Ira Posted January 21, 2011 Report Share Posted January 21, 2011 His name was Spike...We're changing that. Rescued him from a 70ish yo man, he was the guy's wife's pet before she died 4 years ago. Hasn't been out of his cage since then. The week before we picked him up he started falling off his perch, when we picked him up he had a broken wing and was sneezing blood. So, off to the vet for x-rays. His wings are full of old, healed breaks. Wings and joints are deformed and arthritic due to horrible diet likely from the time he hatched. The vet asked when she saw him, "What's his diet? Let me guess, sunflower seeds, sunflower seeds and more sunflower seeds?" Yep. Previous owner gave us his leftover food, a 5 gallon bucket of sunflower seeds. We're not sure how old he is but it appears since he hatched he's been fed nothing but sunflower seeds and the odd bit of toast, icecream and chocolate. FAR too late now to do anything for him so we're just going to try and get him eating something other than garbage. He's basically on a DNR now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BikBok Posted January 21, 2011 Report Share Posted January 21, 2011 oh poor thing. SO glad you've got him now though. Any ideas how old? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nymox Posted January 21, 2011 Report Share Posted January 21, 2011 Good on you for taking him on and bearing the vet bills, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted January 21, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 21, 2011 oh poor thing. SO glad you've got him now though. Any ideas how old? No real idea beyond at least 4-5 years old. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer Posted January 21, 2011 Report Share Posted January 21, 2011 Well done Ira. That's very sad indeed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted January 21, 2011 Report Share Posted January 21, 2011 Good on you Ira. I hope an improved diet will at least stop future breaks Our new bird has been put on hold until next season as the parents did not produce anything this year :roll: We were offered a hand reared blue quaker but Grant wants a green. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joshlikesfish Posted January 21, 2011 Report Share Posted January 21, 2011 Good on you for taking it in Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer Posted January 21, 2011 Report Share Posted January 21, 2011 Our new bird has been put on hold until next season as the parents did not produce anything this year :roll: We were offered a hand reared blue quaker but Grant wants a green. A whole 'nother year?? :nilly: Noooo, I can't wait that longgggg...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted January 21, 2011 Report Share Posted January 21, 2011 i think pink suits you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Posted January 21, 2011 Report Share Posted January 21, 2011 He's so cute. Good on you for taking him in He's now in safe hands His previous owners must be sick to care for a bird like that :evil: They should have never been allowed to keep animals :evil: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bdspider Posted January 21, 2011 Report Share Posted January 21, 2011 Ignorant/negligent pet owners make me so angry *seethes* Poor birdy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted January 21, 2011 Report Share Posted January 21, 2011 Yikes! He looks over 20! In good hands now, so he can live out the rest of his days happily - or as happily as is possible under the circumstances. He is quite red though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted January 21, 2011 Report Share Posted January 21, 2011 He is quite red though! poor nutrition His previous owners must be sick to care for a bird like that They should have never been allowed to keep animals i see a lot of bad care information given at point of purchase that results in worse cases than this galah Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted January 21, 2011 Report Share Posted January 21, 2011 Interesting you should say that Livingart. When we purchased Pepper, the shop gave us a box of "bird" stuff to go with it. Most was unsuitable, and in some cases, even dangerous for our bird! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted January 21, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 21, 2011 poor nutrition i see a lot of bad care information given at point of purchase that results in worse cases than this galah Most of his problems would have been stopped if whoever bred him or even the previous owners when he was young had asked someone with half a clue, "What do I feed him?" Rather than this idiotic, irresponsible concept that most people seem to have that sunflower seeds are the only thing to feed parrots. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted January 23, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 23, 2011 He's started eating pellets. Threw most of the sunflower seeds out of his cage onto the floor and ate the pellets instead. Much less stubborn than expected. And after 2-3 days of not sneezing blood(That we noticed), he's just done it again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne Posted January 23, 2011 Report Share Posted January 23, 2011 Good on you Ira Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sophia Posted January 26, 2011 Report Share Posted January 26, 2011 I don't know about birds but it looks old and out of shape, maybe like the guy you got him from. what colours are his feathers supposed to be? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted January 26, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 26, 2011 I don't know about birds but it looks old and out of shape, maybe like the guy you got him from. what colours are his feathers supposed to be? Grey...Pink. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted January 26, 2011 Report Share Posted January 26, 2011 they do come naturally in a light or dark shade of colour the ones i have seen that red have had liver or kidney problems usually from an inadequate diet wonder if you could detox it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sophia Posted January 30, 2011 Report Share Posted January 30, 2011 Is there a Spike update? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted January 30, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 30, 2011 Seems to be more alert and active after having a stroke that's weakened his left side. He has difficulty climbing around the cage and is spending most of his time laying on the bottom. But he seems alert just has difficulty moving around. Looks like he won't be put down on wednesday since he seems a little more active. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer Posted January 30, 2011 Report Share Posted January 30, 2011 What treatment did he receive? Did he get a Vitamin A injection? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sophia Posted January 30, 2011 Report Share Posted January 30, 2011 poor old bird Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WTM Posted February 1, 2011 Report Share Posted February 1, 2011 Poor bird.... :tears: Having bred birds as teenager (family had an aviary) this sort of thing was always my nightmare. What's truly terrifying is that someone would spend that much on a bird (galah's aren't that cheap) and yet never bother to do any research on diet. :evil: :evil: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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