B/g pair.. Deformed feet.. Any suggestions?

[Lakermatt]

HI All, I have a friend that has had a few babies that have came out to having deformed feet.. they are VERY young still, and I wanted to get your guys opinions on how to proceed with them and if they will live a healthy life.. they walk fine, and are starting/wanting to climb. any suggestions on what he could do for them? sorry for the terrible pics, but hopefully you get the idea...

 

[SilverSage]

Those actually look like the toes were bitten off in the nest; your freind needs to take measures to prevent that in the future!

They should be able to adapt but it will be important for them to have horizontal bars on their cages and extra important for them to have lots of different types of perches and standing surfaces.


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[itzjbean]

Ouch, poor babies! If they are bitten while in the nest the above post is right, they should be removed from the nest and hand-fed for their own safety.

I have heard that massaging the feet routinely to help bring circulation back may help strengthen and get the blood flow back into the feet. Of course they should also see a certified avian vet to ensure they are not infected and can heal properly.

 

[Lakermatt]

they actually were deformed from birth... not bitten by parents.. that he knows for sure. I was telling him that he should make stairs and platforms for them to be able to walk more and not have to climb as much? he says that they are starting to climb, so maybe they will learn to adapt to their disability... do you think they would be able to perch?

 

[Oliver17]

My elcectus has toes like that missing one on the front and on the ther foot the back toe.
He gots around pretty good, but he does loose his footing so the vet suggested rope perches and different sizes and not slippery ones that comes with all cages.
Hope this helps

 

[SilverSage]

If they were deformed at birth (and I don't think they were), then your freind needs to stop breeding the pair until he has identified what illness or nutritional deficiency of the parents led to the defect, or stop breeding the pair altogether as it is likely a genetic problem. However those toes look like they were bitten, likely within the first 12 hours after hatch. Unless your freind counted toes immediately after hatch he can't know they weren't bitten.


To the point of the babies already missing toes, they don't need ramps or platforms and should actually be encouraged to climb as much as possible. I would leave them flighted rather than clipping them though.


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[Lakermatt]

ok great!! I want to possibly rehome them, but I want to make sure that they will be ok, and live a normal life... he wants to make sure that they stay together. and I agree. I told him that I wanted to get all of your opinions as I feel that this is a wonderful forum of information!! thanks a million!! I might have 2 baby BG macaws coming into my life!!

 

[SailBoat]

Your area has Certified Avian Vets!!!

Your 'friend' should have already taken them into a CAV! Having not done so, has me questioning your 'friends' honest and level of caring for these chicks!

As noted above. If in fact this is a 'genetic problem' your 'friend' should have already separated this pair! If this has not happened, you need to question the sincerity of your 'friend' and her /his care of these Parrots!

Has the chick's fully completed weening? That means that they are fully on to solid food for at least a couple of weeks! If not, your 'friend' needs to commit to completing weening!

If you bring these chicks home, set-up a visitation with your area's CAV that same day!

To your question: Yes, they can live a very happy and long life!

To assure that, complete a Web Search using: Handicapped Parrots / Handicapped Birds. There is a huge network of individuals that are caring for Parrots with like problems and even more serious problems.

 

[YUMgrinder]

I'll adopt! I think they have cute feet! I'd love them with or without disability

 

[Lakermatt]

he has never had a problem he said. I don't know how many babies he has had from his birds, but he said that they have never had any deformities. I am going to tell him all of this information, and even the possibility that the mother or father had bit off the toes early after birth. he seems to be a very kind person, and he seems to take really good care of his birds. I have not seen them in person yet, but from the pictures and video he sent me today, they are not with the mother or father anymore. they are separated. but the babies are in the same cage.. he was thinking of taking them to a rehab center or sanctuary.. I asked him if I could adopt, as our BG we had got out when my kids were little, after they forgot to shut the door...

 

[SailBoat]

FYI: Do Not Bring These Parrots Home without the proper CITIES documentation!!! Blue & Gold MAC's are CITIES listed and require Hatch Date and Breeder information Documents and also Ownership Transfer Documentation!

You than need to provide these documents to your CAV so that they become part of the Parrot's Medical History!!!

NOTE: Anyone that you provide these Parrots too, needs to get this documentation along with your-to-them - Ownership Transfer Documentation!

 

[YUMgrinder]

FYI: Do Not Bring These Parrots Home without the proper CITIES documentation!!! Blue & Gold MAC's are CITIES listed and require Hatch Date and Breeder information Documents and also Ownership Transfer Documentation!

You than need to provide these documents to your CAV so that they become part of the Parrot's Medical History!!!

NOTE: Anyone that you provide these Parrots too, needs to get this documentation along with your-to-them - Ownership Transfer Documentation!

why? what's cities? I've never needed this info for any of my birds...?

 

[SailBoat]

FYI: Do Not Bring These Parrots Home without the proper CITIES documentation!!! Blue & Gold MAC's are CITIES listed and require Hatch Date and Breeder information Documents and also Ownership Transfer Documentation!

You than need to provide these documents to your CAV so that they become part of the Parrot's Medical History!!!

NOTE: Anyone that you provide these Parrots too, needs to get this documentation along with your-to-them - Ownership Transfer Documentation!

why? what's cities? I've never needed this info for any of my birds...?

Welcome to Post 2, January 2017! All listed CITIES Parrots require that upon hatching (after mid-night: 1, January 2017), Hatch Documents that include the Breeder's Name and contact information, the species, it's Hatch date at the bare minimum. At point of transfer, and every further transfer: Ownership Transfer Documents are required that lists the Species, its Age, the date of transfer and from who and too whom, with contact information!

Welcome to the wonderful World of Controlled Species!

Assure that you provide these documents to your CAV!

 

[SilverSage]

A breeder dumping disabled birds off at a rehab center or sanctuary rather than caring for them himself? I just lost any respect I could have possibly had for him. As a breeder myself I can tell you that any disabled birds ever produced in my aviary will either stay with me or be adopted directly by trusted friends under contact to return them to me if they ever have to part with them. Disgusting. I'm glad YOU are there to take care of these lovely babies! Please have them DNA sexed right away so you know if you need to take precautions against them trying to inbreed. Also, welcome to our forum in case we forgot to say so, and please post pics of your babies as they grow!


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[Lakermatt]

good morning all. so I went and visited the birds last night. they look happy, and walk around just fine... they were born august 24th. they definitely are deformed from birth.. no doubt about it. no toes whatsoever.... it almost looks like duck feet.. kinda webbed, a little bit of toe.. but just not there.. they tried to climb up my arm but it was hard... I have attached some pics so you can see... they can perch on the little bars, but I just don't know... he really wants me to have them.. I just am worried... will they be able to perch? will they be able to get around there cage? will they be able to get around a tree stand?

 

[itzjbean]

good morning all. so I went and visited the birds last night. they look happy, and walk around just fine... they were born august 24th. they definitely are deformed from birth.. no doubt about it. no toes whatsoever.... it almost looks like duck feet.. kinda webbed, a little bit of toe.. but just not there.. they tried to climb up my arm but it was hard... I have attached some pics so you can see... they can perch on the little bars, but I just don't know... he really wants me to have them.. I just am worried... will they be able to perch? will they be able to get around there cage? will they be able to get around a tree stand?

It really does depend on the bird. Can you please tell your friend to take them (and parents) to an avian vet? You should not take on these birds without first heeding our advice to TAKE THEM TO A CERTIFIED AVIAN VET. It is hard to say if they will be able to perch properly, they may have trouble retaining their balance on a tree stand. But that doesn't mean they won't live a happy life. You will just have to make some adjustments to cages and stands so they can accommodate their feet.

Again, please, if you do take these birds in, take them to see an avian vet. They should be seeing one anyway even without deformaties!

 

[Lakermatt]

ok will do... I forgot to mention that it seems like they are having a hard time balancing when you try to get them to step up on your arm.. and that's a flat surface.. maybe its just because they are young.. I don't know.. they are SUPER SUPER friendly though... they lay on there backs like babies.. its funny..

 

[LordTriggs]

I don't buy that they're deformed. Look at how the ends of the toes are flat and not rounded. A deformity would result in a rounded look at the ends and not a clean line which goes hand in hand with being bitten off. Believe me or not that is my 2 cents on that. How does he know they were deformed unless he was there for the hatching and how do you know he was unless you see evidence he was there?

Assuming it is a deformity your friend is showing gross negligence by not separating the breeding pair immediately and not taking these babies to a CAV. There could be something far worse going on beneath the surface which could significantly shorten their life. Also taking them to a rehab, why? Does he not have the know how to care for birds or are they just a hard sell for him. Sorry but in the politest possible way this guy needs an open palm slap round the face. the fact you've never gone and seen these birds before makes me question if this is actually a friend or a person you have spoken to online.

I would be wary about speaking to this person, if he doesn't get CITES papers for the babies then he is breaking the law.

Just noticed they have no rings or identification of any sort on them. They are require to have identification either in the form of a leg band (naturally hard to do with their feet how they are) or a microchip. Cites requires identification for transfer of ownership. Without the appropriate paperwork or identification those birds cannot be passed on by him to anyone else, to do so is breaking international law. Something you may want to bring up with this "friend"

 

[Kentuckienne]

This is so terribly sad. What beautiful babies. I'm with Lord Triggs - the toes were probably bitten off. Could be by the parents, could be by rats/mice or other predators. The breeder is acting despicably by not taking the birds to a vet - perhaps they know the vet will figure out what happened? Maybe they get referrals through the vet, or the vet vouches for them? It's suspicious. And mean. And irresponsible to try to dump the babies off once they realize they can't get macaw money for them.

 

[Lakermatt]

we have both been super busy.. he is a friend.. no online stuff.. I just went over there. he has had perfectly good babies before. I have seen them. why would he separate the parents? when he had seen that there feet were wrong he immediately pulled the babies from the nest..