Lady Gouldian feet issue

[Celebrian]

Hello!

So my male Gould has been having weird feet issues one and off for a number of months. First, and the most obvious, his middle toenail is black on the inside. I guess he injured it flying around and the quick got injured? He never bled outside the nail and it doesn't appear to be sore anymore. Any ideas?

Secondly, I noticed that today he is sore on his right foot. He tucks it up and "stutter-steps" when he puts it down on the perch. I looked at the foot and there are no cuts, fractures, or dislocations. I see him doing this once every couple of months. I did clean the cage today and move some stuff around, so it was a bit more exciting than usual. Also any ideas? What should I look out for?

I just took pics before posting this so they are fresh. Tried to get them at all angles. Thanks!

[dutch]

Celebrian...post some pics of his cage and perches

[Celebrian]

Celebrian...post some pics of his cage and perches

@dutch Hello, here are some pics from today! Thanks for your help.

[Celebrian]

The cage is 64" long, 36" tall, 21" deep (with a removable divider).

[Sally]

It looks like you have a number of those 'sandpaper' type perches. I'd replace some of them with natural branches cut from shrubs or trees in your back yard, as long as you don't use pesticides. Varying thicknesses of natural branches help exercise their feet. I do keep one pedi-perch in each cage, by the waterer, to try to help keep their nails trimmed.

Nice big flight cage for just a few birds--lucky birds!

[Celebrian]

Thanks Sally!

I have someone here locally making me some Manzanita perches. Do you think that will work? I'll pull the sandpaper ones out now - funny enough, those are the Gould's most frequented perches! I have a friend who keeps a couple of different small parrots - I bet they are better suited for them. We also grow several kinds of bamboo and I have heard that they make good perches (once dried). Is that true?

Thank you, it's been a great cage! My friend's husband, whom I inherited my Gouldian from when she passed away, also gave me this cage. It was a beautiful gift and I keep it clean with happy birds in her memory

I do want to eventually want to find a mate for this Gouldian, but want to make sure he's 100% healthy first. He's in beautiful breeding condition outside of these sore tootsies, lol.

[dutch]

Celebrian....remove the plastic and sand paper perch

Best that all perches be natural branches

[Celebrian]

Celebrian....remove the plastic and sand paper perch

Best that all perches be natural branches

Thanks, dutch! Is it ok if I keep the one heated perch? All my birds really love that one. I can remove the rest for certain.

[MiaCarter]

Wow. Lovely cage and bird!

I think it's probably just the equivalent of a black nail in a human, after you slam your finger in the car door or knock it with a hammer. That sort of thing.

So he probably traumatized it somehow, causing internal bleeding. I wouldn't be too worried. It should grow out healthy.

The toe looks okay, which is good. That would be my main concern.

I'd give those tootsies a trim. They're a bit long.
Just be sure you have a little canister of styptic powder to stop any bleeding if you cut too short. In a pinch, corn starch and even flour can work.
Just like a dog, you should cut just a hair in front of the end of the quick (the live core of the nail.)

I have 1 pedi perch. We coated the top surface -- the part that sits against the bird's foot -- with Elmer's glue to make it smooth. (Elmer's glue is non-toxic). So their nails still hit the sandpaper-like area.

But you just need to put it higher in the cage, away from the bath. It can't get wet or it would turn into glue again! I re-apply the glue (takes 3-4 coats) after I soak and disinfect the perches.

That's a good option to prevent bumble foot, while still giving them the benefit of the pedi perch.

I have manzanita perches. They're lovely! They're nice as they tend to have a few different branches with different widths, so the feet get a nice workout. (They run into problems if all the perches are the same diameter.)

I'd keep the heated perch for sure.
And there's no harm in 1 or even 2 pedi-perches in a large cage.

[Celebrian]

MiaCarter Thank you for your reply and compliments!

Awww, poor Winston. This happened right after he was widowed, so it was a bad week for the gent. He doesn't favor the foot anymore which is good. I will definitely trim him - I do have some quik stop so I'll keep that on hand.

That's a great idea regarding the Elmer's glue!! He really loves the green perch, so maybe I'll try it with that one. It's the least rugged out of all of the pedi-perches. Oh goodness, I can't imagine it turning to glue again! LOL!

I can't wait to have the manzanita perches. I used to have some years ago, but I gave them away. Winston needs a foot workout. ;)

[Toddmin]

Celebrian, I have bamboo growing in my yard and have used it as well. However, I don't use it as the only type of perch material.

[Celebrian]

Hi Todd, thanks for the info. I'm looking at adding some, maybe a bot more ornamentally since I have a large cage. My manzanita perches should be here soon.

I put vetwrap around two of the pedi perches for now and my Gould seems better for it.