very sad abuse story rescue

What a kind person you are. Bless you for taking in this little one. Easttex has given you great advice. It is amazing what a little love can do so don't give up on your little buddy as it sounds like he is thriving with you. Just give him a little time to improve. Gentle massage on his legs might help as well. Please keep us posted on his progress.

Thank you so much for rescuing this little one. Quakers are such incredibly wonderful birds and I know what you mean about them sometimes being a bit like dogs. My Maya is also really tame, loves head scritches, will allow me to pick her up and turn her over to check her toes (she doesn't like it much so don't do it unless necessary) and will let me lift her wings. I second what the others have said: a good diet based on birdie pellets (KAYTEES, Haagen, Harrisons, Zupreem or Pretty Bird), along with fresh fruit and veg, lots of love and cuddles. If you can encourage him to fly, it might help give him a little more independence and help strengthen his upper body so he can balance on his damaged foot. Plenty of toys to chew on, made of safe materials like cardboard, plain paper or bird safe woods (like wood from an apple tree). Anything he can preen or destroy will help keep him occupied and stop him taking his trauma out on himself.

Be aware that, like humans, birds can sometimes suffer delayed reactions to abuse they have faced. If you can establish a good training relationship with him early on, it may help temper any PTSD he might display later. When Maya was little, I used to train her for ten minutes, 5 nights a week. I clicker trained her, then taught her to target to a chopstick, to turn around, blow kisses and give me a high four. Now, if she has a tantrum, saying 'high four!' or 'gimme kiss!' will almost certainly snap her out of it and it really helps to temper her mad, teenage hormones! Training is really easy. Rebecca O'Connor has a really good book called 'The Perfectly Trained Parrot' which has lots of ideas.

Also, a decent Arcadia bird light (Northernparrots.co.uk sells them) or at least 15 mins per week in the sun (on a screened porch, an aviary or a bird-safe carry case) will help feather growth and condition.

I always marvel at how forgiving animals can be of human beings when our species can be so cruel and rarely display the same forgiveness to the animals we prosecute. You have done an amazing thing by rescuing this little one. Birds are complex and intelligent creatures. Their social nature and quick brains are little understood and, as a result, they are particularly prone to abuse. Having lived with Maya for over two years now, the idea that she might have ended up in a home that completely misunderstood her, where she was locked away and ignored or neglected even when damage befell her makes my heart break. The fact that you have saved this birdie from that fate makes me feel really glad and really grateful. x

It is terrible knowing that there are these type of people around who would hurt innocent little animals / birds. You are very kind for taking on such a little helpless Quaker. Good for you!!

I can only wish you all the best as you have been given good advice. Quakers love to bath... I know mine does a few times a week. Bless you.