Conference 7.286::pet_birds

298.0. "STORY TYME ^O^!" by VMSSG::VMSINQ () Thu Dec 28 1989 19:09

    I recently acquired a Citron Cockatoo.  We all know how much Jean
    wanted to add a 'too to the aviary!  And the kicker is, we named thee
    aviary Feathered Obsessions...Wait till you here this feather obsessed
    story...

    I took Mark away from a guy that made a lot of money in the, ekhem,
    cocaine business.  Well all this dodo's with the dope and money always
    seem to have these exotic pets, right.... well, Mark, sweet little,
    almost dead Mark, lived on cocaine and popcorn!  Can you stand it?

    Don't ask questions about the guy that had him.  That has been taken
    care of. 

    The bird did not have a feather on his body!  He could not open  his
    eyes, and his little body heaved so badly with every breath, I just
    knew he'd be dead before I got him home!  The only way I knew he was a
    cockatoo was because of his black beak!@  That's tough isn't it?

    Well, 8 months later, he's doing da*n good for himself!  He is even
    starting to talk!  He says "HI", almost in my voice!!!  I love this
    bird.  He's so special.  He has some feathers but looks pretty ratty
    still.  He has a wrye beak, and needs regular trimming so he's able
    to eat.  In fact, he was so badly malnourished, the beak and feathers
    may never really be right again!

    We hand fed him rice and corn, then eventually worked him onto my
    favorite bird food concoction in the early part of this conference and
    he gets vitamins and tons of bone meal.  He comes out of his cage and
    lets everyone else out and goes back to his own cage and puts on this
    innocent face!  I came home one night and Matthew and Mark, the quakers,
    Richard and Elise, the canaries, Sonny the Gray Cheek, Spanky the
    Amazon, and Bob the nightingale, and Rhonda the love bird were all
    flying around the house.  Marke looked at me once like, What do you
    look at me for, I'm in my cage!?  I thank God he couldn't get into the
    aviary, there would have been 9,000 birds all over the place, not to
    mention the presents they leave behind.  And you gotta laugh.  The cats
    run and hide of a big bird is out,, and the dogs don't know if they
    should **it or go blind if the birds are loose!

    Ayup, except for the fish, we do have a complete food chain!

    I just thought' you'd all enjoy a success story!

    Thanks for your "eyes"!

    Jean Hutchins
    (gone 12/29/89)