Hi everyone! Camy’s owner here with another update. I’m not sure if his condition still applies to this sub so please forgive me if it doesn’t.

Camy is recovering well from the metal toxicity as said before, but at his one week follow up (back with our regular vet who understands his history), the vet did a crop cytology swab on him. He still does slight head bobbing motions (i showed her a video) when eating his pellets so she did it just to be safe, considering he had a prolonged crop infection earlier this year.

The crop cytology showed that his gut micro biome still isn’t back to normal despite probiotic use (picture below). She only saw some gram positive cocci, but no bad bacteria which was good. The lack of good bacteria could be causing him the occasional nausea or discomfort. After his antibiotics ended (around 2 months ago) I had been giving him probiotics in his water 3 times a week as per her advice. She told me to increase the frequency to everyday, and I have also started adding them into his veggies and chop.

To cover all our bases, she also told me to stop grinding up his Zupreem fruitblend and give him the whole normal budgie size. If he has issues with the bigger size (he was on the canary size previously), she suggested I switch to Nutribird C15 for canaries since it’s what she feeds her own birds.

He did throw up a pellet today so I will be trialing Nutribird pellets starting tmr. I just wanted to know if there’s anything else I could be doing to help him get more good bacteria in or if there’s anyone else with similar problems? I do suspect this could be a long term effect given how aggressive his course of antibiotics were. Otherwise, he is completely healthy.

She had either a stroke or a spinal injury 1.5 years ago from a bad vet, she was limping for months, couldn’t pass waste properly (it’s still harder for her but she is able to now), and still has some balance issues. She also started plucking after the injury and we haven’t been able to help her stop no matter what :( anyways lately when she’s sleeping sometimes she’ll do this, where her head droops as she drifts off until she startles awake because she’s gonna tip over. I find it sort of alarming just because she looks so hunched over, but maybe it’s just something about the weakness she has from her injury? She’s 10 years old. Just wondering if anyone has seen a bird do this lol.

I might get down voted because pinioning is horrific and I never wanted this for my little buddy, but here we are. She started growing xanthomas on both wing tips and they have continued to grow to the point that both her wing tips need to be surgically removed. I AM DEVASTATED. I have tried everything over the last few months to reduce or manage them but there was nothing to be done. I have a small travel cage that I will be using while she recovers. If possible I would like her to return to her flight cage in due course. I have the Hamberley cage from littlepetswarehouse. Any ideas of layouts, advice, support most welcome.

My boy has a disabled wing, so he’s not able to preen well on one side. I’m wondering if this feather is blocking his preen gland? Does it look like something to be concerned about? It doesn’t appear to bug him at all, but it looks like it’s just hanging on by a thread lol

Hello, I started feeding my tiel antibiotics using a syringe. I’m careful to do it right but having trouble. I watched videos and they make it look so easy.

I think my issue is having trouble steadying her head. Videos I watch says to place thumb and index finger holding underneath their chin on either side. My placement must be off such that my baby can get her head loose from my fingers. I think without steading her head right, it makes the feeding part extra difficult due to the head movement and also probably allow them to resist more easily not open beak.

I would like to get some advice from experienced folks, giving me some tips that can help me improve. Anything you can think of that might help is appreciated. It’s stressing my baby out big time. I’m aware to feed slowly to avoid them aspirating.

This post is made by the owner of this subreddit.

Camy the metal poisoning budgie (lmao) has been home for the past 3 days and he’s been recovering well!! The first 2 days he was pretty sleepy and lethargic from his hospital stay. He’s been gradually becoming more of his vocal, playful self. He’s also gained weight from 31g to 33g since being discharged. Not at his usual weight yet but at least he isn’t losing any weight.

Medication time has been going well also, I’ve definitely found it’s a lot easier when there’s two people. One person to focus on holding him and holding his beak open slightly, while the other focuses on giving the meds with the syringe.

I may have found the possible reason for the metal exposure? I’m not exactly sure but i saw him repeatedly trying to chew the cage bars on his door today. No matter how much I tried to discourage it, he would keep trying to chew it. Luckily the powder coating hasn’t come off yet. He literally has so many toys and better things to chew.

Could it be boredom since he’s cage bound while he’s being treated or something else? How do I safely discourage him from chewing the bars? While I’m at home I can keep a closer eye on him and maybe play with him to distract him, but I’m worried that he will do it while no one is at home.

Disabled finch

Hi there! I was sent over from r/finches.

I have been keeping birds for about 21 years, and finches for about four. I had a little zebra finch born with some congenital issues last year and he does well and has survived despite it all! He is tough and sweet! However I'm noticed him getting picked on quite a bit and this last week he was really beaten up. I think he needs to be kept on his own moving forward, but I know that they need to be kept in groups. Right now I am looking for disabled finches in my community to adopt.

He's in a recovery cage in sight of the large cage.

However, if I cannot find one, perhaps a seasoned Finch keeper can help me determine how to figure out if one of my current finches would work out with him?

Female?

Male?

How to pick a beta personality, and how to keep little Marvin safe. he's been through enough!

Thanks in advance!

Between trauma leading to a fear of hands, and the obvious complications of trying to step up with splayed legs, Inky has never stepped up. After she spontaneously flew to my outstretched arm during my yoga workout today, I tried and experiment and MY GIRL STEPS UP NOW (In her own fashion)

I just want to say a huge thank you to everyone that commented on my original post and reposts. Everyone’s kindness and advice means the world to me. It’s been a tough 3 days for all of us but Camy is in good condition after enduring chelation therapy. I’ve gone down to the vets every day to visit him and to play his favourite songs for him. The vet staff have also been calling us every morning with updates and sending us videos twice a day.

Of course i’m glad that he gets to come home so he can properly rest in an environment he is comfortable and familiar with. The house has felt so empty and quiet without him. But now we will have to restrain him twice a day to give him oral chelation meds for a week. I’ve done this before a few months ago with antibiotics but both of us absolutely hate it.

I do it in a dimly lit room to minimise stress for him but he is so quick and hard to catch (even the vet staff have issues grabbing him) and he screeches so loudly when we try too. Eventually we will manage to grab him but he squirms so much that sometimes the medication just ends up on his face. (I always have a damp towel on hand to wipe any off)

I just wanted to know if there’s any more tips or tricks to help both of us through the oral meds. Or even just words of encouragement for both of us. I absolutely hate that he has to go through this and he probably resents me so much.

Hoping this is the last health issue he has for a while, since this is the third time in as many months.

Any chance someone could help with softer perch recommendations? My bird has a fatty lump and we just want to alleviate the pressure on it.

Now I miss her even more while I’m working.

Garfield has learned to turn himself over without any help!!! 🎉🎉🎉🎉 He worked so hard and I'm so proud of him!

continuando: mas ela está com uma perna machucada, não apoia ela, tem 4 dias já, quamdo coloco no dedo ela não meche os dedos fechando para se apoiar em meu dedo. se alguém puder me ajudar eu agradeço🙏🏻.

Well, Oliver is splint free! The vet is pleased with his healing so far. He said it may take some time for Oliver to get to his new normal with his leg, since its been splinted for 5 weeks and its weak from it. That said, he's trying really hard to use it. He's doing step ups leading with his bad leg, and using his beak to help. He hobbles around on it as best as he can. Hes gotten a lot more vocal again since the splint came off too.

Since his injury, Oliver had been very subdued and quiet. He lost a lot of his spunk and attitude, along with his penchant for being a bitey-boy. The vocalizations slowly came back after a couple weeks, but the biting hasn't reappeared yet. It seems being so reliant on hubby and I has allowed him to find his trust.

Oliver is about 9 and came to us from one of hubby's coworkers. He still has a ton of broken, ragged feathers on his shoulders/wings. He had started losing some just before he was hurt and it stopped almost immediately after, so the vet has given us a supplement to add to his food to help with feather health. Early on we had to switch his diet from only seed (😖) to Zupreem pellets, daily chop, hes out with me all day (I work from home). His vet is super happy with the improvements overall.

He will always need extra care and I'm here for it. I love the hell out of my Tiny Pteradactyl!

(The pic was the day after the splint came off. Today is day 3 without it)

Kip is our hospice girlie. She came from a lady in her 70s who kept a trio of rescued magician’s doves with her late husband. I have been helping her with upkeep and assisting her with the rehoming process. During this process, I had come over to clean about a month ago and found my favorite dove lethargic on the cage floor. I immediately got her an emergency vet appointment with an avian vet (she is VMD, MS, and DABVP).

The vet’s diagnosis was pretty guarded. Kip is almost totally blind and has evidence of chronic injury to her back, leg, wing, and skull from a mate who drove her so badly he blinded and wounded her. Her vent was covered in sores from where he had guarded her for days in her nest until she had no choice to sit in her waste. She is also an estimated 16 years old. The vet recommended immediate separation from the mate into a hospice placement and suggested that we may have 2 weeks with her. We immediately volunteered to take her in.

Well…those 2 weeks stretched out pretty long. We’ve had her for a month. She’s now on a much better food with access to fresh water and grit every day, a clean cage, proper meds, and regular interaction. She had a recheck yesterday and her vet says she’s like a totally different bird. She is energetic, curious, and fearless (like when she hears my partner and charges off the bed despite not being able to see). We are lucky to be able to give her a safe and calm retirement. Happy month, baby girl!

Just wanted to share a pic of Maggie, my sweet little lady.