04/26/2024
****USE UTMOST CARE WHEN CATCHING YOUR BIRD***
This is a very difficult post for me. I have a wonderful and loving bird client family who experienced a terrible tragedy recently and I thought I'd share a bit about their accident for purposes of educating my followers.
Often times, even the most tame and confiding pet birds, can become skittish and difficult to catch once the pet carrier appears. They're so smart and often associate the carrier with a trip to the vet or to the groomer. In some cases, the sight of the carrier or even a towel, signals that the chase is on!
The easiest way to catch them might be to toss a towel over them to keep them from flying about and escaping beneath furniture and such. Once they are covered with a towel, you must use EXTREME CAUTION to ascertain the position of their wings beneath the towel. Assuming they are still positioned belly down, make sure the wings are folded against their sides and then gently work the towel around their bodies and under their belly. Do not exert excessive pressure on their wings as wing bones are quite fragile and can easily fracture.
Sadly, this is what happened to this little guy. Once the bone fractured, it pierced through the skin causing a laceration and may have pierced his airsac as well. Initially, it appeared that an amputation of the wing was indicated and he would recover. Upon further assessment, it was determined that his airsac was indeed compromised and hopes for a meaningful recovery appeared grim at best. A smaller fracture of the other wing was also detected. After a very painful discussion with their Avian vet, it was decided that the best option was to put their little buddy to sleep.
These kinds of accidents happen. They are tragic but they are moments that teach us valuable lessons.
When catching your bird who may be aggressive or overly excited and if you're using a towel, use a lighter weight towel so that you can still "feel" your bird beneath the fabric. You must be able to feel the orientation of their body, and most importantly, their wings. These MUST be folded against their bodies. Once they are properly "papoosed" in the towel, be careful not to squeeze their wings. Transfer them to the carrier and loosen the towel allowing them to crawl out. NEVER USE GLOVES! I've seen a wing fracture on a macaw when heavy gloves were used to catch it. You have zero dexterity and excessive force is likely to have a catastrophic result.
Have your vet, your bird groomer or an experienced bird owner show you how to safely catch your bird if you are inexperienced. Accidents happen but the heartbreak that accompanies them is unbearable. โค๏ธ