Saved a Fischer(?) love bird yesterday - Need some guidance

[german87]

Hi folks,

I happened across a very wet and cold Fischer last night whilst i was out walking. He seems very friendly and approached me last night and i picked him up and brought him back home. I have now bought him a proper cage and birdfood and now i'm at a lost of what to do. He seems to want out of his cage most of the time and he likes to hang out on my shoulder. I'm not complaining about that, its really quite sweet but i'm no birdkeeper, i dont have any pets, i know this fellah probably belongs to somone(in the midst of finding the owner).

Are there any tips i could get please? I know next to nothing about birds except they fly and like seeds.

 

[LaManuka]

Hi german87! Welcome to the forums and thank you for taking this little one in from the cold and wet!

Thank you also for trying to find the original owner, who is likely busily looking for him (or her ) You can use some of the tips on the following link in reverse to help try to find his home...

Bring Them Home! Tips On Locating A Lost Bird

It is heart wrenching to lose any pet, but pets do get lost and when it happens, it happens fast. An immediate response doesn't guarantee a safe return, but it can increase the chances. When your bird takes off, according to the circumstances and the location, the bird may not fly too far...

www.parrotforums.com

Many of us here have suffered the loss of a cherished bird and know how heartbreaking it is to lose them, so it's lovely of you to try to get this one back to his home!

In the meantime it sounds like you have a pretty friendly little birdie there. In the short term you can feed a commercially available food that should be readily available at a local pet store, and you can always improve his diet if it turns out he has found a new home with you. You will also need to stop using any non-stick, Teflon coated cookware as this can off-gas and their fumes are fatal to birds.

Others will doubtless weigh in with some more specialised advice about lovebirds for you a little later but in the meantime thanks for reaching out - I'm glad you found us!

 

[german87]

Hi german87! Welcome to the forums and thank you for taking this little one in from the cold and wet!

Thank you also for trying to find the original owner, who is likely busily looking for him (or her ) You can use some of the tips on the following link in reverse to help try to find his home...

Bring Them Home! Tips On Locating A Lost Bird

It is heart wrenching to lose any pet, but pets do get lost and when it happens, it happens fast. An immediate response doesn't guarantee a safe return, but it can increase the chances. When your bird takes off, according to the circumstances and the location, the bird may not fly too far...

www.parrotforums.com

Many of us here have suffered the loss of a cherished bird and know how heartbreaking it is to lose them, so it's lovely of you to try to get this one back to his home!

In the meantime it sounds like you have a pretty friendly little birdie there. In the short term you can feed a commercially available food that should be readily available at a local pet store, and you can always improve his diet if it turns out he has found a new home with you. You will also need to stop using any non-stick, Teflon coated cookware as this can off-gas and their fumes are fatal to birds.

Others will doubtless weigh in with some more specialised advice about lovebirds for you a little later but in the meantime thanks for reaching out - I'm glad you found us!

Thanks alot for the link and tips! I have been doing a fair bit of research and found out our little friend is a "she".

And she's been very very friendly with my partner and i and she seems to be enjoying all the attention she is getting.

She was very wet and cold last night and the poor thing must've been exhausted because she didnt move or fly very much. However, i made sure she was well rested in a nice warm environment and made sure she had seeds and a bit of apple to eat along with fresh water.

She is now quite the chatterbox and can't stop chirping and she seems to be flying all over the place (in a controlled environment).Ill take it as a good sign? She also seems very comfortable to be held and at times she'll nibble our fingers for more rubs and pets and is also responding to our requests for her to fly to us.I know its probably someone else's birdie but shes making it very hard not to love her.

In the meantime, i have posted all over facebook groups in my country but no one has responded yet. She'll be spoiled rotten in the meantime and will do my best to take care of her.

 

[Rozalka]

not helping, but just wanted to let know - she is a masked lovebird

 

[LaManuka]

Thanks alot for the link and tips! I have been doing a fair bit of research and found out our little friend is a "she".

And she's been very very friendly with my partner and i and she seems to be enjoying all the attention she is getting.

She was very wet and cold last night and the poor thing must've been exhausted because she didnt move or fly very much. However, i made sure she was well rested in a nice warm environment and made sure she had seeds and a bit of apple to eat along with fresh water.

She is now quite the chatterbox and can't stop chirping and she seems to be flying all over the place (in a controlled environment).Ill take it as a good sign? She also seems very comfortable to be held and at times she'll nibble our fingers for more rubs and pets and is also responding to our requests for her to fly to us.I know its probably someone else's birdie but shes making it very hard not to love her.

In the meantime, i have posted all over facebook groups in my country but no one has responded yet. She'll be spoiled rotten in the meantime and will do my best to take care of her.

Awwww, thank you so much for taking care of her, and for the sweet pics too!

If she does end up becoming a permanent member of your household, there are a number of things you may need to change in order to provide her with a safe home. The following was written by an esteemed former Moderator and serves as a very good "how to" guide for new (and even not so new!) parrot parents...

A Warm Welcome And A Few Friendly Warnings To Keep Your Parrots Safe

Bird ownership is a challenge for the best of us, especially in the beginning. So many things are dangerous or even deadly to parrots. The information and hazards can be overwhelming at first. We've all been there, we've all made mistakes. Straight to the point. Open flames-any open flames...

www.parrotforums.com

Thanks for your continued efforts to find her original family, but in the event that she becomes a permanent resident, don't forget to tell us when you decide on a name, will you?

 

[HeatherG]

What a cute bird and a lucky find for both the bird and you! you're getting a nice intro to how friendly pet birds can be. Wow! That she lets you hold her in your closed hand-- that's a nice bird! You didn't mention if you have little children in your home, but a friendly bird can be accidentally hurt by a little kid. My Lucy Quaker was played with like a doll and badly injured.

first thoughts: cat bites are usually fatal. Keep her apart from any cats. Since she flies, keep the toilet closed. Be aware that little birds can lose their balance getting a drink and drown in glasses of water, watering cans, etc. The kitchen is also a dangerous place for a bird. Water in sinks or pots, hot pans on the stove, hot ovens, fryers are all so hazardous. I have to keep my birds' wings clipped because my living room is connected to my kitchen. Fans are dangerous- I still remember my cockatiel getting hit by a slow ceiling fan years ago. If it had been going fast, that would've been the end. Birds can try to eat household items and get poisoned. So you really must keep an eye on her if she can fly! You could consider getting her wings clipped. I clip my birds because we're in a small apartment and I'm a slob. There are too many ways my birds could get hurt in my messy apartment. I want them to stay on or in their cage, perch, or with me.

Also, a very friendly little bird can get sat or stepped on. I sat on my Quaker years ago and thought she was a sock! I was so lucky I didn't sit down hard or entirely because my bird would've been squished! She didn't make a peep. My neighbor accidentally sat on his friendly parrotlet last year, and was so sad. It's good to look before you sit.

I have always thought Fischer's lovebirds were beautiful with their bright feathers and beak color, but have never owned one. Lucky you! I hope you enjoy your time with her. If you find her old owners, maybe they would let you visit? Good luck.

 

[LittleElf]

Hi folks,

I happened across a very wet and cold Fischer last night whilst i was out walking. He seems very friendly and approached me last night and i picked him up and brought him back home. I have now bought him a proper cage and birdfood and now i'm at a lost of what to do. He seems to want out of his cage most of the time and he likes to hang out on my shoulder. I'm not complaining about that, its really quite sweet but i'm no birdkeeper, i dont have any pets, i know this fellah probably belongs to somone(in the midst of finding the owner).

Are there any tips i could get please? I know next to nothing about birds except they fly and like seeds.

He's probably as scared as you....but he knows you are trying to help! If you have a local neighborhood watch that is on line you may be able to post found Fischer.... or in your local community center bulletin post a notice... God Bless and Thanks for saving that little guy....

 

[wrench13]

There is a special place in heaven for those that rescue animals; you get one (1) celestial AttaBoy. So the 2 possibilités on the source of your little friend are 1) escaped family pet or 2) abandoned family pet. Considering how tame she is, I think #1 is most likely, which means there is a person or family broken hearted at their loss. You can post flyers at key places around your neighborhood, like laundromats, tavern, Bundspost office, grocery store or supermarket. Just say you found a parrot and would like to see the owner(s) and the parrot reunited. Do not describe the parrot or name the species, otherwise you may get scammers or 'bird-flippers' answering your flyer. Say where you found her and of course a safe contact info on yourself. Another place to let them know you found a parrot is the local veterinarian offices - they often find out about lost birds. German version of Facebook must have a Lost Pet or Lost Parrot group you can list her at, or review the posts there.

For posting flyers, I would start with the above suggestions within a 1 mile (2 KM) radius of where you found her. She is so lucky you found her, with the German winter upon you.