New member!

[Wolf]

I was doing some reading last night and I came across an item concerning a deficiency of vitamin A. It said that it could cause sneezing and flight clumsiness. Since these were mentioned here I thought to let you know about it so that you could look into it if you thought it might be pertinent.

[Angie]

Thanks for the heads up!

The past few days it has been kind of dry here, very very hot weather and what not. Is why I've been giving her a bath more often. So that could be a reason for the sneezing as well, but since I can't be 100% sure I rather get this checked out.

About the clumsiness. It's not like she.. is clumsy when trying to 'fly', but more like.. she just I guess expect you to catch her. Whenever you are close and she sees the opportunity to jump to your hand, she does it without hesitation and in the meantime you could be walking away or something and so she falls on the ground. Also, the clumsiness is mostly when shes walking and hopping. She trips over her own feet when she's hyper and over her toys.. =P

Deficiency of vitamin A.. I offer her a variety of vegetables and fruit, next to her pellets and seed mix. Any special kind of fruit or vegetable which offers a great amount of vitamin A?

[Wolf]

Probably carrots, butternut squash, sweet peppers, peas, broccoli, and sweet potatoes. I know these all are sources of vitamin A or its precursor beta carotene, but can't say for sure that they are the best sources.
It does not sound like this would be any problem based on what you are feeding her. I didn't know, so was just passing on something I came across while looking up a different medical condition in parrots to help someone else.

[Angie]

I know, but it's good to know all these things for future reference or something. I did make her carrots and peas today, though. ;D

Noticed her sneezing a lot less today, but I'm gonna continue keeping a close eye on her behavior and her eating pattern.

[Harpmaker]

And keep us posted! Most of us worry about every possibly sick bird on the forums.

[Pajarita]

Wolf is right on the betacarotene rich food, just add kale to the list.

He is not clumsy, they all walk like that, pigeon toed, and, when they are in a hurry and they cannot fly, they do tend to trip over their own feet (I have a cockatoo that hops like a rabbit when he is in a hurry and all the time he talks to himself saying "Come on - come on - come on" -LOL). As to jumping on you as you pass by, I have a cockatoo that must not have been allowed to fledge (he does not fly at all) that does the same thing -only he is BIG and, when he grabs you, he doesn't only use his claws but his beak too and he has a mighty BIG and strong beak as well as sharp claws so the 'receiver' of the jump (me) gets a real painful surprise when he does it. What I would do is put a folded comforter (quilt), a piece of foam or something else that's soft right under his cage so, if he falls, he doesn't hurt himself (birds can break their keel bone from this type of fall).

[RenLynn]

Hello, welcome to the forum, hope you enjoy your new buddy

[Angie]

Haha! I could imagine that would hurt a lot, Pajarita! For a small bird like Monty, it already hurts quite a bit when she hold onto your skin with her beak. Been looking for something to put at the bottom of the cage for when she does jump, for now I've been using pillows >___>. I've already put a thick layered blanket near my computer, cause she loves to jump from her cage to my computer. As for the food, kale is quite hard to come by during this time of year.

And thank you for the welcome, RenLynn!

[RenLynn]

What a cute little guy.

[Angie]

Yes, he/she is!

Ok, so I've been talking to the vet about Monty's health. Told them everything I thought was worth mentioning and what they told me is that I shouldn't worry too much about it. That none of the things I've mentioned is reason to be alarmed..

I am a bit confused now since I hear so many different things.. I don't know what to believe anymore.. Maybe the sneezes are because it's been quite dry lately? Cause nothing is changing in her eating pattern, she eats enough.. Plays a lot, I weigh her regularly and see no major weight losses.

The only thing that is different is that she is a bit.. bitey? Doesn't draw blood or anything, but it can hurt quite a bit. Been reading here about some sorta 'biting' phase young birds go through. Since she's 22 weeks old right now. Could that be possible?