sore foot problem...

[captrandom]

Ok a little background. My father bought a yellow naped amazon for my 17 year old sister cause 'she just had to have one'.. since then she is lost interest in the bird and I have de facto adopted it. However, I don't have the resources to take care of this bird otherwise buying food...

a few weeks ago I noticed what looked like a pink patch on one of his feet that concerned me.. Well today I saw a scab on the bottom of the foot and fresh blood soaked into his paint wooden dowel perch. I am assuming the worst.

I need some advice guys, If what I am describing is something serious I need to know so I can get that bird to the vet and have my sister turn over ownership so I can find a rescue to give this bird a home it needs.

As an aside, I cant examine him cause he bonded to her and he is very bitey to any of us.

 

[Spiritbird]

It would be better to not have any dowel type perches. Natural ones are so much better and or the rope perches. You look for safe wood for birds and wait for a wind storm or a fresh cut branch and it should be relatively clean. Then you go through a process to clean the branches and put in cage. I do not even have to put special hooks on the end as they will fit through the bars well. I do sometimes hook with a cable tie. Also you need to have the correct width. My vet had a perch diameter sizer and told me what size to get for my bird's feet.

 

[merlinsmom13]

With an amazon I would wonder about vitamin deficiency. I think it gives them dry cracked feet. What kind of diet is he on? Rope perches are kind to the feet. I use pure cocoa butter for myself & "grease" Merlins feet occasionally, this could help the symptoms. A vet visit would be a good idea.

 

[melinda]

Some times birds feet become dry like our hands and feet. They will crack and bust as well. First thing i would do is towel this bird because it will bite you (from what i understood in your post). That way you can look at the feet. If they are over dry i give my birds a mayo rub down. Yea it is nasty but the oils in it softens the feet fast. Make sure you get them wiped off clean before letting the bird lose. If he has any rough perchs take them out and place rope and natural wood you can find out what is safe on line. He needs fresh fruit and veggys daily. If you can give him a shower every other day that would help him as well.

 

[captrandom]

Thanks guys how the info... When I saw the blood on the perch I really freaked... I was basicly wondering 'is it over with him'.. Ill just have to towel and piss him off so I can try cocoa butter and mayo... If it gets any worse Ill make an appointment with the vet...

vitamin def? Its possible, but I think he eats well...I give him the pellets that ive seen mentioned here as being a good food.. I cant remember the same.. and I do throw him some kind of produce daily that is good for birds..

In retrospect I'm wondering if its cause the season change. Around where I live when it goes from summer to winter all the humidity dies down and the air gets very dry... I even have to break out the humidifier cause my skin feels cracky...

I just have a bad habit of assuming the worst.. Specially when I saw blood and foot.. But thank you all for your feedback...

 

[Pedro]

I agree with Spiritbird, the dowel perch would cause pressure sores. Parrots need various size perches to exercise their feet.