An Accident. ..

[Spreckles]

Bless his little heart. That is amazing. Life is sweet when it's your own.
His story is very touching.

Karen

[Sojourner]

lovezebs - how's your guy doing?

[lovezebs]

Sojourner

Max, is as good as ever (under the circumstances ).
I just wish that there was a way to offer him companionship , and enrich his life a bit.

[Animalzoo]

Hi lovezebs
I just caught up on what happened with Max! The poor little fella and how amazing are you Elana!! Wow.
Hows the little fella?
This reminds me of my Zebs I had about 15 years ago. I had 3 males whom I placed in with my 2 budgies. I was hoovering in another room and heard a commotion in the kitchen where their cage was and when I checked in on them there was blood all over the perches. I think a budgie had nipped a zebra and broke a leg. Out of the 3, this one was the only one who had a white 'hat'. He stood out and was gorgeous, so I was gutted. Long story short, after a few days of hospitalisation in a plastic box in front of my fire he was no better so it was time for the vets. He provided anti-biotics and cut off the dead leg that was only hanging on with some dead skin. He was fine and went on to live a happy life with a stump. He learned to limp on the stump and perched fine.

I named in Darwin! He lived for years after and even fathered several clutches of eggs.

Elena, max will be fine I'm sure of it! He's like Darwin 2.
He is in amazing hands and I wish you all the best of luck.

[lovezebs]

Animalzoo

Thanks Sue,

The problem with Max, is that he's not just missing half of his leg, he's also missing two thirds of his wing on the same side.

I'm glad that Darwin had a good long life

We've had a few people on Forum, who had wanted to house Budgies together with finches. You could share your experience, as to why this is a big no-no .

As to little Max, hopefully we'll figure out some ways to make his life more interesting and comfortable.

[lovezebs]

A Max Update.....

Max is healing.
It saddens me to see him eyeing the perches higher in his cage so wistfully, myself knowing that he will never fly again. It also saddens me to see him all alone. Zebras, are such social little creatures in their own crazy way. I wish there was someone that I could pair him up with, without the significant other attempting to pluck or downright murder Max ( who in his condition, is quite helpless ).

Here is Max, being cute, and attacking some greens with great enthusiasm.

[slwatson]

lovezebs

Bless his heart...he's such a trooper!!!

[lnlovesorange]

Elana, sorry about Max, that is tough.. I found one of my Zeb's upside down, flapping like crazy, luckily he did WHILE I was standing there, Or I could be in the same position as you, I don't even know what he was stuck on, I just looked over and he was hanging upside down from the faux ficus I bought for their bird room, and the one eye that was facing me was in Sheer panic, so I went for him and he flapped even worse (of course) luckily though the flapping loosened him and he only limped and stayed off that side for a couple days, and the wing was hurt too, but he only kept that out for a day.... I hope you can find a companion for Max, I wish I could send you Charlotte, they are two fighters and would make beautiful babies (she's a CFW) Good luck with him, and i'm hoping once his "peg leg" heals he'll be able to perch easier, that's how Ren my Gould is now that his leg is heal he can put weight on it, so he uses that to hop around and balance kind of... He's still a little clutzy, but the wings deffinitely help them balance so I will only Pray for your little Max, but these birds are resillient and adaptive. Wanted to tell you I love the part of the thread where you said you breathed on him. I have a Parrotlet now that's like my child, and I do that to him all the time, i will breathe (usually out my nose cuz it's al ittle calmer, and lessened) and he puts his head down like he is in his GLORY, he would stay there all day if I weren't coming close to passing out, I would do it to him all day too just to see the look on his face!!! Love it! Hope all is well with Max, and your other feathered family!

[lovezebs]

lnlovesorange

Thanks Ellen.

Max is an adorable little guy, and definitely a brave little soldier.

Lucky that you found your birdling when you did, and that he's ok.

By the time I had found Max, he looked like bloody road kill.

Look at him today

[Babs _Owner]

lovezebs

Elana, can you pick a sweet society to cuddle with him?

[Spreckles]

Blue would love him. How about an older socie? Are any of your birds quieter and gentle? Your right if he could even preen & be preened it would help. Most folks seem to forget he lost his wing including the BONES and the leg so he is really handicapped. BUT he isn't skinny he eats so he isn't grieving, it's really pretty amazing! Once in awhile go to a hallway or someplace he can run like a little wind up toy again. When there is no more danger of wing stump bleeding. How about a dove? Aren't they gentle floor dwellers? What kind of bird likes to be down on the ground & would be sweet?

Karen

[lovezebs]

Babs & Spreckles

Hi Ladies,

I did have one of my older Societie girls with him for a while, but she was grieving for her family and friends. She didn't want to cuddle with him on the ground, she was sitting on the perches, trying to see down into the Society flight. In the end, I had to put her back with her friends.

If I had a 'normal ' Zebra, I would consider placing it with Max, however my Zebras, tend to be a little most of the time (or all of the time ), and I'd be worried that Max, could be injured, or even killed.

Regarding Doves, they're way too big, and quails, are just not my cup of tea. So I'll have to keep wracking my poor brain for a solution. Maybe I'll come across another handicapped bird somewhere, for a companion. Should I advertise? "Looking for a broken bird..." I an only imagine the responses I would get

What I am also considering, is a different cage set up for our boy...
Right now, he's in a small cage, that I use as a hospital cage on occasion. Max, doesn't really need the height, but he could use extra cruising space. I'll have to go on kijiji, and see what's out there that might offer some other options.

Karen, I don't think I'll have wind-up Zebbie races in the hallway, lol. It's too stressful for my guy, plus my little Jack Russell cross Katy, would swallow him whole (like she does with mice that she catches outside ).

[Spreckles]

Elana
Having him eaten would never do. Aren't quail quite small? He does need a ground dweller. These finches like to be high up. He is probably happier than we think. If he had a poor appetite that would be something. He has cute little chubby cheeks. You know maybe a bird rescue might have a handicapped bird? Not a bad idea.

Karen

[lovezebs]

Spreckles

Hi Karen. ..

The only bird rescue I'm aware of around here, is for wild birds (and that's not an option ).

I'll keep my eyes and ears open, and see what we can come up with.

[Spreckles]

Elana
You are very resourceful if anyone can figure this out, it's you.
Karen