So babyboy has a plastic baseball bat which he enjoys swinging around at every possible moment. I got on him yesterday – I told him that he had to be careful because of the birds.
Fast forward to tonight. I’m in the kitchen cooking; dads helping. Everything is quiet except the normal din – tv, kid that type of thing. Next thing I know; there’s babyboy with girlybird in his hand saying “look mom! She’s letting me hold her!”
Now; this bird (cockatiel) does not like human contact. She’ll sit in your hair; and that’s it. She’s not mean; I suspect she was seriously ignored by her previous owner. You can play with her; but she keeps her distance. Won’t get on your finger. And here’s the boy holding her in his hands. One look told me this was one seriously freaked out bird. I knew something happened. I thought babyboy had sat on her: she looked kinda squished. I took the bird; she initially let me hold her while I questioned m, who would not come clean. Swore he didn’t do anything. Hysterics ensue. Meanwhile; girlybird goes into that classic cockatiel panic attack; she took off went into the kitchen and proceeded to bounce off the walls. Literally. The stove was on; dad’s trying to catch her and I’m trying to keep her away from the stove.
Dad finally catches her; I take her and sit on the couch, telling everyone to stay away. Daddybird flies onto my hand and she freaked at that. After 20 minutes or so she calmed down some; still freaking some – especially when babyboy came near. I kept asking him questions, and he kept lying. Bits and pieces kept slipping out; but not enough for me to figure anything out. I explained to him that if we had to take her to the vet; that the vet would have to know, and that I had to know what to look for in her – to see what was hurting her.
Still no answer. He then starts seeking approval; sure sign he guilty!
I put girlybird back in her cage on the floor; I just wasn’t sure if she could walk or what; and she went into “attack” mode; wings spread, rocking on the floor. Then she went to a corner. Her wings looked fine; I’m happy to say. She eventually climbed up on her perch; sat there, looking freaked. Couldn’t tell if there was anything up with her legs/feet.
Eventually; babyboy calls dad into the bedroom and closes the door. They both came out a bit later. Come to find out; babyboy was swinging the plastic bat and guess who he hit? Yep. Girlybird. Probably smacked her right against the wall too; he packs a powerful punch. He wouldn’t tell me because he was afraid I’d get mad.
Yup. I would get mad and I told him that too. Also told him never to hold back on something because he’s afraid we’ll get mad, long lecture on that I won’t go into. Then I brought up our conversation about the bat yesterday; and asked him if he understood why I got on him yesterday about the bat. Seems he does understand now; poor kid.
Anyway; the bird seems ok physical wise. She came out of her cage; flew around and walked around; I couldn’t detect any injuries. She wasn’t her normal mouthy self houwever. I suspect psychologically she is still freaked.