Konas Story

[oregonparrotlover]

Kona the Congo African Grey was hatched on March 30th, 2006. At 3 or 4 days old Deb: dvelardi here from BB got her from another breeder. Im not 100% sure if she was hatched without toes or if the parents got them off in the nextbox within the first couple days of hatch.

In March Deb told me that she had a baby grey with no toes that she wanted me to meet. I didnt think nothing of it then until I met a friend on another board that has a cockatoo with no toes at all. Once I got back from vacation in June I went into the Bird Hut where she works and there she was. I fell in love with her. She had a personality and despite a couple of changes in the cage she was in at the bird hut (a bigger natural wood perch) she seemed to get around great.

I put the down payment on her and in July I brought the beautiful grey home. I was going to put her in a smaller cage at first, but at the advice of my friend who has the toeless cockatoo I went ahead and got bigger then I had planned. I got her a 32"x23"x66" Play Top, I wanted to go bigger but wasnt sure how she would handle that.

Ill put it this way. I should of went bigger. She gets all over that cage, every place a regular bird would go she goes. I was nervous when I first got her that I wasnt going to do the best she needed. She has bottlebrush perches in there that are conure sized and grips those just fine. She also has a ladder in there that I put horizontal infront of her food and water and she uses that as her perch. Im going to get some 2x6 pine and use those as some perches as well just for a little more comfort.

She is only 5 months old, but let me tell you. You would never know she was disabled. Parrots with no toes get around just great. It might take them just a little bit longer, but in the long run they are great. They have something else that makes them a little bit special.


Here she is using her NUBS to eat a pine nut and to play with a ball. She picks up veggies with her toes, scratches with her toes and all.

And look at it this way. Eventually she will pay her self off. No nail trims are needed!!!!

[Darlie]

What a lucky baby to have a dad like you! She's gorgeous!

[cfulhage]

What a great story- Thanks for sharing it!!

[Lisa B]

Thank you for writing that. I often hear of birds with no toes, and people Question how they can have a quality of life. Kona has prooved that they dont need thier toes to be happy healthy birds.

What most people dont relize, is that unless its an accident, these birds who are born with disablilites DONT know they are special. They dont know they are supposed to have a hard time perching. Thier life has never been different. They adapted.

Emma case, she doesnt understand that she isnt supposed to go after her brothers, who,if bite her neck since its exposed, will kill her.
She is a rowdy chick I have to keep my eyes on. no different then a little tom boy!!

[oregonparrotlover]

Thank you everyone :) I to think its important to let people know. Because unless I met someone who had told me how great their life can be with no toes I would of never went after the thought of getting Kona because she has no toes. I would much rather her get to a home like me who can adapt to her needs as they come then to someone who isnt sure and doesnt want her because of her toes.

One thing I might add is that I could of gotten a CAG from a breeder with toes for right about the same price I bought Kona for. The store sells their CAG's more and did give me a discount. But I felt our attatchment was really strong and I HAD to have her.

[oregonparrotlover]

Another thing I might add, I am not sure how I forgot this when I wrote it.

Kona uses her wings as arms to push herself up when she climbs around in her cage. It really is something to watch because its just natural to her.

Also how most birds climb to your shoulder with their beak and nails she will grab my shirt with her beak and flap her way up!

[Lori]

Thanks for sharing about Kona....and thank you for giving her the opportunity to have a happy life.....

[mizbirdy]

Kona's gorgeous!! How lucky you both are to have found each other!

[Imagemneye]

I'm SO glad that KONA is doing so great! You are a Great Parront:)

[Ringneckmom]

It always amazes me how these little guys get around and it never seems to phase them!