Please Help - Baby Grey Attacked by Parents and Disabled

[birdlover74]

Hi -

I have been volunteering at a parrot rescue for awhile now and two greys had 4 eggs. The rescue owner really kept an eye on them because there was a history of the parents chewing the toes off of the babies. She checked at 8am and none had hatched she checked again at 9am and a baby had hatched and the parents chewed the toes off of one foot and chewed a small part of babys wing off. She pulled baby immedietly and put in brooder. Baby is getting stronger and bigger everyday. She went back to take the other eggs out and the parents had opened the eggs and attacked the other babies, they didn't make it. That's the background. I need grey people's input on adopting this sweet baby. I've fallen in love with it and go over every other day to love it and help with feedings. I've had birds all my life but the smaller birds. I want to adopt a grey hence me volunteering at the rescue and working with greys. I just am feeling a little nervous about adopting a baby grey who will be disabled. Not that I wouldn't love it with disabilities but what kind of life will it have and will it be ok and be a "normal" bird despite its disabilities. I know I will need to modify the cage and put flat perches in but if anyone can share with me their knowledge or experience so I can get an idea of this is something I can do please send me a note. I guess I'm wondering if it will be able to get around and play and explore. It does have one normal foot. Just need some advice and thoughts from people who aren't involved and bonded with baby yet. Any thoughts or help would be so appreciated. Thanks.

 

[greycloud]

Poor baby! Greys are notorious for this sadly. This baby can definitely have a very happy life. I am assuming that everything is healed?
Having one foot will definitely help this baby. Though I know several without any legs at all. You will need special plat form perches, blankets in the bottom of the cage. Baby will still be able to move around the cage with foot and beak. Many roll around and play great. I think you will be fine!
Sending a PM to you!

 

[Mayden]

I wouldn't worry too much about her having a disability, as you've said, all that will be needed are a few adjustments to the cage and your attitude to her.

Merlin only has one good leg and so he uses his beak more often to grab things and step up, this in turn has made his biting a little harder to read because we can't tell sometimes if he wants to bite, or is just trying to balance/step up. These are the sort of things you adjust to in time though and wouldn't be something I'd consider as a 'problem'.

The bird doesn't sound like she's going to have a major issue, just perhaps unable to fly/fly well and some perching problems. How many toes does she have left on her 'bad foot'?

If you take her, I can almost promise everything will be just like having a normal bird. But I bet you'll have an even stronger bond as she realises that you are helping her through the disability.

 

[birdlover74]

Thanks for your responses and support. I guess I just needed some words of encouragement and support that the baby will be ok.

She won't have any toes on her "bad" foot but other foot is totally fine.

If anyone else has advice, words of encouragement etc. I'd love to hear it. Thanks

 

[sonja]

I had a Sun conure that had all of her toes eaten off by a hawk. A woman saw the attack and saved the Sunny, and brought her to rescue. She was left with only 1 toe on one foot and no toes on the other. She healed up just fine and it never affected her quality of life. I think your little guy would be fine.

I'm curious why a rescue is breeding birds?

 

[birdlover74]

Believe me she will never let them again. She didn't want them to go to nest and changed things around with cage, no nesting box etc so they didn't but they did anyway and she didn't pull the eggs, not sure why and so now we have my baby.

 

[birdlover74]

I've read alot about birds with missing toes and they are fine I'm also a little worried because part of the right wing is also gone that baby will have a balance issue and may not be able to fly. Is this something they can overcome?

 

[Casey]

Please don't bash me for asking...
The pair was at a rescue. Rehoming birds can be a chore. Why were the eggs not pulled?
More birds to deal with, now they are disabled which may make them harder to place.

 

[Davinchi]

Please don't bash me for asking...
The pair was at a rescue. Rehoming birds can be a chore. Why were the eggs not pulled?
More birds to deal with, now they are disabled which may make them harder to place.

Luckily, birdlover74 seems very attached to the disabled bird and sounds like they really want to adopt it. Unfortunately, the other eggs did not make it as the parents attacked them before they hatched
Hopefully these adult greys are not allowed to breed anymore. It really is a tragedy to have lost those little bird live like that.

 

[wolf0994]

Boy do I commend you on your desire to give this bird a wonderful life. I am sure things will heal well and the bird probably wont even know the differences. But you my friend are an outstanding individual! There are alot of pet owners out there who would not even consider this decision, though they are not bad people, just most are too scared to attempt it I think.

I cheer you on!

 

[paulhanlon]

If the birds have a history of doing this I don't see why they don't split the pair to stop them from breeding if they can't breed they can't hurt or kill the chicks I'm sure if this was happening in a breeders home or any other rescue the birds would have been split up first time it happened I know if it happened to me my birds would be seperated first time but on a up note if you have fallen for the chick that survived I wouldn't give it a second thought I'd take him/her home with me but that's just what I would do its down to you if you want to or not but if you do I wish you all the best.

 

[ruffledfeathers]

i think the baby would be a wonderful family member for you. i also agree that it may end up "that much more" bonded with you because of its disability, and having been loved and cared for while relatively helpless. they so often adapt to 'disabilities' and i think can still have a good quality of life.

 

[4theBirds]

Thank you for caring so much for this poor creature!!! I wish you many years of happiness.

 

[MollyGreenCheeks]

At my old Fav bird store in WA State (before moving to AZ) they had an older Grey that had zero toes. Mom bit them off at birth. I've read that if a mother is lacking calcium after laying eggs that they bight off the toes because they contain a large amount of calcium. Anyway, this specific grey had done fine and at some point became the "store bird". Everyone would come in and love on it. It was always special to go in and see it.

 

[MonicaMc]

I have no experience with greys, but I know someone who keeps two, both missing toes. The birds are siblings. You may enjoy the photos and videos of them! They are Mojo and Shinda!

Collection: Parrots
Collection: Mojo & Shinda

flipflopip's channel - YouTube

 

[WannaBeAParrot]

Birdlover74, This is a wonderful thing you are doing, especially that you are preparing ahead of time to be ready and sure of what you need to know. From what folks are writing, it sounds like you and your baby will do just fine right from the start. The baby, being w/o those toes since hatching, won't even know or have to adjust to this "disability". So it will be you that knows about the trauma and attack's results. Once the environment is safe and adapted, the baby would be like any other baby I assume.

Blessings to you. Don't be fearful. The exchange of love and affection between a person and a bird is beyond words. And because the baby is extra "special" to you, it will be the greatest.