My Hahn’s macaw uses toy for balance

[Mitou]

Hi everyone, I am a new member but have searched this forum many times and have found it amazingly helpful. I am happy to be part of this community of parrot lovers. I don’t know that many in Washington where I live!

I do have a question today. My little Hahn’s macaw Verdi is getting on in age (23 years old) and I worry that she may be having trouble staying on her perch all the time. It is just incredible that birds are always on their feet without any resting options! I gave her a flat perch that she lies on seometimes but recently she has started holding on to toys with her left foot. I wonder if this is normal behavior or a sign that something is really wrong. Her vet has noticed some signs of arthritis but nothing major. Has anyone on this forum ever observed this type of behavior?

Thank you in advance for your thoughts!

Mitou

 

[itzjbean]

Your Hahn's should have varied perch options -- in mine I keep soft rope perches, natural wood, and I wrap dowel wood ones (that can be harsh on parrot feet) with soft vet wrap and it makes the perch super soft. I also have a flat wood one for them to sit on and chew up. Birds should be comfortable perching and should not have to rest on another toy to feel comfort unless there are limited perch options in the cage so that makes me wonder what her other perches materials are.

 

[Laurasea]

You can try warm water foot soaks.
I think it's hard to find the right size perches for larger birds. I use the largest ones the sell near me for my Quakes and GCC, all birds need at least one perch that is large enough around that their foot is almost flat with just the tip of toes grasping.
If she is adapting useing a toy to rest I think that's fine, she is finding her own relief.
You could also fill a large dish with sand to let her walk around in for a physical therapy . . ?
Keep us posted on what works to help take pressure of the feet

 

[wrench13]

Right, varied perch diameter, and surfaces are important for good foot health for all perching birds. Some smooth , some rough ( barky), some smaller, and some larger( larger than you might think). Laurasea has some good ideas for soothing arthritic feet in parrots ( though I don't see how I could get Salty to stay in a warm water foot bath for more than 30 seconds). Footie massages if your parrot will accept them.

 

[KawaiiTori]

Hi everyone, I am a new member but have searched this forum many times and have found it amazingly helpful. I am happy to be part of this community of parrot lovers. I don’t know that many in Washington where I live!

I do have a question today. My little Hahn’s macaw Verdi is getting on in age (23 years old) and I worry that she may be having trouble staying on her perch all the time. It is just incredible that birds are always on their feet without any resting options! I gave her a flat perch that she lies on seometimes but recently she has started holding on to toys with her left foot. I wonder if this is normal behavior or a sign that something is really wrong. Her vet has noticed some signs of arthritis but nothing major. Has anyone on this forum ever observed this type of behavior?

Thank you in advance for your thoughts!

Mitou

I don’t know what area of Washington you live in but the Seattle Parrot Expo is coming up at the end of the month (it’s happening in Auburn). It’s free so I’m planning on checking it out!

 

[Scott]

Welcome to you and Verdi!! Arthritis may be present, but has Verdi had a recent workup by a certified avian vet? A complete blood panel may help confirm or potentially identify an early and treatable illness.

 

[Mitou]

Thank you so much everyone who responded to my inquiry. Verdi does have a variety of perches including soft rope ones but I will try a large size to see if she likes it. I also have a flat one that she uses to lie down full length! I will try the sand box and foot massages but I think I will end up soaked or bitten if I try to give Verdi foot baths . She had a vet visit about 3 months ago and the results came back perfect. Wrench 13, thank you so much for the very useful links!

and I would LOVE to go to Seattle Parrot Expo but I live in the nation's capital

Many thanks again for all your responses! Mitou.

 

[Laurasea]

Lol some birds like to play in water. You can use a plastic cat litter box, fill it just an inch or two high with warm water, float some plastic bottle caps and out seeds in them or something yummy, maybe add some toys, see if you can't tempt her to spend some time in it... .
I do this just for entertainment and my birds have fun with it . My Quake rescue Penny has some arthritis and she just likes to sit and soak her feet . I swear!!!

 

[Flboy]

Hello and welcome!

 

[Mitou]

Hi everyone, and thank you again for your suggestions. It’s great to be able to share experiences about bird issues. I feel that there is so much information out there for dog and cat owners but we bird friends have to do a lot of research and there really isn’t that much. It seems the same few articles get reprinted over and over. I took Verdi to an animal ophthalmologist last week because she has a cataract and I wanted to know what I could do to prevent the other eye from getting one too. The eye doctor asked me to hold Verdi so she could examine her (I guess her training did not include learning how to handle birds). Then she just announced that there was another cataract forming and gave me anti-inflammatory eye drops. She said there is nothing else to do and she is too small and old to have cataract surgery. I wonder if there are supplements that might help protect her eye. She is 23 and that is pretty much the life span of a Hahn’s macaw but she is otherwise healthy and it breaks my heart to know that she might end up blind soon. I used to think it was a blessing to have a pet with a long life span (not like a friend of mine who owned three Danes that each died within 7 years) but when a parrot’s time comes it must be devastating because by then They have been a part of your life for so long....cheerful post isn’t it? I will try to share funny stories next time, there’s no lack of those with this parrot! I would post a picture of Verdi but I have not yet figured out how to do it Cheers!

 

[Scott]

Hi everyone, and thank you again for your suggestions. It’s great to be able to share experiences about bird issues. I feel that there is so much information out there for dog and cat owners but we bird friends have to do a lot of research and there really isn’t that much. It seems the same few articles get reprinted over and over. I took Verdi to an animal ophthalmologist last week because she has a cataract and I wanted to know what I could do to prevent the other eye from getting one too. The eye doctor asked me to hold Verdi so she could examine her (I guess her training did not include learning how to handle birds). Then she just announced that there was another cataract forming and gave me anti-inflammatory eye drops. She said there is nothing else to do and she is too small and old to have cataract surgery. I wonder if there are supplements that might help protect her eye. She is 23 and that is pretty much the life span of a Hahn’s macaw but she is otherwise healthy and it breaks my heart to know that she might end up blind soon. I used to think it was a blessing to have a pet with a long life span (not like a friend of mine who owned three Danes that each died within 7 years) but when a parrot’s time comes it must be devastating because by then They have been a part of your life for so long....cheerful post isn’t it? I will try to share funny stories next time, there’s no lack of those with this parrot! I would post a picture of Verdi but I have not yet figured out how to do it Cheers!

Might research the literature to determine the state of medicine for slowing cataract progression or surgery. I have no experience in this realm, perhaps other have? In the hopefully remote event Verdi becomes blind, there are various techniques to provide a safe and comfortable cage. Having a latent ability to at least see large items and shadows allows for accommodation.

Losing a beloved companion at any age is devastating. Birds indeed have long spans, creating endless beautiful memories to cherish. I've had many Great Danes, and seven is indeed old age. One lived to eleven, another just shy of ten.

Easiest method to share images is via free hosting site such as Imgur. Post #51 explains: http://www.parrotforums.com/technical-support/6287-how-post-pictures-6.html#post718293