There's Something Wrong with Olivers Right Foot!

[drlisaort]

Oliver plays a game of "exercise" with me where he flaps his wings several rounds and I get excited as does he. It's fun for both of us and good for him to move his wings. Well, as he flapped he went into flight, so I knew I needed to go see Charlie (who raised him from hatch date to when I brought him home) to have his wings clipped. His wings were last clipped four months ago. Oliver is almost seven months old.

So, while at Charlie's he also trimmed Oliver's nails. When I got home I noticed he could not grip my finger to step up with his left foot and that he was favoring it. He is not sensitive when I touch it to examine it but he definitely cannot get around in his cage and he seems to have no strength in it. What do you think is wrong? I'm so worried!

 

[sodakat]

He'll be okay in a few days. Clipping nails sometimes bothers them for a while, especially if the nail is cut short.

Regarding his flight ability that you noticed. Eclectus do not molt their large feathers, including their primaries (flight feathers) until after a year old. So, nothing changed from the time you bought him at 4 months and now, 3 months later, other than he may have gotten stronger. If he was stronger he might have been able to fly better with clipped wings than he could when they were first clipped, or maybe he had a greater desire.

I hope you will consider letting him fly when he molts later this year. I won't push this as I know the mods on this forum are against flighted parrots.

 

[drlisaort]

Thank you Sodakat for your input. I'm sooooooooooooooo relieved. I feared he'd broke his foot. I truly was frantic.

As for letting Oliver fly, I can't think of anything more beautiful and natural but I live in Florida (with ceiling fans in each room) and I'm often outside at both of my homes, which are near the ocean leaving me too afraid I'd lose him. I come from a place of "natural" in everything I do, from my practice to how I live my life and would want this for Oliver too. But the risk of him flying off frightens me more than barring his flight. I whole heartedly respect your input and wish it could be otherwise.

Thank you!

 

[antoinette]

I hope you will consider letting him fly when he molts later this year. I won't push this as I know the mods on this forum are against flighted parrots.

We (some Mod's and many members) are not against flighted parrots.

It is a personal choice to clip or not to clip.

 

[Peeker]

I hope you will consider letting him fly when he molts later this year. I won't push this as I know the mods on this forum are against flighted parrots.

We (some Mod's and many members) are not against flighted parrots.

It is a personal choice to clip or not to clip.

Thank you for clearing that up! I'm fairly new here and I had the impression it was more of a pro choice thing.

 

[antoinette]

No need for concern, give Oliver a few days to adjust.

When talking Mishka to the vet yesterday, I was told by Dr Russell to keep an eye on Mishka when on his perches for a few day, as his grip would not be as strong as normal, due to the nails being trimmed.

 

[antoinette]

I hope you will consider letting him fly when he molts later this year. I won't push this as I know the mods on this forum are against flighted parrots.

We (some Mod's and many members) are not against flighted parrots.

It is a personal choice to clip or not to clip.

Thank you for clearing that up! I'm fairly new here and I had the impression it was more of a pro choice thing.

You are most welcome Peeker.
Each and everyone has a choice to make.
Your birds safety comes first as you mentioned.
You have made the correct choice as far as I am concerned.

 

[sodakat]

As for letting Oliver fly, I can't think of anything more beautiful and natural but I live in Florida (with ceiling fans in each room) and I'm often outside at both of my homes, which are near the ocean leaving me too afraid I'd lose him.

I lost the smartest CAG in the whole world (yes, I'm biased!) because I took her outside with me thinking she could not fly. I kept her clipped at the advice of her previous owner and at the time I did not question this. Maui decided to glide to the grass from my shoulder and the wind took her. She flew into a very high tree and I could not get her down. I sat under that tree for two days begging her to come down. On the third day I walked home and miracle of miracles she followed above me, flying from tree to tree. This was a bird with the proper clip mind you. When we got back to my yard she landed in a tree about 25 feet up. I got a ladder and climbed as close as I could to her. She watched me and I thought for sure she was going to climb down to me but instead she took off again and this time the wind took her into a huge pine tree up the road. I raced to follow her and she flew farther away into the woods. I looked for her for 2 weeks. It was horrible and it was entirely my fault.

I should have had a harness on her. This was long ago and I have learned a lot since. Maui introduced herself to me when her first owner brought her to me by saying, "put your shoes on and we'll go outside". Very clear, very exact talker. She asked for watermellon and yogurt. Wouldn't eat either one, the stinker. Carried on a long one-sided conversation she picked up listening to first owner's husband work from home. She was an incredible bird and I lost her.

Now I keep all my birds flighted because I know that this means I must be constantly vigilant. I KNOW they can fly. No surprises.

My routiine when birds leave bird room: turn off ceiling fans, lock front door, crate dogs if they are too alert that day. Yes, I suppose it is a pain, but I do it.

This is one of the reasons I worked so hard to build my outside aviary last summer and why I divided my living room to create a bird room where they can fly at will.

I have two birds who are unable to fly, Lolly and LaFitte. Lolly's primaries are stripped due to Feather Destructive Behavior so will not hold her weight. She truly drops like a rock. LaFitte has something wrong with his "wrist" on his left wing that is likely from an old injury. Much of the ropes and branches in my bird room is to accomodate those two.

I completely understand clipping. I was there. I now do things differently because I also understand fatty liver disease and the likelihood of Eclectus suffering from an early death. Flying and a lean diet at least give them a better chance, IMO.

When they go outside, regardless if they can fly, they wear a harness or are caged, except in the aviary of course. I also built the pass through to the aviary becasue I did not want to take the chance of carrying a bird from the house to the aviary and losing them. I know people who crate the bird to take it to the aviary and things happen. One was bending over to open the crate and didn't realize the aviary door wasn't completely shut. Bird flew off. Things can happen. We learn from each other.

 

[drlisaort]

Oh gosh what a sad story Sodakat! I sure can understand why you chose to keep your birds flighted. Perhaps I need to rethink this. In the meantime, I'm not going out on a windy day with Oliver! Thank you!

 

[drlisaort]

Thank you Antoinette! Yes, my poor baby can't hold anything with his little foot, and he uses it all the time when he eats. I feel awful!

 

[antoinette]

Thank you Antionette! Yes, my poor baby can't hold anything with his little foot, and he uses it all the time when he eats. I feel awful!

Try offering food, you holding a small bowl
If you are concerned that not enough food is eaten, offer baby purities.

 

[Rani]

How is oliver's leg now?

My female ekkie had a crack in her leg about 2 months back. I took her to the vet and the xray showed a very very hair like crack. They gave her some pain med and asked me to wrap all the perches with thick towels so there is not much pressure on the foot. She has recovered completely. I hope oliver is doing good. Try not to put pressure on that leg for 2-3 weeks.

chrisi

 

[drlisaort]

Thank you for asking Rani! Oliver is fine now! It took about three days for him to eat using his foot and he had a tough time moving around on his playstand. Glad to hear your little one recovered completely, the are so dependent on us to read their little minds and sometimes I can't. Frustrating!!

 

[Peeker]

Oh good update! I was wondering about him too!