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Post by lin on Jan 17, 2006 14:13:57 GMT
Plugged in the camera today, and found my kids had had a surge. they are learning too, they were all of the birds  We have to start with the Queen, Skittles, here telling my middle child to get his elbow OUT of her cage  And this is Studley, doing, well, whatever it is that Studley does  And poor old pathetic Lawrence  Now I would love to say I recognize these birds, but the honest truth is I recognize their cages Just shows how identical rainbow lorikeets are, and why you can't sex them |
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Post by budgeover on Jan 17, 2006 15:05:07 GMT
do they go back to their own cages after being let out to fly then Lin? Is that how you keep track who they are?
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Post by lin on Jan 17, 2006 15:09:32 GMT
Well, they all have different personalities, and, if I can see their chest I can tell them apart. Skittles is a lazy cow, and will only sit on shoulders. No walking or flying for the queen. She was a handraised baby, so very,very tame. Studley is just a baby, and his chest colours are a bit duller than Skits. He isn't very tame, but finds people interesting. Sometimes he will hold your finger with his claws, othertimes he lets you know that your finger is in danger of removal by force And poor old Lawrence can't come out because of his virus. Everyhting he touches becomes contaminated, so, he has to be caged at all times. But, I am bringing in a larger cage for him, it will also be easier to contain the mess to his cage and lesson the risk to the others. |
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Post by Berserka on Jan 22, 2006 11:01:10 GMT
Please give details on here about Lawrence so that people new to this forum know his story.
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Post by lin on Jan 22, 2006 11:57:41 GMT
Well, okay here goes. Lawrence was a Christmas present from my oldest child. He was supposed to be a mate for Queen Skittles, as she keeps laying eggs for my boy  . Posting pics of Lawrence on another forum, and asking if he had a bad wing clip,it was suggested that I get him tested for beak and feather disease - a virus that affects all types of parrots, and is incurable and highly contagious. I had Lawrence DNA tested to find out the sex at the same time. Well, Lawrence is a girl and unfortunately tested positive for this virus. I now need to get all my other inside birds tested for this virus, as normal quarantine in my tiny hovel of a house means sharing the same room, albeit as far away as possible. Being a virus it could easily have infected the other birds. |
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Post by Berserka on Jan 22, 2006 12:30:01 GMT
Positive? oh goodness Lin, that's awful news.
What are/can you do for her?
Will she lead a normal life?
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Post by lin on Jan 22, 2006 13:59:04 GMT
Well, I have been doing a lot of research, as Terri has also, tohelp me out. From what I can gather the answer is - who knows! Some birds can live perfectly normal lives, and others will succumb quite quickly. Lawrence only has a few mishapen feathers, these could moult out and grow back quite normally, so far his beak is fine. The two interesting facts I have found out are: lorikeets can spontaneously recover from this virus, so it is worthwhile getting him, sorry her tested again in 3 months. I have found an online place in the East who do the testing for $35 per bird (it was $45 at the vet) and if you pay for 5they will do the 6th one free. Just need to save some money now. Secondly, tiels can have the virus and never show symptoms. I believe, although I can't be quite sure I have it right, that I read that there have been no tiels with symptoms reported, although lots of tiels have had positive test results. The vet suggested I get Lawrence put down. However, I feel that is a waste if I get my other birds tested and they are positive. So, I will wait and see. Also, until symptoms show I don't feel comfortable getting her put down. It's a bit like killing a person because they have a virus like AIDs or a disability. Just doesn't seem right. The virus can survive for 2 or 3 years on surfaces, and is nearly impossible to eradicate. I feel that it is most likely my other birds have this virus. I am going slowly, no rush at all to get the bad news. But I did think that if I get more positive results I can put my name down at the 2 avian vets South of the River here as willing to adopt birds with this virus that would normally die whilst still healthy. Something I have to consider a bit more seriously, but it is floating through my mind. |
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Post by Berserka on Jan 22, 2006 14:41:14 GMT
(((Hugs))) to you Lin, I am always thinking of your poor babies' plight.
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Post by featheredpets on Feb 25, 2006 16:19:19 GMT
nice pictures, sorry to hear about the virus
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. Posting pics of Lawrence on another forum, and asking if he had a bad wing clip,it was suggested that I get him tested for beak and feather disease - a virus that affects all types of parrots, and is incurable and highly contagious. I had Lawrence DNA tested to find out the sex at the same time. Well, Lawrence is a girl and unfortunately tested positive for this virus. I now need to get all my other inside birds tested for this virus, as normal quarantine in my tiny hovel of a house means sharing the same room, albeit as far away as possible. Being a virus it could easily have infected the other birds. 
