Posted: Thu May 11, 2006 6:34 pm Post subject: Advice Needed Pls Kakariki Hen Bird
Hi people,
Any advice would be appreciated on the following please, or what steps to take next.
I'll start at the beginning!!!!
Over a year ago we bought two hen birds but after about two weeks one of the hen birds fell ill and died so we introduced a wild bird which was ok.
Two birds in the same cage cohabiting fine together but two months ago one of the birds (hand reared one) started plucking her feathers from her chest and pulling out feathers on the back of her neck. We thought perhaps it was the other bird doing this so we put the "bald one" in a seperate cage.
We thought it might be mites from reading through this site, so we bought some mite drops and gave another dose two weeks after. We also took the bird over to the place where we got her from and she was wormed.
All through this we are giving them calcium, fresh fruit vegetables which the bird just picks at,not really interested and seems to be eating seed ok and loves millet. However in the last two weeks she cannot seem to grab with one of her claws and is hopping about pulling herself along with her beak.
Is there anything else that maybe blatently obvious that we are missing or we will have to find an avian vet nearest to our area.
It sounds like she has a neurological problem and you should take her to an avian vet as soon as possible. To me it sounds like she's had a stroke.
It may already be too late for her so please do not delay any further.
Shaun,
It would probably pay to get the bird checked out by a vet. However, you could actually be dealing with 2 seperate issues in regard to the birds health. We have had several birds (mainly hens) in the past 12 months that have become "lame" in one leg. The source of the complaint has not as yet been found but it is a muscular problem. Our vet has run several tests and in most cases the problem can be rectified by placing the bird in a small heated cage or brooder for a few days. Remove ALL perches so that the bird can rest on both legs with their feet on a flat surface. Use low level water and seed dishes to enable the bird to feed without having to grip on to the side of the bowl. This will normally fix the problem and we then place a small perch inside the enclosure to make sure the bird is again able to grip properly before returning them to an outside aviary.
Leg weakness is often the result of a Calcium deficiency. Calcium, Phosphorus (ratio 2:1) and Vit D3 have to be in balance. A deficiency of one of these can result in Hypocalcaemia.
Paralysis can also due to kidney damage/infection. The sciatic nerve runs trough the Kidney and any swelling can cause weakness.
http://www.kakariki.sytes.net/ftopict-433.html&sid=d45b9ff47b3111fe73696fb8603c9164
Featherpicking........I always thought that it was a behavioural disorder. But after reading this I thought there might be a connection with the weakness. You'll find here a checklist that can help to identify the source of trouble.
http://www.featherpicking.com/Basics_of_FP.htm
Just an update! We took kiki to the vets and the suggested that the problem could be dietary and also recommended a bird lamp. With regards to diet we have put in her cage various fresh fruit and veg but she just doesn't seem interested but she absolutely loves millet which the vet told us is quite high in fat, i'm not sure how true this is.
We have now got the lemp on bstween tne two ctges, oue other sirds gonna have a fantastic tan as she hasn't moved away from the thing yet!! The vet suggested that when we can and the sun is shining (very rare over here in the uk) is to move the birds outside in the sun but away from draughts.
We are introducing harrisons organic bird food gradually and see what happens there. We'll give anything a go
Just wondered if you could give tips on food. As the vet suggested trying to feed them on harrisons pellet food but they are not the least interested. Have tried mixing this with fresh fruit and veg and have added a little of their normal parakeet mix and the only thing they touch is the seed.
We try and give them lots of fresh fruit/veg but the main problem is trying to get them interested.
If only these little blighters could talk then at least we could sort them out with their own menu.
And as for the bird lamp! Give them the option they'd have a couple of deck chairs underneath it
We find that many of the birds from other breeders we have here tale months, eveb a yr to start to eat the fruit vegs as in the Diet thread.
Simply because they have been raised on seed. Not only Kakariki but other parrot species.
Chop up to pea size, and dont mix with seed.
a few Small cat biskets are an alternative until they get into chopped veggies.
The Kakariki that have not been raised on fruit/veg, are usually birds that have been rescued , and in bad shape...nude/mites etc.
The biggest wives tale is "parrot seed"
Other than the grass parrots (budgies etc) ask tour self
"where do the parrots live?" in the forrest/jungles
So where do they get seed as thew main source of nutrition?
Our Kakariki eat less than 1/4 of volume of seed to fruit/veggies/sprouts.
Our 'std fresh copped mix' contains
Sweetcorn, minted green peas, sliced green beens, puha, dandilion, NZ spinach, cellery, caspsicum, sprouted mung/mustard/alfafa/salard beans, silverbeet, cali/broccoli stems, potato/kumra peelings, pumpkin seeds, basil/parsely, carrot.
A cap of apple cider vinigar is added about ever 2 to 3 days...fresh food supplied 2 to 3 times a day.
Fresh Friut offered whole or cut in 1/2
Apple, kiwi fruit, fig, rose hips, feajoa, fusha berries, grapefruit, oranges, grapes, mango, puriri, black berries...1 type of fruit per day, and depends what is in season in the gardans/shops.
Berries on branches include:
Manuka, pittospotum, hebie, NZ pepper tree, puriri _________________ My Spelling is Not Incorrect...It's 'Creative'
You mentioned about not mixing with seed, so would you still feed seed seperately? We tried cutting down the seed but was afraid because they weren't eating the fresh food we were starving them!!!
We can still keep offering them seperate fresh fruit/veg and just keep persevering hoping that they take to it. Is there anything we can do to sway them away from the seed of just let time take its course?
You mentioned about not mixing with seed, so would you still feed seed seperately
yes
We have found no quick fix to get them to eat more veggies instead.
A few small cat biskets mixed in with seed and veg and feed separatly
does help a little
Epec if a bird is not in top condition dont hold back food (seed) they need the exta norishment and food regardless...
A liitle mineral. vitiam powder made available helps with recovery also. _________________ My Spelling is Not Incorrect...It's 'Creative'
I found that Puku wasn't eating hardly any of her fruit and veggies that I was lovingly chopping up for her, I was feeding them seperately but in the last few days I have been hiding them in her scratch tray at the bottom of her cage and she loves it....goes hunting for them and gobbles it all up no problem! It's like she prefers to find them herself, so now I put them all in and mix it all around with the wood chippings and grass and stuff and she spends ages scratching around making merry little cheeping noises as she is doing it. _________________
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as she hasn't moved away from the thing yet!! The vet suggested that when we can and the sun is shining (very rare over here in the uk) is to move the birds outside in the sun but away from draughts.
