You know how we tell people...?

[SilverSage]

Two things I tell people all the time; birds are expensive and breeding birds is hard and heartbreaking.

Today I took two birds to the vet on a hunch, and between this visit and the follow up visit it will cost me my whole paycheck for this month, assuming all goes will with their treatment. Still couldn't tell you for sure why I took them other than just having a feeling something was off, and it's a good thing I did!

My cockatiels had two failure to thrive cases, one per pair, and due to my new job, some health issues, and some insane situations with my husband's job, and several other concurrent catastrophes, I missed it and both babies died. Three babies got over stretched crops, and one baby got buried alive by her parents; still hoping she pulls through, but I'm still pretty new and learning a lot of things by trial and error.

All in all it has been an exhausting week, but I know a lot more about baby cockatiels and the issues they can have than I did last week, and my confidence in my hand feeding skills has been boosted because after the whole budgie rescue debacle I was pretty much convinced I would never be able to hand feed. Turns out it is a lot easier when the babies want to eat! Also on the up side, I have more people on my waiting list than I have babies, and I got my first "cold call" today from someone who heard of me and wanted a bird from me without me knowing them or meeting them with a bird on my shoulder, etc, that was a huge encouragement. It has been a roller coaster of a week! And since it is almost 1:00am here and I am finally sitting down not in a car or vets office for the first time today, I am going to try to catch a few hours of sleep before the next feeding, the morning, and the beginning of another mad scramble for survival I love my birds and they are worth every grey hair they have given me!

 

[strudel]

I know that you can tell when something's "not right" with your animals. I've done that, said "I can't tell you what's wrong, just that SOMETHING is" I know exactly what you mean.

I don't think I'm tough enough to breed animals. I couldn't stand to give any of them up, let alone deal with the inevitable issues with those who don't "make it".

More power to you, that you are up to the task! And I hope your quick action will sort the health issues you detected.

 

[EAI]

Oh no, I'm so sorry to hear about your babies. I'm hoping your little girl gets better soon though. This is going to sound macabre, but I gotta say thank you for sharing that personal experience as to help remind how dangerous hand feeding can be.


On the other hand...I'm really stoked that your aviary is starting to take off!! I can see your clients (heh, maybe, maybe, I'll be one too :54 just being taken back at how well they've been treated and how much effort you put in to provide a nurturing and a good start for their new homes.

 

[SilverSage]

Thanks, my littlest one is stronger today, but still unsure. I'm about to attempt to medicate to completely wild parrots who are larger than my hands, which is new for me since most of my birds are small. Time to master the birdy burrito! Yes Reid, and feeding can be dangerous, but actually it is hand feeding that is saving these babies, and their parents who messed it up. You know I am a huge advocate of co parenting, but situations like this are why I will never say I am anti hand feeding, among other reasons. The stretched crop babies all seem to be doing fine now with their little crop bras, I have two pied babies of unknown gender, two Lutino females and one albino female; she is the fatty! Fortunately my new job is very close to home and I am allowed to bring my babies, so is a mad dash to the car with the brooder, but the temp only drops about 2 degrees during the whole trip which is about the same as it drops when I open it, so I'm able to hand feed and keep my job; and wig these vet bills its a good thing I found a job or I would be out of luck!

 

[SilverSage]

I nearly lost a finger and I'm not sure if any of the meds I am giving Sam and Lady are actually being swallowed. I have two PIonus in a budgie cage. Seriously, because it means I can catch them. It looks rediculous. Fortunately I know these two well enough to know they won't tear the cage apart.

My little buried baby died today, which I expected but still hurts. I found a new breeder of cockatiels who has been doing it for decades here in Hawaii, which is huge for me because cockatiels are not tropical birds and are much more prone to problems here than in less humid places. He is very happy to help me learn, which unfortunately is rare around here because breeders are competitive and don't want to share info.

And in the midst of it all my husband came home for a surprise visit for about 90 minutes which was so wonderful and unexpected, and he wasn't even mad that I spend a whole paycheck on vet bills! I'm the bird lover in this family, he tends to be more of a dog person (except when it comes to his three birds, Cache, Battle, and. Napoleon, who are somehow magically more special )

 

[strudel]

He is very happy to help me learn,

A true animal lover. That's great. Even just having somebody else who is in the same "game" is reassuring, knowing that there's somebody to call on and that you don't have to deal with everything all by yourself.

Sorry about the baby. I suppose the longer you do it, the more used you get to these events happening.

 

[SilverSage]

True, though the longer I do it the better I will get at preventing the problem, identifying the problem early, and knowing what to do about it so I lose fewer babies. The frustrating thing is learning the lessons too late.