Ostrich egg cam

[Donna]

Day 11
October 23, 2013

Legs slipping from under them: A no friction mat was placed under the heat lamp so they would not slip and struggle to get up. (the bottom side of the beloved Sunflower mat)

Digestive system: They did gain weight this morning. This afternoon they lost weight.They only seem to drink from one watering bowl, which gets emptied rapidly, and they ignore the other 3 water containers.

Constipation issue: Almost no poop today, they may be constipated. They are walking gingerly, not looking like they want to burst out of the box with vigor.

Alfalfa: The kind and knowledgeable rancher suggested alfalfa buds from a bale, but all I could get at the local pet store this evening was Timothy rabbit pellets. They seemed to like that just fine.

Afternoon constitutional. He suggested letting them go walk outside in the sun. It is 65 degrees, and they got cold in 5 minutes, so when they started shivering I brought them back in. But hey were curious, unafraid, pecked at everything.

Hopefully the stimulation of the outside walk and the pseudo alfalfa pellets will get things moving.

Cool weather: This is very late to raise ostrich chicks. They need to be outside. Will try something soon so they can be warm and outside for a while.

I hope they survive!

[MAK]

What gave this guy the idea he could raise ostrich chicks anyways. Seems more like an experiment. 

[Donna]

What gave this guy the idea he could raise ostrich chicks anyways. Seems more like an experiment. 

CRAZY!!

[Kris G.]

Day 15 October 27, 2013
Moved to the outside enclosure

I’m not sure if they can tolerate this at night, we will monitor their temperatures and see.
They ate a bunch of stones but they seem okay.
They have not found the water or the food yet

Update on Rascals right leg: Right now I do not have a good solution. And it appears to be worsening.

The avian veterinarian considered the modified Robert Jones bandage, to be changed every few days. When she considered it though, she thought that correction at this point would be too stressful for the bird, immobilization will weaken the leg further. She was thinking some sort of physical therapy may help. I may try to suspend her in a harness so she doesn’t put her full weight on the leg and let her walk. (I have not heard back from the Dynasplint people to see if they would fashion something for her.). The avian vet cannot come out until Wednesday.

The box on the left has a heated mat and the heat lamp, and a Plexiglas window.
The box on the right has the food bowls and alfalfa.
I put a box under the water dispenser to keep mud/ splash down.

Anyway I hope to come up with a viable plan soon for Rascal’s leg, as she grows it will be harder to correct.

[patsy6]

What gave this guy the idea he could raise ostrich chicks anyways. Seems more like an experiment. 

My question exactly! 

[Kris G.]

What gave this guy the idea he could raise ostrich chicks anyways. Seems more like an experiment.  

My question exactly!  

My thoughts too and I feel so bad for the one with the bad leg-limping more each time I watch. I don't remember it being deformed at first and have wondered if, when they were slipping on the floor they were walking on, he injured it. Dash thought it was "spraddle leg" at first so he taped both legs at the knee area, which kept unraveling and the other would pick at it.  Then he taped both legs together and the poor bird couldn't walk-kept falling down so he started to walk with his legs bent forward in front of him so that was removed. Dash was going to initially put sand down for them to walk on because it was more absorbant and they could get some traction for walking but all I could think of was they peck all the time and their gut would fill with sand.  He opted for dirt that had some stones in it, which he "tried" to pick out, but they did end up ingesting some along with the dirt. He has no idea what he's doing-trial and error.

[Donna]

I can't even watch anymore with that baby's leg the way it is! Leave the eggs to the mother's!! This is very sad! Unless you know EXACTLY how to raise an Ostrich or any species out of the norm, don't even try! Ahh, pulling my hair out on this one!!

[Kris G.]

Day 16 October 28, 2013

 New enclosure yesterday: They spent yesterday in the outside enclosure, and did very well. They are adjusting to the dirt, and the new location of the food and water. They ate so many small stones I was worried, but they seem to be fine. They seem to like the dirt.
 Kept them warm and cozy last night: Last night they looked fine in the heated box home, but with an abundance of caution I moved them indoors for the night. I am glad I did, it was 20 degrees warmer in the house, and they could roam around the old box whenever they wanted to get food and water and exercise. Outdoor they would have gotten chilled wandering around for food. Also they could rest easily as they may be a little anxious sleeping in a new house for the first night. The outdoor noises are different than the indoor noises. Tonight I may leave them out for a few more night hours, maybe 9:30 PM or so, and then take them in again.
 I was hoping to get a few months out of this enclosure, the rancher thinks I will get a few weeks.
 It’s cold now for small chicks: Right now in Southern California near the coast the night the temperature is in the 50s, during the day it is in the 60s. It was a little cold and windy today, so I put up the tarp to protect them a bit during the day. I have 4 temperature sensors in the heated house, and it has the two heat lamps and the heated pad under the no slip mat.
 This would be very late in the season for wild ostrich; they definitely have a season and do not have chicks in the fall or wintertime. They want the chicks to grow out in the spring and summer. So there is a lot of attention and concern now about the temperature. The kind and knowledgeable rancher does not raise chicks this time of year.
 The rancher also recommends covering up the window, he says that the chicks are comforted being in a dark secluded spot. Even though it is not that dark with the red light, having it blocked off will make them feel more secure (he thinks.).
 Rascal’s leg: I have a veterinarian appointment on Wednesday at 8 AM; the avian vet will try to devise some sort a splint with a hinge for Rascal’s right leg. I will be taking Popcorn along for comfort, these chicks are very close and it will be additional stress on them if I separate them.
 A lot of questions, so here is something from Wikipedia:
 Rascal’s problem is mostly in the tarsometatrsus.
 The tarsometatarsus is a bone that is only found in the lower leg of birds and certain non-avian dinosaurs.
 It is formed from the fusion of several bones found in other types of animals, and homologous to the mammalian tarsal (ankle) and metatarsal (foot) bones. Despite this, the tarsometatarsus of birds is often referred to as just the tarsus or metatarsus.

 I hope she tolerates whatever brace is devised.

[Kris G.]

I can't even watch anymore with that baby's leg the way it is! Leave the eggs to the mother's!! This is very sad! Unless you know EXACTLY how to raise an Ostrich or any species out of the norm, don't even try! Ahh, pulling my hair out on this one!!

It's tough for me to watch now.

[MAK]

I can't see the live stream and can't get our forum livestream either-2 black screens for a couple weeks now.

[Donna]

I can't see the live stream and can't get our forum livestream either-2 black screens for a couple weeks now.

I think something is wrong!! 

[MAK]

I can't see the live stream and can't get our forum livestream either-2 black screens for a couple weeks now.

I think something is wrong!! 

Um I think you're right! 

[Donna]

  I really hope he doesn't do this again! Poor Rascal. 

Day 22

Rascal’s right leg became worse. Her leg was deviating out more and more, and finally it was dragging behind her, with the joint going the wrong direction. Also the limp was worse.

The avian specialist did meet me at the hospital on Sunday afternoon. We discussed the options. Her experience with this sort of leg deformity was with parrots, and there isn’t any experience available on trying this procedure on an ostrich. This is new territory. She felt one option was euthanasia. I considered that, since more extensive splinting would be very difficult to tolerate for this ostrich. But I had to think about her sister Popcorn, who is so attached to her. We went ahead and did the more extensive splinting that would immobilize the bird.

Rascal cannot walk or move about. She is in a box, with her legs splinted/ casted. With parrots, they usually stay at the veterinarian’s office so that they can monitor them and tube feed them if necessary. But there’s no one at the veterinarian’s office at night.

I brought Rascal home and will keep an eye on her. She will need to be in the splint for maybe one or two weeks. Since this has not been done before we don’t know.

So far it’s not going very well. She’s very uncomfortable and struggles. After she’s exhausted from struggling she just rests. She is not taking food or water. Her sister Popcorn is upset, although they are in clear view of each other, they can’t really contact each other by touch.

I am keeping them indoors. I am not putting the cam on them right now, they are convalescing. Hopefully they will be better in the morning.

[Kris G.]

  I really hope he doesn't do this again! Poor Rascal. 

Day 22

Rascal’s right leg became worse. Her leg was deviating out more and more, and finally it was dragging behind her, with the joint going the wrong direction. Also the limp was worse.

The avian specialist did meet me at the hospital on Sunday afternoon. We discussed the options. Her experience with this sort of leg deformity was with parrots, and there isn’t any experience available on trying this procedure on an ostrich. This is new territory. She felt one option was euthanasia. I considered that, since more extensive splinting would be very difficult to tolerate for this ostrich. But I had to think about her sister Popcorn, who is so attached to her. We went ahead and did the more extensive splinting that would immobilize the bird.

Rascal cannot walk or move about. She is in a box, with her legs splinted/ casted. With parrots, they usually stay at the veterinarian’s office so that they can monitor them and tube feed them if necessary. But there’s no one at the veterinarian’s office at night.

I brought Rascal home and will keep an eye on her. She will need to be in the splint for maybe one or two weeks. Since this has not been done before we don’t know.

So far it’s not going very well. She’s very uncomfortable and struggles. After she’s exhausted from struggling she just rests. She is not taking food or water. Her sister Popcorn is upset, although they are in clear view of each other, they can’t really contact each other by touch.

I am keeping them indoors. I am not putting the cam on them right now, they are convalescing. Hopefully they will be better in the morning.

I just read this on FB and it's heartbreaking.  Dash had splinted the leg for a few days and Rascal was doing pretty well with it but Dash had to go away for 3 days, leaving the splint off during that time.  I watched her leg get worse over the weekend and yesterday it looked like it was twisting towards the back, she was limping really bad and stumbling.  I know how attached these 2 babies are but I think it might be time to let Rascal go.  Time will tell...

[Donna]

I say, "DON'T DO THIS AGAIN!"