Pajarita wrote:I don't think that it hurts her to fly. She doesn't look as if she was in pain which, of course, means nothing as we can't really tell if a bird is in a bit of pain or not. But, in humans, muscle pain only happens when you overwork them (the muscle tissue 'rips' or 'tears') and it takes a couple of minutes to appear - her flights are so short (just a couple of seconds, usually) that I doubt there is time for her muscles to actually start hurting or that much damage done to the tissue. I have no doubt that her flight muscles and tendons are atrophied but not completely. She can spread out as well as lift and lower her wings all the way so the range of movement is, apparently, normal which leads me to believe that there is still functionality there. I really think it has to do with her brain and the kind of life she became used to more than anything else. And, yes, you are right that younger birds do 'catch up' much faster and easier than older birds but I still think that a bit of 'forced' exercise would help a lot.
Sunny may still improve a lot Pajarita and I hope she does. it just might take more time for healing and to feel confident. This is my opinion, but i think parrots can get in a mind set, it may be what we call neurosis or even mental illness in humans, when the parrot has lived many years in a bad situation, but given time I think the brain can heal. When she does start to fly, I would love a pic. You are right a bit of forced flight cant hurt.
