Need help with an abused Yellow-Naped Amazon

[lastevns]

rocky_after_fall.jpg

rocky_before_fall.jpg

Hi all,

I am new here but desperate for help.

My mother lived with me for 14 years and when she left, a Yellow-Naped Amazon parrot remained. The bird is a rescue. A distant cousin who dated a meth seller owned him. The meth seller hurt him (his left wing and leg are badly healed from a break and his beak is askew on the left side as well).

I have looked up all the ways to feed him, spritz him, bathe him... but, the other day, he fell from the top of his cage (he cannot fly due to his broken left wing but he seems to forget that). I was devastated. My boyfriend was leaving for months and I couldn't even go out with him before he left because I wanted to watch Rocky to make sue he was okay. He had landed on his back when he fell and exhibited a few of the signs of pain (eyes squinting and favoring his right side). Well, after a night of having him sleep on my chest (I got no sleep but I kept him warm and calm), he seems to be okay (stools normal, eating, drinking, talking, walking, etc.. with no more squinting or favoring).

Here's the question: I have always wondered if I should take him to the vet to see if there is something more they can do for the abuse he has suffered. I wonder if he is in pain, etc. And I certainly wonder after his recent fall. SO... long story longer... is there anything a vet can do for him after the fact of the abuse? That was MANY years ago... maybe as many as 15. I don't know if his recent fall compounded the injury.

I also think Rocky may have been procured illegally. He isn't banded for sex (as my Patagonian Conure was) and seems frantic to want to be in trees.. or trying to fly... even though he hasn't been able to for years. I want him as happy as he can be. With my mom gone, I have hand trained him. He also has begun to mimic me as best he can... given his broken beak. The whole situation just kinda breaks my heart.

I have little money (partially because I have also rescued cats and a dog - all of whom get along). But I will make sacrifices if it will help him (cable TV sucks anyway). Any advice for Rocky (and me)?

Thanks!

L.

[Wolf]

I can relate to your problems, but I do recommend a visit to an avian vet to make sure that your bird didn't reinjure itself when it fell. As for whether or not they can do anything concerning the old injuries, I don't have much hope, but you never know unless you ask.

May I suggest that from this point that you provide some form of padding for this bird both in its cage and around any place that it goes that it could fall. I know that it will greatly increase your cleaning duties, but protecting this bird is more important. I think also that if he falls from perches that I would make some from 1" X 4" wood and provide a platform in his cage for him to rest on. I would still place padding on bottom of his cage to he doesn't injure himself if he falls.

I don't know where you live but in the USA, there are no requirements to band a bird.

[Pajarita]

No, actually, there are requirements only they vary by state and only enforced if sold by a commercial place. The fact that he doesn't have a leg band now doesn't mean that once upon a time he did but was later cut off -lots of people, me included, don't like leg bands.

Now, OF COURSE you need to take that poor bird to a vet. He doesn't look good at all. I realize that you have done your best but you need to find out what is wrong with him because his problem doesn't seem to be just a matter of trauma but, possibly, neurological and/or damage to organs (he looks real bad! and, by the way, he is not a Yellow Nape, he is a Blue Front). And, yes, there might be something that can be done. Not necessarily meaning that the bird will regain flight but, for all you know, there could be broken bones in there that never knitted back together causing the bird chronic pain. My first rescue was a Red Lored that had had both her legs broken as a baby and, although one of them had knitted back (crooked), the other one never had. Surgery was done and a long treatment later (they had to scrape off scar bone tissue, insert a steel rod, put an external fixator and, after the rod was taken out, a cast) she was, al long last (20 years!) free of pain.

So, please, bite the bullet and take that poor bird to a doctor.

[Harpmaker]

I agree with Wolf and Pajarita, but I would add: go to an avian vet if at all possible. I suspect they think that goes without saying, but a dog and cat vet may not have the equipment or training to deal with a bird as gently as possible.

[Wolf]

I agree with Wolf and Pajarita, but I would add: go to an avian vet if at all possible. I suspect they think that goes without saying, but a dog and cat vet may not have the equipment or training to deal with a bird as gently as possible.

I am sorry if you missed it but I did say avian vet.

[Harpmaker]

I am sorry if you missed it but I did say avian vet

So you did Wolf! My apologies-I will be more careful next time.