Hawkhead Parrot with a handicap

[95talongirl]

Hi all!

I adopted an older (probably 10 yr old) hawkhead parrot yesterday. He was very skittish when I first saw him at his old place. IDK what happened on the two hour car ride home, but once we got home, he was like a completely different bird. No longer shaking, running away.. heck, he even let me stretch his head and hold him! I was shocked, as I thought for sure this bird was going to require quite a bit of work to gain trust with.

So in that respect, we are off to a good start. On the other hand, he is a plucker. He is also missing a few toes. This does affect his balance and grip, obviously. He has seem to have adapted, as he perches fine. Someone suggested to me some flat perches to help him perch better, though. So I think once his new cage arrives, I'll get him a variety of perches.

As for the plucking, I have a vet appointment set up for tomorrow to rule out anything disease related. I have noticed that he is going through a molt, and new feathers are coming in. He seems to be letting them grow. I'm hoping that this new calmer environment will help him. He came from a house that was shared with various cats, dogs, and a macaw. The owner then had to move to an apartment, and that's why I ended up with him.

So I've babbled quite a bit.... guess what I'm saying is, this bird will prove to me a new challenge to me, as I've never dealt with a parrot missing toes or feather plucking. I an crossing fingers that I can help him overcome the feather plucking, at least!

Gotta say, this is a beautiful species of bird. He has the most adorable voice, too!

I think for a name, he's going to be called Kimi.

 

[thekarens]

He's beautiful! Sounds like he knew he was going to be safe and happy with you.

 

[DallyTsuka]

he is adorable! good luck with your new fid!

 

[95talongirl]

Thanks!

Today, I will be working on the room I plan to convert into the "bird room." Right now, Kimi is in a completely different room from my Amazon, Mopar, for quarantine reasons. However, I'd eventually like to move them into the same room, over time. I want to make sure Mopar doesn't frighten him. Mopar is quite boisterous. lol!

 

[thekarens]

Sounds like a typical zon

 

[Betrisher]

Kimi is a beautiful bird! How lucky that you found each other! I look forward to reading progress reports on Kimi's settling in and fitting into your flock. Good luck with him and I hope you manage to cure the plucking. I always think it's so sad to see a poor bird without his undies on, don't you?

 

[Terry57]

Kimi is a beautiful bird! He sounds like he is settling right in
I have a 22 year old Hawkhead that we took in last year, and she is amazing. She was in pretty bad feather when we got her, but adding lots of veggies to her diet as well as bathing has really helped a lot
Good luck with Kimi and I can't wait to hear more about him!

 

[95talongirl]

It is sad to see, I agree!

Right now he is in a less-than- ideal cage; as I have one on order. Truthfully I wasn't expecting to pick him up this quick.

I got to experience the territorial side of these birds today. LOL! He bit my finger pretty good earlier. So yeah, got some work to do to gain his trust fully.

 

[95talongirl]

Little bit of an update.

Had to reschedule his vet appointment for tomorrow, as my boyfriend slipped and fell on ice this morning and dislocated his shoulder. So spent the morning in the E.R. He is fine, now.. just in pain and sulking that he will have to give up the stick-shift car for a little bit.

Yesterday, I got bit pretty hard by Kimi. So let him be for the rest of the day; just checking on him, and would whistle to him. He really enjoys whistling.

Today I decided to try to see if he would come out of the cage. Moving, VERY slow, I offered him my (now sweatshirt covered) arm to him and said "step up." He did! On the first try! So I put him on the little play stand. He started talking, and I'd repeat back what he said. Found out he LOVES shoulders. I had to kick him off several times, as I do not trust him to be up there, yet. Not after that bite I got yesterday! haha!

All in all I think it's been a pretty good day. There is one item of concern. He is scared of my boyfriend; Like really scared. Perhaps he resembles a person who was not nice to him in the past? I know I had a cockatiel as a kid that hated anyone with blonde hair because my sister would throw things at him. I'm now trying to figure out if there's anyway to help him calm down when he's around? I told him to move very, very, very slow and talk softly to him or whistle, as he seems to like that. Then maybe move onto offering him treats?

Other than that, things seem to be looking up.... hope to get good news from the vet.

 

[95talongirl]

Here's some photos from earlier.

 

[thekarens]

What a sweetie!

 

[Betrisher]

Ow! I feel sorry for your boyfriend! Dislocating a shoulder is extremely painful and he'll have to be very careful not to put it out again while it's trying to heal. Poor bloke!

Why don't you try filling your pocket with some treats and spend an hour or two just sitting with Kimi and spoiling him by talking softly and feeding him treats every few minutes? It's like sharing a meal with a new friend, I reckon. Kimi will enjoy it and the peaceful time you spend with him will help build a bond of trust. I hope he doesn't bite any more.

 

[BirdyMomma]

Ooooh! So awesome! Ever since I first saw one, I have just LOVED Hawk Heads! I'm so psyched for you both!!

 

[kq_fan]

Wow! He is beautiful! Congrats!

 

[Pinkbirdy]

He doe look like a sweetie I have one and shes a doll. She does tend to be a little scared at new things [I wonder if its a trait or tendency in them] Mine doesn't pluck. but Ive had 2 that came plucking that have stopped now. Just wanted to share ideas.One that plucked [was the amount of light and bathes it didn't have ] .The other was attention. I think cause I was a new environment it helped.

 

[95talongirl]

Ow! I feel sorry for your boyfriend! Dislocating a shoulder is extremely painful and he'll have to be very careful not to put it out again while it's trying to heal. Poor bloke!

Why don't you try filling your pocket with some treats and spend an hour or two just sitting with Kimi and spoiling him by talking softly and feeding him treats every few minutes? It's like sharing a meal with a new friend, I reckon. Kimi will enjoy it and the peaceful time you spend with him will help build a bond of trust. I hope he doesn't bite any more.

Oh yeah, he was in a ton of pain, that's for sure! They have him in a sling to prevent it from popping back out, and he has to follow up with a orthopedic doctor next week. He's not to happy right now.. lol! However, it always could be worse... at least he didn't break anything in conjunction with the dislocation!

That's not a bad idea, at all! We shall have to try that. Right now, I've been hacing him pop in and out of the room every so often without getting too close; (but everytime, he steps a little closer) so the bird can see that he is not going to hurt him. I feel so bad... I wish these poor animals could tell us what has happened to them!

Ooooh! So awesome! Ever since I first saw one, I have just LOVED Hawk Heads! I'm so psyched for you both!!

They are very striking birds! Even with his plucked chest, and ratty feathers! I'm not going to lie, when I went to go pick him up; and saw how he looked in person, how scared he was, how he was in a cage that was peeling paint all over and smelled so, so bad; I thought to myself "I can't do this. I'm not prepared for this." But when he climbed over, and said "hello," with those cute eyes... I couldn't leave without him, and basically told myself I'll figure it out. The cage was offered to me for a price, but it was in such bad shape, I just ordered a new one. It will be here Tuesday.

Wow! He is beautiful! Congrats!

He says thanks!

He doe look like a sweetie I have one and shes a doll. She does tend to be a little scared at new things [I wonder if its a trait or tendency in them] Mine doesn't pluck. but Ive had 2 that came plucking that have stopped now. Just wanted to share ideas.One that plucked [was the amount of light and bathes it didn't have ] .The other was attention. I think cause I was a new environment it helped.

That is REALLY awesome to hear, and thanks for the advice! I'm giving him his space for the first few weeks, (that and he needs to be quarantined from my other bird). So, working with him a little at a time, but not trying to force anything on him or overwhelm him.

He goes to the vet today, so hoping everything comes back ok.

 

[RavensGryf]

Congrats! Such a cute pic!

 

[Megapixel]

How long has he been missing toes? has it been a while or is he still adjusting?
I have a a senegal that's missing an entire foot, something happened in the nest as a baby. When I first brought her home 17 years ago, I thought her cage setup would require a lot of special thing and that she'd need special care. I was wrong. The only things I do "special" for her cage setup is I cover the grate with paper so she has a flat surface to walk on. I had initially removed the grate but found it was just easier to put paper down on top of it than it was to fit paper to the slide out tray. I also use shallow food dishes placed on the bottom of the cage so she can easily maintain balance to eat. That works a lot better than her having to perch and then lean way over and down into a bowl.

 

[95talongirl]

I'm not sure how long he's been without some toes. He has adjusted pretty well; as he perches ok. You can tell when holding him that it's more difficult. I try to let him just use my whole hand as a perch rather than a finger.

We went to the vet today. Other than being completely freaked out because they tested him for Avian Borovirus, (which i won't know the results of for a week...) His checkup was ok for a bird with some obvious stress issues. I had them run a CBC on him, too, which I won't hear back for on for a few days. He does have a slight crop infection; so he's on antibiotics. (joy... this will sour our relationship more). They also put him on a vitamin supplement, and a product called Booster.

I'll tell you what though, he is very, very, very angry at me right now. I got bit twice and he even charged at me. lol! Now I understand this "pit bull" reference that I've heard with these birds. I was worried this would create a sour point; but hoping he will forgive me in a day or so. As for the antibiotic; I may try feeding it to him via a piece of food rather than the syringe. Just because he is so unhappy about this whole ordeal today.

So here's to hoping the one test comes back negative.... that truly frightens me.

 

[Karigan]

Some birds are gender phobic... Not much that can be done about that, but he can spend quiet time near the cage and wait for the bird to make the first move. He may not accept all men, but he'll learn to tolerate your man.