I may have figured what's caused it- I rang my usual avian vet and and at this point Edmund was dancing around like there was no tomorow when usually he'd be settling down for bed! He agreed it was not unusual for a first molt bird but also suggested doing one thing before we go down the route of tests just to clarify a little. He asked about his routine at my parents where he was staying for 2.5 weeks during house repairs and one came back a week ago today, if they get up early or later etc. I said my mum gets up really early and my dad stays up late but he was in separate room from my dad.. So he said well even though he was separate from the living room he may not have been sleeping properly as he could hear noises and there's a good chance his bodyclock and routine is totally mucked up. I later found out that the night before the accident when i was away my partner had completely forgotten to cover him up! That could not have helped in the slightest! He recommended before we bring him in Tuesday just to try this just to see.
Put him to bed really early make sure the WHOLE house is as quiet as possible, so about 19:30pm we fully covered the cage. Put towels over the blinds as it was still light and all went into the bedroom until our bedtime and left him well alone. Then this morning, he was completely himself again! As clockwork he woke up singing at 8:45am sharp and ever since everything has completely returned to normal.
He's not napping (apart from the usual) he's singing, dancing, eating even more, drinking, playing you name it. He's been beak grinding away when he's 'chilling' on a foot for ten minutes like they do and he's just been like the whole thing never happened.
OF COURSE, I will still take him to the vets and I will request a baseline blood and feacal sample just in case but I have a gut feeling that's what it was. Especially given the rigmoral he's been through recently with having to move out and his little accident. He's had a bath this morning preened himself out. Not once has he fluffed up apart from to preen.
I rang the vet back just now and he said he might nap a bit more for a while just while his bodyclock completely adjusts but its entirely possible it was that plus the stress of his toe and the vet visit and being uncovered for a whole night! Oakham's Razor! However, just to be absolutely safe he will do the baseline tests and an examination.
George will have his new bird check on Thursday. Although he appears healthy with no problems I will probably request that there's some form of blood test involved as well as the usual various faecel samples, feather samples and oral and skin swabs. Although both had these when they were born may be it is time to get another blood test. Edmund's will be soon anyway and although George isn't supposed to have one (since he had one at 6 weeks) with a clean screen. I will probably do it again, the vet did mention as it was a companion bird he was likely to blood test. If it was a single bird he probably wouldn't have which he felt the need to clarify why he didn't do with Edmund previously as he's had no reason to believe tests were in order as he's an extremely healthy bird.
Also I asked him about moulting cycles and endochrine problems and he said:
1. Edmund would not have symptoms that quickly it would be a gradual progression.
2. Its highly unlikely anyway, he's far too young
3. He confirmed his first molt can occur anytime between 6-12 months and last any period of time between 10-6 months in varying degrees. Although he is in a continuous state of molt.
4. Marie83 is totally correct at least according to my research and the avian vet, SOME birds do have moulting cycles dependent on breeding seasons however a cockatiels is more influenced by a number of factors rather than just one like temperature, weather and many many other factors some physiological and some external. It's a very difficult process to understand. cml I was exactly the same with Edmund's molt because I felt it was slowing and then starting heavier and then slowing up. It never completely stopped but went in waves. Apparently, this is normal too although no two molts are the same or two birds the same. sigh LOL
He also said even if the injury is minor, birds have a built in mechanism to protect. While they have an in built system to hide their symptoms they also have the reaction to protect anything that could POTENTIALLY be a problem. He now of course realises his foot is fine but the shock and stress will trigger him to protect it. I think Michael may have outlined this about injury too.
Thus far I cannot see any worrying signs although I WILL be getting him checked over and be extra vigilent. It can't hurt to double check via some baseline tests either
