thumb_up 0
thumb_down 0
I certainly will. :) Ive clipped the nails now and put vaseline on. I took a closer look at the fused leg, it actually appears as though its inside his body not external and only his foot is on the outside :( poor thing. when hes less stressed I will spray him with water and part the feathers, I can enlist someone to photograph it, Ive never seen anything like that before.
The person who kept him before did not look after him well, they left it too long to get help. Once the treatment has complete will you know the true extent of the damage.
quick update day 2 and I put more vaseline on this morning, mixed a little neem oil in it, his "fused" leg is now out (I couldn't extend it at all yesterday) and I think tomorrow I will be able to put some on that leg - I was only able to get it on his foot. hes sadly not showing any signs of being able to use the foot but im hopeful this is going in the right direction :) still eating and drinking well. I gave him some red millet last night which he ate some of and is tucking into some versale laga when I left him just now.
For a while his feet will still be painful for him to use, but in a week or so that should change. He will be grateful for the help in a week or so. Don't try to bend the leg, we need to clear up the scabbing first and let it heal. Provide some chopped veggies and grated carrots, grated brussel sprouts, chopped kale, garden cress, fresh thyme, wild rocket, any kind of beet leaves chopped. He will need the fresh vitamins and minerals from it.
I did forget to mention, the fact that the actual nails are infected with scabbing will tell you that it is not Hyperkeratosis, When the nails are damaged in that way, you know it is mites. Only Mites will cause that kind of damage.
I gave him some pearl moribde with chia and mixed bird herbs the first day and some broccoli but he didn't eat it :( I will try some different things with him, I have always found gouldians difficult in that respect, they don't seem to like anything but seed and millet. If all esle fails I have aviform gold here I can add to his water. But will try some fresh dandelion and peas and sweetcorn today. I might be able to get beet leaves, will they eat the beet part too?
thank you so much for your suggestions and support
Dandelion and peas and sweetcorn they will probably not touch, at least none of mine have ever liked them. It has to be fresh, not dried. When you next nip to the supermarket, grab a pot of fresh thyme and cress, put them in the cage as is, if there is enough room. All of my gouldians will eat fresh herbs and veggies. Here is a video from my YouTube channel on nutrition, it might help.
thank you for sharing that. very helpful. I got some parsley, carrot and kale today all locally grown but hes not touched it.
so I managed to take a look at the really bad leg and grease it up. It needs to have the band removed but my ring removers are not going to work, I need something really fine to slide between the leg and the ring, any suggestions?
hes also been on the bottom of the cage today and not looking quite so bright so will see what tomorrow brings.
If the leg is swollen around the ring, it needs to come off right away. Veggies should be offered daily, they will eventually eat it, or you can use a teacher bird (Society) which loves veggies. When the gouldian see's them eating it, they will try it themselves.
If you have proper ring cutters, it will cut it without the need to put anything behind it. Split rings just unclip, closed rings will need cutting. If it is a closed ring, and it is metal, they will need a proper ring cutter, if plastic then there are other methods but not recommended. If the ring is loose on the leg, leave it for now until the leg has healed somewhat.
He will likely be on the bottom of the cage because his feet will be so painful to grip anything. Use newspaper on the bottom or a rubber mat. Provide a source of heat such as a heat lamp or a 40watt bulb where he can sit next to so he can keep warm.
In some cases, it can be too late to treat them, if the damage is too extensive.
the ring is looseish above the swelling. I took a picture of the foot today, I placed the aviary heater at the front of the cage so he can go get some heat or move away if he wants.
I can feel his keel and still trying him with veggies, i got rocket and thyme and a few other things ive chopped up really small.
if he needs some antibiotic I have a little bit of baytril in the house.
I do have some society finches but the gouldians still wont eat the greens. they do like oranges though which I put in occasionally on a hanger.
I have bedding on the floor of the cage, its soft wood chips (dust free) and easy for him to lie on (normally used for horses but was recommended to me a few years ago from a canary breeder).
thanks very much
Usually, when birds become stressed, their immune system weakens, and when that happens they can contract illnesses. The baytril will help with that if that does happen. What are his droppings like? Any close up photos? if the droppings are yellow then there will likely be weight loss