Is my kakariki a hybrid?

[happycat]

You should have your kakariki checked out by a avian vet if the nails are growing that fast.

How fast do they usually grow?

Most parrots need their nails trimmed about 2-3 times a year and I have honestly never seen a bird who's nails grew THAT MUCH that quickly, ever. Nails that get that long so quickly should be assessed for nutritional deficiencies and/or fatty liver disease, which are the primary cause for quickly growing nails. What kind of diet is your birdie on?

Edit: It is entirely possible the species has faster growing nails than other species, and he looks otherwise pretty healthy. Definitely something to ask the vet about and get an experienced and qualified opinion on. If this was happening in an amazon or macaw or conure ext...., it would almost certainly be the result of a diet-related condition. Always better to be safe than sorry

Oh my goodness! Apparently we didn't clip his nails that recently! I asked my mom when was the last time we clipped his nails, and she said two months ago. Now she was telling me that she didn't bring him two months ago, and that means he hasn't been clipped for a long time! (not sure exactly, probably over 5 months)

Sorry for that mix up guys! And thank you for helping me. We are off to get him clipped tomorrow!

By the way, he eats a diet of pellets, fruit, veggies, herbs and other human foods. Also, is fatty liver disease deadly?

 

[MikeyTN]

I only trim my bird's nails every 4-6 months??? Every few months is quite often.

Do you have a kakariki? I just read that kakarikis nails grow faster. Does anyone know if that is true?

I used to have a red fronted! And no I never had to clip her that many times. Certain health issues can cause the nails to over grow thus why I said you need to have your kakariki checked out by a avian vet.

 

[happycat]

I only trim my bird's nails every 4-6 months??? Every few months is quite often.

Do you have a kakariki? I just read that kakarikis nails grow faster. Does anyone know if that is true?

I used to have a red fronted! And no I never had to clip her that many times. Certain health issues can cause the nails to over grow thus why I said you need to have your kakariki checked out by a avian vet.

Read my last post ^-^

 

[MikeyTN]

If you look at the time stamp it's within a minute of each other so while you posted first I was typing away and posted after you. Regardless if it's 5 month since he was last clipped, even though that don't look like 5 months worth to me. You still need to have him checked out by a vet!

 

[happycat]

If you look at the time stamp it's within a minute of each other so while you posted first I was typing away and posted after you. Regardless if it's 5 month since he was last clipped, even though that don't look like 5 months worth to me. You still need to have him checked out by a vet!

I said I wasn't sure. My memory isn't all that good. It was over 5 months. It was 5-8 months. We go there every Sunday so it is quite hard for me to remember which Sunday it was.
Like I said, I am bringing him to get clipped tomorrow, and I will ask the person who sold me Kirby (she breeds birds and works there) whether I should bring him to the vet. I don't think it should be a problem, its been a while.

 

[happycat]

You mentioned Fatty Liver disease, I looked it up and now I am worried!

This is what it read:
Poor feather quality and changes in the feather coloration. In cockatiels, for example, the white feathers may take on a more yellowish color (doesn't happen in white-faced cockatiels though). African Greys may develop red feathers in areas that are usually grey and feathers in eclectuses may turn yellow, orange and potentially red.

Dry itchy skin may also be an indicator of liver problem. Once the liver problems have been resolved, it takes a while for the itching to stop.

In some birds, soft areas around the beak occur. Birds may develop overgrown beaks and claws / nails.


His feather color has changed. He used to have red feathers above his beak, and now it is yellow. Basically, he changed from looking like a red fronted to a yellow fronted hybrid.

He also HAS been itchy lately. Scratching a lot. But that was probably because of molting?

AND his nails are overgrown.

All three of these things I have made topics about, the first resolution was that he was a hybrid, the second that he was molting. Does it sound like he has fatty liver disease?? Is this deadly?

 

[MikeyTN]

Yes fatty liver disease can be deadly if you don't do nothing about it! It's treatable but in order to know you need to have him checked out first by a avian vet. So don't start assuming the worst until the test results comes back.

 

[happycat]

Yes fatty liver disease can be deadly if you don't do nothing about it! It's treatable but in order to know you need to have him checked out first by a avian vet. So don't start assuming the worst until the test results comes back.

Oh my goodness I am starting to stress now. Does it sound like he has it? We can't really take him to the vet now because money is tight. Are there any other signs?

And about the feather change; does it mean one that doesn't look natural for that species? He still looks like a kakariki, he just looks like a yellow front. Is he in immediate danger or will he be okay until tomorrow?



edit: But I also read that they seem lethargic, or has a change in appetite, and that they act sick. Kirby seems completely healthy, his droppings are normal, and he is eating. The only thing is that he is scratching a bit often (my breeder said that he is just molting) and he probably has long nails because we haven't clipped them for perhaps over 8 months. The only thing I can't figure out is why his feathers would change from red to yellow. I mean, he looks like a normal hybrid kak, but aren't they born looking like that? He got them in his first molt.

 

[MikeyTN]

I'm not sure how the yellow front molt.....I don't think he's in immediate danger. How old is he??? What diet is he on???

 

[happycat]

I'm not sure how the yellow front molt.....I don't think he's in immediate danger. How old is he??? What diet is he on???

He is over one year old. He is on an all pellet diet (the pellets have fruit)
He also eats human foods, like fruits and veggies.

(about the preening comment I made , my sister apparently saw him preen twice today. I suppose I am just not watching enough)

 

[Kiwibird]

Usually, dietary issues ale longer to appear than a year. I agree with MikeyTN that IF his diet is inadequate, he isn't in immediate danger. I would up the amount of fruit and veg he has in his diet. He should be eating fresh produce as a good portion of his everyday food intake, not an occasional treat. Foods like sweet potatoes and leafy greens are especially good for them.

As for the feather color change, in some species, young birds have a different pattern of color than they do as an adult. I am not knowledgeable enough on this species to know if that would be the case.

 

[MonicaMc]

Feisty Feathers has some good basic information on kakarikis.

Just For Kaks
Kakariki Network


As per Feisty Feather's website, many kakarikis might be inbreds due to a low genetic variety of kakarikis within the USA - so it is possible that your bird has health problems caused by genetics, or rather, a lack of them.



Can you at least call around and find out what vet offices sees birds and how much a basic blood panel is?