My luck is not so good

[Victor]

my bird luck has not been good lately. Some of you now that I lost one of my greys not long ago.
Well last night there was a thunder storm and my cockatiel got his wing stuck in his cage. So I freed the wing and hopped it was just sore but in the light this morning. I seen the blood and he was not holding it right. So to the vet we went. Know the wing is bandaged and he has meds for the pain. But I fear his flying days are over. Cry cry As I hope for the best I am looking for a new cage. As this one is old and a bit bet up. I was looking for a new one anyway as I'd like a bigger one for him. This is just one more reason to do it. Know for my question. With all this stress he is not eating. So is baby food a good way to get him some food tell he starts eating on his own again? I do have all the skills to feed baby birds. Even if I haven't used em for a few years.

[liz]

Pajarita or Wolf have to get back to you about what to feed him.

Tammy's wing healed crooked but she can fly like the rest. Lemone' wing broke and he could fly. They did get nerve damage and twitch sometimes.

[Wolf]

He is probably not eating right now due to the pain. Since it has been close to 24 hours I too would start getting concerned about him not eating, but I would be more concerned about dehydration at this point. Is he drinking water at all? Some weaning formula would probably be a better option for him right now and until he starts healing up from this injury as he will need the extra nutrition. Is there some place that you can get some weaning formula locally?

[Victor]

Oh that's good news. I can keep my hop. His wing is not broke but dislocated. And there is flesh damage. So I do have hop that he will fly. Maybe not as good. But any is better then nun. Thank you so much for the good news. And he did star to eat. I just have to give water. As its so hard for him to get around. I just want to make share he don't drowned himself.

[Wolf]

Great news, considering the situation. I would still consider the weaning formula though because healing takes a lot of nutrients. A dislocation actually hurts worse than a break, at least it did with me. Most parrots lap up their water so they need to have at least an inch of water to be able to get a drink unless he knows how to drink from a water bottle.
There is a very good chance that barring further injury that he will be able to fly again once he heals enough. I would consider padding the bottom of his cage with a thick towel or two and perhaps remove high perches so that he will sleep closer to the bottom. Some birds will climb up the side of the cage and try to sleep holding on to the sides and if he does that then you would have to put his sleeping perch back in, but it would be safer if he will sleep lower for a while.

[Victor]

Well ok I'll keep looking For formula. You do mean for birds right? Or can I use human formula? Like a mom would use that don't want/ can't breast feed. And he is still in the carrier so he can't get so high. And I'll offer him a perch when he fingers out. How go get around better. With his bandages.

[Wolf]

Not human formulas they don't have the right nutrients in the right balance, so you really want a bird weaning formula.

[Victor]

Not human formulas they don't have the right nutrients in the right balance, so you really want a bird weaning formula.

I new you was going to say that. But it was worth a shot. Lol

[Wolf]

I hear you!

[Pajarita]

Yes, birds can fly with droopy wings, I've had several of them and although they are not as good as before with maneuvers, it doesn't seem to bother them at all. But, having said that, I've had birds that have not been able to use a wing that had soft tissue damage without been actually broken. It depends on exactly where the damage happened because if a tendon is torn and it does not heal back the right way, it's as bad as a fracture. Birds are not really that delicate but certain parts of their bodies (like feet and wings) are.

As to his not eating, put him in a small cage, if you have one - if you don't, lower his perches to a height where he only has to take a step up to get on them, put heat under the cage (I like putting a heating pad at the bottom and covering it with a kitchen towel and newspaper - temperature should be 85 to 90 degrees for an injury), put it in a quiet place and cover all sides but one. Birds that are grounded due to injury or disease feel terribly vulnerable because, in nature, it means death so giving them a hidey-hole kind of place makes them feel safe and relieves their stress (people usually put them near where they are so they can watch them constantly thinking that they would appreciate the extra attention but it's actually better to allow them to hide because that's their instinctual reaction). As to food, give him white bread and millet. He'll eat once he feels warm and safe. Handfeeding should always be a last resort because it's stressful for the little ones.