flor
Hatchling
Posts: 13
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Post by flor on Apr 9, 2019 6:26:40 GMT -5
Hi!
So I am currently hosting a wild adult quaker parrot (would say male from size, but what do I know)
- Montblanc has a bad leg fracture and is currently recovering with me. My husband is a vet and we will make a radio of his leg in a couple of weeks to see progress. For now it does not look good (not moving at all his toes that are sticking out of the cast). He is not eating by himself (except a bit of apple), and I hand feed him kaytee exact formula 5 times a day. He arrived thin and is still thin (114 grammes today). - He has perked up some since he stopped painkillers, shreds newspapers and branches, preens, occasionally calls. Not looking very happy though. Some questions. - Quaker are invasive and must be euthanised, I cannot take him to any shelter. I have access to a big aviary where he could muscle up before release
- In case Montblanc could not be released, could he be happy in captivity? I could get him a mate. However many wild birds are miserable in captivity and it can sometimes be more humane to euthanise them if they don't adjust at all. Do any of you have experience with adult wild quakers? - What can I do to entice him to eat by himself? Besides playing him quaker sounds (I do but he does not seem to care much), what can I do to make him more comfortable?
Many thanks
Flor
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Post by cnyguy on Apr 9, 2019 20:32:31 GMT -5
I have heard of several naturalized Quakers who have adapted well to being kept in captivity. It would certainly be worth a try. My best suggestion to make Motblanc more comfortable is to just spend quality time with him. Just sit near him and talk to him-- read to him or even sing to him. Let him know you care about him and want to help him all that you can. Try eating some good foods in front of Montblanc and act like it's the best food you've ever eaten. Parrots usually will want their human companions to share foods they're enjoying. If he won't eat dry parrot pellets, try soaking some for a short time in good quality water or unsweetened fruit juice. Once they've softened, offer some to Montblanc on a small spoon, or put some in his food dish. That often works to get a parrot who is unused to the pellets to try them.
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flor
Hatchling
Posts: 13
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Post by flor on Apr 10, 2019 5:00:09 GMT -5
Many thanks for the reply I will try the advice. For now he only seems to take food from my hand, in his cage he does not touch it. I am not sure what Montblanc thinks of me but he sure stole my heart! A friend with experience with Quakers told me from the sounds he makes he is probably over 2 years old and a mature male. He took his cast totally off twice yesterday, today I have left him without. The leg actually looks quite good but he tends to hold it up, it must still hurt. I believe in some weeks he will be able to go in the aviary, even if his leg is not fully functional he can probably live free again. Montblanc sits on my chest in the evening and I scratch his head and he puffs his feathers and closes his eyes. Then he kind of licks my fingers and nibbles my rings, so cute! Today he went back in his cage by himself when I put him on the table. These are very special animals, unusual for a wild adult bird to lose fear so quickly.
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Post by biteybird on Apr 10, 2019 7:19:45 GMT -5
Welcome! It sounds like you have done a wonderful job developing a rapport with Montblanc, particularly for a wild bird (many people with even hand-reared quakers don't ever experience this success). Cnyguy has given you great advice, which I can only echo. Give him/her (size is not necessarily an indication of gender) lots of time and don't force interaction. The fact that he/she is happy to sit on your chest and engage in nibbles/scratches is really amazing. I agree with you that it's unusual for a wild bird to lose fear so fast. Well done and good luck! P.S. I wouldn't worry too much about weight per se. Our Bonnie is small and weighs in at 105 grams, tops. Others are bigger, regardless of sex. So I wouldn't go particularly by the scale right now, at least until you know what is "normal" for your particular bird.
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flor
Hatchling
Posts: 13
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Post by flor on Apr 10, 2019 12:24:51 GMT -5
Here is Montblanc after tearing his bandage yet again
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flor
Hatchling
Posts: 13
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Post by flor on Apr 10, 2019 13:36:16 GMT -5
Not too sure... should I eat this finger?
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Post by Caseysmom on Apr 22, 2019 19:58:45 GMT -5
Lots of good advice! Welcome to the forum, our quaker Casey arrived at our house with a broken leg too over 12 years ago. She was just a baby then and was a surrender at the vets because it was going to be too expensive to fix it. She liked to chew on her cast too, trying to get it and the splint off. Your videos show a very calm Quaker, maybe he realizes you are helping him, they are very smart
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