Zoso
Walking the driveway
- Joined
- 3/21/11
- Messages
- 165
- Real Name
- Bob
We were putting the birds in their cages for bed tonight. I put Scarlet (catalina macaw) in hers and went for Jack (b&g macaw) next. In the process of getting Jack 3 of the small birds landed on Scarlet's cage. Scarlet didn't pay them too much mind so I finished putting Jack in her cage. I wish I hadn't hesitated, I will regret it for quite a while. Sweety and Howie started biting at Scarlet through the cage bars. Before I could get over there Scarlet bit back and I heard a horrible crunch. Sweety, (Green Cheek Conure), continued to lunge through the bars as if nothing had happened. I scooped her up to find a good part of the side of her lower beak was gone! There was very little blood but I rinsed the beak and put some quick stop to stop the little bleeding that there was. (Maybe one drop total of blood). My wife covered her and held her for a couple of hours before letting her back into her cage. She ran in her hut for a couple more hours before coming out on her own to get a drink of water. (First good sign, she can drink!) I put a few shelled pine nuts in her bowl because they are soft and easily counted so I can see if she is eating. 5 hours after the bite and she is tapping her beak on things and is feeling/scratching her face with her foot. (I checked she hasn't made it bleed so I haven't done anything about that yet). I started her on antibiotics, just to be on the safe side.
If she is having problems eating tomorrow morning I will try and feed some oatmeal and thickened formula. I have some pictures but I thought I would spare you all the gore.
I am looking for any advice anyone has to offer, (besides the obvious take her to a avian vet), which I plan to do Monday. Her other side lower beak and complete front are intact, there is a 1/4" x 1/4" chunk missing on the one side. (She has such a tiny lower beak to start with). I have seen much less injured beaks bleed 100X more so I have high hopes. The little birds pretty much stay away from the big birds when everyone is out of their cages and we have never had so much as a close call before. I guess the little bird saw her chance to bully the big bird and it back fired. We have a new rule that no little birds can be out of their cages when the macaws are inside theirs. What a terrible lesson to have to learn on a otherwise perfect holiday weekend. Cross your fingers for Sweety and please send any advice you might have. I may also be in the market for a cone or similar device to keep her from scratching at her mouth.
If she is having problems eating tomorrow morning I will try and feed some oatmeal and thickened formula. I have some pictures but I thought I would spare you all the gore.
I am looking for any advice anyone has to offer, (besides the obvious take her to a avian vet), which I plan to do Monday. Her other side lower beak and complete front are intact, there is a 1/4" x 1/4" chunk missing on the one side. (She has such a tiny lower beak to start with). I have seen much less injured beaks bleed 100X more so I have high hopes. The little birds pretty much stay away from the big birds when everyone is out of their cages and we have never had so much as a close call before. I guess the little bird saw her chance to bully the big bird and it back fired. We have a new rule that no little birds can be out of their cages when the macaws are inside theirs. What a terrible lesson to have to learn on a otherwise perfect holiday weekend. Cross your fingers for Sweety and please send any advice you might have. I may also be in the market for a cone or similar device to keep her from scratching at her mouth.