Poor George Graphic

[TerriLaChicks]

This has been such an interesting thread to follow & I just wanted to say thanks to all of you who participated in it -- and I hope you post updates!

 

[Kedreeva]

Ok, finally got some pics and downloaded them. Here are some of the things in Blu's pen.

here is the 5 gallon feeder + catch tub. Most of the birds hop in and root around in the bucket (looking for I don't know what, it's all the same stuff...) and knock a lot of it into the black tub. Blu eats from that tub, or from the 5 gallon on a board next to this that no one else likes. I dump and clean the black tub once a week and let the free-range ducks pick through what the peas haven't eaten.




Here is the "pond" we put in. Blu puts himself up to the edge and rests his breast on top of the cinder blocks while he drinks or watches the rosies in the water. He LOVES eating the duckweed on top. I just refilled the water, so it's really stirred up- normally it's so clear you can see everything, and they all like fish watching. I think the whole set up only cost me $20 (ok, sans the sun-powered bubbler I added for the fish >.>)


The basket once held a plant, but they ate it... now they just play with it in the water.

I used their baby perch for a while as one of Blu's perches...

It's just a sawhorse and we screwed in a 2x4 on top. It's maybe 2.5 feet tall.

Then we had leftover cinderblocks ($1 apiece at Lowe's!) and leftover 2x4s, so we figured out this!

This is Blu's favorite perch. It's about 3 feet tall and he can lean against the cinder blocks when he sleeps so he doesn't fall off.

Of course, the others roost outside on nice nights, and I dunno if they've got any idea that he's "special", but I know Octavian (the other male) gets onto the 5 foot perches outside and waits for Blu to come over to his perch, and when Blu is under it he hops down and stares at Blu until he jumps up there. If Blu doesn't, Octavian gets back up, then back down if he sees Blu looking up and making the "i'ma jump!" face. Maybe he's making room for him to get up easier, maybe he's tired of getting winged in the face when Blu gets up and tries to balance himself. I dunno. But once Blu's up, Octavian gets up and the girls join them. Seems like Blu always has someone on either side of him, so he can't fall off.

So, a year after his surgery, Blu is still doing well and getting around on just one leg.




As our biggest concern at the moment is that he will slip a tendon in his good leg, or somehow injure it otherwise, we are doing our best to keep the pen clear of anything he can trip on, anything sharp. Since he's only 2 he hasn't got all that extra feather weight, but next year we are going to trim off his train to alleviate the weight on his good leg.

Any news on George? Been thinking of you guys these past couple days.

 

[BooBear]

I hope George is continuing to heal up good. Been watching this thread.

 

[MinxFox]

Yikes, well I do think he will be okay though...He is so lucky that you found him!

 

[theoldchick]

George has continued to do well. The fracture has formed a nice callus and his wounds have healed. Yesterday, I removed his splint and he's still in his hospital cage in the garage. I leave the garage door open when we are home so he can see what's going on outside. He finished his course of antibiotics. In two weeks I plan to move him out to his pen.

I like the idea of trimming the tail as I was worried what the extra weight would do. The saw horse perch is awesome. I'm leary of the block perch as I can imagine his good leg (or his head) getting stuck in a hole. Any other suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Now, I have to deal with a horse with a laminitis. Ugh.

 

[Glenmar]

 

[Kedreeva]

I like the idea of trimming the tail as I was worried what the extra weight would do. The saw horse perch is awesome. I'm leary of the block perch as I can imagine his good leg (or his head) getting stuck in a hole. Any other suggestions are greatly appreciated.

They don't mess around with the holes in the cinderblocks, but even if they did they can't get their heads or feet stuck, the holes are really huge- I can fit my whole arm through them. If not something like that, if you can invent something for him to lean against while perching, it really helps. I'm really glad he is doing so well! Keep us updated, I know we'll be wondering how George is faring. Keeping you in my thoughts!

 

[theoldchick]

Good thoughts and prayers always appreciated! This morning George is admiring himself in his mirror and had a wheat-bread snack.

 

[sourland]

Missed this thread till

lady clued me in. Glad that my namesake is doing well. We Georges are a tough lot. Theoldchick - you rock!

 

[sourland]

How is George doing?