What a day! (Birdie *updated*).

First topic message reminder :

My neighbours dog, jess (aka little Jess) came for a visit while her dad went shopping.  She has separation anxiety, a rescue with a not so happy prior life. We do not raise a voice, hand nor clap as she will flee to a corner. She is very head shy & didn't like to be touched, now  she loves cuddles!   . He is her 4th? owner.

He has to go away soon to see his brother as he is not well,  he cannot take little Jess there, (they will not allow a dog in their house) so she has to get used to him not being with her.

I will take her when he goes. He is 78, little Jess is about 8 I think? She is so tiny I'm scared to walk incase I step on her.... a chihuahua x foxie x god knows what? Mini Daushhound? Heres a pic.., shes a long chihuahua.   (she is soooo cute!)

She is not dog, people, or air friendly, she growls & snaps at anything but my guys love her & she has finally learnt to be nice with them & the chooks.



During little jess's visit..... Tyson bought another chick inside...

Poor little thing, Tyson was carrying it so gently, almost as if his teeth hurt. ( what a good puppy, I am so proud of his gentleness).... he placed it on the floor inside the back door to show me.  Both wings are damaged, it has 1st & last feathers on both wings, nothing in between, one wing is obviously broken...  I went to the chemist, got a syringe & eye dropper. It is eating meal worms & drinking from the eye dropper. But I don't like it's chances by the morning ... it is in my study with straw in a tub. I'm trying to keep it calm but for a young chick ( maybe 2wks) that's got to be in pain, it is fighting hard! I will give it a drink every hour or so during the night.

If it makes it, I dont think it will ever fly again so if all goes well.... I have a new pet birdie, but I don't think I will.


Sorry its not a good pic. I don't want to move him (she) to get a shot as he squeals in pain.
This is the 3rd chick Tyson has bought to the door. The last one made it, I really dont think this one will. I will try, but I think we are running up hill without a water bottle.

That's a good sign! If it turns out that the wing can't be used for flight, a positive association with you should help a lot if you choose to keep her in captivity. As long as she's kept properly, as I'm sure she would be, there's no reason why she can't live a perfectly healthy life.

Her right wing is shizenhouzen. The left is coming along brilliantly . If she ever flys I will be very surprised. I do not want another bird but.. what choise do I have! I can see no way for her to live in the wild. If she makes it I think she will be a family member here. She will live in my lorries old cage outside but have daily inside visits to stretch as much as possible.

If she can't fly she will just live with all mine. Lets see in the next month or so. Though I do not want a pet bird... I cannot just turn her out to die of starvation or be killed, can I.

No you can't Tracy, and knowing you - no you wouldn't.

You are doing a brilliant job, I congratulate you.

I wouldn't Lynda. If she never flys she will live with us. I do hope to set her free but I dont think its a reality. (Though I didnt think day 2 was a reality. )

We are getting there with her. The new record today in one sitting is now..... 9 meal worms    & 1 eye dropper of water. Im doing physio with her 2x daily but she only has control of her left wing. Her feet, legs, mouth, stomach & LUNGS... ALL working beautifully.

She sat balancing on my shoulder for 2 hrs today as I tidied up (very slowly for her)! I could feel her toes & legs grasping, her little body againt my neck.   She sits beside or on the dogs & Chilli stays far away when she is in the lounge. (My naughty flicking Chilli's ear if too close has worked a treat.)

We named her today.

Penelope "pigstop"!

Remember "Penelope pitstop" from the whacky races cartoon. ( I hope you all know the cartoon or the humour is simply wasted.)

*Update*

Birdie is still living with us, in a cage outside, talking to the birds that pop in for a visit. She is fit & fighting well, eating, drinking, jumping & running up & down sticks like an ant. She has come along very well.... Though she has still never flown, (she still doesn't have full flight feathers) she is now withdrawing from human contact. She is showing natural fear of anything near her. This is exactly how she should behave. But all my physio efforts have failed so far & flight eludes her to date.

We will keep trying though, I want her out in the trees flying free. She can always come back for a free feed whenever she's hungry.

You've done wonders with her - if she's meant to fly, she will. Time for another piccie?

I don't think she'll ever fly Tracy. Birds are such delicate creatures.
Is there a bird park she could go to? So she could be in a big enclosure with loads of space to run and climb freely? Specially if you say she's starting to show her natural caution?

Unfortunately not. I have done more research. She is actually a "female black bird" which is brown. Only the males are actually black. If I had taken her to a vet or sanctuary,  by law they would have euthanized her as she is classed as a ferral bird.  
But I couldnt do that. A life is a life unless you are a miner bird. I still wouldn't kill it but just put it somewhere safe in the yard & let it be.

I'll get a pic next day or two when she comes in as she hides in the branches & leaves in the cage. Unless you know shes in there it looks like I am housing sticks & leaves.

That's a pity.
She'll probably come round in time and be less scared. How long do they live for?

I don't really know? The opinions on the net vary wildly.... average of 3-4yrs seems the general consensus but one said the record was 20!

I don't believe that but if the internet says it, it must be true?

If only! Then that Nigerian Prince would have given me my 900 million dollars!

Well he will as soon as you send him 50 grand so he can access his millions! I'm sure he will promise he'll pay it back!

Shisa wrote: If only! Then that Nigerian Prince would have given me my 900 million dollars!

tracyp wrote:Well he will as soon as you send him 50 grand so he can access his millions! I'm sure he will promise he'll pay it back!

Hey, he said that was mine!

Must be a different prince!

Same prince by a different IP address.

Here she is after trying to bite me. She really dosent like us human folk anymore.
I think she maybe part snapping turtle.





As you can see, both her flight & tail feathers still have not come in properly. She dose now "flap & flutter" about but she'll need more feathers to get any actual lift. Still, her left leg is now in excellent condition so maybe with some more time she will grow some feathers & achieve lift off.

tracyp wrote:Same prince by a different IP address.

I suppose it's better for her, really, if she doesn't like people much - better chance of survival overall.

She doesn't look too amused at having her photo taken! You've done really well with her!

Lorraine wrote:She doesn't look too amused at having her photo taken!  You've done really well with her!

She does look really cross!

I'm quite happy she no longer likes me or the dogs. She doesn't like anything moving near her & snaps at anything that she can, which is exactly what she needs to survive.

Seems she doesn't like pics either. That's her.... back off or I'll bite you face.

Go get 'em birdie!!

Lorraine wrote:She doesn't look too amused at having her photo taken!  You've done really well with her!

Cheers Lorraine! I didn't think she'd be with us the morning after Tyson bought her home. So...so far, so good. I just need her to grow feathers & make like a bird now.

Caryll wrote:

Go get 'em birdie!!

Don't encourage her!

You've done so well Tracy. And especially for welcoming Birdie's stand-offishness. I must admit that in your place I'd be broken hearted that I didn't have a feathered friend for life!

Thanks Lynda, it has been along road for her. (& me) She simply has no respect for all I have done for her.  

Her fear of all things will serve her well. I don't play with her anymore, just grab her, bring her inside, put her on the floor & walk towards her slowly so she is forced to flutter to get away. I will miss her if she flys & i release her but I'll be so happy that she is in the wild where she belongs.

She now eats garden worms, ants, bread, seeds, fruit etc so if she ever flies she knows lots of different foods she can eat giving her a great chance. I also hide her food now so she has to search to get a meal or drizzle honey or peanut butter in her cage. She loves that & it brings some ants in which she gobbles right up.