FINCHforum

My male blue-headed parrot finch badly injured his leg about five days ago. It looks like he somehow got it stuck in the cage and freaked out. He has one black toe and a black band about 1 mm wide all the way around his leg. He doesn't use or move the leg at all, but the foot is still pink. There is no tissue where the black band is, you can see his ligaments and everything.
He's alert, active, eating and drinking, but he has trouble getting the useless leg up on the perch.
The vet wants to take the leg off, because he says it will likely get infected and die, and it's better to take it off sooner than later. Right now it's bandaged.
I just wanted to check with you all to see if you would consent to this. I do think he could get an infection or catch the leg on something and become more injured. I saw on other posts that often the leg dies on its own and falls off or can be clipped off. If money were not an issue, would you recommend having the vet amputate or leave it alone?

I would definitely take the recommendation of your vet and have him amputate it before an infection sets in. From your description the leg is totally exposed to outside elements risking infection.
best of luck

I agree with Debbie, have the vet amputate. Most finches do just fine with one leg although I provide my handicapped finches with a platform perch and small ladder to help them get around the cage.

I agree also since your vet has accessed the leg, after she removes it she may also prescribe or administer an antibiotic to aid in healing and prevent infection.

Thank you!! When will it be safe to return him to the cage with the other birds? (Or will it?)

If you have the vet do the amputation, she will probably be able to tell you when the bird can go back in with the others. I have had no problem putting handicapped birds in with other birds, as long as they aren't in with any aggressive ones.

Agreed with Sally, Just watch and be sure it's not being picked on because of it's disability.

Not only do you risk infection you risk bone infection which can be very hard to treat and painful. He really will be best off without the leg.