Narcolepsy

[Alien J]

Has anyone ever heard of a quaker parrot having narcolepsy? Oscar falls asleep mid-step. Or while eating. I've known a few people with this condition and he's just like them.

 

[Olliebirb]

Bump

 

[Xoetix]

I haven't seen it in birds, but I've seen it in dogs, cats, horses, a couple rabbits, and one ferret - so I would imagine there's no reason for a bird to not have it. That's scary though, what if it happens mid flight?

I'm pretty anti wing clips, but I'd say it's a good reason for it, at least until you get definite answers.

 

[WillowQ]

I would be concerned about such a sleepy bird. I don’t know if they can have narcolepsy but I would be more worried about some illness making the bird exhausted. Can you get him in to the vet earlier? You’re waiting such a long time.

 

[OrangIsld]

Theres some anecdotal evidence of narcolepsy in chickens
and songbirds do have neurons that produce orexin: Distribution of orexin/hypocretin immunoreactivity in the brain of a male songbird, the house finch, Carpodacus mexicanus - PubMed

But theres like no research on narcolepsy in birds - we don't fully grasp what causes narcolepsy in humans. Soi'd go to a vet and see what they think. Because you'd have to rule out things like seizures or illness first.

 

[Deleted member 57370]

I would be worried about health first. When I had sick flock with avian Chlamydia, there was lots of falling asleep

 

[OrangIsld]

I would be worried about health first. When I had sick flock with avian Chlamydia, there was lots of falling asleep

Seconding this, doctors use the phrase " 'when you hear hoofbeats, think horses not zebras" and i think that applies here, chlamydia is much more likely than narcolepsy, as is seizures.

 

[Alien J]

I haven't seen it in birds, but I've seen it in dogs, cats, horses, a couple rabbits, and one ferret - so I would imagine there's no reason for a bird to not have it. That's scary though, what if it happens mid flight?

I'm pretty anti wing clips, but I'd say it's a good reason for it, at least until you get definite answers.

Gee, I feel stupid. I haven't been able to even get him to come out of the cage by his own choice, but I still should have thought about getting his wings clipped! I think he may be used to that. The lady I got him from didn't clip him, nor the lady before her, but when I went to pick him up, the owner stuck a towel in the cage and grabbed him. Somehow she didn't hold on to him and he got away from her and went straight down. Hardly an attempted flap. I've seen very little wing stretches, wing flaps... interesting... and worrisome.

I would be concerned about such a sleepy bird. I don’t know if they can have narcolepsy but I would be more worried about some illness making the bird exhausted. Can you get him in to the vet earlier? You’re waiting such a long time.

He's not a sleepy bird, per se, he's pretty much awake all day, just goes to sleep for a few minutes at the drop of a hat. Then he wakes up again. He's not nearly as active though as I thought he would be from my limited research before I got him. TD's way more active. That could have a lot to do with his overgrown nails. I think he's overweight as well.

I've got the vet on notice to call me if there are any cancellations. I can pretty much leave any moment (getting him into the travel cage might take awhile). I'm also more than an hour away from the vet so it won't leave would have to be an early cancellation!

Theres some anecdotal evidence of narcolepsy in chickens
and songbirds do have neurons that produce orexin: Distribution of orexin/hypocretin immunoreactivity in the brain of a male songbird, the house finch, Carpodacus mexicanus - PubMed

But theres like no research on narcolepsy in birds - we don't fully grasp what causes narcolepsy in humans. Soi'd go to a vet and see what they think. Because you'd have to rule out things like seizures or illness first.

Wonderful advice! Thanks for the link! My new neighbor has narcolepsy and we were just talking about it a few days ago, so maybe that's why I thought of that first.

I would be worried about health first. When I had sick flock with avian Chlamydia, there was lots of falling asleep

I hope it's nothing too serious. Wish I could get him in sooner.

Seconding this, doctors use the phrase " 'when you hear hoofbeats, think horses not zebras" and i think that applies here, chlamydia is much more likely than narcolepsy, as is seizures.

I love that quote!


I truly appreciate everyone's advice and input! I'm pretty new with this kind of bird.

 

[Emma&pico]

Gee, I feel stupid. I haven't been able to even get him to come out of the cage by his own choice, but I still should have thought about getting his wings clipped! I think he may be used to that. The lady I got him from didn't clip him, nor the lady before her, but when I went to pick him up, the owner stuck a towel in the cage and grabbed him. Somehow she didn't hold on to him and he got away from her and went straight down. Hardly an attempted flap. I've seen very little wing stretches, wing flaps... interesting... and worrisome.




He's not a sleepy bird, per se, he's pretty much awake all day, just goes to sleep for a few minutes at the drop of a hat. Then he wakes up again. He's not nearly as active though as I thought he would be from my limited research before I got him. TD's way more active. That could have a lot to do with his overgrown nails. I think he's overweight as well.

I've got the vet on notice to call me if there are any cancellations. I can pretty much leave any moment (getting him into the travel cage might take awhile). I'm also more than an hour away from the vet so it won't leave would have to be an early cancellation!




Wonderful advice! Thanks for the link! My new neighbor has narcolepsy and we were just talking about it a few days ago, so maybe that's why I thought of that first.




I hope it's nothing too serious. Wish I could get him in sooner.




I love that quote!


I truly appreciate everyone's advice and input! I'm pretty new with this kind of bird.

Maybe he’s too scared to just have a daytime nap at minute total on guard during day so maybe the few seconds sleep is just over tired (just a thought ) but On a night lights out no daytime noise maybe he feels more settled to sleep ?

have you seen him preen himself during day ?

toweling him will have coursed massive trust issue I know sometimes we have to do it for vets etc but I suppose its the way we do it as caring parrot owners that makes the difference I know I had to towel indie and mango when I moved house Indie didn’t care and wasquite calm but mango flew everywhere and then didn’t trust me after had to go back to basics or it was other way around I can’t remember now
But if he’s been chased around cage grab or towelled maybe that’s just intensified his fear etc did she talk to him reassure him when she towelled him ?

I maybe totally off but that’s maybe what I would be thinking

 

[Alien J]

@Emma&pico

She certainly didn't speak to him. She got him to be a friend to her Quaker, Gizmo. She put them together in the same cage from day 1. She's had Gizmo for 15 years and she said all he ever does is sit on his perch. She said that Oscar must be a male bcuz Gizmo and he wanted nothing to do with each other (gee, I wonder why). That comment made me think she only took Oscar hoping they might be opposite sexes and she could breed them. The cage she had them in was so small I'm sure Gizmo sat on his perch for 15 years cuz he had no room to move. And it was so dark in the corner she kept them in they couldn't see to move!

She only had Oscar for a month and a half, it turns out. It also turns out I'm not his 4th owner in 4 months, I'm his 5th.

I don't even know how I'm going to get him out and into the travel cage to go to the vet. I know it's going to ruin any and all progress we've made. I've never gotten an older bird whose been neglected and/or abused. He flinches when you put your hand up like a dog whose been hit. TD was horribly abused by his original owner, but he was only 19 days old when I got him. I don't know what to do.

 

[WillowQ]

I had a Conure who had been terribly abused, starved and hit, and once he figured out that wasn’t gonna happen with me he was a very nice bird. They can come back from that place.
if you get an appointment I would scoop him up in a hand towel. You could even do it with the lights off, locating the bird with a small flashlight. Just enfold him with the towel and let him bite the towel.

 

[Alien J]

@Emma&pico yes, I have seen him preening. I gave him a misting shower the 2nd day when our AC went out and it was in the 90s. He loved it and looked like a layer of dust came off of him. He preens quite a bit. Today he's been gnawing on the nail of his middle digit. It's the longest one. It's like he's trying to bite it off but maybe his beak isn't sharp enough. It's the one that gets stuck in the bars.

If I were a bird psychologist I would say he used to being yelled at for making noise. His vocalizations have been getting louder. If I happen to respond to a noise he makes by going into his room to talk to him he shrinks back like the he expects me to yell or slap the cage. I just talk with him and make noises with him. I think he's getting louder to see how loud he can get before I yell or slap. It's like he can't believe I'm not doing that. I'm probably reading too much into it!

 

[MommyBird]

When I got my Jenday from the rescue he had been there 12 years and recently lost his mate, was a little depressed. They said the mate who died was the friendlier one.
It was very stressful when they got him out of the cage when I'd visit. He just flapped all over it. When out of the cage he was willing to step up onto a towel. no skin allowed!

well, naturally shortly after I got him home and later into his space in the room with the other birds- the very first thing he did when I opened his cage door was zoom out onto my Hahn's cage. Real bad idea, he got his foot bit and a vet visit and I then had to towel and medicate him twice a day.

We worked it out, He is a bit cage agressive so I would lure him down to a platform perch in the cage that was easy for me to reach by holding a washcloth there that he'd rush down to attack. we'd play with the wshcloth awhile and then I just kept seeing what I could get away with. Turned out I am allowed to scratch him on his platform and then lay the washcloth over him and pick him up in it. Absolutely not a speck of stress or excitement. I just went at his pace and saw what he'd permit.
I still towel him once a day to give him a foot massage and scratches, then we go into a different room for some nuts and change of scenery if he can't go outside due to weather. He will also come out onto his cage door when asked and then step up onto my shoulder or arm. no skin allowed still. He loves to go into his travel cage because he gets to go outside which is his very most favorite thing.

It is improtant to not use too large a towel to towel a small bird. It is hard to use and makes more problems than it helps.
You may be able to teach him to step up to a stick or a towelled hand.

To address another problem you mentioned about needing to put your hands inside to do food and water bowls. It's really too bad you don't have doors for outside access. I had heard some people will use clicker training to get their bird to station at the opposite side of the cage while they work on dishes. I think that might be a goal for the future for you, but not any help for where you are today.

 

[MommyBird]

I just got an email that she's repeating this episode of working with fearful animals
you do not need to belong to facebook to stream

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=622239193346622

 

[WillowQ]

I’m almost certain my Willow Quaker was yelled at for making noise. He was nearly silent when he came to me three years ago. This week I was on the phone and he was ack acking and jabbering loudly. He talks a little bit, too.

he has always been snuggly but is finally getting more naughty. In this case that makes me happy.

 

[Emma&pico]

@Emma&pico yes, I have seen him preening. I gave him a misting shower the 2nd day when our AC went out and it was in the 90s. He loved it and looked like a layer of dust came off of him. He preens quite a bit. Today he's been gnawing on the nail of his middle digit. It's the longest one. It's like he's trying to bite it off but maybe his beak isn't sharp enough. It's the one that gets stuck in the bars.

If I were a bird psychologist I would say he used to being yelled at for making noise. His vocalizations have been getting louder. If I happen to respond to a noise he makes by going into his room to talk to him he shrinks back like the he expects me to yell or slap the cage. I just talk with him and make noises with him. I think he's getting louder to see how loud he can get before I yell or slap. It's like he can't believe I'm not doing that. I'm probably reading too much into it!

Nope I don’t think you are I think sometimes you just know or sense how they have been treated
Glad he preens shows he’s settled enough to look after his feathers

 

[Clueless]

Started with cage without food/water doors...... not good.

Do you have a travel cage for your guys?

 

[Alien J]

Started with cage without food/water doors...... not good.

Do you have a travel cage for your guys?

It does have food/water doors. I'm putting the food up in the corner that he's been staying in. It's right by the access door. You still have the put your hand in to do it, which causes him to go bananas. If it didn't have access doors, I'd be a bloody mess by now. It actually has 4 access doors and two large doors.

 

[Alien J]

@Clueless I do have a good travel cage. But I need to get a second one.

 

[zoo mom]

My Senegal Jason is fearful leaving his cage. I have a large travel cage for him. I open the travel carrier and his cage door. I hold the carrier so it covers most of the cage door. And reach in with a folded cotton perch up and over him. He goes down into the travel carrier because the moving perch makes him nervous. He is fine once he is in the carrier and door is closed.