Conundrum, Please help.

[Corvid333]

About 6 mounts ago we were given a bird who was hit by a car and had spinal injures. She was a wild parrot, and invasive species in my country so not rescues place would take her and even if she could survive in the wild it is be illegal to release her.
We claimed her was a pet so a vet could treat her and she has healed lots though still a bit clumsy.
She is the most flighty parrot I have ever seen, fast movements and strangers coming into the house make her blot around the cadge hitting her beak ans snapping tail feathers. She is somewhat adjusted to my partner and I. I can change her food and quarter slowly and she won't get a fright.

A few days back the people who took her to us offered to take her back, they have a huge aviary and think it would be better for her. I can see that it would but at the same time I am not sure. She is used to us and I worry that she may find moving stressful and adjusting to the new people. But she could be very far away from them while they go in and change the water.

We have another parrot her but he does not like her. We were going to get a friend of the same breed for her when we can find one, though the other people could do the same so I suppose that is not a factor.

I also worry that with her injuries and low confidence it may not be beneficial for her to be in an avary. I don't know what would be best, what do you think?

 

[Laurasea]

I think you should keep her. With her injury and being different the other birds are likely to bully her, or do her harm. Is this bird a quaker or what species?? With time you will make more progress with her. That's my take other may think differently. But thank you for saving her!!!!!!

 

[Laurasea]

Also you might change her cage placement to a less active area and have the back of the cage against a wall. What is the size if the cage? A larger cage might make her feel safer... And thanks again for the rescue!!!!

 

[Corvid333]

She is an Eastern Rosella. Her cadge is backed on to a wall. Our house is one room so I can not move her to a quite spot. She doesn't seem to mind seeing my other parrot, but they can not go in together. I was really hoping he would be friends with her because I don't want her to be lonely but oh well. Do you think even a parrot of the same kind may be a danger to her?

 

[Corvid333]

Her cadge size is quite small for now but soon she will go in a bigger one. We have three cockateails in our big cadge that someone needed re homing immediately, we a trying to find a good place for them to go.

 

[Laurasea]

If she moves abnormally and acts abnormal, then yes I think even a same species bird might bully her or shun her. I don't know anything about rossela sooo maybe others will weigh in. A small cage for a once wild bird will keep her more stressed, but you have to do the best you can. Are you able to let her out of the cage? Sometimes that makes it easier to work with a fearful bird, I just don't know anything about this species sorry....give time for other members to weigh in.

 

[Corvid333]

If a bigger cadge is better wouldn't an avery be better? There are no other birds in it

 

[Laurasea]

Oh I thought had other birds.... I guess it depends on how well she can move around to eat and drink and find shelter from weather...

 

[Corvid333]

I feel that she can move well enough, but my partner worries about her being in there

 

[SailBoat]

You have received excellent advise above.

As stated above, I would not recommend placing her with other Parrots, regardless of species. They will target her and likely hurt her. Returning her to the prior owners would not, IMHO, be wise or safe.

If her injuries limit her in anyway, you want to adjust her cage to easy /support her. Web search Handicap Birds /Parrots and than target in on her specific needs.

Give her time to adjust. And work at developing a relationship. I have found that sitting next an Amazon and reading out loud to them in a comforting voice helps develop a comfort with you.

Target: Only good things happen when Humans are around her.

 

[Betrisher]

It's *so* kind of you to rescue this poor bird! Thank you!

I've known many rosellas in my lifetime and of them all, only one was tame enough to sit quietly on the owner's hand. While lots of people have them in outdoor aviaries, they're not popular as indoor pets here in Australia, probably because they don't tame easily. A wild-caught bird like yours is unlikely to be tamed, although that doesn't mean you shouldn't try. Your first goal is to allow her to be at peace in her cage and in your home and it's easy to see you're doing a great job at that.

I can imagine her existing quite happily in a largish cage with plenty of opportunities to climb about and flap her wings. Rosellas don't generally play as actively as, say, cockatoos or budgies and I've never seen one actually engage with a toy. They're birds of the treetops, so their main daily activity is to fly. That's why space is important. Try to arrange her cage so she has at least one perch she can hang from and 'fly on the spot'.

I hope the bird is able to relax for you and learn to be happy in your home. She's far better off there than in an aviary where her disability would go against her. Good luck! Do stay in touch and let us know how she's getting on, won't you?

 

[Corvid333]

Thank you all for the advise. We will be keeping her with us. The cockateails are going on Friday so she'll have the big cadge back.