Amazon's eye won't open

[JonC1991]

I still haven't tried it. But I think I am going to try it out. We've been feeding him Gerber's Baby Food (Things like apple sauce, and something with mangoes), the Maseca Mix, and crushed sunflower seeds. But I think I should start giving him more protein. I'm guessing a boiled egg everyday in his meals?

Thank you guys for the tips. This is my family's first exotic bird. We have several other "regular" birds (such as a Cardinal, two canaries, and three sparrows) but I haven't been that attached to them. In fact this is the first time in 2 years since I've felt this attached to a pet (The first one was a Pomeranian that, sadly, passed away in 2011).

[Eric&Rebecca]

Apple sauce can be very sugary... unless you're making it yourself. The egg shouldn't be runny... hard boiled is ok but if you're going to dothat you may as well make eggfood. I use a simple recipe... hard boiled eggs (organic), birdie bread crumbs (although you can use low salt wholewheat bread crumbs for this too), some prefer to crush the shell up very small to thicken but personally I would use a little cornflour to thicken the mix.

I use this one from the national cockatiel society- (without the crushed eggshells)

http://www.cockatiels.org/main/articles ... made-easy/

Its so simple... its literally shove in a blender with some boiling and microwaving Give it a try.

[Pajarita]

Be careful with the yolk. It's very high in cholesterol and parrots don't consume anything that has cholesterol in the wild (damages the liver as well as the cardiovascular system).

[Eric&Rebecca]

Thanks Parajita... forgot that bit. Yes not too much yolk! The white part has less cholestrol, it's more there to help in the formative stages or during molting.

[JonC1991]

Well we tried giving him the egg and he wouldn't bite (on the other hand the Canaries and Cardinal are throwing a munch on that hard boiled egg).

But I have a few notes of good news and few bad ones;

First on the bad news : Yesterday and Today Pancho looked lazy. Kept sleeping, and didn't want to eat. I thinking it may of been something bad, spoke to my cousin, and she recommended that I speak to a vet immediately. I called the Vet, where I took him the first time and they didn't answer. So all night I kept an eye on him, till 4am.

"Good News, Everyone" : Today when we were on our way to another vet, we saw one of my mom's friends. She explained to us that nearby there was another vet who knew better about birds. We went and sure enough the guy explained that the eye closing was due to a infection, and he studied at the University of Delaware. We asked more about himself and he told us that he is a professor at the Veterinary Faculty of my school (I study at Faculty of Physics at the Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon). I am feeling more comfortable with him because he has better access to knowledge than the other guys (the first vet). Anyways going back on subject, he recommended that we change his diet (more protein), and he says that Pancho has a respiratory infection. So he gave us many things, including Vitamins, Antibiotics (one was a shot that he gave, and the other was a water soluble one). The diet he told us to give him a store bought formula for baby birds, and Gerber's Baby Food, but one that included meat and veggies. He pretty much told us he recommended the Chicken, Rice, and Veggie one. Then gave us another ointment for the eyes. I gotta say, all that for around $31 USD, not bad

I think I may of found my Avian Vet.

[Eric&Rebecca]

A respiratory infection... that's quite nasty. Didn't they keep him in the surgery for that?! I would have thought that was protocol... anyway at least you've got some medication.

The eggfood needs to be wet, they won't eat it if you just plonk it in front of them whole, it has to be cooked, blended, re wet and then microwaved and then left to cool... even the store bought stuff which isn't really that great but its better than nothing.

Also did they xray the lungs or look down the crop and oesophagus to check he hasn't aspirated any food? Usually they look into the crop and xray to rule out other things too.

[JonC1991]

Sadly, he passed away right now. I would like to thank you guys for all your help...

[Eric&Rebecca]

I am so sorry, unfortunately this is the case for most birds that are bought to young. Don't blame yourself, you tried everything you could. Just next time don't buy the bird so young, its just not worth the heartache and sadness you are feeling right now

[Pajarita]

Awwwww, it's a RedLored! My very first rescue was a RLA and I've loved them every since! Well, not that there is a single species I don't love -LOL

Amazons don't need that much protein so you are doing OK only I would not use sunflowers too much, try almonds, pistachios, walnuts, etc. If you dehull them and toast them in the oven you should be able to crush them into a fine grind with a pestle and mortar but, if you have a coffee grinder, wash it real well and use it, that's what I used to do and it works great.

And yes, just keep on using the drops, they are fine for birds (there isn't a single ophthalmic solution made for birds so it's not the 'pinche veterinarios mejicanos' - LOL). A good solution for eyes is black and chamomile tea. Just put a regular black tea bag and a good spoonful of chamomile in a cup and add water that has boiled but it's not longer bubbling (adding boiling water to tea burns it and spoils it), and let it steep until it's cold. You can save it in the fridge for a day or so and use it to wash out inflamed or irritated eyes.

[Eric&Rebecca]

Parajita.. unfortunately the bird passed away