Baby Blue & Gold W/bacteria?

[Donna Brown]

We have added a beautiful blue and gold macaw (first bird)to our family. We purchased him from someone that handfed him for a month before we brought him home. His last visit to the vet before we picked him up confirmed that he still has a touch of bacteria and we were instructed to have him to our vet in a month for a gram stain test - no medication was prescribed because the bacteria level had decreased from the initial visit and discovery of the bacteria. Not knowing alot about birds, it seems that his beak is awfully warm - is this normal? Ozzy is his name, he is going to our vet tomorrow afternoon for our first visit - I just thought maybe some of you veteran macaw owners could enlighten us on temperatures in birds and/or bacteria being common in macaw babies?

[Lisa B]

Hi donna and welcome.

while not a macaw mom, i can say there are times I touch my greys beak or feet and they seem warmer. not sure how much help that is to you. sorry

I will try to locate someone who can help you but not sure she is online tonight. Hang in there, and let us know what the Dr says. Its a good thing to always have a well baby visit. Write your questions down and your vet should be happy to answer them all. His goal is the same as yours. A happy healthy baby!

[Donna Brown]

Thanks, I will post tomorrow evening when we get home the outcome of the visit!

[birdyland]

How did the Vet go?

Birds ARE warm creatures.... but the vet should be able to tell you just how warm....

[birdlady49]

Make sure you use an avian vet. I remember one story from long ago where a vet tried to take a bird's temperature by sticking the thermometer up the cloaca! Yikes!

[Donna Brown]

Thanks for checking on Ozzie, our trip to the vet-LSU Veterinarian School- only avian vet in the area- 1. weight has gone from 975g to 840g in a week and a half, doctor said the bird was not weaned when we brought him home, therefore has been starving, with the little bit of formula that he has taken off the spoon as I was instructed so we are now trying to just get him to eat- Veg-all and nut mixture. If he is not eating considerably more by Monday, we are to take him back in and he will stay until doctor sees that he is eating better, the doctor really debated as to whether or not to keep him on Thursday - doctor gave him a shot of vitamins and a shot of antibiotic, the doctor called on Friday afternoon with bloodwork results,which were great and we are getting the results from a culture on Monday. Ozzie is eating the Veg-All really well and the nut mixture! I am up and down throughout the night checking on him - poor darling, I try to sneak a peak and it evidently disturbs him and he speaks to me!

[wildirish]

If he isn't eating the dry mix, I se you offered some formula from a spoon, keep trying that, as well you can offer him other warm mushy foods like oatmeal, baby ceral (watch for additives).

What kind of formula do you have, make sure it is for macaws, and that it is warm enough, without looking it up I think it should be around 90-103 ish, double check that first, most breeder sites will tell you. If it isn't warm enough, they won't eat enough, and can also get sour crop. Too hot and it can cause crop burn.

I hope everything goes well. How old is he, sorry I lost my question mark key to a CAG! LOL!

[birdsnreps]

formula temp should be between 100-108F. my babies wont eat it if its colder than that. you could mix in some peanut butter, it works very well to help baby macaws gain some weight quick, or you could use some instant ounces. i use both for my baby macaws.

try soaking his pellets in either fruit juice or hot water. sometimes they wont really know what to do with the pellets at first cause they are hard, unlike the fruits and veggies. also, you should try to give your baby either zupreem weaning pellets, they look like cheerios, or zupreem monkey biscuits. they are nutritious and they all seem to help babies become more interested in eating their own food. soak them before you give them to the baby. the weaning pellets, dont mush them up, but mush up the monkey biscuits. the cheerio shape is supposed to help the babies get a better grip on them, and mine eat their monkey biscuits very well when i mush them up and put them on top of the rest of their food. i give these to my weaning babies and my breeders, and every single one of them loves them.

[wildirish]

Thanks for correct the temps! I couldn't remember at all! I have older birds not babies LOL!

[birdsnreps]

we have a nice mixture of both adults and breeders :) my breeders are spoiled though, we sometimes give them formula if they will eat it, lol. i usually make a little extra and just give the leftovers to anyone who wants some. if they will eat it, i make it a point to give them some when they have babies in the nest :)