I pulled a cockbird out of the aviary the other day as he was spending a lot of time on the floor of the aviary and I thought he was having a hard moult.

He has been in a warm lamp cage inside the breeding room for a few days.

Just checked him again and he was waddling around the floor of the cage and walking funny. He seemed to have a sore foot.

I picked him up and both his feet are the same. They are both kind of frozen and wont move...........paralysed. They are rigid and wont bend, wont grip, like the toes are spread out and he can use his legs but his feet arent working and they are like paddles....he can support himself on his feet but cant use them.

Anyone have any suggestions as to what might be going on ?

Apart from all this he is acting bright enough.

Edited July 15, 201014 yr by KAZ

Something to do with the nerves? It sounds like what Marigold did. She only had one foot like that though.

Something to do with the nerves? It sounds like what Marigold did. She only had one foot like that though.

Yeah.....the fact thats its both feet is different

I don't know what to say. One point would be to never breed him (even though he would be incapable of doing so, I guess) . Is he okay in the aviary? Maybe put him in the youngsters flight, if it is smaller?

How old is he? Has he got arthritis? Just throwing some ideas in

Hope he pulls through for you Kaz.

I don't know what to say. One point would be to never breed him (even though he would be incapable of doing so, I guess) . Is he okay in the aviary? Maybe put him in the youngsters flight, if it is smaller?

Of course he cant be bred in this condition That goes without saying. The fact he wasnt okay in the aviary is what drew my attention to him and why I pulled him out of there. The foot thing has happened since pulling him out of the aviary but must have been a condition that was beginning thus making him look like he was struggling in the aviary. And a bird with a problem or health issue should not be put back in the aviary. Here are photos anyway

he tries to perch but cannot stay up

How old is he? Has he got arthritis? Just throwing some ideas in Hope he pulls through for you Kaz.

Arthritis I am not sure. But it seems to have come on sudden not gradually.

Edited July 10, 201014 yr by Dave_McMinn

Could it be some sort of stroke?

never heard of this before. Can it be related to a bite by a spider? What about a calcium deficiency? Possible that it could have occurred over time and only been noticed now as it has simply only now got to the noticeable point?

 

Shame as he looks like a great bird

he is a reasonably middle aged bird now, '07 bird. I agree with Dave, maybe he was bitten by something? or a stroke?

Could it be some sort of stroke?

Possible

never heard of this before. Can it be related to a bite by a spider? What about a calcium deficiency? Possible that it could have occurred over time and only been noticed now as it has simply only now got to the noticeable point?Shame as he looks like a great bird

I dont subscribe to the spider bite theories where birds are concerned so I doubt that. Deficiency ..no doubt it. Besides he was only checked by the vet recently and as far as some days ago was fine in the aviary.

he is a reasonably middle aged bird now, '07 bird. I agree with Dave, maybe he was bitten by something? or a stroke?

Barely three isnt middle aged in my book. Stroke is possible but he is fine all apart from his feet

Edited July 10, 201014 yr by KAZ

Poor thing. With chickens you can make little 'boots' for a similar condition. It straightens them out so they can walk properly. I attempted this with Marigold and it did work for a while, until she got it off. I feel so sorry for the guy. What did the vet say? I agree stroke is possible, I read somewhere that after a stroke they can struggle to grip the perch.

Vet says nothing. It is the weekend and my avian vet isnt on till Tuesday.

Kaz, I have occassionally seen this in some of my young birds, very rarely in an older bird. The explanation given to me by several more experienced breeders (I asked everyone when i first saw it) was that it was caused by an infection affecting the liver - usually e.coli in younger birds. The liver swells and puts pressure on the nerves running nearby (which happens to be the leg nerves primarily) causing paralysis in either one or both feet and sometimes even the whole leg depending on the severity of the infection (or swelling of the liver).

 

My first line of action with these birds is as with any infection - broad specturm antibiotic (as I am unsure exactly what I bacteria I need to treat for so I hit a wide as I can) and heat. All of the young birds I have had to treat in this manner have recovered well. I can't remember the outcome of the couple of adult birds I've seen with it - it's a while ago now. I probably see a couple of these each breeding season and usually if I'm a bit tardy on the kindy cage hygene.

 

Obviously I have NOT gone to the vet to find out if the theory is correct to start with or if so what bacteria I might be dealing with. Also I imagine if the liver swelling is caused by something other than an infection you may well lose the bird anyway.

Thanks Nubbly I will do that now as a vet is a few days away and he is a special bird.

 

 

PS droppings seem normal as does he so far

 

Edited July 10, 201014 yr by KAZ

Kaz, I wondered if this might be helpful. Paralysis

Kaz, I wondered if this might be helpful. Paralysis

Thankyou Catherine.........its good info to absorb and work through.

Kaz, I wondered if this might be helpful. Paralysis

Thankyou Catherine.........its good info to absorb and work through.

Hi Kaz,

It might be a tumor inside his tummy (eg. kidneys, liver). I had a budgie with similar symptoms, but it started in only one leg. The tumor put pressure on the leg nerves and paralysed him :-(....but I hope it is not a tumor but an infection like nubbly said.

Kaz, I wondered if this might be helpful. Paralysis

Thankyou Catherine.........its good info to absorb and work through.

Hi Kaz,

It might be a tumor inside his tummy (eg. kidneys, liver). I had a budgie with similar symptoms, but it started in only one leg. The tumor put pressure on the leg nerves and paralysed him :-(....but I hope it is not a tumor but an infection like nubbly said.

I know about things like that BUT usually it makes them draw up a leg and sit cocked sideways not affect both feet and no legs.

if he hit the cage or someone was playing with him and the fell this also can do it

i say its to do with the nerv preshure as joey was like this i did take him to vet and vet said it may or may not get better but would take up to two months

he said keep byself in house and reguler movement of both feet by me to stimulate

joey did great untill he fell a second time and got put right back to start

so we decided he was better off to be put to sleep

so although i know he did not fall

i feel you could get him better

vet said seperate as a bird even jumping on him could put the healing back a week or two

good luck hun but it dfenntly a nerv thing i think what from i so would not know

I think its a nerve thing too. He tries to perch. Last night he was in a cage and sitting halfway up a ladder.

I think its a nerve thing too. He tries to perch. Last night he was in a cage and sitting halfway up a ladder.

try moving his legs for 10 minits twice day

in a bike riding motion

this really helped joey and you saw how quick he was improving

i know you have less time than me kaz but really worked for joey

the more often the better but just 10 minits each sitting and

not ment to let him try purch

vet told me for first month to put paper on floor for first week then the wire floor to incorage toe move ment

then a very low natural stick one on each side cage one angled so he could try waddle up along it

I know I am no expert but one of my dad's finches had a similar problem and it was caused by a mosquito bite. The finch is completely paralysed in one leg, luckly dad can still use her as a breeding hen.

Not the same. This is both feet, no legs involved.

Never seen that Kaz but I kinda going with nubbly and treat him with a broadspectrum antibiotic.

Vet appointment booked for late Tuesday afternoon. The soonest I could get him seen.

 

Edited July 11, 201014 yr by KAZ