Hi folks. My otherwise healthy Bananas started leaning down on her perch a few days ago, and became inactive. I thought maybe she had injured her claw (her name reflects her skittish personality) so I left her alone, but after a few days I caught her and examined her right foot, which I noticed was not gripping the perch.

 

Around the ankle, there are yellowish protuberances, and the claws are weak, almost limp.

 

She is about four years old. She won't eat her greens and doesn't much care for fruit, so seed and gravel are about it. Her eyes and feathers are good. She puts some weight on the foot now, but the claws won;t grip and she looks very uncomfortable.

 

I am going to put in a platform so she can rest. But is this a tumor, or just arthritis? (No, there is no avian vet in the area.)

 

Thanks!!!!

possibly bumblefoot? are all the perches the same size and shape? that can cause bumblefoot in adult budgies. also if you have sandpaper perches...

 

as for the greens issue, it is so so important to get her to eat SOME. a little bit of grated carrot, picking the buds off brocolli, a lettuce leaf soaked in water, she needs to be eating something green at least every two days to ensure she has a long and healthy life.

 

also eggfood is very important to their diet, either dry egg mix from your pet shop or a very hard boiled mashed egg - it will do the world of good.

 

does she have a mineral block or cuttlefish (preferably both) calcium deficiencies can cause A LOT of problems in later life. a seed only diet is really not a good way to go.

 

if there are no avian vets in your area then i would suggest you go to a reliable ordinary vet. they should still be able to help you and if her problems are beyond the treatment they can provide you can ask to be referred on to an avian specialist.

 

keep us posted x

Can you tell me where I can find out more about Bumblefoot?

 

She does chew her cuttlebone regularly. The perches are textured, but not the sand covered kind. I have to be careful about changing anything, she gets VERY stressed out. For this reason I really can't let her fly, either- she just goes into a corner and pants with fear. Her mate, Skyblue, is the opposite. He is friendly and cheerful all the time. Now he can't understand why Bananas doesn't want to get "friendly" with him, poor guy.

 

I only bought eggfood once and the quality of it was so poor (it was full of dust) I went back to regular millet-based food. I will try some green food. I also thought a piece of carpet on the platform might be nice, to grab with her claws, or will she just get stuck? Is there something better?

I wouldn't go down the carpet route,I would certainly let even an ordinary vet have a look. Natural tree branches (apple preferably,some can't be used) would really help I think. Try some broccoli,most birds love it. Cress? Dandelions? even grass.

Julie

the eggfood i use is called CEDE it comes in a yellow box and the eggfood comes in a foil packet inside. it is very fresh and very good quality. i think it only comes in boxes of 1kg. you should be able to get it at your local big chain pet store.

 

brocolli is a very good green to start with, they seem to like playing with the buds. you may have to 'teach' her to eat it by pretending to munch it and then handing it to her. this is the only way i got mine to eat veggies. you will find that once you get her eating one type she will nibble other things too. just make sure you are persistant and leave some in there every day for her.

 

i think you would definitely need to see a vet about her problems and you should ask about bumblefoot while you are there. you could also do a net search on google.

 

carpet is not a good idea but a wooden platform will be fine. if you really want to cover it with something then an old teatowel would be best as it is short and harder for the nails to get stuck.

 

i think if she has never been allowed to fly her puffing and panting may be caused by obesity problems (common in millet based diets) or the fact that her muscles are underdeveloped and it is such hard work for her to fly. she really needs to be getting some sort of exercise when she is better.

 

hope this helps