The baby birds now weigh 58, 52, 52, 48 and 26 grams. The older ones look like full-fledged birds now and are starting to eat crushed pellets, millet, and veggies chopped into impossibly small pieces. They’re also flapping their wings a lot, which means they’ll be flying pretty soon.
Jeebus, while doing better than he was, is still much smaller and younger than his big green siblings. Not only that, but he has splayed legs. They stick out at odd angles. I did a little research and discovered that he requires immediate corrective intervention. Ideally, it should have been done before he was two weeks old, because then the bones start hardening. He’s three weeks old today. I’m hoping that his bones are as developmentally delayed as the rest of him. If I can’t fix his legs, he probably won’t be able to fly. (Well, technically that’s not quite correct. He’d be able to fly but unable to land without crashing, so he’d probably opt not to fly. And he’d be unable to perch, so he’d require cage modifications and a lot of human help.)
I spent part of yesterday fashioning an orthopedic device for him out of an unused kitchen sponge. I cut it down to size, poked two holes in it about an inch apart, and then forced his squirmy, uncooperative little feet through the holes. Other materials were used, too: pipecleaners, gauze, surgical tape. It was very traumatic for both of us. Tears were shed. And an hour later, when I checked on him, he had liberated himself from his orthopedic contraption. I put him back in it several times over the course of the day, with the same results.
Today I bought a package of makeup sponges, which are much denser. I repeated the process. It was even harder to get his poor little feet through the holes. (Baby lovebirds have four toes, two pointing forward and two pointing backward. And their feet are gigantic compared to their bodies and their spindly little legs.)
He hasn’t escaped from the orthopedic makeup sponge yet. But I did find him tipped over on his back and fast asleep, no doubt after much helpless thrashing and flailing about and attempts to right himself. Lovebirds are not fond of being on their backs. He probably passed out eventually from exhaustion, poor little guy. (I’ve since placed him in a small bowl nested with soft kleenex, so he can’t tip over.)
Also? His head is flat, his toenails are clear instead of black, and his beak is kind of funny.
But you can’t help but love him. He’s had such a rough start in life, and I want him to be okay. His siblings include him in everything they do (not that they do much yet), and I often find one or another of them gently cleaning him or pretending to preen him, or tending tenderly to him. I love them for that.
I’m still trying not to get too attached to these little guys.
Oh, you must be so busy! Parrot, lovebirds, more lovebirds (total of 9, right? LOL), and Duncan. Am I forgetting anyone? Oh. GC!
I AM busy! It takes about an hour to feed the babies, every four hours, plus all the cages that need cleaning on a daily basis, and fruits and veggies to prepare for everybody, and I try to give them all some attention every day too. Oboe showers with me, and Kazoo eats dinner with us (plus he hangs out in the living room, so he gets lots of attention just because of his proximity and personality), but Piccolo and Banjo are down to just a few minutes a day. I’ve finally figured out how many birds are too many birds: nine! I’m looking forward to the babies going to good homes and things getting back to normal around here.
We really do root for the underdog, don’t we?
Can we see a picture of Jeebus in his ortho device, or would it be too embarrassing for him?
Ok, next time I feed him, I’ll get a picture. Maybe even a little video of him hobbling about and tipping over. 😉
Riiiiiiight. You are already attached.
You’re doing a great job with Jeebus. I had another baby zebra finch that was kicked out of his nest because he had bum legs. I fed him by hand, too (but again, not tube feeding), and he ended up flying better than any of the other birds – compensating for not being able to land easily. Your results may vary, of course, but not – obviously – for lack of trying.
I think you’re a little late on the non-attachment thing. It would be very hard to have baby anything around and not get attached. well, maybe not baby spiders or snakes.
I got attached to a spider once. He lived in my shower. I was actually planning to bring him with me when I moved to this place, as I figured the next people would kill him. But he wasn’t around on moving day, so I had to leave him behind.
You say: “I’m still trying not to get too attached to these little guys.”
Yeah, right. Especially Jeebus.
Mama
I just wandered onto your blog to check it out, but you’ve written such a vivid description of little Jeebus that I’m already hooked. I can’t wait to find out what becomes of the little guy.
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