Please help! 2 issues: Strange Green Cheek behavior and a biting issue

[Bellahill]

Hi Everyone, I have an 8 week old GC who is usually very sweet. We spend a lot of time with her and she receives tons of affection and attention. However, she can be ridiculously moody and sometimes she will seem to have these little "attacks" by herself in her cage by screeching a little (not a lot) and sort of allow herself to fall down on her side and almost contort her body and end up on her back sometimes and usually chews on her foot or grabs her face with her foot. She seems agitated when she does this. This isn't limited to the cage. I'm concerned because I can't find any info on this behavior anywhere. Is she just being a moody weird conure or has anyone had experience with this? I hate to drop 250 on a vet visit when she's eating well, generally very playful, happy and well adjusted otherwise. Also, she's going through a definite biting phase. Not nippy. I haven't figured out how to deal with this. Saying No in a firm voice and giving her the evil eye doesn't work. Any advice other than just wait it out???? I could use the help. She's my first conure.

 

[Spiritbird]

Why the repeated messages?

 

[greycloud]

I truely believe your baby is having siezures!! She needs a vet check ASAP!

 

[Birdamor]

It would be good if you could video her doing this because it's very hard to tell what exactly she is doing from just a written explanation but could she be having seizures? Convulsions come in all different 'flavors' with a wide range of movements, durations and intensity and, in my personal experience (not with birds but with dogs and cats) epileptic animals are usually more restless than the 'normal' ones and would often have seizures triggered by excitement, anxiety and stress so, if I were you, I would take her to an avian vet and had some tests done (and don't forget to check for metal toxicity and calcium levels -but make sure they do the 'good' test for calcium and not the regular total calcium which is not accurate at all -I think the 'good' one is called serum ionized calcium test).

 

[Aussie Ben]

Welcome to the forum. From your description, the beaviour is definately cause for concern. I think the advice you have been given to see the Vet is good advice and should be acted on promptly.

 

[Auggie's Dad]

Conures are crazy critters. Auggie often has little 'fits' where it seems he just needs to burn off energy. During these fits he loves to thrash things: a keyring full of keys is a great release, if he is in his cage he will often grab his ankle band and thrash on that for a second or two - but he never falls down or contorts.

Mini rage-fits are just part of being a conure I think - but falling down or contorting does sound much more like a seizure. As suggested previously a video would be handy, but from what you've described I'd recommend heading to an avian vet ASAP.

 

[apatrimo94]

Go see an avian vet, ASAP!!!!! I forgot all about seizures as a possibility!

 

[boabab95]

Ya, it sounds like seizures... for the biting... well... let's wait till the other issue is resolves, as the "fits" could be causing mood change somehow...

 

[erik7181]

Welcome to the fourum. I have a 1yr old green cheek named pepsi and in my opionion this is normal. At first I thought pepsi was biteing her feet a lot but as I sat and watched her for a while I noticed she was doing it to her nails. She has done it to the tops of her feet to. Now I got pepsi over a year ago and she has always been moody and nippy until a couple months ago and she is over a year and a half so in my opinion this is normal but no one can reassure you more then your vet. Hope this helps. Erik

 

[Bellahill]

Hi Guys. Thanks so much for your messages! Turns out she was throwing little temper tantrums. She still does. Do any f you guys have GCs that throw tantrums? Also she's 9 weeks old and still wants me to syringe feed her! Is this normal???

 

[Spiritbird]

Hello and welcome to us again. A 9 wk. old parrot is very young and clings to the hand feedings. Try to put some of the food in your hand from the syringe as she watches you. Then from the hand you can try a spoon if you want. She will eventually feed herself. It is good that she likes the syringe because later on you may have to give medication that way and she will know how to use the device.

 

[bogo1]

I am no vet but as a human health care provider that sounds like a seizure to me. Need vet advice.