TimnehAGLove Posted October 2, 2018 Share Posted October 2, 2018 (edited) Hello All, I am new here with a 16 year old Female Timneh Grey. We rescued her a month ago, and have seen some recent new behavior. Everywhere she sits she fades out or melts or hunches or slouches over after a few mins on a perch or your shoulder or your finger or anywhere she sits. She basically is sitting on her tummy with her feet pulled under her and not upright. Sometimes she hunches so far over her head is lower than her tail. On her perch when she tries to sleep she "melts" forward and then wakes up and catches herself. Sometimes she sleeps with her head turned back in her feathers like normal and and she is fine that way. We look her to the Vet, she did an exam and took a blood test and did a yearly check-up and they said that she had a bacterial yeast infection and gave me an anti fungal and a pain killer to give her. The vet said that she also may have hurt her foot. This was 2 weeks ago, and things have not gotten better. Her balance is terrible, and sometimes she falls off her perch. We moved her into a smaller cage where she is sleeping at night, so that she cannot fall down too far off her perch, and we put a pillow under the perch in her night cage and a towel under her large cage that she is in during the day. Here is a video of her in her day cage : https://streamable.com/2z57k She is eating fine and her poop is fine...She is talking, playing, climbing, taking a bath and acting fine otherwise. I am really stumped and concerned that something is terribly wrong with her. We have a follow up Vet appointment on Friday. Has anyone ever seen this type of posture / behavior? I have attached some photos of her in her smaller night cage. I also have a video I can upload in a little bit that is her in her larger day cage. When I took these photos there were no perches for her to stand on. Just added a couple of pictures of her slouching on her perch in her large day cage. Edited October 2, 2018 by TimnehAGLove 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greytness Posted October 3, 2018 Share Posted October 3, 2018 Could you take her to another vet for a second opinion? The fact that she's no better idicates that her previous treatment plan hasn't worked. Fungus is a bear to get rid of, so if she has a fungal infection, she'll need long term medication. She looks like she's feeling badly. My vote is for a second opinion. Do you have a board certified avian vet in your area? Please let us know how she does. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timbersmom Posted October 3, 2018 Share Posted October 3, 2018 As Greytness said, make sure you are seeing an avian vet. One comment I'd make is you might want to go to flat perches rather than round. Perching low like that can rub their keel and even split it with time. My TAG has a seizure disorder and a neurological condition, and that's the first thing the avian vet told me to do, get him off round perches. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neoow Posted October 3, 2018 Share Posted October 3, 2018 None of us are vets so can only advise what we would do in that situation. This does seem like very strange behaviour and not something which I have witnessed with my own bird. I would pester the vet again and if I wasn't happy with the treatment plan I would find a second avian vet for a second opinion. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimnehAGLove Posted October 4, 2018 Author Share Posted October 4, 2018 21 hours ago, Greytness said: Could you take her to another vet for a second opinion? The fact that she's no better idicates that her previous treatment plan hasn't worked. Fungus is a bear to get rid of, so if she has a fungal infection, she'll need long term medication. She looks like she's feeling badly. My vote is for a second opinion. Do you have a board certified avian vet in your area? Please let us know how she does. Thank you so much! Yes we have a follow up on Friday will keep you updated. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimnehAGLove Posted October 4, 2018 Author Share Posted October 4, 2018 10 hours ago, Timbersmom said: As Greytness said, make sure you are seeing an avian vet. One comment I'd make is you might want to go to flat perches rather than round. Perching low like that can rub their keel and even split it with time. My TAG has a seizure disorder and a neurological condition, and that's the first thing the avian vet told me to do, get him off round perches. Yes we are. Our vet is very capable. We got her some flat perches today :), tthank you! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimnehAGLove Posted October 4, 2018 Author Share Posted October 4, 2018 10 hours ago, neoow said: None of us are vets so can only advise what we would do in that situation. This does seem like very strange behaviour and not something which I have witnessed with my own bird. I would pester the vet again and if I wasn't happy with the treatment plan I would find a second avian vet for a second opinion. Yes totally understand that. She spent 1hr this morning in the sun before it got really hot and she came back inside a new girl :) full of energy and even swinging upside down on her stand...she has never done that before! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greywings Posted October 5, 2018 Share Posted October 5, 2018 Not being a Vet it does sound like a vitamin D deficiency. We have a Congo Grey that arrived having balance and seizure issues, she was low on both Calcium and Vitamin D. No seizures any more and now she only falls occasionally when playing too hard with her toys. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRSeedBurners Posted October 5, 2018 Share Posted October 5, 2018 1 hour ago, Greywings said: Not being a Vet it does sound like a vitamin D deficiency. We have a Congo Grey that arrived having balance and seizure issues, she was low on both Calcium and Vitamin D. No seizures any more and now she only falls occasionally when playing too hard with her toys. Greywings, how did you treat it? I was going to suggest more sun but some people can't do that. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimnehAGLove Posted October 5, 2018 Author Share Posted October 5, 2018 Well, its 3 days later...She has spent an hour outside everyday...and she is like a new girl once again :)! We are going to continue to keep giving her time outside daily and we are going to get her a UVB light as well! Do any of you use them...If so which do you use? Thank you for all your help and support She has her follow up vet appointment today... Sunlight Seems CRITICAL...To these guys and gals ! 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRSeedBurners Posted October 5, 2018 Share Posted October 5, 2018 Sunlight is critical. It's the reason I built an outdoor aviary for them. Lots of people use the one by Zoomed. Just make sure it's an avian full spectrum light and not a general reptile light. I have also seen where people have ruined their birds eyes even with the avian light by allow exposure to close. Sunlight is best if you can do it. 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timbersmom Posted October 6, 2018 Share Posted October 6, 2018 (edited) Sunlight isn't possible for us but I do the full spectrum avian light every day. It is important. Sure glad to hear she is better! Edited October 6, 2018 by Timbersmom 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimnehAGLove Posted October 7, 2018 Author Share Posted October 7, 2018 (edited) 20 hours ago, Timbersmom said: Sunlight isn't possible for us but I do the full spectrum avian light every day. It is important. Sure glad to hear she is better! Thank you so much! Which light set-up do you use please? Thank you so much! She keeps making good progress :)! Edited October 7, 2018 by TimnehAGLove 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greytness Posted October 7, 2018 Share Posted October 7, 2018 Wonderful! Would love to see another picture of her looking great again! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimnehAGLove Posted October 7, 2018 Author Share Posted October 7, 2018 51 minutes ago, Greytness said: Wonderful! Would love to see another picture of her looking great again! Thanks! I will post some shortly. Anyone else use Full Spectrum Lights? If so what brands please? Thanks! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRSeedBurners Posted October 8, 2018 Share Posted October 8, 2018 This is one of the best light setups I've seen: http://www.arcadia-bird.com/e27-compact-lighting-unit/ Lots of people use the ZooMed I mentioned earlier but the stand it comes with is tall and susceptible to getting knocked around. Our's lastest barely a month before the light was hanging out of the unit from getting bounced around. That arcadia site has other options available too. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timbersmom Posted October 8, 2018 Share Posted October 8, 2018 This is the bulb I use: https://www.amazon.com/Zoo-Med-24975-Compact-Fluorescent/dp/B000KH9S88/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1539033229&sr=8-4&keywords=avian+sun+lamp I have this cheap floor lamp, which has lasted since 2013. It seems very cheap, but it has really held up well considering. https://www.amazon.com/Zoo-Med-AvianSun-Deluxe-Floor/dp/B006L49LHC/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1539033375&sr=8-15&keywords=zoomed+lamp The one SR posted above looks nice. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimnehAGLove Posted October 9, 2018 Author Share Posted October 9, 2018 8 hours ago, SRSeedBurners said: This is one of the best light setups I've seen: http://www.arcadia-bird.com/e27-compact-lighting-unit/ Lots of people use the ZooMed I mentioned earlier but the stand it comes with is tall and susceptible to getting knocked around. Our's lastest barely a month before the light was hanging out of the unit from getting bounced around. That arcadia site has other options available too. Thanks! Looking for a supplier for this http://www.arcadia-bird.com/e27-compact-lighting-unit/ in the USA 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimnehAGLove Posted October 9, 2018 Author Share Posted October 9, 2018 2 hours ago, Timbersmom said: This is the bulb I use: https://www.amazon.com/Zoo-Med-24975-Compact-Fluorescent/dp/B000KH9S88/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1539033229&sr=8-4&keywords=avian+sun+lamp I have this cheap floor lamp, which has lasted since 2013. It seems very cheap, but it has really held up well considering. https://www.amazon.com/Zoo-Med-AvianSun-Deluxe-Floor/dp/B006L49LHC/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1539033375&sr=8-15&keywords=zoomed+lamp The one SR posted above looks nice. Yes, I have seen these around. They look nice.! Thanks! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimnehAGLove Posted October 10, 2018 Author Share Posted October 10, 2018 We ended up purchasing this light set-up this morning: http://www.lightyourreptiles.com/arcadia-bird-cage-fixture-with-bulb-combo-exclusive-usa-use-kit/ We will let you know when we receive it. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimnehAGLove Posted October 12, 2018 Author Share Posted October 12, 2018 Ok...received the light today with a broken bulb, and the USA Distributor did not want to replace the bulb as he said he has had nothing but but issues with broken bulbs in these. I have emailed the company directly and waiting to hear back from them. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neoow Posted October 12, 2018 Share Posted October 12, 2018 Oh that's unfortunate. Hopefully you manage to get it sorted and they send a replacement bulb! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timbersmom Posted October 12, 2018 Share Posted October 12, 2018 How frustrating when companies don't stand behind their products. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimnehAGLove Posted October 16, 2018 Author Share Posted October 16, 2018 So....now I got this set up....and it should be here within the next couple of days.... http://www.lightyourreptiles.com/arcadia-parrot-pro-uv-flood/ Ill let you know when I get it...and how it works. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRSeedBurners Posted October 16, 2018 Share Posted October 16, 2018 I hope you paid with a credit card for the broken one. I'd resolve it through them. They always referee in favor of the buyer if you have any evidence. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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