Stephanka917

Hey everyone, Just want you all to know Merlin was able to come home a couple nights ago and we are thrilled! He is eating on his own and being SPOILED with home cooking to continue fattening him up. The vet says it does indeed look as if he has suffered a stroke from not being fed. Just like human stroke victims, he is weak and shaky and that may never go away. That's okay, because he is the snuggliest Grey I have ever encountered- he sits with me as long as I let him for scritching and kisses. He doesn't say much, makes some cool noises and that's about it. I've always dreamed of owning a "perfect" Grey, but I guess this fellow needed me more! Thanks again for all your kind words and prayers to help me and Merlin through the rough times. Please private message me if you have any good bird recipes to help him pack on the grams!

Howdy, Merlin ate one itty, bitty seed yesterday! He made some cute wooo noises and kissies for me. He is still being hand fed 2-3 times per day. Deb thinks she's going to drop one of the feedings so he will get a little hungry and eat on his own. He has gotten a lot more sassy and spunky. I'm still holding on to the hope that he can come home with me someday soon. He's going to the vet on Saturday for all sorts of tests, I'll update when I can! Thanks for all your advice and kind words!

Kudos to you! And YIKES on the vet bill! I'm taking my rescue CAG, Merlin, to the vet Saturday. Now I'm terrified of the bill! :woohoo: Keep us posted, please!

:unsure: Let's see if this one works...

Here I am!

Yes, she will keep Merlin with her bird family in the house. She also has a Yellow Nape, Eclectus, Goffin, Senegal and an Umbrella that are not breeders, but companions. She is a very sweet lady who is unbelievably knowledgeable and I'm so glad to have her help!

Hello, my fellow bird lovers, Just to update you, Merlin is still only eating by being hand fed, he just has no interest in any food at all. It looks like he will be living with Deb, the woman who has been hand feeding him for me. Merlin is in worse shape than we thought, neurologically. He has trouble perching because his balance is way off. Deb breeds Timnehs and she has offered me one from her next clutch, which is very exciting for me, however, I have always wanted a CAG. Can anyone tell me about the differences between CAGs and TAGs? I know about the coloring and size- but I had researched CAGs like a madwoman before deciding that is what I really wanted. I'd like to know more about the TAGs personalities, etc. Thanks for all your advice and prayers for me and Merlin. I'm so happy to have found this site!:kiss:

Hi All, First off, thanks so much for your kind words regarding Merlin and myself. :cheer: I'm sure anyone would have done the same thing I did in my position! I have a couple questions about bringing Merlin home. 1) Do you think I should replace his cage from the apartment he lived in where he was not being taken care of(bad memories) OR do you think his cage would be somewhere he feels safe and it would help his recovery? It is a VERY large, nice cage. You can see part of it in the picture I've attached. Maybe new toys? 2)I have a cat and she can't reach my other birds. Merlin's gigantic cage is on the floor. How much interaction should I allow between them? I will separate them when I'm away from home. 3)Any food ideas to keep him gaining weight would be fantastic! I will still be handfeeding him in the AM and PM until he is back to a normal weight.

I was visiting Merlin, the Grey I rescued last Sunday. I was holding him and scritching his neck telling him I Love, LOVE, LOOOOOOVE him and that he is pretty... lots of soothing things he probably has not heard in a long time and he said, plain as day, "LOVE!" That's the only thing he's said so far but he was also giving me kisses. I may get to bring him home this weekend, he's been eating a bit on his own and I can handfeed him a couple times a day. :cheer:

I was visiting Merlin, the Grey I rescued last Sunday. I was holding him and scritching his neck telling him I Love, LOVE, LOOOOOOVE him and that he is pretty... lots of soothing things he probably has not heard in a long time and he said, plain as day, "LOVE!" That's the only thing he's said so far but he was also giving me kisses. I may get to bring him home this weekend, he's been eating a bit on his own and I can handfeed him a couple times a day. :cheer:

I adopted a Quaker that was cage aggressive. We just left the cage open and had fun in front of him! We ate dinner in front of him, sang, danced, you name it! If it was fun, we did it! He comes out on his own now and will get off the cage to join us and he goes home when he's ready. Birds are so independent, yet dependent! I think this is the time to allow her to do it herself. Good Luck! :cheer:

:silly: Thanks for all your welcoming and good thoughts and prayers for Merlin and myself. I'm Stephanie and I live in the Twin Cities, we have plenty of avian vets, they are just too expensive for a single mom on a tight budget! I gave the guy literally my last $$$ for Merlin. He was not a breeder- the owner's ex-wife left him there when she moved out. The guy sounded like he knew about birds, but he told me he was broke and couldn't afford seeds. But he could afford TIVO, cable and a big-ass TV! What a jerk! I have other birds and experience, but can't handfeed every 3 hours because I'm at work. I'm going to visit Merlin tonight and I'll let you all know how he's doing! Thanks again! ~Stephanie:)

I went to see Merlin today and I gave the guy my last $$$ to let him take him with me. I took him straight to the only bird shop I know would be knowledgeable and open on a Sunday afternoon. He is in terrible shape and I'm not sure if he will make it. The man told me he had no money to buy bird food and had "Just run out yesterday" and waved an empty bag of cockatiel seed at me. The bird's dish was 1/2 full of seed hulls, millet and sunflower. His water dish was a poopy mess! Merlin's keel is so pronounced, he has no meat on his bones AT ALL! He was stumbling around when he tried to walk and the man kept saying the bird is nervous. What a joke! The bird is STARVING! So I took him straight to the bird shop I know and Deb knew what to do. She got out the formula and handfed him right away. I left him with her and she called me tonight and said she's filled his crop 3 more times since I left him with her. She is going to continue feeding him every 3 hours, around the clock! God bless her! He is too weak to eat on his own and seems to not recognize pellets or seed as food. She thinks he may have permanent neurological damage or a stroke from the malnutrition and dehydration, but it's a wait and see thing. So now I'm broke and super sad!!! Grrr! I can't believe people neglect their pets like this! It makes me furious! Deb called the guy and chewed him out and she wants to contact the authorities about him. Please pray for Merlin. Even if he is challenged from damage done by that jerk owner, I hope he can come home with me and be loved up and have a good life. It has been my life-long dream to be a Momma to a Grey!