Adoption and disability

[bunnygirl101]

Hey guys I'm a new member. I have a funny little scenario whereby I have a little zebra finch with one leg (Pablo) and a little canary who is 'able-bodied', (Pepe). Pepe is very playful and Pablo just lies about as his disability has slowed him down a lot. Pepe is constantly trying to get Pablo to play but it's getting to the point that I worry it may be distressing Pepe. I have thought to get another little bird in the hope Pepe might play with that one and leave Pablo alone, however, I don't want to risk Pablo just being harrassed by two birds and then needing to be in a cage on his own. I think the best option is for me to seperate the two birds and get a little friend for Pepe and a little disabled mate for Pablo. I know little birds unfortunately do lose limbs. I know this must sound crazy but does anyone know where I can adopt little disabled birds from?

Thanks,
Rebecca.

[amalan11]

I have a couple of zebs with deformitys,they are a much genteler bird than canarys.just get a normal zeb and it should be fine in with the disabled one in their own cage.Get canary a mate of his own type

[Niki_K]

I have a couple of disabled zebbies (e.g. missing leg or foot, deformed eye, unable to fly properly), who are in with normal ones and they all seem to get on ok. The boy who can't fly well (he can glide and hop from perch to perch) sleeps on the bottom of his cage, and I've found his (able-bodied) girlfriend snuggling with him there as well
If you specifically want a disabled bird, you can have one of my boys- during a catch we found he had had an eye infection, which has caused his eye to deteriorate. It's been treated with antibiotics, and he seems happy and healthy but his eye is rather unattractive.

[bunnygirl101]

Thanks Niki, that's a really kind offer. Unattractive is fine He will fit in well with my others! It would be great to talk further about adopting if that would be ok? Do you mind if I ask where abouts in Melbourne you are as I am in Bendigo but frequent Melbourne a fair bit for work. Little Pablo is actually going to see avian vet Dr Colin Walker on Monday!! I would like to try to change the dynamics of the birds and this may be helped by the addition of more birds as it will give Pepe some more company as well or else I'll seperate disabled from abled in which case I'll need a friend for Pepe. Do canaries and finches breed? That is my main concern - Pepe the canary is a girl and Pablo is a little boy - given Pablo's condition he would not be able to mate so it's something I haven't had to think about until now. Anyway my mobile number is 0409 007 583.
Hope we can chat soon and thanks again!!

Rebecca.

[Niki_K]

I'm in Reservoir (Northern suburbs). Just let me know if you're around, and we can sort out a pickup for Cyclops

[bunnygirl101]

That's great Niki, my sister lives in Coburg so I am near there reasonably often. What kind of temperament does Cyclops have? Can he see out of the effected eye? Do you think there is much chance he would be mean to Pablo too? My vet suggested it can happen with disabled birds.

[Niki_K]

I've currently got him in with a male with an injured wing and another male who was being picked on in the large aviary (being plucked and pecked on the head) and they all get along. I don't think he can see out of the damaged eye, but its hard to say. Its sunken in and quite watery but he does seem to move it a bit so it might be light sensitive. He's easy to catch in the cage, but this may be due to poor depth perception!

[bunnygirl101]

Poor little chap. Has he seen a vet? What is the cause?

[Niki_K]

I took him to the local vet (not an avian specialist) who gave me some antibiotics for him. She thinks it was caused by a scratch above his eye that got infected and has now permanently damaged the eye. Bear in mind that these birds were left to their own devices for 2 years after their owner died (apart from being fed and watered daily). She prescribed antibiotics, but not much improvement from that. It isn't weeping or anything, and none of the other birds have it, so its not contagious.

[finchbreeder]

Canarys and Zebs are too different to cross breed. So you can relax. Canarys will cross with Goldfinches. Zebs will cross with a number of the smaller type finches (closer to their own size) These out of type crosses tend to happen only when a mate of their own type is not available.
LML