Ok so here's my first question! One of the ringnecks I have met is an albino youngster, 8 or so months old. This bird is clearly developmentally disabled. It appears fine physically as far as having all toes, wings able to flex normally, etc. But its coordination and balance are severely lacking. It seems to recognize me after just a few brief sessions (a friend showed me some "physical therapy" exercises to try to help it) and will happily climb onto my hand to leave its cage. It wants to be snuggly and climb my shirt but cannot really grip, to the point where it would fall like a lead balloon to the floor if I didn't help it. It uses its wings like arms and is very dependent on its beak, even more than the other birds I help care for.
One day when I was putting it back in its cage it tipped its body forward before moving its feet onto the perch and just flopped to the floor of the cage. It is not in a tall cage, which is good because it falls a LOT, with or withough humans involved. It often seems confused about just how to maneuver itself - for example, I can see it thinking really hard about just how to get on my hand from a perch, then it will carefully test my hand with its beak, find a spot to hold on, and then move its feet. Sometimes it will climb on without beak help but not usually. One day recently it was found hanging from the top of its cage looking bewildered. My friend who found it gave it some time but he said eventually he realized the bird needed help to right itself without its customary crash. When it does fall, it often lands on its back and will lay still at first, then nibble its toes (not damaging them), and EVENTUALLY figure out how to right itself.
Others who have known the bird longer than I have say it has been like this all along, at least since it came from the breeder. I don't know who the breeder is or I'd ask him/her about the bird. Its diet consists mainly of Zupreem pellets with some bird treats and occasional fruits and veggies, though not a huge amount of those. Its body condition is good, it eats well, and shows no sign of illness. Its feathers are not perfect but are really quite nice considering how often they are clumsily banged into things. Just looking at it sitting on a perch, most people would never think anything was amiss. It dilates and constricts its pupils way more frequently than any of the other birds, and the pupils don't necessarily seem to reflect anything else in the bird's mood or demeanor. Sometimes it half-closes one or both eyes for a very reptilian look - do birds have a third eyelid?
The only explanation I've been given is that albinos are "freaks of nature" and albinism often comes with other issues. I'm not sure that makes a lot of sense to me, as my reading thus far has taught me that every color except the green is a mutation humans have selectively bred for. Besides that, I know lots of albino mice, rats, rabbits, horses, humans, etc. that are just fine thankyouverymuch! I can see perhaps a less-than-stellar breeder breeding only for color mutation and not keeping enough genetic diversity, so than in addition to being white, this poor critter also got some fun inbred traits that are not so pretty.
Sorry this turned out to be so long - as a newbie to IRNs I wanted to post as much info as possible in hopes that those of you with more experience could help me help this bird! Thanks!
One day when I was putting it back in its cage it tipped its body forward before moving its feet onto the perch and just flopped to the floor of the cage. It is not in a tall cage, which is good because it falls a LOT, with or withough humans involved. It often seems confused about just how to maneuver itself - for example, I can see it thinking really hard about just how to get on my hand from a perch, then it will carefully test my hand with its beak, find a spot to hold on, and then move its feet. Sometimes it will climb on without beak help but not usually. One day recently it was found hanging from the top of its cage looking bewildered. My friend who found it gave it some time but he said eventually he realized the bird needed help to right itself without its customary crash. When it does fall, it often lands on its back and will lay still at first, then nibble its toes (not damaging them), and EVENTUALLY figure out how to right itself.
Others who have known the bird longer than I have say it has been like this all along, at least since it came from the breeder. I don't know who the breeder is or I'd ask him/her about the bird. Its diet consists mainly of Zupreem pellets with some bird treats and occasional fruits and veggies, though not a huge amount of those. Its body condition is good, it eats well, and shows no sign of illness. Its feathers are not perfect but are really quite nice considering how often they are clumsily banged into things. Just looking at it sitting on a perch, most people would never think anything was amiss. It dilates and constricts its pupils way more frequently than any of the other birds, and the pupils don't necessarily seem to reflect anything else in the bird's mood or demeanor. Sometimes it half-closes one or both eyes for a very reptilian look - do birds have a third eyelid?
The only explanation I've been given is that albinos are "freaks of nature" and albinism often comes with other issues. I'm not sure that makes a lot of sense to me, as my reading thus far has taught me that every color except the green is a mutation humans have selectively bred for. Besides that, I know lots of albino mice, rats, rabbits, horses, humans, etc. that are just fine thankyouverymuch! I can see perhaps a less-than-stellar breeder breeding only for color mutation and not keeping enough genetic diversity, so than in addition to being white, this poor critter also got some fun inbred traits that are not so pretty.
Sorry this turned out to be so long - as a newbie to IRNs I wanted to post as much info as possible in hopes that those of you with more experience could help me help this bird! Thanks!
