Welcome my Zuni Girl

Hey Everyone! I wanted to take a minute to come on here and introduce myself and my new Rescue Goffin Zuni!

To get the full story of how it started with me looking for a rescue bird, finding a beautiful Amazon and then doing a complete 180 and bringing home this little nugget, you can read though my post on the Amazon Sub Forum....

http://www.parrotforums.com/amazons/88679-possible-adoption-happening-new-forum.html

Zuni is amazing and I am so honored to have been trusted to take such a special girl with special needs home with me. We are guessing she is about 15 years old. She had never been vetted before going to the rescue. They took her in when they got her surrendered and her uric acid levels tested high. I got to talk with the vet before I took her home and he said she will just need a really good diet and for now a Renal Care Pellet and we need to make sure she is drinking water. We will check her levels every 6 months and go from there. I could have her 6 months, she could live many more years. For right now, we just don't know.

She is a sweet little thing. She was very quiet in the rescue but has definitely found her voice since being with me the past few days. Still not as loud as most G2s but I think without ALL the other birds to compete with she is being heard. LOL. She is bald on the back of her head,neck and belly and just has the under feathers on most of her body. There are pin feathers coming in so we will see how much a proper diet and attention will help. Whatever she gets, she's still beautiful.

I have made a big batch of chop and she turned her nose up the first day but has since been eating it. I put her seed under the chop so she had to go through it to get to the seed. I made some bird bread this morning so we will see how she likes that. She is not very food motivated. I have been scouring the forums learning and trying to make sure I can do my best for her.

She is a total sweetheart. We have since found out that she has a crush on my husband. LOL. For me, she does this whole little dance before she will step up out of her cage to me. For him, he was sitting across from her cage and she came out and leaned for him and went right too him. She's done it a couple of times, little stinker! And the way she looks at him is hilarious!

Looking forward to learning more from you all.

Welcome home Zuni, may yiu hsve a happy healthy, long life full of love!
You are beautiful!

What did they tell you about misting her?

Those poor feathers don’t look like plucking. It’s a medical condition. Did Zuni see a CAV?

Also, how long after the visit did they tell you uric levels are high?

Proper tests are sent out to labs...the vet doesn’t do that him/herself, and it takes a week or so to get results. So if you think uric levels are responsible for that poor feathering, I would investigate this a lot further and not wait.

Ira7 said:

What did they tell you about misting her?

Those poor feathers don’t look like plucking. It’s a medical condition. Did Zuni see a CAV?

Also, how long after the visit did they tell you uric levels are high?

Proper tests are sent out to labs...the vet doesn’t do that him/herself, and it takes a week or so to get results. So if you think uric levels are responsible for that poor feathering, I would investigate this a lot further and not wait.

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They've had her at the rescue for a while, like at least 6 months. She did see a CAV. They've been able to run the uric levels twice to get a base line for her. They do a full blood work up for every bird that gets surrendered. I don't think plucking is the full reason either and I plan to keep talking to the Vet about her. I've talked with him once already and plan to again this week as we are working on getting a prescription for Roudybush Renal Care pellets. I will bring this up as well. I do see her her pulling on the feathers left on the back of her neck with her foot. The woman who had her had great intentions but I feel like she missed a lot.

As far as misting her, she said she likes it but so far she has not been a fan when I try but we keep trying and I have already set up a humidifier in her room.

I am committed to doing what I need to for her so thank you for the observations! Don't hesitate with anything else!

Welcome Zuni!!

Welcome home Zuni! Oh my goodness, what a sweet little face! I admit, I have a soft spot for pluckers. My first Ekkie was a long time plucker who lived much of his life under horrible conditions before he found himself at the refuge where he chose me. He quickly became my best friend ever.

I'm looking forward to hearing about your adventures with Zuni, and please keep the pictures coming!

She is so adorable! I am happy for you. A bird in the house is such a joy! And glad to hear that KC’s vet visit went well. Congrats! Welcome sweet Zuni!

Mazel Tov!

And she’s one lucky bird to have you!

I don’t recall what climate you’re in, but maybe mist with warm water to start, not cold.

And although birds learn love having that water “shot” right at them, in the beginning, you should aim the spray bottle way up high, fine mist, so it just drops on her like light rain.

My Amazon goes CRAZY for his showers. Absolutely loves them.

Ira7 said:

I don’t recall what climate you’re in, but maybe mist with warm water to start, not cold.

And although birds learn love having that water “shot” right at them, in the beginning, you should aim the spray bottle way up high, fine mist, so it just drops on her like light rain.

My Amazon goes CRAZY for his showers. Absolutely loves them.

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I’m in Mew Mexico so it’s pretty dry. Thanks for the tip! I’ll try that.

I can see why you fell for Zuni's beautiful face! Kudos for adopting a special needs bird with reduced chance of new home. In my experience female Goffins are the sweetest!

Dearly hope Zuni has decades ahead with good diet and abundant love. Take heart, Goffins are quite capable of bonding with multiple persons. Strongly suspect there is an element of plucking, a most difficult behavior to manage. Please check this well written thread: http://www.parrotforums.com/behavioral/52217-plucking-search-answers.html

Good luck with Zuni, keep us updated and ask any questions!!

Scott said:

I can see why you fell for Zuni's beautiful face! Kudos for adopting a special needs bird with reduced chance of new home. In my experience female Goffins are the sweetest!

Dearly hope Zuni has decades ahead with good diet and abundant love. Take heart, Goffins are quite capable of bonding with multiple persons. Strongly suspect there is an element of plucking, a most difficult behavior to manage. Please check this well written thread: http://www.parrotforums.com/behavioral/52217-plucking-search-answers.html

Good luck with Zuni, keep us updated and ask any questions!!

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Thank you! She is so so sweet! And thank you for the resource, I will check it out!

She is definitely hormonal right now too, I'm seeing all the signs of head down, butt in the air and rubbing her beak on everything! How long does the hormonal season last? I thought it was too early for that?

Not necessarily too early for hormonal season as you live in NM. Warmups for a period may induce such behaviors! Hopefully Zuni won't express aggression.

One of my normally sweet female Goffins became so unmanageable a decade ago she had her wings clipped. (on advice of CAV) Funny thing is I didn't know she was female at the time.... laid first egg last year and I've had her since hatching. Not to worry, they are generally not too difficult!!

Scott said:

Not necessarily too early for hormonal season as you live in NM. Warmups for a period may induce such behaviors! Hopefully Zuni won't express aggression.

One of my normally sweet female Goffins became so unmanageable a decade ago she had her wings clipped. (on advice of CAV) Funny thing is I didn't know she was female at the time.... laid first egg last year and I've had her since hatching. Not to worry, they are generally not too difficult!!

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She's not aggressive whatsoever, thankfully. But I am still alway cautious to watch her body language. She did give me a little puncture(very tiny) on my finger yesterday but it was because she lost balance and grabbed a little too hard to right herself.

Today we are working on understanding foraging and a little training. I hoping I can work her to foraging for everything but her chop. We shall see!

How long does the hormonal season usually last?

The starting date and ending date is different for each species and to add fun, each Parrot. Keep a Journal that includes her weight and things that change (season start /season end) as the change is not written in stone! Our DYH Amazon Started Christmas Eve and is still riding his high-horse! He started near three weeks early this year and is not showing any signs of ending....

Welcome Zuni! What a lucky girl you are!!! You have a dad to love on and a mom to spoil you endlessly! Firm believer in Special Needs Parrots and they create such huge spaces in one's heart!

Clearly, she is opening up quickly and that is truly great! That said, alway keep a warily eye to assure that you keep moving at her rate as she will vary her rate as she becomes every more comfortable with 'her' new home!!!!

Congratulations!!!

I've found Goffins learn to modulate their bites from gentle pricks and "disciplinary" gouges to full-on penetrations. Does Zuni fly? They are extremely skillful and nimble, almost never crash into objects.

Scott said:

I've found Goffins learn to modulate their bites from gentle pricks and "disciplinary" gouges to full-on penetrations. Does Zuni fly? They are extremely skillful and nimble, almost never crash into objects.

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This was definitely just a freaked out , lost balance, I need to hang on kind of bite. Definitely didn’t mean to hurt me on purpose. She’s very gentile but I can see what you’re talking about when she is annoyed and moves my hand out of the way, she grabs just a little bit firmer. Lol.


No, she doesn’t fly. Her feathers are pretty messed up right now. I’m hoping that will change.

SailBoat said:

The starting date and ending date is different for each species and to add fun, each Parrot. Keep a Journal that includes her weight and things that change (season start /season end) as the change is not written is stone! Our DYH Amazon Started Christmas Eve and is still riding his high-horse! He started near three weeks early this year and is not showing any signs of ending....

Welcome Zuni! What a lucky girl you are!!! You have a dad to love on and a mom to spoil you endlessly! Firm believer in Special Needs Parrots and they create such huge spaces in one's heart!

Clearly, she is opening up quickly and that is truly great! That said, alway keep a warily eye to assure that you keep moving at her rate as she will vary her rate as she becomes every more comfortable with 'her' new home!!!!

Congratulations!!!

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Thank you! Means a lot coming from you. I was so torn, I know KC would have been a great choice but my heart just melted over Zuni. I’m kinda drawn to the underdogs. It’s been fun so far just watching her personality come out more and more in just the few days I’ve had her.

Welcome PeachyPink. Congrats to Zuni for being blessed by you.

Taking Zuni into a shower might be an option on the path to a coat recovery. Don't use any soaps. The only recommendable soap for servicing soiled feathers would be diluted Dawn. If she is receptive, give her a complete saturation and rinse out. Shield her face with a cupped hand when servicing areas close to the head. Extend the wings if possible to gain access under them and the full surface areas of the complete wing assemblies. Flipping her upside-down shielding her face, for servicing the chest, abdomen, vent and tail could be phased in with appropriate progress.

Immediately after a shower, Meisha gets a full sized towel wrapped around her, followed with an all over pat down. An alternative pat down with a dry wash cloth might be best for the new arrival. Wrap it up with a gentle blow dry, recommending the low setting. High setting heat can be dissipated with rapid side to side movement of the dryer. Encourage her to lift her wings.

The process a few times a week could entice positive preening. She could grow to enjoy it. I see the most contentment during and after the drying.

It's funny how life's little twists take you by surprise. I had joked that I was losing Zuni to the men in the house and apparently it was a prophesy! My Dad came to visit to watch our boys and animals so the hubby and I could get away for a few days. Little did I know what was about to happen! It was love at first sight for BOTH of them!! I was just the vehicle to get the two of them together and Dad now has a travel companion(she used to travel with a previous owner and loved it) and a little friend to adore him in retirement. He has bird experience and is retired so has all the time just for her.

I cried when they drove away but my sister and I have always said that if we believed in reincarnation that we would want to come back as one of my Dad's pets. I have no doubt that this was a match made in heaven and it was meant to be this way!

AND.....though I am going to miss her hot little naked chicken mess, it has now allowed me to bring home KC!! I believe that Zuni was so meant for my Dad and it just delayed my getting KC by a few weeks. We ALL loved her so much and I am so happy that I get to watch her thrive in his care. I get to have KC now and Zuni is still in the family! My heart is so happy and broken at the same time. lol. What a crazy wild turn of events this has been!