ARRRRGH, Matey, I found a parrot in my back yard...WTF?

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

This is just one of those odd thing you have to share when they happen. Yesterday, I was wondering what kind of bird had flown into my pool enclosure that was making so much noise. Now, it must be understood that I am missing 4 screen panels, so this happens often enough. Well, to my surprise, it was a small green parrot! It is missing most of the feathers on it's chest, and beneath it's wings, so I guess it is malnourished or sick. It is very domesticated too, and says "Hello". I fed it, and gave it water, and it seemed to be very hungry and thirsty! Now, it likes to perch on my shoulder, and it makes me feel like a Pirate...lol. I don't really know what to do though. I built it a makeshift perch of PVC 8 feet off the ground to keep it from the cats that prowl the pool enclosure, and filled 2 spray paint caps with water and birdseed. It can fly shot distances, but it's wings were clipped, which keeps it from going too far. How did this happen? I wonder if it was a pet that got out, or if it was abandoned. I can't really afford to keep it if it is sick, and besides, it's a noisy thing and will keep me up all morning.

 

[86CLCruiser]

i'd say buy an eye patch and give yourself a peg leg. Then walk the plank right into your pool, haha

 

[R/T kota]

Most likely flew away from its owner.
Those things can be expensive and the owner is probably looking for it.
I would put a small add in the local paper saying you found it and let the owner I.D. it over the phone. If its a match, you found the owner.

Teach it some bad words first though :wink:

 

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

I have my feelers out in the neighborhood, but if I don't hear from anyone soon I will call a local bird sanctuary. Still, there is a part of me that wants to keep it, but I do not have the time one of these birds needs as they are very social creatures. I am barely home enough to sleep, let alone care for a pet! Anyhow, a friend of mine says I should call it "Captain Morgan"...lol. Any other name suggestions?

 

[dan2286]

Most likely flew away from its owner.
Those things can be expensive and the owner is probably looking for it.
I would put a small add in the local paper saying you found it and let the owner I.D. it over the phone. If its a match, you found the owner.

Teach it some bad words first though :wink:

I definately agree about teaching it some bad words. :lol:

If it knows how to talk, someone used to own it. Either got away or they got rid of it.

 

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

3rd day, and it is still sticking around. I find it hard to imagine it would have run away from it's owner and stayed away unless it was abused. It can leave my porch at any time, but it stays behind the palm bushes I have on my window sill instead. As for the bad words, I am not someone who uses them too often myself, so it will have a hard time picking them up. Plus, it does not seem to learn them very quickly. It was sitting on my shoulder laughing with me today which I thought was kind of funny.

 

[78mali350]

haha that is funny. call it captain morgan that would be great. i dunno i would keep it personally

 

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

I think I figured out what he is. From the descriptions I have read online ( you didn't think I would stay away from Google for this one?) he is a Cuban Conure, a somewhat rare breed of bird. He's sitting on my shoulder right now preening him or herself. He is almost all green with some tufts of red, and yellow under the wings. His head has a little bit of aquamarine on the top. I don't know about it's chest as it is bald as a thanksgiving turkey!!! I can't tell if he is plucking his own feathers or if they fell out. Plucking is something they supposedly do when they are nervous, kind of the avian version of cutting yourself...lol I should post some of my pictures. I have to upload them to Myspace first, so it is a bit of a PITA. Unfortunately, he already pooped on me twice...

He is also quite talkative, and tries to imitate my conversations and laugh. I was on the phone with a friend and he was going "blah, blah, blah" the whole time.

 

[Derision]

My girlfriend is into birds... it he's plucking his feathers, it could also be caused by a lack of minerals in the bird's diet. Obviously, if he got out and has been hopping about for a few days, that's the sort of thing that can happen. Birds can actually die after only one day without food or water, and it's unlikely he was eating healthy while between homes.

The best bet is to take him to a vet to get checked out. If he is sick or is malnourished, a lot of times bird sanctuaries will just put the thing down -- it's not worth it to get one bird back to good health when they've got plenty others that are in good condition. I recently went through this with a parakeet. Best to get him taken care of and back to shape before sending him off somewhere.

AJ

 

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

I am undecided as to what I will do with him. I am unable to afford a trip to the vet as I am unable to afford everything right now. I am very broke. I have needed to go to the doctor for a few months so that I could get my medication refilled, but the money is not there with everything that has gone wrong lately. I may keep him as his feathers seem to be growing back in a few spots. Plus, I live alone and have started to like the company. I can't afford a cage, but I may be able to afford some screen, so I may just fix the screening around the porch to keep him safe from the cats that roam the neighborhood.