|
|
Post by sypher on Jun 22, 2009 18:35:34 GMT 10
hi all,
I came home today to find my Alex hens flight feathers on her right wing damaged. She can still fly, but not as well as she did.
Her last 3 or 4 fethers have been bent inside her wing and looks to have bled a bit onto her rump. Not alot, just a few drops from what I can see. I caught her to have a closer look, but couldnt as she was restless and bit me. It hurt, but still not the worst bite Ive had, I had to put her on the ground and wait till she let go!
Anyway, should I be looking at cutting these feathers off at the bend? or does it sound like the shaft is damaged due to the bleeding? If the shafts are damaged, will they grow back?
Should I take her out of the aviary and put her in a cage? I imagine it would take a fair while to grow back which is why she is still in the aviary at the moment.
Thanks Shaun
|
|
|
|
Post by avinet on Jun 22, 2009 21:52:15 GMT 10
Presumably she has had some sort of fright and bashed the wing against the wire of the aviary.
If the feathers aren't stressing the bird then it is probably best to leave them since she can still fly. They may straighten out a bit as she grooms them but most likely they will stay somewhat bent. Sometimes the bend will end up with the feather breaking at the bend leaving just a stump behind until the next moult.It will not be until she moults next summer that they will fall out and be replaced. Bent feathers are not a reason for the whole feather to fall out.
If the feathers are causing stress you may have to get them pulled out. With an Alex I always recommend this be done under anaesthetic since it is pretty painful for larger birds, and it is easy to damage the feather follicle if it isn't pulled correctly with a struggling bird. We would also give painkillers for a couple of days afterwards as well.
To avoid getting bitten with an Alex always use a three finger grip on the head - index finger over the top of the head and resting on the upper beak, and the thumb and second finger on either side of the head. Makes it impossible to get bitten, although you will need a second person to extend and properly examine the wing.
cheers,
Mike
|
|
|
|
Post by meandem on Jun 23, 2009 8:30:43 GMT 10
 To avoid getting bitten with an Alex always use a three finger grip on the head - index finger over the top of the head and resting on the upper beak, and the thumb and second finger on either side of the head. Makes it impossible to get bitten, although you will need a second person to extend and properly examine the wing. cheers, Mike I love reading your posts Mike, always informative ;D ;D ;D I would leave her be if it was me too, but if they were causing stress I would get them removed. I just had a laugh to myself with the three finger grip - I used this method on my moustache hen - cause she is a champion biter! And somehow she managed to swing her head around whilst still in my grip and latch on. She was like something out of one of those movies where you see the persons head spin around. Holy dooly did it hurt, she is like a pig dog - don't let go once she has latched on! My hand ached for days, she still looks at me sidewards now when I am in the aviaries!
|
|
|
|
Post by Robyn on Jun 23, 2009 10:12:02 GMT 10
I still haven't mastered that technique either so i resort to the towel. ;D
|
|
|
|
Post by madaussie on Jun 23, 2009 12:52:42 GMT 10
Yes the 3 finger grip is a must to master the Alex you gave me advice on mike with the tail feathers and bold head has come on a treat
tail coming back great and head nearly covered .
j
|
|
|
|
Post by sypher on Jun 23, 2009 19:50:59 GMT 10
Thanks for the info guys. Mike, as always great to hear from you and read your advice.
I have booked her into the vet tomorrow. I will keep you all posted. Unfortunatley the vet is not an avian vet, but hopefully can help.
Shaun
|
|
|
|
Post by sypher on Jun 24, 2009 17:10:44 GMT 10
Itook the bird to the vet this morning. It was a waste of time in my opinion. When we arrived, I was asked to get the bird out. I told him it was not tame and bites. he said he didnt have any gloves, and handed me an old hand towell that was next to the sink  Anyway, long story short, I held the bird, got bitten, was told nothing I didnt already know. no feathers were pulled. The only good to come out of it was some antibiotics. It was given to me in a syringe, enough for five days in drinking water. Total cost for 5 minutes was a bit over $70. I think if there was something a little more serious, I would travel to see Rob marshall in Sydney. I have spoke with him on the phone and he is very helpful. shaun |
|
|
|
Post by vankarhi on Jul 6, 2009 20:46:06 GMT 10
Gee I am so lucky to have a great vet I take my birds to. He not an avian vet but he knows about birds and the breeders around here take their birds to him......and the breeder I got Skye my female eclectus from takes his birds there so I know this vet knows about birds. He has only ever charged me $15 a few years ago per visit but this year when i took a couple of .......no last year actually, when I took a couple of chicks to him he charged me $20 per visit......but on 3 or 4 visits he has not charged me anything. Meds came to $20......
When I took my very first alex to the avian vet in Bundaberg about 5 years ago I was charged $150......but the bird had his beak trimmed and had to be sedated and it took about 20 mins to trim his beak. So I thought that wasn't too bad either (the bird had scissor beak)
|
|
