News on Skittles

[sidech]

I can't believe how utterly bizarre this story is !

What kind of breeder gives someones baby bird to just anyone to take home and practice with !

Did you not find it very strange ? This man does not care one bit about his animals, and he is exploiting the fact that you are very novice on the matter.

I'm sorry to say, but you've been had !

The saddest part is those poor birds not getting the proper care they need.

Bring the cockatiel back and ask for your money back if you can. Then, you need to learn a whole lot about birds before getting another one. They are living beings, and there is a proper way to care for them. You need to learn the basics.

[liz]

Have you seen Skittles since you gave him to the breeder? If not, you don't know his fate.

Men come and go. You have to be you in your own right. If you want Skittles bring him home and to any vet or even a farmer with chickens to check him out.

[ginger]

Viki, please tell us what is happening there. We are all worried about both birds. This breeder is so heartless. I really do hope that this baby cockatiel survives. Hand feeding is best left to experienced bird people. A novice should never be given the opportunity to do it. This is a terrible situation. Please give the little cockatiel back to that breeder and get Skittles back. You would be better off taking him to a vet. Please take Liz's advice and take him to a vet that understands birds, like a vet that takes care of chickens or poultry of any kind. You should be able to demand his return. He is YOUR bird. Once he has been vetted properly, and cleared of any ailments, you should be the one to rehome him. You have the opportunity to give Skittles what he needs by rehoming him to an experienced bird person. You should do this and not the breeder that you're dealing with. He obviously has some other intentions that are unclear but I'm sure they aren't good for Skittles. As mentioned before, please don't get any more birds. A bird is a lifelong commitment.

[liz]

Viki - If you have not checked on Skittles, it could be that the breeder just put him in the back room to let him die.

You must check. If you get him and get him well he may just be a different bird.

You must check and let us know. We are concerned for you and the kids.

[entrancedbymyGCC]

I guess I'm cold and heartless, but I don't agree that trying to ride in like a knight on a white horse is the only defensible answer here. Assuming this is really for real, and I occasionally wonder, I also feel bad for Skittles, and for the baby tiel and frankly for all the birds this guy has or ever has had, but the OP isn't really responsible for all of that. She got pulled in at the edges of it, and she can't possibly save all the birds that potentially need saving. At some point she needs to take into account all the other aspects of her own life and make a measured decision as to how far she wants to, and can afford to, sink resources into a situation that has a high probability of turning out poorly in the end anyway.

[liz]

With no update = I fear that it already has.

[viki]

I rang the breeder today and he has said hes keeping an eye on skittles and all seems well and he was given a dose of antibiotics. since he is over an hour away i wont b able to visit him until we go to pick him up as i cant drive and my bf is working all weekend and week untill the next weekend. but im feeling optimistic.

i wish i could take both birds and save them both but i cant afford to buy them both, house them both and feed them boths as well as toys and everything else.

And about rescue centres, i dont know what theyre like there here, but they only take in lost pets here, not an animal who has a home, i would have to abondon him outside there door which would be cruel especiall because a wild cat might get to him first. And on top of all that they will only keep him for a certain lenght of time and if they dont find a home for him with in that lenght of time he will b put down. People here usually dont look in rescue centres for pets as their first choice. So i think theres a better chance of him being rehomed quicker of hes with breeder.

During our phone call i got the impression that the breeder realised how vicious skittles is and that the first people who had him must not have treated him well. ( i now think we were a rehome situation) he said he will spend as much time as possible with him and hopefuly he will soon calm down.

As for the little he is eating budgie seed and has eventually found his water bowl. He enjoys showers and sitting on my soulder and hide under my hair, although he is beginning to hiss more, i think im getting excited with the progress and pushing him too fast. i started clicker training today and he now looks for his treat when he hears the clicker and he even played target for a while...before hissing at the stick after the 3rd time. but he knew what i wanted him to do and thats what matters at this early stage i guess. Hes playing with his toy for the first time too

[AmazonServant]

Did you know when you got Skittles that he had previously been sold to another family? That's really the sort of thing people need to be told when considering a bird! I can't believe someone sold you a bird that had already been "returned," when you admittedly have no experience with birds. Another reason not to let this man blame you for Skittles's behavior.

I'm glad to hear Skittles is doing better. I don't really understand the situation though - do you intend to get Skittles back when you go back to see the breeder? I do not think it's your responsibility to worry about the cockatiel. After all, he has a family waiting on him, right? I hope that Skittles gets better soon and that when he comes back home, you'll have learned enough about bird interaction and training to make him feel more comfortable in your home and to help him work through his behavioral issues. I still find the sound of this breeder to be very worrisome, it's a very bizarre situation indeed and I hope that you can find someone else to help with your bird issues in the future. You'll need to locate a vet because you will need to take your bird for check ups, and you need to have someone you can call if there is another emergency situation.

[entrancedbymyGCC]

There is apparently an avian vet in County Wicklow, assuming I correctly remember Ireland. And in Belfast if in Northern Ireland.
This site has contact info for those:
http://www.finfurandfeatherpetforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=9993

[liz]

There is apparently an avian vet in County Wicklow, assuming I correctly remember Ireland. And in Belfast if in Northern Ireland.
This site has contact info for those:
http://www.finfurandfeatherpetforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=9993

That is a good web site with good links. That should work out.