GiGi

[NicoleN]

Last wednesday I learned about a blue-fronted Amazon named GiGi. She (or he, as *it* hasn't been sexed yet) is 9 years old and has had a pretty rough life. She was rescued last July. She was kept by a man that used his parrots for fighting, basically a cock fight, but with birds Well, GiGi was rescued from him and was in pretty sad shape.

A few of her toes have been nipped off by the other birds, and when this other girl rescued her, she said her feathers were almost black because she had been so malnutritioned. GiGi had been on a sunflower seed only diet the whole time this guy had her. She is also not holdable, and is very afraid of hands. The girl that rescued her has also tried to get her to step up on to a dowel, and GiGi just shrieks and runs as far away as she can, so they think that she was also hit a lot.

Well, the person that rescued her is trying to re-home her because they have run into a little problem. She has a sun conure that GiGi is very found/jealous of (?). She keeps GiGi and her conure in the same room with their cages right next to each other and open. She never locks them in their cage. Whenever this girls father pays more attention to the sun conure, GiGi "gets all wound up". She has even flown to the dad and attacked him.

Well, I told my parents about it and they seem interested in her. I was shocked that they were interested at all, so I guess we're going to pursue it and see how it turns out. We're trying to set a date that we can drive out there to see her/him. We're planning to bring Sisqo with us (the bird has been checked for diseases and is healthy, she also has all the paperwork) so we can see how Sisqo and this bird would interact.

I think it's important to bring him with us to see this bird. GiGi might not attack the conure becasue it's not the kind of bird she was 'trained' to fight. However if she fought other Amazons, well...it would be good to know this before we decided to take GiGi and get her to our house.

Now here's a question. Could this GiGi possibly be a male? Maybe it's attacking the dad because it perceives the conure as it's mate? She is 9 years old, so it would definitely be hormonal, and mating season runs anywhere from October to March. If they rescued her in July, then they didn't have her for a very long time before mating season kicked in (if it's a male).

Those are just some thoughts. Let me know what you think also!

 

[TexDot33]

Sounds like a very BIG undertaking ... this, if it works out for you, is going to be quite a challenge. I would have to say that this is not something that I would want to try my hand at (and hopefully keep all my fingers at the same time).

Again, it amazes me how ambitious all of our younger members are. I think that you all have very loving hearts and I give my best to you for trying a rehome/rescue like this!

~ :50:

 

[Minzer84]

Wow...sounds like a bad situation that GiGi came from! I'm glad that your family is interested in helping her, it sounds like a big project though. And I'm glad that you've had the foresight to think to bring Sisqo, because if she's jealous of other birds, maybe she needs to be the only bird in a household, to avoid that conflict. You're lucky to have such a good Amazon in Sisqo now, I wouldn't want to see you have to experience what I'm going through with Iggy (and worse) and be just as frustrated and stressed and sad. But maybe you're a much more patient person than I am...

Anyway, I think only you can make the decision after you meet him/her whether or not GiGi would be a good fit for you and your family. It could be hormonal, I know how terrible Iggy has been, no hesitation in attacking humans at all. I guess you would have to have her sexed to find out for sure.

All of this is obviously only my humble opinion, and may not amount to anything, but I hope that you make the decision that's right for you and for GiGi, I know you will! She sounds like she needs another chance, maybe you can give her one.

 

[NicoleN]

Yeah. I know it's a HUGE thing. Which is why I was surprised that my dad didn't freak out the moment I mentioned it. I knew my mom would go for it because she's a softy, but my dad usually puts a stop to it all.

However, they both said that they would help out as much as they can. My school schedule is figured out for the summer and fall at least, so we worked it out. By the fall, I plan on only being down to one job, so that will free up some more time too.

I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to give her the attention and patience that she would need, but my parents really want to be a part of it, so that will probably work out.

 

[Peta]

Wow that is huge, but it can be so rewarding. Its gonna be a lot of hard work, but you seem up to that. I met a blue fronted today and what a cutie, I hope that he and sisqo get on, that would be half the battle. So often when they have been mistreated so badly, they will do anything to be the centre of attention, even if they are scared stiff. GiGi will soon get to know that you are the good guys.

You have worked wonders with Sisqo and all going well I'm sure you'll do everything in your power to get GiGi to become the loving and happy BF that he could be.

Whenever this girls father pays more attention to the sun conure, GiGi "gets all wound up". She has even flown to the dad and attacked him.

Is your Dad aware of her attacking the other Dad? Maybe he could spend just a little extra time with GiGi than Sisqo for the time being, not sure that would help but it may get her used to the idea that not all men are bad men. You seem to have thought about everything really well and very clearly, I hope that everything goes well for you all.

Keep us all informed. I'm sure that you will do the best for Sisqo and the family, as you will for GiGi, I'm hoping that all goes well. :40:

 

[NicoleN]

Well, I called her and we set up an appointment for me, my mom, and Sisqo to meet her and GiGi Sunday evening. She asked if we thought there was a chance that we would take her then, if we decided we wanted her, so she would have time to get all her stuff together but I said no. I told her that my mom and I are such softies and of course we would want her right then and there, but it would be best for us to see her, and then get back home, clear our minds and talk about it.

Soo...I guess I'll have an update next week

 

[Peta]

Good for you, and its great that you are thinking clearly now, I know how hard it is to think clearly when you are with the bird.

Keep us updated. I know it will all work out for the best, for you and the family.

Ahhhhhh I've just been reading about GiGi, and this jumped out at me, I'm so sorry, but even to me it sounded as though I were saying you weren't thinking clearly before, That wasn't my intention, I only meant that you were "Thinking carefully before meeting GiGi" I'm so sorry that it came out the way that it did. I most certainly didn't mean it too. Have been having some difficulty with the English Language at the moment.

 

[NicoleN]

Here's a pic. of GiGi. Nikki (the owner) sent it to me so I could get a really good look at it. She didn't want us to be shocked by how deformed her beak was. It's so sad, pretty overgrown too. Of course it might be a littel better by now, as these pics were taken in August. I'm guessing it probably got pretty damaged by the other birds she was fighting.

Oops...it's actually pretty out of whack (the picture). I'm trying to learn this picture stuff, soo..if I fix it I will post it again.

 

[birdcrazy]

aww blue fronts have to be one of my favorite amazons them and lilac crowned.

 

[Peta]

What a pretty gal she is, and doesn't she just look happy now, considering what she has been through. If you have any probs with the pic, you can always email me and I'll see what I can do for ya.

 

[NicoleN]

Well, Gigi's present owner (Nikki) called me today to tell me that we will have to postpone our little meeting She works in retail, and they're new manager just called a mandatory store meeting after work on sunday, she's not sure how long it would last.

Aww...I was so looking forward to meeting her too. I think I'm just anxious. I keep going back and forth with thoughts of 'Do I really want her? Can I handle her?' to me already planning out exactly how I will gain her trust and teach her that all people aren't bad. I just know that whenever I actually get to see her in person and interact with her, I'll know.

Man...where is Tracy? I'd really like to hear how she's getting along with Pepsi. I know Pepsi didn't/doesn't like to be touched, so I'd like to hear her thoughts on Gigi.

 

[Peta]

That is such a shame, do you know when you are able to go see her?

I'm sure Tracy will be on soon. There is sure a lot to think about isn't there, and knowing the birds background sometimes makes it harder to think clearly. You are doing great and I'm sure whatever you decide will be the best for all concerned. Good Luck and keep us informed.

 

[Tracy842]

Wow I've been missing out on so much. I must say Gigi is gorgeous. I am a sucker for rescue amazons though. When I first seen Pepsi her beak was deformed, but my vet did a wonderful job of fixing it as best as possible.

That is a horrible story. Makes me so angry to hear this kind of stuff not only with parrots but other animals. People are sick enough to pay and watch this stuff as well.

This will be a horrible challenge for you if you do decide to get her but will be so rewarding. With Pepsi I am still not able to handle her, she does not know how to step up at all. However I can now touch her head without her pulling back or growling at me, as well as her feet (most of the time) Pepsi has been such a challenge and sometimes makes me wonder if I really wanted it, but everytime she makes even a little progress I know it has been worth everything. The last two days she hasn't screamed just quiet noise, so that is quite an improvment that makes me proud of her. We let Pepsi do things when she is ready, instead of trying to make her do it when we want her to. She is also frightened to death of a dowel to step up on. I know when she is ready she will do it and if she never does that is fine too.

All I know is I would not trade Pepsi for anything, she has become such a great part of our lives. Just make sure you are ready to feel like crap sometimes if you do get her. There were many times with Pepsi I wonder if she would be better with someone else, but I know she couldn't be in a better place. If you decide not to get Gigi I wonder if I could convince Bryan to let me get another bird.

 

[Peta]

Agree with ya there Tracy, even the smallest little thing that they do makes us feel like a million dollars and to watch them go from being a scared little thing to a beautiful bird makes it all worthwhile.

It is something that needs a lot of careful thought, and to see Nicole weigh everything up, good and bad, shows a lot of thinking. (Sometimes thats the hardest part)

 

[NicoleN]

Well we FINALLY got to see Gigi. I've decided that I'm going to take her. I will tell the family some other time...maybe it will be a surprise

I already have her vet appointment set up for the end of may, and I called Gigi's current owner to see when would be best for me to pick her up. I'm thinking either next weekend, or the following weekend.

Her beak is a lot to take in. I'll have to post pictures. I just can't really explain it. It's like when you see something that is just so grotesque, you don't want to look, but you have to.

She did not viciously attack Sisqo, so that's a good sign. Sisqo was on my hand, and she on her cage. They got within 5 inches of each other and seemed genuinely interested in the other. Sisqo's eyes weren't flashing, and tail feathers weren't spreading :smile049:. The only time Gigi got *excited* was when she was on the other birds cage and Sisqo got too close. She never lunged, just eyes flashed and such.

The owner said that she was told that at one point, Gigi was handtamed. I can definitely see that. As soon as we walked into the room, she got out of her cage, and leaned over the top as far as she could. When I got close, she would try to get closer.

It was also pretty obvious that the people that currently have her weren't necessarily worried about enriching her life...not that they were doing anything bad...but she even admitted that she never tried to work with her onto stepping up and not being afraid of hands and sticks. It was more like, she ended up with the bird, bc the woman that rescued her knew she would feed her, and not abuse her. We could tell that they wanted to get rid of Gigi because she was so protective of the sun conure, and that they wanted to be able to spend time with the conure.

BTW, Tex & Christy....Hamlet must be a really quiet conure if your neighbors claim they've never heard him. This Sunnie was so loud my mom had to leave the house because she couldn't deal with it.

Well that's all for now. Sorry it's so long...will give updates when I get her!

 

[Peta]

Thats great news, :59: :59: I'm so happy for both you and GiGi, I look forward to seeing some pics of her, although the beak sounds horrific, poor little gal. (or guy)

Keep us updated,

 

[NicoleN]

Yeah. There's actually a part of her beak that you can see right through it. It's more on the edge though...kinda hard to explain, but it doesn't go all the way through her beak...more like just the surface i guess.

I'm not taking her to Sisqo's vet because she is so far away. The vet I am taking her too is quite phenomenal though and much much closer. So that's a double plus! In fact, on easter he rescued an eagle and is nursing it back to health so they can release her.

I'm going to ask him if there is anything he could do about her beak too. Maybe vitamin shots or anything. Her current owner said that she doesnt really like to chew up wood, so I'm guessing it's probably because the strength of her beak has been so compromised by the infection that maybe it could possibly even cause her pain. However, she does love preening toys...so her and Sisqo will have completely different toys!

 

[Peta]

Oh my, that sounds awful for her. Please let us know if the vet can do anything for her beak. I bet Sisqo will soon have her trained real good.

 

[Tracy842]

Congrats Nicole!!! I'm so excited for you, another Amazon and sticking with the Hot 3!!! I'm sure she will be great, you will be so happy when you make progress with her. Can't wait to see some pictures!!!

 

[NicoleN]

sticking with the Hot 3

Yeah, I'm having 'her' DNA sexed so I really know what to expect come next spring. But maybe if she is a he, I can then get a male YNA and just kind of round out the whole Hot 3 thing. Boy would I love mating season

She's coming home on friday. I have her quarantine area all set up (so far only my mom knows, the rest of the family is oblivious). I'll pick her up Saturday after work, bring her and her cage home...take the cage apart, disinfect, dry, put back together....just to be safe.

So very excited