Trooper
is my "special needs" Cockatiel. He is approximately six to eight months
old and was rescued from a pet store, last October. The employees were
not even aware that he had a problem. Yes, hard to imagine, since his
feet are deformed to the point he cannot perch. He was stumbling around
the bottom of the enclosure on feet that were curled into tight little
"fists". He was nearly emaciated when I found him and may very well
have starved within a few days, had I not discovered his problem. Other
birds had been picking on him and he could not perch at the food and
water bowls. All perches and toys were well out of his reach.
He now has a cage all to himself, even though he shares the room with five
other birds. His cage is equipped with all platforms, including one
that is laid across the ramp door during the day. Since coming home and
having proper surfaces for his feet, some of his toes have straightened
out and he is doing very well. He can climb and is fully flighted, both
to give him more mobility and so he can control his landings better. He
is the happiest bird I have, realizing how much better off he is now and
takes nothing for granted. He is delighted to have toys, suspended
within his reach and he started talking within the first few days. He
is the last one singing at night and the first one I hear in the
mornings. He is such a happy little soul now. In my dictionary, beside
the word Trooper, you will find his picture.
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