Our Clipper...Posted for Wolfwood

Our "Clipper" was found & brought to a Rehabber in Mass. in April, in VERY bad shape - probably just weaned, with a serious case of Canker, & extremely underweight, among other issues. Jodi didn't expect him to even live thru his first night with her! But - surprise us, they will !!!! Clipper is a tough little bird and he pulled thru it all!! Once Jodi was certain that the Canker was fully controlled, she put out a plea for a new home and - well - what could we do? Clipper joined Mistwold Loft in June 2009 and stayed in isolation for 6 weeks. As he has a severely crossed beak from the Canker and was still significantly underweight, it was clear that he would need hand feeding for awhile (maybe, forever). Jodi had said he liked to sit on her shoulder and he did try to climb up my arm every time I reached in to fill his special deep feeder or check his weight. As his quarantine continued, he got more comfortable AND more adamant. Sitting on my hand was clearly not enough for him. Sooo, i started taking him out of his "Rabbit Hutch" every day and putting him on my shoulder - feeding him by hand and letting him ride around while I fussed about in the garage. He eventually even got brave enough to fly around the garage abit and - after I recovered from that 1st time when I figured we now had a LOOSE pigeon in the garage - he always flew a bit and came back to my shoulder when I called him ( :Holy Sheep:WASN'T THAT A THRILL!!!) I figured some flying time would be good for him - build his strength AND help with the weight gain. We had our avian vet come to check everyone out and advise on the beak. Tony was really impressed with little Clipper and commented that the beak was the most severe he'd seen, did grind it a bit, and gave his blessing to merge Clipper in with the others.

I was pretty concerned about moving him in with the other birds 'cuz we have some pretty assertive males. I was worried they'd pick on him, 1st 'cuz he was young and, 2nd, because of his beak. I was also concerned that he would back away from the others and not get enough to eat. But it had to be ... we'd see what Mother nature had in store. I did make a point of hand feeding him 2x/day for the 1st few weeks and then weaned him over to a special, very deep dish which hangs just below a cross-beam so he has a good, solid perch to stand on & eat. And - - MAN!!! Does that little bird eat!!!! He does back off if any other bird moves into 'his' food but this may change as he gets older. I've also seen him stick his head part way into the other feeders and he drinks from the regular water troughs... so maybe, eventually, he won't need the special dish, anyway. Other than the fact that the rest of the birds think he's spoiled rotten 'cuz he gets hand fed and/or gets some kind of REALLY special stuff in his dish .... Clipper's introduction to the bigger loft was 100% uneventful. In spite of his crossed beak, he eats well and has put on all the weight he didn't have before ... and then some. His tail feathers have been fully replaced, he now preens, the blue/green is coming in beautifully on his neck, and there is absolutely no sign that he was in such bad shape only 4 months ago - he loves his baths, still loves to sit on my shoulder, lands on my back anytime I lean over, and TALKS all the time. He does still like to be treated a little special tho' so I feed him by hand a few times a week and chase the others away from his dish when I'm in the loft.

He's a special little guy (gal?) and we're really pleased he's joined Mistwold Loft. Thanks, Jodi, for giving him a second shot at life .... and then entrusting him to us!!

Clipper is just adorable and well worth the save!

Clipper is beautiful, despite the scissor beak.
Thank you so much for sharing his story with us Wolfwood. And thank you, Charis, for posting it.
I'm so glad to hear things are going well.

I believe Kim (KIPPY) is up to 4 scissor beaked pijjies in her aviary now.
They all do wonderfully.

CHARIS, for moving this to its own thread AND for adding the photos.

You are just the MOST awesome Pigeon Angel

I would have been so worried if I had come across a bird with such a severely crossed beak, but now I see that all it takes is good-will, perseverance and a little imagination. It's great to see a handicapped bird doing so well and looking so happy!
Thank you, Wolfwood and Charis, for sharing this story.

Such a pretty little bird. I'm so glad you adopted him, and that he is doing so well in your loft. It's amazing how they can adjust.

OMG - I have never seen a bird with such a beak! How on earth is this possible that canker creates such deformation before the bird dies when not treated? I really do not understand this. Is it because of the beak being rather soft while the birds are still so young? Does it only happen to young birds or older ones too?

Now I really understand why you, Charis, and everybody else insisted so very much in getting our youngsters Peppi and Pina healthy again as quickly as possible. They both recovered from their canker infection fully as if nothing had happened.

I think these pictures would help others to recognize the severity of canker!!!

Missed this thread somehow better late then never.
Clipper is so handsom.
Did you tried correction of the beak deformity?

plamenh wrote:

Missed this thread somehow better late then never.
Clipper is so handsom.
Did you tried correction of the beak deformity?

Thanks. He is a handsome guy and, now that he's molted, his feathers are really quite striking - black with the iridescence on his neck, and a single white spot under his wings on his back. He has become quite independent and, although it was really cute when he was always on my shoulder, he spends more time acting like a pij now and being part of the flock ... and that makes me happy!!! (He does still spend some time on my shoulder, tho'.... and I just can't help but hand feed him occasionally.... )

We did check out his beak, but he was too mature and the beak was set. We may have the vet grind it down again ... at some point ... but, for now, he's managing really well. As long as he can get enough food & drink, we'll probably just leave it be. We really don't like to mess with nature and her planned course of things...even when we don't like them. Our human opinions (and emotions) just don't matter in the bigger picture. In fact, WE don't even know what that "bigger picture" is ... so how can we even know if things are "right"...or not? OK. Enough philosophy.

Yes, I agree that we can’t see the big picture. Creation is too big and we are too small.
We was given duty, task and privilege by Creator of the big picture to paint our small pictures according to our abilities, not to change, but to be part of it.
I was having in mind not grinding of the beak, but something like teeth correction braces.
Applying olive oil on the beak will soften it and something like rubber band will apply pressure. It can be performed for several hours a day between feedings. This method is used with big parrots and their beak is much stronger and thicker therefore more difficult for correction.
http://www.urbanwildlifesociety.org/WLR/Xbeak.html

I missed this thread too. How is Clipper doing these days? You have done a great job!


I would imagine it would be extremely difficult for him/her to survive in the wild with that beak. I wonder what the percentage of pigeons that have a scissor beak?

Phamenh- The first paragraph in your thread above is so very true and well said.

Clipper is such a sweetheart Agree with Teresa...i have never seen such a severely deformed beak and would have been scared to death on finding a pigeon in this condition. Never knew Canker could even deform birds like this as if making them so terribly sick wasn't enough
Wonderful to see Clipper's resilience

Wolfwood and Charis, you guys are

Although he hasn't chosen a mate yet, he's grown up to be such a pretty boy!!

Great photo.
Clipper is a beauty!!

What a handsome guy and a lucky one to have you.

Will he be joining your flock in the new loft?

Clipper is such a beautiful bird. I loved his story. It is amazing how well they adjust. I'm so glad you took him and and so glad he is doing so well. Hope he finds a mate soon.

Louise

A handsome boy he has grown up to be Hope he finds a mate soon

Birdbarn wrote:

What a handsome guy and a lucky one to have you.

Will he be joining your flock in the new loft?

THANK YOU! Yes, he's in the loft with all the others and enjoying the new Aviary VERY much. I actually took this photo on the 1st day they had access to the new Aviary and it was Clipper who was flying in & out the windows. It seemed that he was testing that it all really worked the way he thought it should!

That is great news!

too.

I am so behind on threads...

But just wanted to say the story was heartwarming. I really believe and "Handiabled" bird just needs someone to BELIEVE they can do anything! Thanks for believing in him... I love the name~ It's PERFECT!