Hi everyone!
Species/Breed: Gloster Canary
Age: <1 year old (Born spring 2018)
Sex: Unknown, suspected female
Amputee for ~4-5 mo. No major issues. Eats great, energetic, and very mobile around the cage (strong flier, ‘walks’ across flat surfaces by using her stump as a leg). She occasionally lets the stump leg sag a little while on the perch and sits a big lower (in posture) than the other birds.
History: The breeder is a relative. A few months ago the canary’s leg got caught where the perch and wire bars of the cage meet and was hanging upside down for an unknown amount of time before it was discovered. The canary was removed to a hospital cage, at which point I adopted it/took over care. The portion of the leg below the joint turned black, dried up, and eventually fell off.
The bird has been w/o a leg for ~4-5 months. In the hospital cage I gave her a nest to sleep in, as I thought she might get tired trying to sleep one-legged. She used the nest religiously. Within the past month I have relocated her and two other canaries** (with their own quirks) to a 3ft flight cage (picture). The flight cage has flat corner perches, normal perches, ladders, and two nests. She tends to sleep on the flat corner platform or in a nest, but will occasionally sleep on the log ladder.
Getting to the point: I recently noticed how pink her stump is. I don’t know if this is a normal part of its appearance now or not, but it made me concerned that the more she uses her stump as a leg she might be prone to sores from using it too much? (Just guessing, no experience here). Does anyone have any ideas for how to minimize discomfort or complications for her? Canary safe materials or adjustments? One-legged bird insights?
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** I recognize that keeping canaries communally is its own concern. They are peaceful at this time, but it is an issue on my radar.
Species/Breed: Gloster Canary
Age: <1 year old (Born spring 2018)
Sex: Unknown, suspected female
- Pictures of the stump
- Pictures of the bird using the stump to stand (really difficult to photograph, she was really ticked off after the stump photos)
Amputee for ~4-5 mo. No major issues. Eats great, energetic, and very mobile around the cage (strong flier, ‘walks’ across flat surfaces by using her stump as a leg). She occasionally lets the stump leg sag a little while on the perch and sits a big lower (in posture) than the other birds.
History: The breeder is a relative. A few months ago the canary’s leg got caught where the perch and wire bars of the cage meet and was hanging upside down for an unknown amount of time before it was discovered. The canary was removed to a hospital cage, at which point I adopted it/took over care. The portion of the leg below the joint turned black, dried up, and eventually fell off.
The bird has been w/o a leg for ~4-5 months. In the hospital cage I gave her a nest to sleep in, as I thought she might get tired trying to sleep one-legged. She used the nest religiously. Within the past month I have relocated her and two other canaries** (with their own quirks) to a 3ft flight cage (picture). The flight cage has flat corner perches, normal perches, ladders, and two nests. She tends to sleep on the flat corner platform or in a nest, but will occasionally sleep on the log ladder.
Getting to the point: I recently noticed how pink her stump is. I don’t know if this is a normal part of its appearance now or not, but it made me concerned that the more she uses her stump as a leg she might be prone to sores from using it too much? (Just guessing, no experience here). Does anyone have any ideas for how to minimize discomfort or complications for her? Canary safe materials or adjustments? One-legged bird insights?
-----------------------
** I recognize that keeping canaries communally is its own concern. They are peaceful at this time, but it is an issue on my radar.