Birds, Birds, and more Birds

Bath Time Baby

Ok, so I decided much to Oscars dismay that today was to be bath day. Usually he enjoys bath time due to the fact that I can typically figure out when he wants to, and coinside the timing.

Chlamydophila psittaci

Ok, so I just last night found out that the local PetSmart by us has an outbreak of Chlamydophila psittaci. This is a avian infection that is transmittable to people. We have been going to this particular store now for almost 6 weeks to sit and admire one of the birds that they have there (White Capped Pionus) {see below}, and dream about possibly taking him home. Now the entire bird population at this PetSmart has been on quarantine since late December due to a possible infection. Two weeks ago we asked what was wrong and we were informed that it was strictly precautionary that they were still in "lock down". Now last night when we went in to admire the Pionus, we asked if it were possible to be able to hold him. We were told no - due to the fact that the entire flock has been under veterinary care for Chlamydophila psittaci, and since it is transmittable, we were not allowed. Now this was told to us this time by a friend who knows that we own our own flock of feathered friends, and she did not want us to become either carriers or become sick ourselves. I am upset that we were mislead regarding this issue, but I guess that it is due to lack of communication between employees. We were also told that the employees that did not follow the rules for care have become sick themselves. So I guess in a way karmic retribution. I don't want anyone to be sick, but don't lie about the health of your animals for sale or otherwise.



This is what the white capped pionus looks like:

About my Flock

Ok, so this whole feathered family obsession started with a canary almost two years ago now. I got Sam from the local pet shop. He was just to cool to pass up, instead of the typical yellow colour, he was orange and white. He looked like a creamsicle pop to me. So I got him and started to spoil him rotten! He came with a cage that I felt was just WAY to small, so that was the first thing that I upgraded for him. He went from "apartment size" to "mansion" overnight. The cage that I bought was easily 4 times the size of his original cage. After Sam arrived, friends offered us their pair of Love Birds. We took the two and gave them names, so arrived Tristan and Isolde. A few months after these three settled in, I moved Sam into the Love Birds cage, and put the Love Birds into Sams mansion and proceeded to get a Red Factor female canary for Sam to play with. He was SMITTEN instantly. As soon as Grace arrived I completely no longer existed in his little world. He would still tolerate my holding him, but she was his all or nothing. They lived very happily for about 2 months, then Sam passed away. I ended up giving Grace to a friend so that she would be able to have alot more attention. This was approximatly this time last year. About a week or so after Sam passed, I was back in the same pet shop that I had found him, I saw Oscar (at the time named Paco). I was smitten! He was beautiful (still is). I asked and found out that he was up for adoption due to his temperment. He was appparently a bit cage aggresive and getting him out was not always easy. So I went home, and talked it over, and the little guy came home with us on 3-12-07. Boy was he cranky! For the first 2 weeks or so, it looked like I hade voluntarily stuck my hands into shredders. (When someone tells you that a bird is cage aggressive - it means in birdie minds Look but DON'T TOUCH me) So needless to say I bled alot. Now however he is the most wonderful little guy that I have ever had the enjoyment of caring for. He is definatly a mamma's boy though.

Now Charlie Boy on the other hand is a bird of a different color (figuratively and literally). Charlie is our foster bird. He is a 12 (almost 13) yr old Medium Crested Cockatoo. He is totally attached to his foster daddy. We started fostering him just after we brought Oscar home, so he has been with us for almost a year now. He is the perfect bird for people who are intimidated by large birds. He is gentle and cuddly. He does have his moments, but they are few and far between. He has gone to just about anyone that has put their arm out to see him. He will climb up your arm sit on you shoulder and pet you face with his foot. He knows how to say "hello" in just about every possible way, and of course it starts at 6am. Just to see if you are awake.

Well these are my Flock, they are more then just critters though, they are family. I don't know what I would do without them.

Weekend Worries

Ok so this is a possibility when fostering any animal, the original owner decides to drop in and say "Hi". Of course this would be forewarned with a phone call, but it is still a drop by. This happened on Saturday to Rich & I. We have been fostering a 12 (almost 13) yr old Cockatoo named Charlie since last April. Since then we have spoken to and emailed his "mommy" several times and things have gone super. She hasn't been able to visit due to medical issues. However this past Saturday at about 1:30 she calls to see if we are going to be home and if so could she stop by. Of course we were home and how do you tell her "No you can't come by and see your baby - we have grown to attached" So I am sure that you can imagine how worried we were that this visit was going to end in her taking him. Well she shows up just before 4pm and can barely move. I feel awful! She can't even look down at him while holding him. She can't get on the floor to play with him, there is no activity that she can do other then just holding him. There is NO WAY that she would be able to give him proper care at this time. So with that apparent to her, she and her mother (who drover her to our house) leave. I am not sure what the future holds for her at this time, but I don't think that it will include Charlie for many many many months.

Now understand that while all this activity is going on with Charlie Boy, my little Oscar is going out of his feathered little head. There are people in the house, his mommy (me) is home, and he is stuck in his cage for the majority of the day. In his little mind this has been the bigest mistake that could possibly be made. Cause don't you know that when mommys home, it is "mommy and me" time all the time! So this created what I affectionatly call mass quantities of "temporary birdie insanity" He would nuzzle and cuddle then turn around and bite my cheek and then instantly go back to cuddley birdie... This happend all Saturday evening and most of Sunday evening. My life with critters - wouldn't change it for the world.