FINCHforum

Okay, I'm so excited and just had to share!!! LOL

This week, we're going to be adopting a sweet little special needs finch.

Not sure how her condition came about -- going to learn more on that -- but she came to her foster mom featherless and with a broken foot.

That was about 6 weeks ago and her foot has healed and her feathers have grown back in. She has even started perching again!

The best part is that she's totally tame (and as I understand it, she currently prefers humans over other birds.) Apparently, she also flies right to you for cuddles.

I can't wait to meet her! We're going to drive up on Monday or Tuesday.
I'm a bit nervous about the stress of the move. But she has a small handicap-friendly cage that I'm going to purchase from her foster mom, so that will all be familiar. And once I understand her needs a bit better, I can customize something bigger and more permanent.

I was even able to find a small heated perch, which should be perfect for her! That should help with her foot with any residual aching or stiffness -- common for a healed break.

I can't wait to bring her home and work with her. She's still a bit weak and on the mend, as I understand it, so she'll be housed alone for now. (Which would be the case anyways for quarantine.)
But once she's stronger, she can have her pick of the lot in terms of friends! I'm thinking she may enjoy the girls, Juliette (zebra) and/or Silva (silverbill), as they're super sweet and easy going. And we've got a lovely eligible bachelor if she prefers him (Squeepers...assuming I can un-stick him from his parents! LOL) Or she can stay alone if she prefers that. We'll see. That's the good thing about doing group free fly. You can see who they choose to befriend.

I can tell from the photo that she's a little sweetie. I'm so excited!!


Curiously, I have no idea what her name is! Usually I can get a feel for their name by their photo, but no clue on this girlie! I'll have to wait to meet her so she can tell me her name.

Aww, how exciting, and what fun to be able to take care of such a cutie pie! Congrats to you both. She's a lucky girl.

Gwen is the short form of a name that means "blessed". I kinda like Gwenna

KarenB -- Indeed, very exciting!

That's a fun name idea! Gwen or Gwenna.
I even like Gwendolyn! It makes me think of something magical.
Definitely keeping these in mind!

MiaCarter
That is exciting. She just lays like that? I hope she remains tame once she heals up. It's funny how one bonds with these injured babies.

As for names, I seem to be brain dead lately when it comes to that. Still haven't named my Parrot Finch boy and the three Stars. If it hadn't been for our Brian, my Socie girl wouldn't have had a name either.

Good luck and congratulations.

lovezebs -- Indeed! Some of the tamer birds will lay on their backs.
It takes a lot of trust and tameness for a bird to let you flip it like that, as it's a very vulnerable position.

I'm sure she will stay tame, even once she fully recovers, as I'll be very consistent about spending time with her.
Plus, it sounds like she's initiating contact with humans which tells me she finds interactions inherently rewarding, making her among the tamest of the tame. Very different from a more reluctant bird, who only interacts when the human initiates and usually only when there's food/rewards involved. The birds who find human interaction rewarding see the actual interaction as the reward.
Super tame birds like this girl seems to be are tiny feathered gems!

I can't wait to meet her! She seems like a little survivor.
I'm going to love the feathers off of her! LOL

Yay to more tame zebs! She looks super cute. Hope her tail grows back as well.
She looks like a total Meredith to me lol. No idea why.

She's a lightback, right? Can't be sure from that one photo, but I think she is. Those LB girls are extra pretty. LB CFW hybrids (males only) can also be very beautiful. Maybe a girl for Squeepers? Just a thought :]

afinch --- Ooh, she could definitely be a Meredith! Definitely going to keep that one in mind!

Not sure if she's a lightback. She could be split to lightback (or split to CFW?) as she seems to have the light edging on her primary feathers.

But to be honest, I don't intend to breed her. Her weak condition, of course, rules that out. But I also don't need any more zebra babies at the moment! LOL (I keep everyone I breed, so.)

Yep. She also has the white belly. But females can't be split for CFW or LB (which are alleles of the same gene). And she's not a CFW. That's why I guessed LB :]

MiaCarter
She is adorable and looks like a Snuggles or Cuddles to me, but I'm not that creative today. Will she miss her owner if she is tame? Or are they not able to give her the attention? I'd have a hard time parting with a Sweetie Pie like her,,...You will enjoy her and let us know how everything turns out!

I see her as a Ruthie. That just popped into my head though when I looked at her. I'm sure when you finally get to meet her, she will tell you her name.... Go with your gut. Can't wait to see follow-up pics!

MiaCarter
I'm thinking she's "BABY" plain and simple.

This baby bird is so adorable! Wanna touch her head so much. I'm so excited for you, congrats!

Sooo precious! She just lays there...Laydee....she's a lady!

sundancekid -- Ruthie is a lovely name! I really like that! One of my favorite ideas so far!

@lovezebs -- I like this name so much I've already used it! LOL I have a little disabled chihuahua named Gus, but nobody calls him that. We call him Baby Baby.

@Jen -- Ha! Laydee! That's funny! Or Layla!.....Actually, I quite like Layla!

@finchmix22 --- I think Snuggles is actually super cute! That could work!
As I understand it, I she's been with her current family for about 6 weeks. I'm not sure on the story of how she came to be with them. I'll definitely ask when I meet them!
I can tell her foster mum really loves her. Apparently, she has a really young child whom the bird really likes (and vice versa). She flies right to the child for attention. But for obvious reasons, it's a danger with a super little one, especially where she's already been injured, which is why she's rehoming her.

I'm sure birdie will miss that family and vice versa. But I'll post lots of updates on my site and I'm only a phone call away if she wants to check in.
That's the toughest part of fostering -- giving them up! That's why I had to step away from fostering for a little while. I had three in a row who were really difficult to give up, followed by one who fought for months and months with poor health and ultimately passed away. I needed to take a break for a little bit to let my heart recover.

But I believe Tuesday afternoon should be the big day!!