Campaign Category: Sponsor a Bird

Ziggy’s seizures vary in severity as does the recovery time which can take anywhere from a minute to 3 months. When he is bad he is unable to undertake normal birdie activities, hence the beak can over grow slightly. When he is ‘recovered’ chewing commences and his beak wears back down. The vet keeps an eye on this but prefers not to intervene, unless ziggy gets to the point where he can not  preen or eat.

Ziggy is fortunate enough to live with a wonderful foster mum who he loves lots and lots. His foster Dad has to mind his Ps and Qs though as Ziggy can be very aggressive towards men. Although he does let his Dad give him his medication though – he’s such a good boy really!

Please consider contributing towards Ziggy’s vet care. In return he will promise not to attack his Foster Dad too often…

Unfortunately Ziggy had a seizure which he didn’t recover from in December 2022. His Foster mum and all who knew and loved Ziggy are devastated. We’d like to thank everyone who has helped to support his vet care over the last few years, you helped to make his time on this earth more comfortable. Thank you.

 

 

Rani is a tiny green cheek conure, but what she is missing in stature, she makes up for in personality. It is not polite to ask an old lady her age, but we have it on good authority she’s approximately 18.

Unfortunately Rani came to birdline with severe health problems. She has a deformity of the beak, known as scissor beak, which is a misalignment of the upper and lower jaws. Damage to the growth plate means that her upper beak is also badly scarred and regularly breaks. These problems were more than likely caused by an injury to the beak at a young age. The deformity means that without proper vet care Rani’s beak can become overgrown.

 

When Rani came into birdline she was struggling to eat and severely malnourished – weighing in at only 46g (typical weight for a gcc is 60-70g). Her poor body condition led to a lowered immune system and she also had a nasty bacterial infection which required several doses of anti-fungals and antibiotics. Rani was also in significant pain and would scream and scream, especially when trying to pass droppings.

She really was quite poorly and traumatised and all she wanted to do was cling to her foster mum and snuggle.

After several visits to the vet it was decided that it was necessary to give her an xray under anaesthetic to ensure she wasn’t egg bound. This was not a decision to be taken lightly, especially considering her overall poor health. Fortunately she came through fine and it was determined that egg laying in poor condition caused soft tissue damage. With pain killers, better nutrition, vitamin supplements and time she has recovered. However, considering her tiny stature there is a risk that the same thing could happen again in the future.

Nearly two years later Rani’s feather condition and general health is much improved and she is now an inquisitive adventurous cheeky conure. She doesn’t let her beak problems stop her from doing anything – in fact please don’t tell her she’s a special needs bird. She doesn’t realise that she is disabled you see. You may even occasionally see Rani at birdline events, she likes to go out and meet people, even if it does mean she has to put up with wearing a harness

The cost of Rani’s care to date has come to over £1000 and she will continue to need bi-monthly visits to trim her beak. She is a real trooper and takes these visits in her stride.

Please could you help keep Rani’s beak in shape, so she can happily munch her way through her favourite food?

UPDATE: November 2023

Rani has been in her current foster home for 6 years now, and she has really blossomed. From a shy scared bird she has turned into an independent sociable little lady. She loves visitors, especially male ones, she is a bit of a flirt you see! Rani loves to go out and about in her harness and meet and greet people, and to sit outside in the aviary and feel the wind in her feathers and the sun on her beak. She has to have a beak trim approximately every two months, to keep it trim and in shape, but she takes this in her stride as she is very use”d to having it done. She is much loved and is a very loving little bird. If she could say more words then “good girl”, “vegetable” and “hey kiddo”, she would thank you for your support of Birdline and for providing the means, to keep her healthy and happy.

Sadly, Darcy suffered severe zinc poisoning prior to coming to Birdline and she had to be hospitalised. She is also severely plucked across her back and front, and does not have enough flight feathers to fly, which in turn affects her confidence and behaviour. She has been known to self-mutilate and has opened gaping wounds under her wings. She can be moody and will fly at people and bite for no discernible reason, then the next day she will be all kisses and cuddles.

Darcy needs ongoing treatment, including medication and bi-annual vet visits and blood checks. She has not mutilated or pulled blood feathers since 2017 so she is doing well under her current health care regime.

If you would like to sponsor Darcy, she would love to stay in touch on her secret page which she will share with you. Her birthday with us is 26/06/2010 and she was born in 2004, should you wish to send her a gift. She particularly likes shredding things!

 

This means he must visit a vet and have his medication reviewed and has to go under anaesthetic once a year for a blood test to make sure the medication is not damaging his internal organs.

When he is mutilating, his mum must watch him 24/7 to make sure he doesn’t bleed out. The least we can do to support her is to help with his vet bills. The worry, lack of sleep and sheer anguish at seeing your bird in pain, we can never repay her for.

Monty’s birthday is 02/07/2016 if you would like to send him a gift via head office. He particularly likes chewing things and likes to be distracted from his pain.

 

Warning: The images below are somewhat distressing but part of life for Monty. The first photo shows his feet in bandages and the second without…

 

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As you can see, I needed my beak and claws attending to when I first got to my safehouse. I can eat much easier now they are a little bit shorter and I can preen my feathers again.

Sadly, I don’t have a cage to call my own. My safehouse will provide me with a temporary cage and toys but if you can help me purchase a cage which will be mine forever. Or maybe even buy me a toy or two to decorate it with. I’ll be grateful and show my appreciation by destroying them real fast.

Unfortunately Mac is unable to fly. But this does mean he can go outside without a harness as he can’t escape or get lost. He loves playing on the swing in the garden with his best bird friend Zeus..

** Update ** My wonderful safehouse has purchased me a new cage. Since my beak and nails have been done, and my diet has improved,  I am doing so much better. My feathers are lovely and shiny and in really good condition now. Aren’t I handsome ? Love Mac

Mac Likes…

• To be outside in the sun
• Dancing to music
• Making a mess eating berries
• Cracking walnuts open
• Destroying boxes and shredding paper
• Singing Ba Ba Blacksheep

Mac dislikes…

• His foster Dad
• The T.V.

Despite his foster parent’s best efforts to provide him with a healthy diet, Andy continued to face weight control issues and mysterious ‘funny turns’ that resembled strokes. The veterinarians suggested that these issues could be linked to his diet, proposing that healthier feeding habits might resolve the problems. However, Andy had always been treated to the best, with no unhealthy indulgences, making it clear that the root cause was yet to be identified.

Roll on to 2023…

Little did we know that the key to his well-being would lie in uncovering an underlying a further medical condition. In a breakthrough earlier this year, one vet hypothesized that Andy might be facing a thyroid problem. The introduction of a medication called Thyforon marked a turning point in Andy’s health journey. The positive effects were not long in coming, as Andy experienced a dramatic improvement in his overall well-being. Not only did he shed the excess weight he had been carrying, but he also gained a newfound energy and vitality. No longer trudging around or moving at a slow pace, he embraced a new lease of life. The once sedentary bird became much more active and quicker in his movements, showcasing the positive impact of addressing the underlying thyroid issue.

As Andy’s weight continued to decrease, regular check-ups with the veterinarians became crucial. The dosage of his medications had to be carefully adjusted to suit his changing health status. This ongoing monitoring ensured that Andy’s treatment plan evolved with his improving health. Today, Andy stands as a testament to the power of accurate diagnosis and targeted treatment.

He is now a much healthier and happier bird and he continues to thrive as a cherished member of our family, Andy’s story serves as an inspiration for pet owners facing similar health mysteries in their beloved companions.

Andy will be on medication for the rest of his life. He is not insured (due to existing condition clauses). Please sponsor Andy to ensure he continues to thrive. Without your help, birds like Andy would struggle to find a forever home.

I can’t walk or fly, and I have a brain lesion which gives me the shakes. I also have regular prolapses, which my mum deals with, or if they are bad, we go to the vet. That all suits my mum just fine, as she has trouble walking and is ill too, so we sit on the sofa and binge Netflix together.

I love shredding Argos catalogues and boxes, and my mum tucks me down her front to take me around the house. I say “hello” a lot, but it means a hundred different things. I also tell you I’m a gorgeous girl when I want a cuddle, irresistible!

I don’t need much, I do love shredding toys though. I need the vet once a year for blood tests or if I have a bad prolapse and have Metacam and Phenobarbital daily. I’m a good girl and take my medicine with no trouble at all.