Strange "spaz attack"

[Zoo keeper Karin]

I have a Sunday conure that is just over a year old. Lately he will have a "spaz attack" in his cage, flapping and hollering like crazy, and ends up on the bottom of his cage in sort of a shocked state. At this point, you can pick him up (he won't step up, but won't resist being picked up). He's hand friendly, but not to the point of being cupped in your hands. When he's in this "state" you can do ANYTHING with him. Cup him in your hands, turn him upsidedown, etc. This will be about 5 minutes, and then he'll be back to his normal self.
Anyone's bird ever act like this? Or is this something I should be concerned about?

[kali]

can birds have seizures? i think he might be having them.

get him to the vet ASAP.

[kali]

A seizure is a sudden, temporary loss of consciousness and control of motor function. It is caused by a paroxysmal, uncontrolled transient electrical discharge in the brain. Seizures may be mild to severe, partial or generalized, frequent or infrequent.
When a seizure occurs, a bird may vocalize, lose consciousness, fall off its perch, flap its wings uncontrollably and stiffen its body. Fortunately, many birds will recover from a seizure and slowly regain their ability to control their movements and perch.

There are many causes of seizures in birds. Some of the more common causes include central nervous system diseases such as a brain tumor or infection, head trauma, hyperthermia, liver disease, metabolic disturbances (hypocalcemia, hyperglycemia) and toxicity from lead, zinc, aflatoxins and certain insecticides. If no cause is found after a thorough evaluation, the bird is said to have idiopathic epilepsy.

A bird that seizures should have a thorough physical examination, radiographs, hematology and blood chemistry. A complete blood count will reveal whether anemia, inflammation or infection is present. Blood chemistries provide an indication of liver and kidney function and the electrolyte status of the patient. A radiograph may demonstrate the presence of metallic densities in the gastrointestinal tract. Although one cannot rule out the presence of lead or zinc toxicity if no metallic densities are present, finding them leads support to the possibliity of heavy metal poisoning as the cause of the seizures. Definitive diagnosis is based upon the presence of toxic levels of lead and zinc in the blood.

[xafsmom]

It sounds like seizures to me, also. Poor little guy. Time to take him to the vet!

[Zoo keeper Karin]

I thought of seizures, too, but he doesn't really stiffen up. He doesn't seem to be in any physical distress at all.
Last time it happened, the dog had suddenly run by the cage. Maybe it spooked him? I'm not quite sure if I'd go as far as thinking seizures, but I'll call the vet if it happens again. (It's happened twice).