Mouse's quality of life

[hilary]

I've been thinking long and hard about Mouse again. Physically, I guess she is okay. If I have her out the cage, she spends the day under my cupboard. I think she is extremely lonely (although I do spend a lot of time with her). She is always trying to get close to Hercules and he is being a real $%^&, attacking her when she gets close to him. I know this is natural behaviour for Hercs (especially as he is sitting on his nest right now, but it's quite pathetic to see her trying to sneak closer to him.

She is always tripping over her bad leg. I've rehabbed many, many birds of all sorts and this is the first time that I have ever "sensed" that the bird is not happy. I just look at her and wander about her quality of life. Sparrows are pretty sociable birds and here she is, all on her own. The chances of release seem totally remote right now and the thought of Mouse living by herself breaks my heart. The last few days, she just seems to be sad. I love her dearly, but I continue to have this sense of, ... I can't explain it - it just does not seem right to have her living like this.

I just don't know.

[raynjudy]

She's lonely. Why not get her a Society Finch buddy?

If your default position is euthanasia, you're going to come to that conclusion no matter what.

--Ray

[hilary]

I wouldn't get a Finch for Mouse, because I don't believe in keeping birds in cages. I couldn't imagine myself spending the rest of my life in a 4x4 room.

[raynjudy]

Default position...

--Ray

[Psion]

Yes but the finch would be used to that if bred in captivity. You could just let it roam free in your house with Mouse. Clip its wings if you want, or just leave him be.

Nick

[hilary]

I suppose that is an option - I mean to get a Finch for Mouse. I've just never had a caged bird before, but perhaps you are right, about them being bred in captivity and being used to it.

Roaming around the house will have it's hazards - but I must say Mouse has become quite adept at avoiding Herc's attacks.

Is there any reason why Mouse would not get on with a Finch?

[raynjudy]

I'll be totally honest. We have a Society Finch named "Peep" that has as much personality as any parrot, or pigeon--even Bernie, could hope to have! And is he a funny little devil!

We rescued him from a nursing home aviary, just after Judy's mom died, last December, and tube fed him.

He loves me and I don't know why--nobody deserves such devotion.

But I simply could not devote the attention he required, and he fell into serious depression--yes, a creature the size of my thumb, in serious depression. He would not eat. He would not bathe (a daily ritual before), and he would "flip" if I came into his room, and approached his cage.

Understand, Bernie would shred Peep on sight; and we've got construction going on here--air vents open, etc. A cage is a fact of life.

We bought Peep a buddy--a little hen, name "Mamma". He ignored her for a week.

Today there are three baby peeps, feathering out in the nest, and Peep is a most proud daddy! He is an exemplary parent!

And still, when I come into the room, he jumps from the nest, to the perch, to the swing, to the bars, where he clamps himself to greet me. And I tickle his tummy.

In short, one could never be lonely with a companion such as Peep!

Consider a male Society Finch as a companion for your sparrow.

You're a dear soul, Hilary. But remember that anthropomorphizing is a double edged sword--we can impart reasoning that simply does not relate to the creature being considered. This little one may well accept and thrive under conditions you may find unacceptable. This may be the only life it'll ever know.

I believe in euthanasia. But this, in my opinion, is not the time.

--Ray

[This message has been edited by raynjudy (edited August 30, 2002).]

[hilary]

Hi Ray

I think a cage is also the only option for Mouse. Besides Hercules, she has to contend with four dogs (who are actually great with her, but accidents can happen), my boys (who adore her) but when she is roaming free in the house, any one of us can stand on her (this is how her leg was broken in the first place). She is a tiny little thing and sometimes hard to see.

I think I'm becoming pretty sold on the idea of getting her a friend. I don't now anything about Finches, but am going to look up now about Society Finches. I'm assuming this is the Finch you see in pet stores, with the orange beak?

Ray, all I want is for Mouse to be as happy as she can be and right now, the word I would use is "depressed". Thanks for all your words of wisdom.

Hilary

[hilary]

Ray

I see I'm wrong about the Society finch. I doubt if I could get one in my area, never seen them in Israel. But do see Zebra Finches. Do you think Mouse and a Zebra finch would be compatible?

Hilary

[Wild Dove]

Dear Hilary,
Most probably a Zebra Finch would do. We had a late baby sparrow come in to the rehab centre, and no "buddy" to snuggle with. We put her in with a lonely swallow, and they got along just fine. We also often raise sparrows with wild finches and they all do well together.
In the meantime...give Mouse a little mirror for company.
Wild Dove