Wendz
Moving in
My story is long but I need to explain to get HELP and advice from you all.
It begins in 2011 when I was given this tiny little pink wrinkly chick and was told it was a Hahns Macaw, I honestly didn't think he would live but he did, I hand reared him to the best of my ability with help from Google and You Tube and he grew into this beautiful green , yellow and red bird, I was so proud, this is my soul mate true love, I was a good Bird Mom.
So the first time he molted it was a real shock but only to read up that it was a normal bird thing, so the second time was with not stress at all as I knew now what molting was all about. Three months back I noticed that the feathers on his chest area were looking kinda tatty and once again put it down to molting, how wrong was I, doing some research, I suddenly realised that I had not been such a good Bird Mom after all, it is with great sadness that I have only recently found out that because of what I was feeding him I have basically caused my BIRD's health to deteriorate over time and maybe even an early death, yes I confess that I was only feeding him sunflower seed mix bought from the local pet shop which is very bad for them, and with that I was also giving him, crisps, sweets, meat, cheese, ice cream basically what ever we were eating he had to have as he's spoilt and will scream till he gets what ever your eating, of course none of us walked around eating a carrot stick or brocolli, I'm not a big fruit eater so not much fruit kept around either, never did I offer that to him either ever as a baby now of course he wont touch any fruit or veg at all. HOW DO I CHANGE HIS DIET without him starving ??
He has never had any health problems so I have never taken him to a vet, looking at his condition I took him to our local vet, he was given a Vitamin A injection the vet handled him without a towel just held him in his hand by his head took him out of the room clipped his wings and nails, I could hear him shreeking he came back put him back in the cage and we left. The next day I thought my bird was dying he was crouched over on his perch not moving not a sound from him normally he doesn't keep quiet, his eyes are red, half closed with crusty discharge, his movement very slow and he wont come to me, so back to the Vet I went, the Vet looked at him through the cage and says "I think he may have a virus" he gave me antibiotics for 7 days, I feel there is no change, he spends most of the day standing on his perch almost leaning against a toy or swing and digs in what I am assuming is his ears then bites and chews his feathers, body and feet. WHY what is causing this ?? There is no blood visible, he sleeps alot, his wings virtually consists of a few long feathers which cover his bald back , could the vet have hacked of the other feathers or is he doing it to himself, there are no feathers on his front and its getting worse see photos below.
What happened at the Vet, WHY is he not the same bird anymore, there is something very wrong, will he recover his feathers voice and personality, what has, apart from a bad diet caused this to happen, what is damaged, what am I doing wrong and what do I do to help him, how do I get him to eat correctly, unfortunately I work all day so am only home in the evening, I cannot let him out of the cage during the day as we also have 3 cats and 3 dogs, I have tried new toys he wont go near them hides on the opposite side of the cage. I try spend time with him out the cage over weekends but he shows no interest and bites on the odd occasion
I am the cause of his bad health please HELP ME save him
It begins in 2011 when I was given this tiny little pink wrinkly chick and was told it was a Hahns Macaw, I honestly didn't think he would live but he did, I hand reared him to the best of my ability with help from Google and You Tube and he grew into this beautiful green , yellow and red bird, I was so proud, this is my soul mate true love, I was a good Bird Mom.
So the first time he molted it was a real shock but only to read up that it was a normal bird thing, so the second time was with not stress at all as I knew now what molting was all about. Three months back I noticed that the feathers on his chest area were looking kinda tatty and once again put it down to molting, how wrong was I, doing some research, I suddenly realised that I had not been such a good Bird Mom after all, it is with great sadness that I have only recently found out that because of what I was feeding him I have basically caused my BIRD's health to deteriorate over time and maybe even an early death, yes I confess that I was only feeding him sunflower seed mix bought from the local pet shop which is very bad for them, and with that I was also giving him, crisps, sweets, meat, cheese, ice cream basically what ever we were eating he had to have as he's spoilt and will scream till he gets what ever your eating, of course none of us walked around eating a carrot stick or brocolli, I'm not a big fruit eater so not much fruit kept around either, never did I offer that to him either ever as a baby now of course he wont touch any fruit or veg at all. HOW DO I CHANGE HIS DIET without him starving ??
He has never had any health problems so I have never taken him to a vet, looking at his condition I took him to our local vet, he was given a Vitamin A injection the vet handled him without a towel just held him in his hand by his head took him out of the room clipped his wings and nails, I could hear him shreeking he came back put him back in the cage and we left. The next day I thought my bird was dying he was crouched over on his perch not moving not a sound from him normally he doesn't keep quiet, his eyes are red, half closed with crusty discharge, his movement very slow and he wont come to me, so back to the Vet I went, the Vet looked at him through the cage and says "I think he may have a virus" he gave me antibiotics for 7 days, I feel there is no change, he spends most of the day standing on his perch almost leaning against a toy or swing and digs in what I am assuming is his ears then bites and chews his feathers, body and feet. WHY what is causing this ?? There is no blood visible, he sleeps alot, his wings virtually consists of a few long feathers which cover his bald back , could the vet have hacked of the other feathers or is he doing it to himself, there are no feathers on his front and its getting worse see photos below.
What happened at the Vet, WHY is he not the same bird anymore, there is something very wrong, will he recover his feathers voice and personality, what has, apart from a bad diet caused this to happen, what is damaged, what am I doing wrong and what do I do to help him, how do I get him to eat correctly, unfortunately I work all day so am only home in the evening, I cannot let him out of the cage during the day as we also have 3 cats and 3 dogs, I have tried new toys he wont go near them hides on the opposite side of the cage. I try spend time with him out the cage over weekends but he shows no interest and bites on the odd occasion
I am the cause of his bad health please HELP ME save him
