The Doodlebook

Crackers the Grackle

So for those of you who've actually cared about the plight of me and my rescue bird...
This is most likely going to be the last update regarding the tiny piece of loveable ugly.

((Warning: talking about his leg injury again))
((Warning: ill be talking alot. Like...ALOT...about everything not just leg so its a read. Sorry.))
Cracker's splint, as mentioned before, actually seemed to of worked splendidly! We couldnt properly set the bones in his compound fracture, but we did manage to place the protruding bone into a more...manageable place, where the skin was now over the bone again, and the breach could heal. ((I say manageable with hesitancy because no one in my family are certified veterinarians. However, with the severity of the wound, it could of been a matter of life or death for the bird with the large likelyhood of infection. And on top of his illness he already had with the yellow boils, we didnt want to risk. So after an hour or two researching grackle anatomy, as well as splinting techniques, we found something that we could apply to Crackers. We did our best not to harm him, and we went slowly and carefully! But it helps Crackers was such a brave little birdie. He fought only for a short time, but relaxed quickly enough. He only cried out in pain when we had to pull his broken bone a bit. But otherwise...that had been his only indication of pain we've ever gotten from him. EVER))
Even as risky as the "operation" and the wound itself was, it seemed to already greatly improve Crackers's health!! He was hobbling around much more, sitting up, and he even opens his mouth for food, which was something new!! He flaps arpund, and was much more active with the splint! I stopped force feeding him, and instead just fed him a bite or two when he felt like it which would be every fifteen or twenty minutes.
And the best news...? We found him a vet!!
...bad news...?
Apparently there is a law in my state that says that uncertified citizens may not hold a wild bird in their homes for longer than 48 hours and MUST bring the bird to a veternarian or wildlife service in that time frame... punishments are not specified,  but it was implied that immediate euthanization of said wild bird brought in past that 48 hr mark would be what happened.
Seeing as we didnt learn this till alreasy having Crackers ((who is still technically a wild bird, despite him not ever acting like it)) for three days.
Anyways...we found a wildlife rescue in my state who were anxious to get their hands om Crackers to help! And by anxious...i MEAN anxious...
This was when they told my dad about the 48hr law, AND how we IMMEDIATELY needed to bring in the chick to them. Problem was...theyre over an hour and a half drive away. We couldnt get him yhere till Wednesday (aka today)
At this point, the receptionist texting back and forth with my dad started becoming ruder and ruder, accusing us of trying to make a pet out of the bird ((pfft whatnowhosaidthatyourejustsillyDONTTOUCHMYBABY)) And just all around being terrible people to this bird. She even suggested we hire an UBER to bring the bird out, passive aggresively trying to say we suck for not wanting whats best for the bird.
So now im torn; my bird might get euthanized only because of a dumb law, AND these people wont care cause they already think we ruined this bird's life. BUT...these people were literally the only ones who i could for sure give a grackle chick to. There was literally no where else. Sure there was still a chance we were wrong about them, and they could save Crackers...
But still...my choices were slim. So today, i braved up, put Crackers with a warm blanket, and brought him to the clinic. We changed out his splint the night before, but the second one was falling apart, and he was panicking in his box, only causibg it to unfurl faster as he flailed and hobbled around in his box. So i carried him and held him in the car until we finally got to the rescue. He was such a good birdie on the drive. He didnt panic at all once he was snuggled into his blanket, me holding him close to my chest. He only loomed afraid again when i put him in his box, and had to walk away...
At least the second receptionist i met who took Crackers was much nicer and kinder. But still... it hurt me to leave my baby there...and it hurt me even more to know that once i handed him over, we virtually will never know what happens to him after that. Whether they amputate the leg. Or if the leg makes it. Or even if they had to euthanize Crackers, what with all of his medical problems.
But at least he has a chance to live a long life with them. And i know that could not happen with me, and i did what i could to make his stay with us a happy one. Who knows. Maybe at the clinic they will even one day release him to the wild.
Tho im pretty sure i looked like an overly attached nut when i started instructing the receptionist on taking care of Crackers, like his eating behaviors and how you cant leave him alone or he cries. And mind you, I was about to cry too while saying it. Very manly moment for me, i know. But damnit if i dont get attached to everything and anyone i meet...
Anyways...just thought those who had been following Cracker's story would like to know what came of him...or at least what i know. Now his life in in the hands of those vets, and i can only pray to whatever power cares that they'll take my baby seriously and try to help him. Whether it means helping his life...or helping it end.  Im not afraid of Crackers dying. Just of him being in pain...so whatever they deem nesseccarry to end it...then so be it.
Damnit now im teary eyed. Again. Damnit.
If his leg hadnt been so bad i wouldve kept him. Hell, my MOM who is TERRIFIED of birds and hates them with a burning passion came to like Crackers, despite him being the ugliest, nastiest smelling mess of feathers to ever be. She even held him once when i had to fix his splint!! So that was a miracle...but so was Crackers. Miss ya little buddy!!