Is my bird epileptic

Geordie · Post by **Geordie** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 8:53 am

Yeah, I know the title sounds strange, but one of my Javas who is perfectly healthy will sometimes have these spasms, where it will clutch it's perch and jump up and down while still clutching the perch, it doesn't seem to know that it is doing it, it could be eating at the time and then suddenly these spasms will happen, usually about once every 1 or 2 days, afterwards it just carries on as if nothing has happened.

It is a young silverback Java, about 7 months old and it started doing this about a month ago, around about the same time it started gesturing aggresively with an open mouth and the swaying of the head to my other Java in the same cage. Any ideas?

williep · Post by **williep** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 2:00 am

Does this happen when your other Javas are close by or just when it's on it's own in the middle of nowhere.

My guess is it's getting into breeding condition and is trying to court one of the other birds, or just practicing for courting later.

Geordie · Post by **Geordie** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 10:31 am

It can happen at any time, usually in the evening though, it won't be interacting with the other Java at all during this time

gouldy · Post by **gouldy** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 3:51 pm

My only thought is twirling which could be cause by damged inner ear,lack of important vitamins(B group)and genetic inheritance

Geordie · Post by **Geordie** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 8:11 pm

Well the vitamins are not a problem, they take all their supplements and Riff is one of the healthiest looking birds I have seen. Damaged inner ear, hmm, I hope not, I am sure the vet would have picked up on that when Riff had his last health check, but there is another health check due in 2 weeks so I will ask about it then. Genetics, could be, Riff inherited a worm from it's mother, dealt with now though.