MISC BIRDS ~ 2013 - 2015

Beth · **Posted:** Thu Oct 31, 2013 2:24 pm

skygirlblue · **Joined:** Sun Jul 26, 2009 3:18 pm **Posts:** 63313

Very Cute!!!

skygirlblue · **Joined:** Sun Jul 26, 2009 3:18 pm **Posts:** 63313

Daddy's Home!!! It looks like the splint has been removed from Rascal's leg...poor little guy!!

catwoman · **Posted:** Fri Nov 01, 2013 6:02 pm

Daddy had to go out of town for a couple of days, so the kids are indoors while he's away. A friend is checking on them.

Dash posted that he thinks the best way to handle Rascal's brace is to have it on her during the daytime, & remove it at night so she can fold her leg under her naturally to sleep. She won't be wearing the brace while Dash is gone though because he wants to be able to monitor her leg for swelling when she wears the brace.

I don't know what kind of work Dash does, but I think he would be excellent at caring for animals. He sure does take great care of these ostriches! :sum9:

skygirlblue · **Joined:** Sun Jul 26, 2009 3:18 pm **Posts:** 63313

Thanks for that update, Catwoman!!! :leafok:

skygirlblue · **Joined:** Sun Jul 26, 2009 3:18 pm **Posts:** 63313

While waiting for the kids to return, somebody posted a video from this young lady on "Pip's" FB page...needless to say, I've been lost in the videos for the past 45 minutes. This young lady has taken raising exotics to a new level...and certainly must have a gift...from Camels to ostriches, emus, quail...you name it...very cool...

vid from a few months ago..

and her YouTube channel...so fun to watch...

catwoman · **Posted:** Sat Nov 02, 2013 1:50 pm

What great fun! Thanks, SGB! :loveshow:

Catbird · **Posted:** Sat Nov 02, 2013 4:14 pm

Thanks for catching the Halloween pumpkin at the feeder, Beth. That was soooo cute! And thanks, SGB, for the posting the darling video of the ostrich chick falling asleep.

Ontario Feeder Cam

The usual Evening Grosbeaks were there today . . .

And just now I saw a quail-like bird that I've never seen before. Can anyone ID it?

Beth · **Posted:** Sat Nov 02, 2013 4:18 pm

I think Grouse Catbird (per Jay :)-not usually at feeders in Ohio...

Catbird · **Posted:** Sat Nov 02, 2013 4:28 pm

Thanks for the ID, Beth (and Jay)! I've never seen one at the feeders in my backyard.

skygirlblue · **Joined:** Sun Jul 26, 2009 3:18 pm **Posts:** 63313

Gorgeous pics...and what a gorgeous bird!!! and on a feeder? I wonder what seeds they are using that would attract a grouse to the feeder....Of course, I never thought I'd have a tow-hee on the feeder either...I never could figure out what it was looking for...

catwoman · **Posted:** Mon Nov 04, 2013 7:45 am

Dash cam update:

catwoman · **Posted:** Mon Nov 04, 2013 7:07 pm

I came home to see that Rascal is in the "pen" with Popcorn. She is on the upper left in a box but her legs are immobilized to try to correct her leg problem. I didn't find an update for today, but from reading the social stream, it sounds like she's eating & drinking now. She seems to be doing much better now that she's near Popcorn. :flirty:

Beth · **Posted:** Mon Nov 04, 2013 8:06 pm

Thanks for the updates Nancy-I am glad the news is positive...I was worried this am.

skygirlblue · **Joined:** Sun Jul 26, 2009 3:18 pm **Posts:** 63313

New harness for Rascal:

It was a difficult first day for Rascal. She struggled and fought and tried to escape from the restrictive brace. This was not helping her. The feeding bowls were wide open on top and her head would sometimes drift into the open bowl of water. I took a piece of cardboard and cut holes in it big enough for her to put her beak, so she can eat and drink, and now she can also rest her head in front of her without going into the bowl.

She was propped up on rolled up towels, but that is a little bit too warm, and very restrictive. However when she was struggling really hard it was necessary to keep her from loosening something or hurting herself.

The fact that she is tolerating this is a nice step in the right direction. This morning she had eaten and drank so little that I gave her a tube feeding, with 23 mL of rescue formula. She seemed to perk up a bit after that.

A real concern was perhaps an ostrich could not be restrained and would be too stressed to be able to be helped in this manner. It is a relief that she has calmed down, enough to start eating and drinking and resting properly. Now that she is relatively calm and not trying to escape, I modified a puppy harness that has a plastic chest plate, that way she has good air circulation around her, and won’t feel so restricted. (I consider it a good sign, that for the first time ever, Rascal pecked at me with her beak when I was putting on the puppy harness. Of course it didn’t hurt or anything, but I got the message. She didn’t like any of this.)

The question was how much weight goes on her legs, and how much rests on the breastplate? The answer is: Who knows? So I went to about 50-50, where it seemed about right and comfortable for her. I put some padding on the side of the box.

skygirlblue · **Joined:** Sun Jul 26, 2009 3:18 pm **Posts:** 63313

Update:

November 6, 2013
Day 25, day 4 of splint
Rascal is comfortable in the new box

I thought she was distressed from being immobilize, but I think partially she may have been uncomfortable. The original support using towels around her legs was not very good, and the puppy harness did not work out well.

I made a hammock -like sling for her to rest her entire body on, with a hole so her legs would go through. This was with soft foam, and covered with a towel to make it more breathable. The back part is covered with a disposable pad. I also put a side opening so that I can observe her legs and check them for pressure and swelling on the side.

Rascal immediately relaxed and seemed to enjoy it. Also Popcorn was able to come up and get close to her, and start grooming her. I did put a box next to Rascal with a towel on it if Popcorn wanted to snuggle, but Popcorn got too nervous on the platform so that didn’t work out.

I gave Rascal three tube feedings yesterday, and one tube feeding this morning, but I think she’s going to start eating now. I am feeling better about this now, since she’s not in distress and has a place to rest her head. I attached some pictures of the box being constructed.

Pics of the new "contraption"

I really have to admire all that Dash is doing to try and help Rascal...I hope it helps, but everything I've read stated that there is no treatment/correction for what is wrong with her leg. I guess time will tell!!! Fingers crossed!!! (Maybe Dash has found one?)

I'm sure Rascal would prefer to run and play..but, right now, she looks content and alert!! Go Rascal!!!

catwoman · **Posted:** Wed Nov 06, 2013 7:20 pm

I am also very impressed with Dash & his creativity in trying to make a comfortable life for these babies. :flirty:

I could be wrong, but I'm thinking that most people that raise Ostriches do it for the money, not to keep them as pets, so it could be that no one has really tried different things to correct this leg problem. Of course, these 2 probably wouldn't even be alive if Dash hadn't taken their eggs. I imagine that since the rancher said that they don't have good luck with late season eggs, they probably would have been disposed of. And if they were kept, I doubt that anyone would have helped the kids out of their shells.

Thanks for the update, SGB! :sum9:

catwoman · **Posted:** Wed Nov 06, 2013 9:49 pm

This is one of the many times I wish I had recording software. Dash & Mrs. Dash came home & both petted the kids. Rascal was enjoying the petting so much her wings were sticking up! :loveshow:

Dash had trouble keeping enough alfalfa on the box because as soon as he put on the box, the kids would gobble it up. Rascal has been eating like crazy, & the report is that she has been eating & drinking all day, so it sounds like she won't have to be tube-fed tonight! :sum9:

skygirlblue · **Joined:** Sun Jul 26, 2009 3:18 pm **Posts:** 63313

Very good point, Catwoman...

Anyway, Rascal has been at the vet ALL DAY LONG...and not good news...

Dash has just posted this update not 30 seconds ago... :girlsad3:

( I think Pop stayed at the vet with RAscal..but, I'm not sure..)

November 7, 2013 Day 26

Rascal’s splinting was not successful. In fact things could not be much worse.
When the splint was removed, her right leg went to the exact same position as it was before, and she had the same difficulty. In addition to no improvement, she lost over 100 g, while Popcorn had gained 500 g. So in addition to no improvement with the splinting, her distress and discomfort caused her to lose weight.
The vet tried some smaller splints just to hold the leg in, so it would not drag behind her and she could not tuck it underneath her. No matter what size splint was applied, she would not eat, and was distressed. She did not want to be bound at all.
So far all treatment has been unsuccessful. The initial watching for a few days after hatching to see if she would improve on her own failed. The short brace that she used for one week failed. This more aggressive splinting of both legs with an attempt to bring the leg in failed, and caused her stress and weight loss. An additional splint attempted today failed.
X-rays were taken, and these were e-mailed to an avian surgical specialist, in Oakley. This is to see if there would be a surgery, such as bringing over a tendon or ligament and screwing it to a different location, would be helpful. My status is that I am awaiting word from him to see if there is a surgical option.
If it is an option, we would consider it. If it is not an option the choices are to allow her to try to adjust and walk with a failing leg. (The kind and knowledgeable rancher said that this could happen.) I would get the opinion from the doctor in Oakley if this was a possibility, or futile.
A personal comment: To people who are wondering why I would do this to Rascal, please understand I am trying to help this bird. Of course my stomach was in a knot when I watched her struggling, and I feel terrible that my attempts to help her have not been successful so far. Dissenting opinions about all this, (presented in a civil manner), are understandable.

Beth · **Posted:** Thu Nov 07, 2013 9:45 pm

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MISC BIRDS ~ 2013 - 2015

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