Injured bird question

[khaiqha]

3 days ago my Alexandrine struck a window, hard. For five minutes he was unable to move his legs or wings. For two days I couldn't take him to the vet, and now all the vet said is that the swelling has to go down and that it will take time to heal.

During these last few days, he's slowly gained strength back. He's flying, making some noises again, and plays with his toys. The things that concern me are: excessive sleeping (though I guess this is natural), weak body posture (very bad the first day, a lot better now), drooping wings (getting better as well), and the thing that bothers me the most - his weight.

He averages 210 in the morning, with a +-3 either way. The day after the hit, he dropped to 200. Yesterday it was 196. This morning it was 195. He barely ate and refused water the first day. The second day I got him to eat sweet mashed potato and some seed. Today he's eating pellets, but he's really trying not to. He is devouring seeds and potatoes though.

My question is this: should I keep giving him seeds since he readily eats those, or should I keep giving him pellets (which he always readily ate before the hit but is now refusing). I know that it doesn't hurt him to use his beak, because he readily cracked an almond. I tried giving him veg, but he's always been so picky about when he'll actually eat them (some days he devours raw broccoli/greens/carrots, other days he'll throw them at me no matter how many different ways I prepare them).

To sum up: he's lost weight and it worries me. He will eat seeds and carbs (potato, whole grains in abundance, but is refusing his usual pellets and veg. Do I hold out for him to start back his usual food, or do I give him seeds right now while he's healing and to put back on weight.

Sorry for the long post, I just want my bird to be better again.

 

[Featheredsamurai]

I would try to get him to eat more pellets because it's more nutritious, but make sure to give him seeds as well since you don't want him to starve. If he has big pellets try breaking them into smaller seed sized pieces, or buying the fine size. Also, since he's eating sweet potatoes try getting him to eat more squashed vegetables. Try mashed squash with dark leafy greens(you can put those through a blender to finely chop them), peppers are also fantastic. If you mash all these things together he'll be getting a little more nutrients then just sweet potatoes alone.

It worries me that he's loosing weight so fast, I'd call your vet and ask them for some advice too and to see if he should have a followup visit.

 

[khaiqha]

Thanks for the reply. I tried mashed veggies, and he picked them all out. I guess he isn't too hurt to be picky. I mashed pellets and dusted some apple slices with them, and he ate those. I'm gonna try mashing pellet dust into the potato.

I've been going nuts looking at bird injuries online. For every "...and the bird ended up ok" story there's a "...he was doing fine and then we found him dead," story.

 

[Pedro]

I would say he has a bad concussion & there would be swelling of the brain. You are so lucky you didn't loose him. I would say he is recovering very slowly.

Birds Online - Health and diseases - Other diseases - Concussion

 

[henpecked]

The weight issue is no issue IMO. That is about what i'd expect.The important part is that it's leveled out. You might be having some influence on what he is eating by offering what you think he should be eating. He might be "holding out" for seeds and your "caving in" a little quickier. I try to offer the same things as before ,the same way.If your fid is like my fid, they can "play" you so well. It's great you have the "weigh in" as a routine, such a good birdie momma. PS i hope he learned his flying lesson.

 

[khaiqha]

Weighed him this morning, it's 196 again. I think I can finally breathe easy. He's doing much better now, still not back to his usual self yet. It was completely my fault for how he got his injury.

I took him to the local bird store in a bird pak. When I was there last, I wanted to get a new cement perch that was the right size for him, since I bought one too big. I took him to a back area and let him out to try it. Then, me being stupid, I took him just beyond the door to the back to ask the owner's opinion on his claw length. This is when he took off.

I wasn't worried at first, as the first thing he does when he flies in a new place is circle the ceiling to get a feel of the perimeter. After he did this is when he struck a window at high speeds. I then realized that I have never, ever shown my bird a window. All of mine at home, and my friends' homes, have blinds on them.