Are there any special things to do to help my parrot? He is 48 and has developed cataracts.
I am keeping him in the same cage and not changing things around but he seems to fall off his perch more than usual. Suggestions?
Hi, I have a 7-month-old English budgie that was born with a splayed leg that sticks straight out. His wings were over-clipped when I got him at 2 months of age.
Hi Mitch,
I have been searching for a “helmet” for a CAG (Congo African grey vs a TAG Timneh African grey) who has a photosensitivity issue in her eye from cataract surgery.
I want to find her a device she can were to make her eyesight more comfortable.
The parakeet in the helmet jumped out at me when I saw it. Do you know anyone who might be able to fabricate such headwear for Marie?
Jennifer T. has a Quaker, 27 years old this past July and relates,
Hi Mitchell and Catherine,
Enjoy your newsletter each Sunday! Thank you. Unfortunately, my poor guy suffered another stroke this week, resulting in no use of his right side.
Kyndra B. relates,
One of my baby budgies (about 2-3 weeks old) has splayed legs but is still in the nest box and being fed and cared for by the mom.
Is it okay for me to remove the baby to put bands on the legs and then place it back in the nest box?
I don’t want the mother to stop feeding/caring for it because I handled it.
I also don’t want the splayed legs to go untreated for too long.
Suzanne H. is concerned about a Splayed leg 1-month-old parakeet.
My parakeets had 4 chicks. 3 are fine.
The youngest turned out to be a splayed leg.
Went to the vet with the baby.
He said there is just a 10% chance the baby could be fixed to be almost normal.
It didn’t work.
In response to our Nov 4th 2019 Birdie Brunch
Rio Hemmings commented
I agree that birds will land on any perch in the wild, but caged life is different, they have to sit on the same perch all day so it needs to be comfortable, I do gymnastics and pole so I know how uncomfortable and painful it is when the pole is too wide I can’t work with it.
We get help desk tickets and phone calls on a regular basis seeking advice for a handicapped bird.
The most common disability is splayed foot (especially in budgies).
Splayed foot is when one or both of the bird’s feet turn sideways as a chick.
This usually happens to young birds when nesting material is “slippery” so the feet don’t have enough traction to point in the right direction while still in the nest.
My severe macaw is losing all its feathers.
The vet says I should switch her to 80% pellet food.
However, I am not convinced. I don’t think they eat pellets in the wild.
I am trying adding HARI Prime vitamin, mineral, and amino acid supplement w/probiotics to her diet.
Do you think this is an acceptable alternative?
Parrots we classify as Medium Large Species
Amazons
Blue-fronted Amazon – Cuban Amazon – Double Yellow-headed – Amazon – Green-cheeked Amazon – Lilac-crowned Amazon – Mealy Amazon – Orange-winged Amazon – Red-lored Amazon – Spectacled Amazon – Tres Marias Amazon – Tucuman Amazon = Yellow-billed Amazon – Yellow-naped Amazon – Yellow-shouldered Amazon – Vinaceous Amazon (more…)