not want the birds pooping on the furniture, it's still no excuse that they went for 2 or 3 days without food......

And if you do plan on bringing them to college, did you intend to live in the dorms? In that case you'll have to make sure you can bring them along. You'll probably be busier in college than you are now, are you sure the budgies will recieve proper care then too???

[purplesmurf]

Again, not budgies, cockatiels.

As for the leaving them unfed for days at a time, it's something I know never should have happened and a testament to my laziness and my brother and sisters squabbling. But I have changed, at least enough to recognize that feeding isn't that big of a deal if you'll just do it. Kind of like homework.

At this point it's my responsibility to give the best home to my animals. For the parakeets and Birdy (a screamer and constant source of stress for Archy) and Krystal (a loner who dosn't seem to want anything in the way of bird companionship) that probably means relinquishing them to a rescue.

As for the college move: my school actually does not allow animals other than fish. But Archy and Pumpkin are very quite and would easily be snuck in. I may be busier in college, but not enough to keep me from changing their food and water and having them out with me while I read, do homework, or eat at the very least.

I wouldn't take them up right away since moving in a birdcage on the first day might draw some unwanted questions, but waiting a week or two would allow me to setup a good space for them and figure out where I could clean cage bottoms and such.

[Dayna]

I would recommend finding them a good home. It would be very dishonest of you to have cocktiels at college. Not to mention the fact that your room mates might be allergic. There is a reason to no pets in the dorm room. Cockatiels give off a lot of powder dust and can really hurt people who have asthma.

On another note, since no one fed them when you did not feed them, who will feed them while you are getting set up in college? Just becuase you changed, does not mean that your family has. You really need to put your birds needs ahead of your own in this case. Normally I am not an advocate of re-homing pets, but in this case, it seems to be best for the birds.

Maybe when you are settled and older and out of college, you can try to have a pet then. It seems like right now, you just don't have the lifestyle required to keep a pet in good health. Both emotional and physical.

I would be happy to help you to find them a good home, though I would not go the rescue route. I know some people who are great all across the county. If you post here on birdboard, some members might even be looking for the types of birds you have. Rescues too often keep/hoard birds instead of finding them good homes. And sometimes the adoption requirements are too hard for any normal person to meet.

Try placing an ad in your local newspaper and interviewing people to place your birds in a good home.

[CACPioneer]

Originally Posted by purplesmurf

As for the college move: my school actually does not allow animals other than fish. But Archy and Pumpkin are very quite and would easily be snuck in. I may be busier in college, but not enough to keep me from changing their food and water and having them out with me while I read, do homework, or eat at the very least.

I wouldn't take them up right away since moving in a birdcage on the first day might draw some unwanted questions, but waiting a week or two would allow me to setup a good space for them and figure out where I could clean cage bottoms and such.

I would not recommend sneaking your birds into the dorms. You never know what kind of people will be living near you, and they may feel compelled to report your birds. Also, you need to think about emergencies. What about fire alarms in the middle of the night (believe me..drunk people like to pull fire alarms and play with fire extinguishers on the weekends)? You wouldn't want to leave your birds in the room because the emergency could be very real. But, if it's not, and your RA's and fellow residents see you lugging your birds outside to safety and then lugging them back in, you'll have been found out. And if you leave the birds in the room? From my experience, firefighters must open every dorm room and "ok" it. They do this because any person found still in the room during an alarm is fined for breaking certain fire codes or rules. So then what happens if the firefighters report the animals to the RA's or administration? Then you may find yourself facing fines, sanctions, and perhaps even eviction from the dorms for violating the "no pet" rule. Then you'd have to scramble to find your birds a new home in a hurry!

Also, I honestly don't think that dorm life is all that great a life for birds. I lived in a dorm for 2 years, and there were constantly parties, rude awakenings at 4am at least once a week, parties, etc. etc. I got my birds after I moved into an apartment. Though my life is still very busy, at least I have better control over the environment and what goes on in it.

So, in short, I highly, highly recommend that you not bring your 'tiels to school with you. Please. For their own well being and to protect your own rear end.