Meet Crash~the feral!

Wow- that is interesting Jim... 10 + years in the dental field, I have.... never thought about adhesives we use for human prostetics for repairs on wildlife! makes perfect sense thou'~
To be honest.. he actually eats ok... as long as he can stick his beak in the deep, small dish and get his seeds.. ...So.. No-release back to the wild world for this guy. Even though he ate all his seed this morning, I gave him peas tonight. I'm just glad he has some of his beak left and the POX didn't get it all. The scabs on his feet are falling off and healing as well.

As for experimenting on Crash...... No way! Sorry... I can't do it to him. I know that is how wonderful things are created.. but I won't put him throuigh trial and error anymore than he has been through. If it was a procedure that someone has done...... then maybe. and even then .. I'd need someone to strap me down...LOL LOL

Thanks for posting those articles, Jim.
I remember seeing the one about the eagle, but hadn't seen the one about the stork.

With all the new technologies, there isn't much that can't be tried.

Sorry for the alarming suggestion Jenn -- I hadn't thought about it from that perspective...

From the earlier pictures you posted, it almost looks like Crash already started growing a new beak, and somehow only the tips of the "old" beak were still there. Is his cere just really elongated, or is that protrusion made of beak-like material?

Here are a couple of possibly useful articles that might help to figure out exactly what poor Crash's future might hold:

http://www.birdchannel.com/bird-diet-and-health/bird-care/bird-beak-anatomy.aspx
http://www.exoticpetvet.net/avian/anatomy.html

Can you tell what part or parts on his upper and lower beak he'll still have?

Hi Jenn, just reading old and new posts.... and Crash what a story and how awfully nice of you and you are doing a great job.... brings tears to my eyes.. but I am so happy he is doing soooo much better... and hopefully Crash will grow a new beak... glad to hear he is eating better....

What a shame. He's such a cute little guy. How well will he be able to eat with that much beak left? Pox is a horrible thing. I'm wondering how much it will affect his eating when the lower beak comes off.

Shalimar wrote:

Hi Jenn, just reading old and new posts.... and Crash what a story and how awfully nice of you and you are doing a great job.... brings tears to my eyes.. but I am so happy he is doing soooo much better... and hopefully Crash will grow a new beak... glad to hear he is eating better....

thanks Shalimar! I'm not sure he will grow a whole new beak.... but we are making headway.... SO cross those fingers! He's a trooper!

NiteOwl wrote:

What a shame. He's such a cute little guy. How well will he be able to eat with that much beak left? Pox is a horrible thing. I'm wondering how much it will affect his eating when the lower beak comes off.

To be honest since the upper beak has fallen off I have not had to hand feed him... When I go to check his crop is FULL! I think the pressure the "dead tip" was placing on the tissue was making it more diffucult for him to eat. The lower one is looser by the day so it is, only a matter of days. The tissue on the upper one looks MUCH much better now that it is exposed to air...so I treat it 2x's a day to help with the healing. I wish the other would just fall off...poor guy!

But I have to say (again)... A bird is only as handicapped as you make them to be... He is amazing and keeps truckin' along everyday! I want him to have the confidence to eat alone... as long as he is showing me he can... I will let him eat himself. Which makes me smile everytime I go in to visit him ! :::and believe it or not::::: he is flickering his wings at me now....

Our hall bathroom has become the ICU for animals in our house.... Crash is the resident Pijie... who is very quite... next ..is my female Zebra finch whos mate passed away last night so I have her in there to keep an eye on her for a few days.... and our little rat (((whos cage is in the bathtub now...LOL)))Avery is sick with Myco flare up... UGH so hard to get rid of. Ryland says..."Mom we need An... ICU sign for the door..lol"

SO we keep moving forward here in the Phipps household... . Everyday is a new day for improvement...

I'm so sorry about your little Finch, Jenn.
Bathrooms are a great place for handicapped birds and other little animals. My liitle paralyzed O'Possum lived on a cushion in the bathtub.

Matilda wrote:

I'm so sorry about your little Finch, Jenn.
Bathrooms are a great place for handicapped birds and other little animals. My liitle paralyzed O'Possum lived on a cushion in the bathtub.

Thanks Charis~ I feel sad for her...she looks so lost without him. I'm thinking about a male society finch as another mate for her... they are so docile and sweet birds. I will have to get another though or she will become depressed.

Yes the tub is a great place... her cage is a plastic bottom... So I add hot water to the tub for moisture! Works great... and I can close the door so it stays in there without over heating the birds.

Jenn I'm so glad to hear that Crash is doing so well Goes to show you what wonderful care you are giving him.

I hope you know that Crash is welcome to come live here at the sanctuary if you can wait til the spring to send him and if you don't find another place for him.

EgypSwiftLady wrote:

Jenn I'm so glad to hear that Crash is doing so well Goes to show you what wonderful care you are giving him.

I hope you know that Crash is welcome to come live here at the sanctuary if you can wait til the spring to send him and if you don't find another place for him.

Oh My--- Robin... Thank you VERY much for such a KIND offer! That truly means the world to me and to Crash! Waiting would not be a problem, he has a ways to go to heal~ I will do my best to find a home knowing that if I don't.... You would be a fantastic choice!!!!! What an amazing heart you have...it's refreshing to know that you are out there and that you care!!!!


Tonights UPDATE: Crash lost his lower beak~ unexpectedly. I was trying to get him out of the cat carrier and he was perfectly still I even got my hand on his back... when I reached my other hand in .. my shirt got stuck on the door...GRRR... and I scared him...which led him jump forward....he crashed into the side and well the rest is history... Darn SHIRT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's red...bled a tiny bit~ so I used collidial silver and Neo... more arnica...... along with saying:::::: TONS and TONS of :::::"I'm SO sorry's!"

I'm sorry about your little finch. That's too bad. You certainly do have a busy bathroom! Sorry about crash's beak too, but at least it is off now, and he can start to heal. How's the poor little thing doing?

Oh Jenn, I am so sorry about the finch.... and now Crash loosing the beak.... Your bathroom is certainly busy....but you are just a great person and I am sure all will work out fine.... I am staying positive for you and Crash...

Oh my Goodness, Jenn!! What a time you are having.
My condolences on the loss of your little zebra finch. Bless his mates little heart.

Sending special get well wishes to Crash and Avery.
Please do keep us posted on how things are coming along.

Jenn, when you get a chance, could you post a pic of Crash now that he has lost the lower beak? Did he lose the whole thing? Oh the poor little thing. You certainly have your work cut out for you. And you're doing a great job. I'm routing for him.

NiteOwl wrote:

Jenn, when you get a chance, could you post a pic of Crash now that he has lost the lower beak? Did he lose the whole thing? Oh the poor little thing. You certainly have your work cut out for you. And you're doing a great job. I'm routing for him.

Thanks All~~ I will get a picture up tomorrow... I tortured the poor guy enough ... He's all cuddled up for the night...

He didn't loose the whole beak.... just lost the tip... like the top beak... so they are equal in length now.

After I put him back in his cage I sat and talked to him for awhile to make sure he was ok... he flickered his lil' wings at me ...so I hope that's his sign that he's forgiven me!

It's kinda cute ... because now that they are off.... when he moves his tounge... it slithers out like a little lizard... very cute!

Will post an update with a picture after his morning check up! Thanks all for the condolences on poor Kayden... Amaya seems to be ok... thank goodness.

Jenn.........So sorry for loss of your little zebra finch. Sure hope his mate will be OK.

Now that Crash has lost his lower beak is he still able to eat on his own? I am sure he will be able to adjust given time.

The ICU bathroom sounds like a real safe haven for all the injured and ill.........you are doing such a great job. What a true you are.

Wishing the entire bathroom crew healing thoughts and prayers.

Louise

Jackie\'s Mom wrote:

Jenn.........So sorry for loss of your little zebra finch. Sure hope his mate will be OK.

Now that Crash has lost his lower beak is he still able to eat on his own? I am sure he will be able to adjust given time.

The ICU bathroom sounds like a real safe haven for all the injured and ill.........you are doing such a great job. What a true you are.

Wishing the entire bathroom crew healing thoughts and prayers.

Louise

That's my worry too Louise ~ His lower beak is sore I'm sure... so pushing it into a dish of seeds wouldn't be a great idea. I have removed them tonight and will hand feed him tomorrow and see how it goes.. I'm sure once the bottom beak isn't so sore~ he'll go back to eating on his own.. But I'll have to watch again and make sure! Thank you too... for all the well wishes.... very kind of you and I appreciate it!

Hi Jenn,

Just caught up with your account of Crash -- what a brave little guy! I hope his beak heals up soon and he will be able to eat his seeds. I know just how you feel having to handle a very sore bird in order to help him: you have to do it if he's going to survive and get better, but you hate to cause him any discomfort.
I'm so sorry about little Kayden. Hope his mate is alright.

Best wishes for you and all your patients in the bathroom.

I too am so sorry for the passing of your finch

I am a firm believer that things happen for a reason. Crashes beak coming off at this time rather than later, like maybe when he was moved to a larger cage, is easier on him & you to care for him.

It's hard enough to place a non handicapped pigeon let alone one that has a
disability We would love to have Crash as a member of the sanctuary family if he needs us. You are very welcome Jenn.

Our door is always open to handicapped pigeons that need a home.

Thanks Teresa and Robin! We will take all the wishes of wellness that we can get!

Robin.. It would be a great place for Crash to call his forever home with a family like yours who has some of the biggest hearts I know!


This Mornings update::: Crash seems to be in great spirits and fiesty as ever this morning. When I burritto wrap him he turns into this calm little guy.... lol.. His lower beak swelling went down A TON last night.. I'm amazed that it looks as good as it does! Gotta LOVE Collidial Silver! His upper beak still has some swelling...as you can see in the picture. With time I'm assuming it will go away and he will look like he has a realllllly short beak.

I have to work on his tail feathers..I noticed that the feather shaft is totally surrounding the feathers... Poor guy can't preen AT all...

I did hand feed him this morning ... it's amazing Teresa.... what we do to try and make it less painfull for them huh! I thought of you this morning as I was trying to figure out a way to pop peas with no beak tips to use as a fulcrum! :eek: We managed to find a way thou'~ Here is Crash and his "new smile"...............

Bless is heart! You know, he may not have problems eating. From the side view it looks like he does have enough beak left to pick up seeds, given he has a deep dish to eat from, of which you have provided.
He looks so comfy in those pictures.

One thing, I'd like to mention, Jenn. Kim has 3 or 4 moderate to severe scissor beaked pigeons and I remember her saying that she had to be real careful putting them in the aviary as some of the other pigeons began bullying Jack (one of the more severe cases) and because of his condition he had no way to defend himself.

Poor Crush, you and him have been through so much. As long as he can eat and drink all will be well. Slowely the beak will grow again.

Fancyfeathers wrote:

Bless is heart! You know, he may not have problems eating. From the side view it looks like he does have enough beak left to pick up seeds, given he has a deep dish to eat from, of which you have provided.
He looks so comfy in those pictures.

One thing, I'd like to mention, Jenn. Kim has 3 or 4 moderate to severe scissor beaked pigeons and I remember her saying that she had to be real careful putting them in the aviary as some of the other pigeons began bullying Jack (one of the more severe cases) and because of his condition he had no way to defend himself.

Yah-- I know.. . One of my BIGGEST concerns is that he also can't preene... so it may not be the best option... Poor guy... If he can't prene... it means that he can't regulate his body temp. due to his feathers being stuck in the shaft. SO... Even though he would like it in a avairy... I guess we'll have to wait and see. I know Robin has her hands full... so We'll see what happens. It maybe best for him to have an indoor home with maybe one handicaped mate! ??? idk... I know Crash Is a lovable lilttle guy and when the time is right... he will have an extrodainary place to call home~ I will make sure of it!

Jenn.............Bless this little guy...........he as been through so much. His lower beak still looks so sore.

Looks like he has enough beak left to make the adjustment to feed on his own. Given time to heal and along with your exceptional love and care..........I am confident he is going to be OK.

You are certainly God sent for this little guy...........

Louise

Jenn, how do you preen him?