Spunk

Spunk is a lilac-crowned amazon that the owner said is male. Spunk was surrendered to the shelter after he ended up there as part of a custody case.

Foster home update: He is mostly quiet and seems sweet (but is skittish - who can blame him). Happily he started eating the food I put out for him (Natural Zupreem, Harrisons, Nutri-Berries, and a couple of nuts), so I don`t think there will be any issue with his diet. The shelter also gave me some of his food (Fruit Zupreem and Kaylor Sweet Harvest Macaw Food) so I`ll have that just in case. I have been able to get Spunk to get on my (gloved!) hand and also got him in the shower for a nice bath which he really seemed to enjoy. Spunk had a vet visit and he may have a wing injury from the past. He is a fall risk so his human caretaker must be careful.

Update from foster dad after one-month in foster care: Overall Spunk is a very nice bird, but tends to be a bit nippy.

Spunk is a very good eater, and is mostly on Nutri-An, Harrisons (he doesn`t seem to like the Power Treats) - some of which he likes to put in his water bowl (sigh), and Zupreem along with a Nutri Berry and a little bit of walnuts and almonds. I also give him fresh fruits and veggies, though he doesn`t tend to eat them - he will munch on yams and red peppers, but turns up his beak at green veggies. Still trying options there.

In any event, when I first got him, his weight was 279 grams and he is now at 302. He still looks a bit scrawny as his sternum is visible, but as Dr. Van Sant noted, he can`t really build up his pectoral muscles since his wings do not work well.

Initially Spunk would not let me touch him at all, then he started accepting head scritches though the cage bars, and I`m now at the point where he will let me reach into the cage for a scritch which will end when he nips me (firm nip, but not hard enough to break the skin). He doesn`t like to be touched elsewhere, but does know how to step up (with a bit of complaining), so I can pretty easily take him out to weigh him, or for showers. He also will sit on my shoulder until he gets a bit too nippy with my ear.

Spunk is generally quiet, though sometimes he will whistle a single note when I`m not in the room, and if I whistle back he will whistle again. I`ve heard him speak (but only when I`m not in the room) and I think he is saying "I love you", "Are you OK", "Hello", and some other things that I can`t quite make out.

I will open his cage door when I am in the office sitting next to him, and he will come down to the perch that is closest to the door (with an occasional head scritch supplied), but he has never attempted to venture out of the cage.

I did hear from For the Birds Vet this week about his blood tests, which were normal, except for his uric acid which was at 13 (normal range is 2 to 9) indicating dehydration. This test was done the day after I picked Spunk up, so perhaps he was not drinking that much at the shelter, but I have seen him drink normally here. I`ll schedule an appointment for them to run the test again.

With the help of his amazing foster dad, Mickaboo is giving Spunk a second chance!

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