A few days ago we found an injured baby lorikeet in the street, unable to fly. The emergency vet said they automatically put these birds down if we give it to them as wildlife because they are pests around here, so we took him home. He's only a baby and got used to us very quickly. He eats out of our hands, climbs on us, lets us scratch him, etc. He's very curious and likes to explore the house, but cannot fly. We put out an ad for him as we thought he might be tame, but nobody's come forward so far.

I booked an appointment with the vet this weekend for them to look him over and find out exactly what's wrong. I especially want to make sure it's not Beak and Feather Disease as this is common with wild lorikeet babies around here. He's quite brave around us now, but wasn 't in the beginning and I want to make sure we don't sever whatever bonding and trust we've built and cause him to "go wild". Do you think that putting him in the car and taking him to a strange location for a strange person to look at him can fighten him and break whatever trust he's built for us so far?

I think your concern is valid, however, what other choice do you have? I've taken allot of pet birds to my vet and they've never stopped trusting me. When I bring a bird back home I let them settle back into their cage and don't bother them unless they seem like they want to get back to interacting. W/ia few hours at most, everything seems back to normal. If they have a treat they love I'll hand feed for the rest of the day after a vet exam. pets question and answers,www.5d2d.com

I think that taking him to a strange location for a strange person to look at him (translate: man-handle) will frighten the bird to some degree, that's normal but it sounds like you have a good foundation going and the average bird will get over the trauma. He might hate the vet but not you. For the car ride be sure he's in a secure carrier, not to big.

This little critter is very lucky you found him.=:)

The lorikeet might be a little scared, but won't hate you. he might despise you for a few days but after you take care of him again his will trust you again and the more often you take him to the vet the less scared he will be

my brain

It shouldn't. If anything the scary new person will cause your bird to go back to you for comfort and to make sure everything's ok. Just stay with the bird the whole time. SOme vets like taking the bird in the back alone. Ask to go with so your bird has somebody it knows and trusts with it. It may get angry if the vet does anything it sees as a threat, but should be quickly forgiving to you. It isn't you doing it to him.

I have a baby starling who I still need to get an avian wellness exam for so she doesn't associated the vet as a bad person. ANd if I do something that makes her mad (usually putting her in the cage and leaving for a while. And she lets me know she isn't happy), she will nip at me then fly away once I let her back out but since she's a human raised baby and trusts me, she forgives me withint seconds and comes back to play.

The only problem I see is if the vet does anything he won't like, he may associate going in the car and to a new place as a bad thing. Try taking him out somewhere not bad a couple times before going to the vet. We took my starling on vacation with us and a few other places and she associates car rides as a fun new experience now.

Hope all goes well and there's nothing horribly wrong with your baby!

Owner of a human imprinted starling (more like owned by her)