Sorry- bit of a long post here! I havent been on here for a long time, as i lost my african grey Henry to Cancer, and then unexpectantly also lost my white eyed conure Teko at the age of 14 for no medical reason (almost harder to deal with than Henry as the vets cannot explain why it happened to Teko

I then last year took on a 6mnth baby grey from my local vets that they didnt think would live as his nostrils were so clogged with fungal infection and in some ways having a very poorly bird to care for helped me cope on a day to day basis, even though he in no way replaced my two. He is now doing wonderfully, and after lots of medical attention is now a nearly 100% and is very cheeky  I am an animal management lecturer and often hear from students who have animals they no longer want  and overheard a student talking about his nans birds he was going to sell cheap as nobody would want them with no feathers I obviously spoke to him and to cut a long story short, have now got two birds in my spare room!

I need to know if i am taking on too much and want to research the rehabilitation they both might need, so heres introducing Major... 19yrs bald Patagonian conure

 

 

Charlie-  17 yr old plucking grey

 

I couldnt leave them where they were, they have been living in budgie cages with hardly any handling, even though Charlie was apparently a hand reared baby bought from a pet shop  They dont seem to like each other, Major screamed for 2 days and was very stressed but he has settled down now and is eating fine. Will having two birds who pluck make them both worse, in terms of will they copy each other?

I have them in my spare room for now, just until they have had vet checks etc, but i know they will be hard work and need alot of time, but will taking on two difficult birds be too much? They are in seperate cages, Charlie likes to come out although needs to be towelled to go in currently- Major is quite feisty and isnt really ready to socialise yet! I feel so sorry for both of them, but not sure if they are better to stay together, or if seperating and concentrating on each individually woudl be better?

Any advice, thoughts would be great!

Where are you located?

Losing birds you love is dreadful. Cancer at least is a label, you know what happened, but the Conure - that's hard. It's good that you can finally talk about the situation now. My first concern would be to find out if your little Grey with the fungal infection is infectious. The next thing would be to accept that Pattys are noisy - it's what they do. Clearly he's settling down with you, and it's getting better as time goes on, but be prepared, if he's one of those that has lots to say, he'll say it. The plucked Grey, why did he pluck? Loneliness? Poor diet? Boredom? Stress? I don't know of any bird that has plucked because he saw another one plucking... These birds will all require time and effort, but the rewards will be huge. I use Avi-Stress in the water for plucked birds, it seems to work. Some plucking can be stopped by giving lots of attention, but it depends on how long the bird's been plucking. If it's become a habit, like chewing nails, that's it for the duration. What happened to the original owner? Did she die? Was the bird close to her, missing her? We have a very plucked bird here, she started when her owner stopped spending time and affection with her. Since she's been here the feathers are beginning to return, she doesn't pluck, and she spends hours and hours on my husband, so the attention is there for her. You need to think not 'have I taken on too much' but 'this bird is 100% better off here with me than it was before it came'. Give it a try. If you feel it's too much, deal with that when you come to that conclusion. Good luck with it. It would be worth getting in touch with your local ACO who will give advice, whether you're a member or not. Let us know how it goes.
Doddie

Thanks  I have updated my profile as i am in Cheshire, just outside Nantwich. Both birds apparently have been plucking for years- the conure is worse as he is bald with just a few feathers coming through- the grey has fluff all over, with a bald neck. The conure being noisy is something i am prepared for, living with one for years they do have a distinct liitle cry!

Both have always been together ie in same romo apparently, but the old lady went into sheltered accommadation and didnt want her birds anymore- she hadnt had them out of the cages for years

Diet, supplements etc are being looked at now and my vet is going to give them a health check.

Earl the grey with the fungal infection isnt contagious- he has had lots of treatments etc over this year and last, and had his nostrils cleaned surgically which meant i had to flush both nostrils daily for three weeks- he just has a bit of a runny nose that needs cleaning weekly now but the vet says he would be fine to live with other birds, so maybe these two would benefit from hearing him chattering etc?

They are lovely birds, but i dont want to make their plucking worse and hope to get some tips on here!

I will contact the local ACO, i think it was Jayne that i have spoken to previously

I think that's best and Doddie always gives great advice! It sounds to me like these birds are in the best possible place now. well done you. You need and deserve all the credit in the world for doing this. :-)

well done you for rescuing this little beauties, sounds like your doing all you can for them, keep us updated with there progress.....and well done

Hello again Emma, you really should stop overhearing all them students! I think Doddie has given you the best advice, plus I think you are very knowledgable with your birds needs anyway. At least the vets health check could rule out any underlying health problems associated with the plucking and once you know if it is / isnt linked to one of them things you can then try to deal with it accordingly. As Doddie says again, is it due to the loss of their owner??
Im not doing the ACO role any more Emma, but im still here!! Keep us updated xx

Those poor birds, well, they were 'poor birds' before they went to you. Now they are obviously very lucky to have found someone to care enough for them to deal with their problems.

I think everyone is different and only you know whether you can deal with both birds, you know what your day to day life and routine is like but often people don`t have enough faith in themselves.

You obviously have a lot of support from the Birdline people on here and if we can help in any way please let us know, both with toys and food etc and personally.

I think what you are doing is admirable, they both obviously have quite severe issues but the look on Charlies face on the picture tells me he`s very happy with you. Major does look a bit sad for himself, I am not sure whether it`s just a one off but I know someone with a Patagonian Conure who also has a few issues due to ver bonding. Could that have been the issue with major with his previous owner?

Wishing you all the very best with 2 beautiful little birds
Scarlett x

Thankyou- i think i am just panicking as i dont want them to suffer any more stress than they have already- i dont think the plucking is due to overbonding- according to the family they have both been 'like that for years' and the old lady hardly spent any time with them so i think it may be due to boredom/stress etc? I am going to get a new parrot cage for Charlie as he is only in a small temporary one that i have, major is in my old conures cage and seems happy in it- he is happy eating all his mix, but at the minute is very picky with his fruit and veg! They will both eat a bit of toast in the morning though!

Major did come with two toys that apparently he was very attached to- one little hanging toy and one perch- the toy has to be hanging over the perch otherwise he screams and to be honest i have noticed he does like these to be in a certain way- i am guessing it is best to keep things he is familiar with ? They are very old and tatty but he seems to love them?!

Thanks everyone for your advice so far 

Don't remove favourite toys or perches. Familiar things help birds settle quicker than anything else. It doesn't matter if they're tatty, or broken, or just plain horrible. Once the birds have settled with you, and have new things to play with and chew, the old things can be removed (on a trial basis) and if there is no bad reaction, can be disposed of. My daughter, as a tiny one, had a fixation on a particular pillow. She was a happy, sunny child, as long as she had her pillow when she wanted it. She was in despair, out of all proportion, if it was missing when needed. Think of it like that. I'm happy to say she's outgrown the pillow obsession now (she's 38) but as a child that pillow was everything to her. It would have been cruel to throw it out. You're going to be fine, don't worry. Really.
Doddie

I've posted a video of charlie on the greys page, as he started talking last night!  He is very clear and does an old man and old lady voice 

Major at the moment is still screaming when i am in the room, but will take some more pics when he is more settled bless him 

heres some updated pics of the two baldies!

Charlie seems happy- he is chatting away now when i am out of the room, when i am in the room he whistles and will allow me close without lunging anymore so steady progress being made! Still a bit of a mission to get bowls out etc, but early days!

 

Major i am not sure.. i know he is a conure and that they have a big voice, but he is quiet most of the time when you are out of the room but when you are there he screams a lot! He also lunges at the bars whenever i approach the cage

 Sharp beak!

 He is eating well, and doesnt seem to have plucked any more feathers, but he doesnt seem to have settled as well as Charlie. I am not sure they even get on that well, as if Charlie is out of the cage and goes near major the noise escalates! It doesnt seem to be a cheery conure call either- it is a very harsh alarm call to me! I thought that by keeping them in the same room it would help settle them, but do you think i should try them in seperate rooms and see if Major is happier?

He is the baldest out of the two..

 

He loves his old toys though and sleeps with his head against them

Any ideas would be great!

 

Its worth a try, put him in a room where you can give him some special one on one time. Let him get to know you on his terms without the other birds around to make him nervous. Let him out and get him away from His cage after a couple of days too, it could be territorial. Make sure its just you and him though. Hope this helps

That last pic, I'm not sure what he is thinking but that really gets to me. His eyes are so soulful.

Sending your baldies lots of positive vibes although no practical advice, I have a semi baldy here and am tearing my hair out with him!!

Good luck and keep us updated. They are both lovely and I'm glad you have them. At least they are having a better life wiht you, even if they do ultimately decide they prefer the naked/fluffy look

Update on these two- the two pluckers havent pulled any feathers out for nearly a week, and there are little signs of regrowth on both birds after three weeks of being here

They both seem more settled- charlie is straight out of his cage when the door opens now and is on the floor, up the curtains, everywhere!

Major also seems happier in himself, and is ofetn playing with the toys in his cage- the cow bell is his particular new favourite!

I have had a long think over the weekend and i dont think i can offer major everything he needs longterm -  Being a conure he is more than happy to sing in the ways conures do best, but my neighbours are not happy, and the more settled he gets the more he sings- not in a scared way anymore, but in a look how loud i can get while spinning on the bell way!

I am conscious of the fact i have close neighbours that join onto my house, and i think he needs to be with people that can let him sing and not have to try and quieten him- i am so pleased he is more confident now, and i could never have left him where he was, but unless i win the lottery and can live in a detached house with lots of space between us, i think major will suffer in the long run as he should be able to sing and sqwauk bless him

I'm trying to be realistic about what i can offer and whats best for Major, but it is so difficult

I am going to ring the hotline later and take things from there i think- and just hope people dont think i have given up or taken on a bird without researching a conure etc

hi

i think you've just done the hardest part in bringing major to the great looking bird he is today from what he was like when you had him,

hope you find a great home for him soon

you need a slap on the back for all the hard work you've put into major

WELL DONE YOU

Emma,

Everyone already knows how dedicated and loving you have been to both Major and Charlie Their lives are certainly more enriched for having been with you. But, as you say, you have to be realistic. If a conure (and a much happier one at that) is too noisy to be a house companion, then you'd be wrong to keep him. You'd be constantly worrying about upsetting the neighbours and he couldn't be the noisy boy he wants. At least you know that if he goes to Birdline, then he will be suited to the best home for him. No-one will think badly of you, quite the opposite, you've already helped him so much.

I take it you're going to keep Charlie? As you already know from Earl, CAGs are generally quite quiet - although somebody should tell our 2 when they get going in the afternoon lol! It seems as if Charlie's already made himself at home. Has he had a clear healthcheck from the vet and met Earl yet? (I seem to remember you saying you were going to get them both checked.)

Whatever you decide, remember that everyone here knows how much you have done already. As Clair said, well done you! x

I've made the call to the helpline  Feel really quite upset about having to do it, but i know that Major needs more than i can offer him longterm  I have picked up the phone lots of times this week then put it down again as i found it really difficult to talk about him going, even though hes only been here a little while

I am hoping that he will be placed with a safehouse that will let him sing and be as lous as Patagonians can be. I am just waiting to hear from somebody in my area to come and see him and discuss what to do next

Charlie is staying as long as the person who comes out doesn't think they are bonded in anyway- i only want whats best for both of them and if they should stay together then thats what will happen.

I need to keep telling myself that Major is better off now than he was a few weeks ago, and this is the first part of his journey to being a happier parrot

 well done your doing the right thing for him

you've made the first steps  xx

Posted By emcbadger on 15-03-2011 09:14 AM .

I need to keep telling myself that Major is better off now than he was a few weeks ago, and this is the first part of his journey to being a happier parrot

Does it help if we tell you that, because it is the absolute truth. You have given Major the start of his new enriched life x