new canary, possible mentally handicapped?

[joeswife112099]

First of all, I just want to say hi I am new here, but not by any means a new bird owner. I have had birds all my life. A friend of mine recently bought a canary for me from a local pet store. The sign on his cage said 3month old canary, steps up 50.00. As she was looking at him, a guy came over and said "if you are interseted I will take 42.50 for him. She knew how much I wanted a canary so she picked up the cage and took him to the counter. He told her the cage wasn't included but in the same breath said she could have everything for 40.00!

Here's his story....She brings him to me and he acts pretty normal except he bobs his head really weird, and makes a clicking sound with his beak like he is chewing something. He also can't fly well, he flies in a downward circular pattern. He did fly about 4 feet today then came back to me. He is very tame and loves attention. I guess my question is would this be something a baby does
or is something wrong with him. He does peep and sing a little. I loaded a few videos I will post a link to.


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hopefully someone out there has seen this behavior. It's almost like he can't control his head.

thanks
Wendy

[savagem13]

Wow--definitely looks neurological. Have you asked an avian vet? Could be genetic, I suppose. I'd just want to make sure it wasn't anything disease-related.

[jbottino]

I am not a bird expert, but I am a pediatric nurse and this looks like a mild seizure to me. The behavior is very suspect in my bird experience and I would definitely have the bird checked out at an avian vet. I hope your bird does well. All my best wishes and prayers are with you!

[tina in ohio]

it looks neurological to me as well. some birds have genetic problems and they are born that way.. tina in ohio...

[joeswife112099]

thanks everyone! He does it constantly. He did have a seizure the other night. He stiffened up and his toes locked up, he started panting and closed his eyes. He was ok soon after. He has been acting a lot better today. I am giving him some broad spectrum antibiotic drinking solution as a precaution and to clear up the diarrhea. at this moment he isn't bobbing his head at all, which was a constant thing, and he is getting up on higher perches! I am hoping it's a baby thing and he will be over it soon!! I will keep you posted.....I will take him to a vet also.

[catschair]

He is very lucky to have found someone who loves him, perfect or flawed! I am sure you will both have a wonderful adventure together.

[Skiekitty]

I just adopted a few weeks ago a very ugly little birdie who seems to be mentally retarded as well. I believe he had very bad mite problems, but the vet couldn't find anything wrong with him when I took him to the vet. He had a majorly bad molt and was a walking Thanksgiving Dinner.. abet a very small one. I've been feeding him Higgins Snack Attack colored eggfood as he's supposed to be a redfactor mixed with Pretty Bird pellets and about 10% canary seed. I'm supplimenting with Feather Fast and he's much prettier now that he's almost 100% fully fledged. Unfortunately, he bobs his head oddly and doesn't fly at all (I think the no-flying bit is because he's finally developing flight feathers on his wings). But he bobs and does really weird things. And he's still ugly. Oh well. Keep us informed on how your baby is doing! :) He's awfully pretty!!!

[joeswife112099]

mines cute as a button, and I did notice that the breeder apperant;y c;ipped his wings t otame him. therefore, he flew in a circular pattern. I am trying to switch him to zupreem but he was unfortunately raised on seed so I am working on that. He is not bobbing his head as much as he was. He LOVES to be held. I put him on the budgie playstand and he hops around and plays with the little plastic balls. He is adorable, whether he rides a short bus to school or not! ROFLMAO!!

[Zeina]

ohh he's so cute!! he's still a baby canary!!

I had a baby canary like that when my canaries were hatching, he was the last baby in the nest & the weakest ,the last baby didn't get fed well. He was really tame & used to stand on my hand.
You can boil him some eggs for his feathers to grow out & I think he'll be fine.
He seems healthy, and adorable take good care of it!!