new mom

[jessicaboyer89]

I just got my bird a week and a half ago and I LOVE her. She is a Pacific Parrotlet and a real sweetheart! I am a new mother and have a few worries. One, the second day she was in my home, I came down with a nasty cold. Can a bird catch a cold? She seems to be breathing hard and its been a couple of days of this. Also, she keeps one foot tucked up regularly. I know birds do this normally, but I got a closer look at her foot and it seems like one of the toenails didn't grow in quite right. Is this something I should worry about?
Thank you for any response!!!

[Crebain]

Take her to a vet and have boths things checked out. Probably not to worry, but best to be sure, especially at this early stage for you both. Good luck! :D

[smallonion]

Congratulations on your new baby! We want to see pictures!

Birds can't catch colds from us - I've checked that out, don't worry. Does the place you got him from know about his foot? Do they know what happened? You're right that birds do sleep wtih one foot up - they do it sometimes when they're just relaxing too.

Good luck and let us know

Michele and Humphrey

[LMPego]

If she's spending most of her time on one foot and puffed up, that is not normal. Also, the heavy breathing sounds like a respiratory infection. Please get her to an avian vet for a checkup.

[jessicaboyer89]

I am going to make a vet appointment today! Even if nothing is wrong, I'm sure it is best to get a check-up and start out on the right foot.

Thank you for all of the suggestions!

[jessicaboyer89]

For anyone who is still reading this...
I went home during lunch today and inspected Tiki's toe again. One of the toenails is definatly missing!! Poor thing, she was holding it tight agianst her chest. It is definatly bothering her. I'm wondering if this has happened to any other birds out there. I've had her for less than two weeks, and I am wondering how this happened. If she isn't in her cage she has been on my shoulder. Is it possible she plucked it out herself? Or maybe another bird at the breeders did it? I have a couple of toys in the cage, hopefully she didn't get it stuck! (ouch!) Well, I made a vet appointment so hopefully everything will be ok!

[The Outlaw]

Many birds lose toes along the way. Unfortunately, its usually as a result of another bird. In fact, some parents have been know to cannibalize their chicks. In any event, very few have any long term problems. Since she's very young, she'll never even miss it. However, I'm sure it hurts and she could have an infection. Now's a good time to meet your avian vet.

THE OUTLAW

[smallonion]

Our family Amazon, Corbett, has only 2 toenails total. However, he gets around just fine. We don't have a lot of history on him but assume it was abuse from another bird (possibly his parents).

So, once you have it checked out, and it heals, chances are your bird will be just fine with a missing toenail.

I looked up pacific parrotlets and they are soooo adorable.
Best of luck.
Michele and Humphrey

[jessicaboyer89]

Thanks for all of the insight! Parrotlets (some call them pocket parrots) ARE really adorable. When I first went to the breeders I just thought he had alot of small love birds. He sure corrected me! They are really loving too. I picked Tiki out because she was so interested in me at the breeders and stumbled right out of the cage when he opened the door. Two days ago she learned that my finger is a pretty cool perch and she loves to sit on my shoulder under as much of my hair as possible. I feel so bad about her toenail. All that moving stress and than that!

[jessicaboyer89]

Well, I took Tiki to the vet this weekend. Sad to say, she was not a healthy bird. I was so worried about her toe, but the vet said she had a small stump of a toenail and it was just a birth defect. I'm sooo glad I took her though! Turns out she had worms in her sample and a very high bacteria count! :( She is on two different meds now, and will be ok. I hate to think what would have happened had I not taken her in. In fact, there was a lady at the vet with her parrotlet. She got it from the same breeder, about a month before me. It had been sick, but the breeder told her not to worry and not to take him in. (not smart!) Well, shortly after she decided to bring him in anyways and he ended up dying. I sat with her the whole time, it was so sad. It is amazing how attatched you can get so quickly! Well, I am just glad I caught this before it got really bad. One lesson learned; take your bird to the vet to get a checkup if you have any suspicion something could be wrong. Thanks for the prior advice!