Pictures Sparrow with leg injury/leg bruises

[Turonis]

Hello everyone, this is my second post here, the first one in the health section. I've been searching a lot about this and I couldn't find any answers. I hope this forum will be able to help.
Last November I rescued and nursed two sparrow nestlings, a male and a female. The male had a few nutrition issues which delayed his feather growth, but besides that I had no other issues with them until now. More or less a week and a half ago I noticed a bruise on the female's left leg and a reddish swallowing; I thought she had hurt herself somewhere inside the cage by accident, applied some antiseptic and then waited. When the bruise disappeared I noticed that the two scales that were above it were gone - her skin was completely flat, and then on the next day another very similar bruise appeared on this very same leg (and the swallowing wasn't gone) and another bruise appeared on her right leg, near the "heel". I applied antiseptic again.
She hadn't shown any behavioral changes: she is doing the same things in the same way she ever did.
What could be the cause of this?
Thank you in advance.

I've attached pictures I managed to take from the first bruise (which is now gone). The second one appeared just below where this one was.

 

[EkkieLu]

I'd go right to the vet. Never know what's happening on the inside that we can't see. Good job rescuing them! What a good person you are!!!

 

[Turonis]

Thank you, but as far as I researched, there are no avian vets in my town.
I just noticed she was pecking her legs, probably the injuries were self inflicted.

 

[iamwhoiam]

That looks painful. There has to be a reason that she is pecking at her legs. If you give us an approximate location maybe someone can recommend a vet or you can check here: Association of Avian Veterinarians
See if you can find Avi-vera (company is no longer in business) or vetericyn hydrogel and put a little bit of that on her legs but them make sure she is not licking that although it is all animal safe. If you can't find avi-vera try to find an alternative safe aloe vera solution that you can apply to her legs.

AviVera Soothing Aloe Vera Spray-16 oz This place has the Avi-vera but have no experience with this vendor. Do a search and see what else you can find.

Amazon.com : Vetericyn Plus All Animal Antimicrobial Hydrogel| Animal Wound Spray Gel - Pet Skin Care - Itch and Sore Relief - 8-ounce : Pet Health Care Supplies : Pet Supplies

I would also recommend posting here to get additional advice: Starling Talk: The Care and Feeding of Injured and Orphaned Starlings I know that your birds are not starlings but other birds including sparrows are also discussed here.

I have used Avi-vera with my sparrow and one time used some kind of cream on his legs. I wish I could remember what that was. Was given that by his holistic vet when he had some sores on his legs. Unfortunately that vet has passed away and the business was bought out a few years ago.

BTW, thank you for rescuing the sparrows. What are their names?

 

[Turonis]

Thank you for the reply!

I read the starling page you directed me and I noticed it might be a lesion cause by flying and landing inside the home (I let them free everyday inside my office and bedroom). I noticed yesterday that the first injured leg is not swollen anymore. She may be healing.
Their names are Turil and Turon.

 

[iamwhoiam]

Good that the sores are healing. Those are cute names.
Continue to monitor the legs and do consider taking them to a vet if you can find one who treats birds. You don't always need an avian vet but one who has lots of experience with birds. The holistic vet I took Spee, my sparrow, to was not avian certified but he was wonderful with birds and I was always comfortable taking Spee to him.

 

[Turonis]

Hello, everyone! Sorry for the long delay, but I wanted to update this thread so if any other person happens to care for sparrows they can have this as a reference.
Her legs healed just fine, and it never happened in the same way again. We suspected she may have hurt it somewhere (just like the flying and landing thing we read on that website), and then the "scales" were changing in order to make room for new ones.
We noticed once or twice almost the same thing happening again, usually related to her being excessively frisky and playing around too much, but nothing nearly serious like that time.
Currently we have them both separated cages and have to lat them play one at a time because they both became adults and started fighting. Oh well.

Thank you for all your support.