Mighty Oscar

[prncsbabs1]

Just wanted to give an update on Oscar the Sparrow.

He is doing really well and has regained some of his strength in his feet. He does not really have use of his toes; in that he can't really grip. After observing him and doing a lot of thinking....with some trial and error.....I finally figured out how to help him perch. He can not fly but he can get 6 inches of lift off, so here is Oscar's version of his handicapped accessible perch. I might add that since he is now able to perch, it has also helped him with his potty issues. He still has his occasional bout of tipping but otherwise he is one very happy, healthy (fat) sparrow. He is 28 gms. The perch is wide enough that he doesn't have to grip it, he can just spreads his toes on it....BUT since I put it in his cage he is actually gripping a little more and attempts to try to flutter/fly. He is definitely more active.....now aside from eating....he now loves to play on his perch too.

PS That is a real bird perch but it is drilled into the side of his hamster house.

Thanks everyone, for all your help and ideas!!:thankyou
Barbara

[island rehabber]

what a handsome boy he's turned out to be! Amazing work you've done with him. And he's not fat, he's fluffy. :nono :)

[Legomom]

:bowdown He's beautiful! Way to go! :thumbsup

[Nancy in New York]

:wave123 Barbara...I can't believe that is little Oscar. He is looking wonderful. What a terrific idea with the perch...
Awe...you did great. He looks fantastic...:thumbsup :thumbsup

[CritterMom]

Aw, bless his heart, he looks great! He thwacked his little noggin that day and landed right smack in the tall cotton, didn't he?

Do me a favor - take a strip of fleece and use it to wrap tightly tourniquet style around half of the perch, so he has a choice of fleece or the concrete to stand on. They can develop foot irritation from standing on the concrete too long - if he has a choice of either fleece or bare perch, he can make his choice of perching spot, and he won't have problems.

[prncsbabs1]

Crittermom: I will definitely wrap the perch with fleece...I was wondering about that today if it would irratate his feet. He constantly is up and down on it...UP to look out the window and DOWN to eat...lol :rotfl

[CritterMom]

Crittermom: I will definitely wrap the perch with fleece...I was wondering about that today if it would irratate his feet. He constantly is up and down on it...UP to look out the window and DOWN to eat...lol :rotfl


Well, this gives them a choice of footing. Keep an eye on his nails. You will have to clip those periodically - like a cat, just the very tip. They make tiny scizzor-type clippers with a little notch in the tip of the blades for clipping bord nails. If you have trouble finding, I will hunt around and point you to some - Drs. Foster & Smith probably has them.

[prncsbabs1]

I can't tell you how obsessed I am with his nails....lol Oscar's Vet trims his nails.....this way she can check him over and he gets a pedicure. It makes me feel better. They were trimmed about three weeks ago...but they seem to grow rather quick. I am hoping this perch will wear them down a bit but what is a normal time frame for trimming them? The perch is the only thing in his house that he can wear them down on.....as for his beak he rubs it on his house, cuttlebone, perch, bowl...lol he's got that taken care of on his own.

Always open for suggetions....Thank you Crittermom!!

[CritterMom]

Indoor birds just need them clipped frequently - the things that "wear them down" also tend to cause foot problems. I cannot clip the nails of any of my parrots alone - I have to wait until a friend of mine comes in to town. You should see me! My lower arms are a patchwork of scratches from the squirrel, and my shoulders a patchwork of scratches from the birds! Basically, I have just written my arms off!

[prncsbabs1]

LOL...sorry Crittermom about all your boo-boo's from your critters....I couldn't imagine what your arms would really look like if your squirrel & birds were wild.

I can't trim Oscar's nails because I have an issue with my left hand and I really don't trust hubby to do it (love him but don't trust him with clippers...lol) Oscar doesn't try to bite but you think I was going to pluck him and fry him the way he reacts when I take him out of his house...lol Silly Sparrow:tilt

[prncsbabs1]

Just wanted to put an idea out there that Nancy thought of....which is really clever. For those out there who have birds and wrap their perch....try using self sticking gauze or Vet wrap. You don't have to use tape to secure it to their perches and it forms to it much better than fleece or flannel. Just wanted to share this clever idea.....Thank you Nancy & Crittermom!!

[Nancy in New York]

Just wanted to put an idea out there that Nancy thought of....which is really clever. For those out there who have birds and wrap their perch....try using self sticking gauze or Vet wrap. You don't have to use tape to secure it to their perches and it forms to it much better than fleece or flannel. Just wanted to share this clever idea.....Thank you Nancy & Crittermom!!

Oh you tried it Barb...that is wonderful. You know when Joy told me to keep antibiotic ointment on the perches and mentioned gauze, I was a little fearful that his little nails would get caught in the gauze. So I know that the self sticking gauze is a little less stringy and not once did he get his nails stuck on the gauze.
Is little Oscar using the perch with the gauze on now? Does he have more of a smile on his face now???:poke :poke :) :)

[prncsbabs1]

Oscar is very happy today....he has been chirping nonstop...and then eating and hopping and chirping and of course eating some more...lol
Thanks again for the great idea...you are a clever women!!

[island rehabber]

:wahoo:thumbsup

[Jackie in Tampa]

he's cute as a little button!:Love_Icon

[prncsbabs1]

Had to share these pictures of my Big Baby...Duncan the 83 lbs. Goldendoodle....one of Oscar's Big brothers.



20 minutes of play time in the snow....35 minutes of snow removal from his feet...

[Nancy in New York]

OMG Barbara...I love Duncan. Look at those snow balls, if that isn't the funniest thing I have ever seen. Too bad that little guy wouldn't wear boots....
Love the "caption" too...Give Oscar's brother a great big hug for me...:grouphug :grouphug

[prncsbabs1]

Oscar Update:

Well, had to take Super Sparrow to the vet to get his nails clipped and his beak looked at. It seems that he loves his new perch so much that he rubbed his top beak shorter than the bottom one....I thought at first he chipped his beak while attempting to get the other "Oscar" in his mirror. But after much observation, I caught him constantly rubbing his beak on the perch. So, he had his nails done, his beak trimmed and some feathers clipped. Needless to say his perch is now completely covered with Vet wrap.

Oscar also felt the need today to spread his wings and fly...or at least try. I would give him a 10 for take off, lets just say he got some good air but as for his landings.....they aren't too graceful...he would get a 1. It had to be some sight to see three people trying to capture my little flying felon. He gave me a good scare and himself a good workout. Silly bird. Driving home I was worried about him being so stressed from the Vet visit that I peeked at him in his carrier....only to find that he was munching in his food bowl. This bird loves to eat...Silly Sparrow. Gotta love him:tilt

[CritterMom]

Really stessed, huh? LOL. What a cutie he is.

[Nancy in New York]

Silly little Oscar...I love that he was eating on the way home...how cute.
So he rubbed his beak and made it shorter...I wonder if he is doing a lot of grooming to attract that "other" sparrow that is in with him...:D .
So the vet was pleased with this little fella? Barb, I know that I have said it before...but this is one lucky little bird for sure for finding you....
Sweet dreams little Oscar...dream of your adventure flying today...:grouphug :grouphug

[Nancy in New York]

Just wondering if the little one has recouped from his stressful visit to the vets....:D

[tomcics]

Great news about Oscar's happy chirping, very nice looking sparrow.

[prncsbabs1]

Hi Crittermom: :wave123
I am beginning to think Oscar is an Emotional Eater, lol......But he keeps proving my theory wrong because he just basically eats all day long.....not much takes him from his food. I am very happy that he is a lot more active since I made him his Handi-perch. So, I don't have to worry about him become an Obese Sparrow

Hi Nancy: :wave123
Mr. Oscar is just doing fine; didn't seem to phase him that he gave me and the Vet a heart attack....guess he thought it was funny or something. He sends his love to you & Jeffrey, talk to you soon.

Hi Tomcics: :thankyou
Thank you for Oscar's compliment, He is a handsome Sparrow, isn't he?? Who knew something so small could be so loud; lately, he is a very happy & loud Sparrow. I am very grateful he found me.

[Anne]

OK-thread jack!!!tinfoil
Never understood why some people talk about a skinny person by say,"thry eat like a bird!" Sorry- in appropriate-birds eat ALL day-constantly :D :D

[whopoopwrasse]

OK-thread jack!!!tinfoil
Never understood why some people talk about a skinny person by say,"thry eat like a bird!" Sorry- in appropriate-birds eat ALL day-constantly :D :D

So I guess I eat like a bird!!! :rotfl

[prncsbabs1]

I eat like a bird too....like an Emu. lol:rotfl

[Nancy in New York]

Hi Barb...Remember I told you about saving the little sparrows and when they finally got big enough to eat on their own what my friend told me to do...put in a small bowl of exact formula with a few seeds sprinkled on, and then they should start eating the seed. Well I finally got the picture scanned in...here was the result...three little sparrows took a bath in their nesting food with the seed sprinkled on the top....:rotfl :rotfl These little babies were covered from head to toe with formula and seed, poor little peanuts!!!!
http://i673.photobucket.com/albums/vv95/nancym518/File0004.jpg

Kiss Oscar for me....:Love_Icon :Love_Icon

[prncsbabs1]

If that isn't the cutest thing....it looked like they were saying to each other..."I'm not cleaning it up, you do it, no you do it". LOL
Thank you for sharing that with me. :bowdown
Talk to you soon!! Barb

[Nancy in New York]

If that isn't the cutest thing....it looked like they were saying to each other..."I'm not cleaning it up, you do it, no you do it". LOL
Thank you for sharing that with me. :bowdown
Talk to you soon!! Barb

Hey Barb...can you show Oscar the picture...maybe he would want a formula bath...:dono :rotfl :dono

[CritterMom]

Did I ever tell you about the time my cockatiel took a bath in a bowl of melted butter which was awaiting the lobster?

Cockatiels are highly absorbent creatures...

[prncsbabs1]

OMG....Crittermom, that had to be some sight to see. :rotfl
How does one clean butter from a Cockatiel?

I am still trying to figure out how to get poop off of Oscar's feet....he feel's the need to step in it but then refuses to bathe.:dono

[CritterMom]

OMG....Crittermom, that had to be some sight to see. :rotfl
How does one clean butter from a Cockatiel?

I am still trying to figure out how to get poop off of Oscar's feet....he feel's the need to step in it but then refuses to bathe.:dono


Very carefully. Several baths resulted in him just looking like a slicked down fifty's greaser. His little crest was slicked back. There was an awful lot of blood involved. Mine, of course - he was just fine. It isn't his only food related adventure. He climbed inside the cavity of a Thanksgiving turkey once (thank God it had been cooked already). More grease. Waded through cream of wheat. Dyed his feet orange with spaghetti sauce. I sense a theme here...

[gs1]

Very carefully. Several baths resulted in him just looking like a slicked down fifty's greaser. His little crest was slicked back. There was an awful lot of blood involved. Mine, of course - he was just fine. It isn't his only food related adventure. He climbed inside the cavity of a Thanksgiving turkey once (thank God it had been cooked already). More grease. Waded through cream of wheat. Dyed his feet orange with spaghetti sauce. I sense a theme here...

:rotfl wow!!! and i'm so glad too that the turkey was cooked.

hello Oscar!!!!

so nice to meet you.:Love_Icon

:wave123

(i'm so glad (too) that he was eating on the way home :) ..very good sign!!!)

[Nancy in New York]

Barb...remember when I was telling you about a robin of mine that had an obsession with grooming himself with soda...down the wings down the breast...
Well I found two pictures...I'm sure there are more, but will have to locate them...:rotfl :rotfl
Now show these to little Oscar and tell him this is the way it's done....:wahoo :wahoo

http://i673.photobucket.com/albums/vv95/nancym518/File0028.jpg

http://i673.photobucket.com/albums/vv95/nancym518/File0029.jpg

[prncsbabs1]

It's funny that you posted these pictures today.....this morning,
Mr. Featherhead decided to bath in his bowl of seeds......there are seeds EVERYWHERE!!! I am not sure if was a bath attempt or him just playing in his seeds....either way he had fun and I have a messy cage to clean....you know I hate untidy cages...lol

Spring is definitely in the air because he has become quiet vocal lately....guess he was a real ladies man..lol Such a loud voice for such a tiny bird; Non the less, makes me love him even more. :tilt

Love your pictures Nancy, keep them coming!!! :thankyou

[Nancy in New York]

It's funny that you posted these pictures today.....this morning,
Mr. Featherhead decided to bath in his bowl of seeds......there are seeds EVERYWHERE!!! I am not sure if was a bath attempt or him just playing in his seeds....either way he had fun and I have a messy cage to clean....you know I hate untidy cages...lol

Spring is definitely in the air because he has become quiet vocal lately....guess he was a real ladies man..lol Such a loud voice for such a tiny bird; Non the less, makes me love him even more. :tilt

Love your pictures Nancy, keep them coming!!! :thankyou

Hi Barb...well Mr. Featherhead finally decided to take a seed bath....:rotfl Hey, it's a start...did you think of adding a little exact to that and make it mucky...he may really enjoy it then. Oh I can just see you...Oh no Oscar don't flap too much...just make a little mess...You know mama...I bet that people could eat off of your floor...
How adorable that he sings louder too...actually so do I when the weather is nice...
OK Barb...you know I have wanted to post this for a long time...

:worthless

I need more....:grouphug :grouphug

[prncsbabs1]

LOL, OK, OK...tomorrow I will take updated pictures of Mr. Oscar. :tilt

[prncsbabs1]

Hi Barb...well Mr. Featherhead finally decided to take a seed bath....:rotfl Hey, it's a start...did you think of adding a little exact to that and make it mucky...he may really enjoy it then. Oh I can just see you...Oh no Oscar don't flap too much...just make a little mess...You know mama...I bet that people could eat off of your floor...
How adorable that he sings louder too...actually so do I when the weather is nice...
OK Barb...you know I have wanted to post this for a long time...

:worthless

I need more....:grouphug :grouphug


OK Nancy, I finally took some more pictures of Oscar. The first one is his "hawk" impression.....he thinks he's a tough guy. The second is his profile....he's such a handsome bird.

I tried yet another type of "bath dish" for him; trying to entice him into taking a bath...so far he is not impressed. This is dish/lid/bird bath number four. :dono

PS Forget about a muck bath for him.....I just ordered a computer vaccum for his cage....for spot cleaning...lol :D

[Nancy in New York]

We finally got some Oscar photos...:jump :wahoo :jump
Look at that little baby doll just sitting there like a little hot shot!!
Oh Barb, he looks wonderful, and how adorable is this little man...:grouphug
I am thrilled that he found you...I'm sure he is also.:alright.gif
OK so you are on birdbath number 4 but you still refuse the muck bath or the soda bath...BUT instead got a computer vac for his cage. You may have actually gotten him trained not to make a mess so that's why he's refusing to get things all wet with the flapping requirement for a bath...did you ever think this is your fault???:dono :rotfl :dono :rotfl :dono

[prncsbabs1]

UPDATE::

Here's a picture of Oscar from today. As you can see, Mr. Featherhead is doing very well. He is one very spoiled Sparrow.:dono

If he looks a little pissed in the picture it was because I brought his afternoon snack in late and disturbed his routine...lol :shakehead

Yes, I am owned by a 28gm bird.....:sanp3

[Nancy in New York]

Oh he is definitely pissed...how late were you? Didn't you get that sparrow 101 Handbook that I recommended? Remember the one that gives all of the pointers on how to keep your sparrow happy 100% of the time....:dono :dono
Oh he sure is one lucky little baby to have found you!!!!!:grouphug :grouphug

[pappy1264]

Awww, what a sweetie! I have to start a post for Baby. Just took pics today, so off to download.....