Hi, all!

[Debra H.]

We're new here. We are collectively known as "Charlie's Roost Aviary", but individually we are Debra (human) along with 17 adult birds and 2 baby birds. Plus 8 cats and 3 dogs, a daughter, and a husband. I'm hoping to get to know you all and may already know some of you through other chat sites.

[Monica]

Hi and welcome to BirdBoard! Curious though about your group of budgies there... What would "S.N." stand for???

[Debra H.]

Oh, I'm sorry about that. The S.N. stands for "Special Needs". I have 4 special needs English Budgies. Charlie fell off a perch while at a previous owner's and broke his little leg. Didn't get any vet care as the owner didn't see it in time so now his little leg sticks straight out to the side. Angel has a fatty lipoma on her belly. Naomi is slow, the equivalent to a Down's Syndrome human child. And Chewie is extremely "pigeon toed". His toes on each foot touch the toes on the other foot because the feet are turned in so badly. He has some trouble walking and climbing.

[Monica]

Oh, sounds like a wild bunch there...

As far as Charlie, that sounds like a birth defect, rather than actually breaking a leg as adult birds do not break there legs very easily unless they get a toe or foot stuck in something (such as a toy).

With good diet and a lot of excersice, Angel could get rid of the lipoma probably.

Can't think of what may have caused Naomi to be the way he is, though Chewie sounds like a possible birth defect as well.


As far as special need birds, I only have one, which would be my cherry head conure. She cannot fly (was attacked by a ferret about 9 years ago, don't know if she ever flew before though) and sometimes I feel as if she may have neurological problems, but has been otherwise checked out as healthy.


Anyway, its great to learn about your flock and great to get to know you! I'm sure you will enjoy it here!

[The Outlaw]

I agree with Monica about Charlie's leg. It simply sounds like a splayed leg that could probably have been corrected when he was very young by simply taping it correctly.

In any event, welcome to Birdboard. I'm the Outlaw and I have 10 larger parrots: 4 BG macaws, 1 Eclectus, 1 Yellow Nape Amazon, 1 Severe macaw, 1 Quaker and 2 African Greys.

[Debra H.]

Actually, Charlie was a breeder (a good one at that) and after he fell his owner gave him to a friend of his (the owner's) who happened to be a friend of mine. She wasn't set up to care for a pet bird and knew that I would just fall in love with him so she offered him to me. No, his leg was definitely broken. It wasn't a birth defect. And I'm not kidding when I say it sticks straight out to the side either. :aiwebs_01 He can't even bend it at all any more but he can move it at the hip and that's about it. Except the foot still works wonderfully. :eusa_clap