How to heal calluses? Please take a look (picture)

[dannybrah92]

Hello, ever since I adopted my African Grey I have noticed that she has callous, it has at least been there for the couple months I had her; here is a recent picture of today.

 

 

 

When I asked the vet about this, he simply said it was calluses and didn't tell me anything else.

 

I do have a Safety pumice perch and a cement perch for her however she doesn't stand on these for long. She is usually on dragon wood and manzanita wood.

 

Does her feet look ok? I have heard of something called bumble feet I think and it sounds very dangerous so I am afraid this can get worse .. If anything i'd like a natural remedy for this.. if possible. Thank you for your time!

[danmcq]

Birds need a variety of perchs of differing diameters and textures for optimal foot health. Because of the locking mechanism found in the bird’s foot, they can develop pressure points on the bottoms of the feet from constantly standing on perches of the same diameter. Bumble foot is used as an all-encompassing term for issues involving infection or inflammation of the foot. Over time, this can develop into pressure sores, called pododermatitis. Sores can then become infected, resulting in deep lesions that can be very difficult to cure. Your grey is showing pressure points at this time. I cannot tell if it is just red or actually secreting a little fluid. If it is wet, I would take your grey to an avian vet. You do not want an infection to start. If it is not wet, change the perches and the pressure points will go away. You need to really keep an eye on this.

 

To maintain proper foot health, a bird must be provided with perches that are appropriate for the bird’s feet. The majority of the bird’s weight should be balanced on the ball of the foot, and the toes should curl around the perch at a gentle angle. If perches are too narrow in diameter, it will be difficult for a bird to properly hold on to a perch, so the bird might appear to be rocking back and forth in an attempt to balance. A bird should be able to balance on a perch without the toes completely touching each other in a circle

 

It is better to err on the side of having too large of a perch rather than having one that is too small. But to accommodate the feet and prevent problems, a variety of perch sizes is vital. I recommend offering natural branch perches (or synthetic ones that look like a natural branch), which have a natural variation in the diameter. If you choose to collect natural branches, make sure that they are clean and free of insects, fungus or wild-bird droppings. Clean and disinfect them prior to introducing the perches into your cage. Braided rope perches are a comfortable choice for birds to rest on; however, all porous rope or cloth perches must be cleaned and disinfected periodically to prevent the build-up of organisms within.

Edited November 19, 2013 by danmcq