Java Male Favoring Leg - Your Thoughts Appreciated

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30 Seconds to Bob
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Java Male Favoring Leg - Your Thoughts Appreciated

Post by 30 Seconds to Bob » Sat Sep 01, 2012 6:54 pm

I came home from work yesterday to find Fred, my male java finch perching on one leg. No big deal - right? Birds sleep or sometimes just rest on one leg all the time.
Well, what made me a bit apprehensive was when I went over to him to try to put him in an "alert" state, he still didn't want to put the right leg down. When I "shooed" him off the perch he flew to another and again immediately picked up the right leg. Thinking, he may have just somehow banged or bruised it, I figured I'd give it a while to see how he does. Well, sure enough, in a couple of hours, he seemed to be acting pretty normal again, standing on both feet with no apparent issues. (I know this is getting long - bear with me)

Today, when I came home from work, he was doing the same thing - favoring the right foot, unwilling to put it down even with a little prodding. When not favoring the foot, he's flying and jumping all around. He's still singing up a storm and trying to court Wilma.

I'm wondering what might be wrong with the leg or foot and what can be done to help. Could he just have sprained or injured it? Could this be the early stages of gout (as I've been feeding a richer canary style diet along with the parakeet seed)? Could the foot be bothering him because they sleep on the same perch every night, even though I have several different diameters within the cage? Are there any pharmaceutical or herbal pain remedies that can be given to birds in tiny doses? What do you think I should do? As I type this, the foot visually looks fine and he's standing on both again. :? Bob
3 canaries
2 orange cheeked waxbill finches
2 java finches, 1 split to normal, 1 white
2 bourke parakeets
1 american staffordshire/american pit bull terrier
1 boston/jack russel terrier mix
6 adopted stray cats
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L in Ontario
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Re: Java Male Favoring Leg - Your Thoughts Appreciated

Post by L in Ontario » Sat Sep 01, 2012 7:01 pm

Sounds like a strain to me. I would give him a heat lamp at one end of a perch and see how much he uses it - keeping in mind it may take him a day or two to get close to it.
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Re: Java Male Favoring Leg - Your Thoughts Appreciated

Post by 30 Seconds to Bob » Sun Sep 02, 2012 4:17 pm

Thanks Liz for the response. I already have a lamp with three bulbs on one side of the cage. Two full spectrum and one heat bulb. They seem to like the other side of the cage better. He seems to be fine today.
Nobody else has ever had a bird with a lame leg and wondered what to do about it? Bob
3 canaries
2 orange cheeked waxbill finches
2 java finches, 1 split to normal, 1 white
2 bourke parakeets
1 american staffordshire/american pit bull terrier
1 boston/jack russel terrier mix
6 adopted stray cats
2 adult, 1 young leopard gecko
4 fish tanks and 4 fish bowls
3 turtles
2 teenage kids and 1 wife

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Re: Java Male Favoring Leg - Your Thoughts Appreciated

Post by L in Ontario » Sun Sep 02, 2012 5:26 pm

A pinch of Guardian Angel, NV Powder or other vitamin / electrolytes in the water would not be amiss either. I hope his leg stays good from here on.

Typically when my birds have had leg issues - they've been obvious as an infected leg swollen around the closed band (I was lucky to get it off and saved the leg and the bird) on two different birds.

Best wishes, Bob.
Liz

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Re: Java Male Favoring Leg - Your Thoughts Appreciated

Post by cindy » Sun Sep 02, 2012 6:30 pm

I am not sure if this will help but I use pei perches in some of my cages for certain birds that favor a foot once in a while. I also serve herbs...(like Twin Beaks Herb Salad) or add a bit of dried or fresh parsley and give more greens and decrease proteins.

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Re: Java Male Favoring Leg - Your Thoughts Appreciated

Post by 30 Seconds to Bob » Sun Sep 02, 2012 7:43 pm

If it were gout (one of the things I suspected -although not likely, being so young) I would cut back on the protein and offer more leafy green veggies. Some of the things I've heard about for mild pain relief include cayenne pepper, arnica herb and even chamomile tea. I was wondering if anyone has ever used these and the proper dosage. Bob
3 canaries
2 orange cheeked waxbill finches
2 java finches, 1 split to normal, 1 white
2 bourke parakeets
1 american staffordshire/american pit bull terrier
1 boston/jack russel terrier mix
6 adopted stray cats
2 adult, 1 young leopard gecko
4 fish tanks and 4 fish bowls
3 turtles
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Re: Java Male Favoring Leg - Your Thoughts Appreciated

Post by cindy » Sun Sep 02, 2012 8:05 pm

Bob, have you ever used Herb Salad from Twin Beaks?

this is some info from their site on hers that are in their mix:

http://www.twinbeaksaviary.com/herbsalad.html

quote
"Dandelion root & leaves (Taraxacum officinale) stomach, vitamins, potassium, calcium, kidneys

Oatstraw tops (Avena Sativa) calcium, magnesium, yeast infections, thyroid

Plantain leaf (Plantago) major kidneys, appetite, diarrhea, anti-inflammatory

Red clover leaf & blossom ( Trifolium pratense) relaxant, antibiotic, inflammations, minerals

Milk thistle seed (Silybum marianum) liver repair, heart, lungs, circulation, worms

Echinacea herb (Echinacea angustifolia) antibiotic, antiviral, immunity, vitamins, proteins

Pau d' arco bark (Tabebuia avellanedae) blood cleanser, fights infections, liver, candida

Elder berry & flower (Sambucus nigra) respiratory, anti-inflammatory, blood, appetite

Yarrow flower (Achillea millefolium) blood, liver, virus & fungal inhibitor, tonic

Thyme leaf (Thymus vulgaris) antibacterial, kills & expels worms, diarrhea

Olive leaf (Olea europaea) feather problems, immune support, fights infection

Lavender flower (Lavandula angustifolia) digestion, essential oils, stress, metabolism

Wheatgrass powder (Triticum aestivum) circulation, amino acids, enzymes, chlorophyll

Garlic flakes (Allium sativum) antifungal, antioxidant, fertility, heart

Spirulina powder (Spirulina platensis) fertility, growth, stress, color, protein

Astragalus root (astragalus membranaceous) immune system, digestion, energy, kidneys

Barberry root (Berberis vulgaris) antiseptic, respiratory, blood purifier, liver

Chickweed herb (Stellaria media) C, B, D, Anti-inflammatory, stomach, respiratory

Kelp granules (Macrocystis pyrifera) iodine, thyroid, stimulant, mucous membranes

Licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra) expectorant, liver, anti-inflammatory, flavor

Wormwood herb (Artemisia absinthium) liver, aids digestion, appetite Stimulant, worms

Marshmallow root (Althaea officinalis) wounds, calcium, diuretic, demulcent, tonic

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Re: Java Male Favoring Leg - Your Thoughts Appreciated

Post by 30 Seconds to Bob » Sun Sep 02, 2012 8:28 pm

No I haven't tried that. Can you only get it online? I've tried other dried greens from Higgins (I think it was) and my canaries would hardly touch it if at all. Bob
3 canaries
2 orange cheeked waxbill finches
2 java finches, 1 split to normal, 1 white
2 bourke parakeets
1 american staffordshire/american pit bull terrier
1 boston/jack russel terrier mix
6 adopted stray cats
2 adult, 1 young leopard gecko
4 fish tanks and 4 fish bowls
3 turtles
2 teenage kids and 1 wife

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Re: Java Male Favoring Leg - Your Thoughts Appreciated

Post by cindy » Sun Sep 02, 2012 8:42 pm

There are a few members here that sell it. I know you can get it from ladygouldian.com

Distributors:

http://www.twinbeaksaviary.com/distributors.html

Laraine w/ladygouldian.com is listed and also one of our members, Tiffany (nixity) is Gouldians Galore.

Zebra, Gouldians, Java, CBM Shaft tail & Grasskeets


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Re: Java Male Favoring Leg - Your Thoughts Appreciated

Post by debbie276 » Mon Sep 03, 2012 5:58 am

Laraine w/ladygouldian.com is listed and also one of our members
I've looked for Laraine in the members list to PM and couldn't find her listed. :?
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Re: Java Male Favoring Leg - Your Thoughts Appreciated

Post by cindy » Mon Sep 03, 2012 9:16 am

Debbie, she is not a member here but the "also listed" on the distributors list (that is the list/link I was referring to) is one of our members, Tiffany.

Zebra, Gouldians, Java, CBM Shaft tail & Grasskeets


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*Finchaholics ~ finches, hookbills, softbills & canaries are welcome here!
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Re: Java Male Favoring Leg - Your Thoughts Appreciated

Post by Sally » Mon Sep 03, 2012 12:18 pm

Laraine is not a member of this forum, as far as I know. There are several members of our forum who do sell Herb Salad. Tiffany (nixity) is one, and Bill Van Patten (fabulousfinch) is another. You can PM them, but it would probably be quicker to go to their member profile to get their websites. My finches love Herb Salad.
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Re: Java Male Favoring Leg - Your Thoughts Appreciated

Post by 30 Seconds to Bob » Mon Sep 03, 2012 9:52 pm

No more apparent leg issues as of today. Fred is back to his comical, happy little self. :D Thanks to all and in this post I've learned about herb salad and guardian angel. Bob
3 canaries
2 orange cheeked waxbill finches
2 java finches, 1 split to normal, 1 white
2 bourke parakeets
1 american staffordshire/american pit bull terrier
1 boston/jack russel terrier mix
6 adopted stray cats
2 adult, 1 young leopard gecko
4 fish tanks and 4 fish bowls
3 turtles
2 teenage kids and 1 wife

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