FINCHforum

This is an update on my canary that hurt her leg.

The original post was on September 10, 2013. I tried to copy and paste the original post here but I'm not doing something right and couldn't get it to work......

Ok my canary is still alive and is still acting just fine (upbeat, happy, eating, acts normal) but the leg is still useless to her....sometimes she will even extend it to the perch and at a glance you my think she is somewhat better but at a closer look you can tell that she still keeps her weight off the leg. Twice over the last couple weeks thought she seems worse, instead of one bum leg she appears to have two bum legs and can't perch at all, instead she rest on the bottom of the cage or in a nest I provided for her to lay in (which she does about 50% of the time). Both times when both legs seem hurt and she can't perch within 24 to 36 hours she regains use of her good leg again but not the original bum leg. She still has good color in her legs, the only change is that the middle toe on her good leg appears swollen now. I still don't really know what to do for her other than just let her be. ( note I took the advice in my first post and did as I was instructed). Unrelated to her being hurt I've heard her sing on two different occasions...her song was short but sounded just like my male (his is long and more elaborate). I've read that some hens will sing and was so hoping she would get better by spring because I would love to put her with my male and try to raise some really good singers. I guess all I can do is wait and see if she improves, breeding season is still several months away, although if she isn't any better by then I don't think I should try to breed her or do you think it would matter? Like I said other than not being able to use her right leg she act like a normal canary......happy, eats, drinks, flys around, chirps, and now on occasion sings.....which I don't think she would do if she were in pain, depressed, or otherwise stressed. Any opinions will be appreciated.

Sorry for the time gap between my postings, things have been hectic since my last post and time or my lack there of has been a factor.

Sorry I wish I could be of more help but I have no idea what could be going on with your canary.
Here's the link to your other thread, hopefully someone else can help.
http://www.finchforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=74&t=26579

best of luck

With it happening to both legs, I suspect even more now that it may be gout caused by a diet too rich in protein. Try offering more dark green, leafy veggies and add a few drops of apple cider vinegar to the water for a few weeks. A bit of fresh aloe juice in the water wouldn't hurt either. Hold back on any egg food or treats containing extra protein. JMO. Bob

I hope your bird gets better.

Sorry to hear about your canary. I had an older one that developed gout. Tried the fresh cherry juice and Allopurinol, per the avian vet.
Took his band off, that helped a little.

I ended up euthanizing my old guy, the meds were really not helping, and it was obvious he was hurting.

Anyway - it's not easy to give a bird meds by mouth 2x/day. If it is gout, (and I would have that verified by avian vet if possible), wishing you the best.

Good luck, please keep us updated.

Will,
It's sad to hear that your bird is still suffering. I think the reasons why she looks like both legs was hurting and cannot perch, because since one of her bum leg was not functional properly, and her good leg have to carry her weigh on when she was flying, jumping,perching etc. Her middle toe of good leg was swollen also because this reason. Since she can't use her body weigh land on both legs. I don't think its a good idea to breed for her yet, you should wait and see how how symptoms whether improve from time to time. You don't want her have any injuries when breeding , especially if the male gather nest materials and in case if she help him to do similar work, then not good for her legs, perhaps if get caught on the nest materials etc.
For now, I would leave it a long and keep an eye on her see what happens, since good that she is still eating and playing well at least. You can't do anything about her legs now since you are not a Vet, I would love to help you but I am not a Vet either; can only give you some suggestions here. You can do your best to take care of her by provide more nutritional diet for her, offer her some calcium like Oyster shell grit, egg food, cuttlebone and veggies too beside her seed diet. By the way the middle toe on her good leg was swollen, also maybe because she got injured while move wrong the cage, since her other leg was not able to balance, so be careful see if any signs of infection these days. Keep us updated about how she is doing.

I meant move "around" the cage- last 2 sentences above. sorry for the auto word correction in my iPad

David