51yo amazon on bottom of cage today

hayduke · Jun 12, 2011

My mom's 51yo Amazon,the love of her life since he was a baby,suddenly for the first time spent a good part of the day at the bottom of the cage.

He was also out of the cage,appeared healthy in his movements, sang his song as usual,has normal poop,is eating and drinking, but he has never done this.

His diet has changed in the past few days. After a lifetime of the large stripped black sunflower seeds, we could not find any in the city,and had to switch to the black oil sunflower seeds.Could this be a problem? He also gets fruits,nuts, crackers as usual.

I am going to take him to an avian vet ASAP,but today is the weekend.

Any suggestions?

Thank you

merlinsmom13 · Jun 12, 2011

Wow 51 years old. Koodos to your mom for having him that long. Has he only been sitting on the floor of the cage one day? I think the vet is the best idea, if he's eating & drinking i bet its ok until monday. At his age, I wouldnt wait, he's probably ready for a well check @ the very least. Good luck, I hope everything is ok.

kitt · Jun 12, 2011

I sure hope everything is ok.....I wish you nothing but the best.

stephend · Jun 12, 2011

Hopefully your trip to the vet turns out like my last one. The vet said I had paniced over nothing and Bob was doing well.

suebee · Jun 13, 2011

keep us up dated an all the best

hayduke · Jun 13, 2011

Thank you all for your good wishes.
Maybe I panicked,but I have never seen Sam spend more than a few minutes on the bottom. Yesterday he was down there for several hours,but not continously.He even "sat" for awhile,which really worried me.That went on from maybe 10am to around 3pm. After that he seemed normal, including his usual bad temper to everyone except my mom,who is 95.

Today he seems fine. The vet didnt return my call yet.

Any thoughts on the change in diet from large striped black sunflower seeds to small black oil sunflower seeds?

Spiritbird · Jun 13, 2011

Sunflower seeds are like french fried. Delicious but fattening. Should feed as a treat only.

hayduke · Jun 13, 2011

The black striped ones have been most of his diet.Are pellets better? Or what? He also gets a variety of fruits and veggies and nuts and crackers.
If anything,he looks thin,but I doubt that he could be weighed,and I dont know what his weight should be.

I was just wondering if the change to the black oil type seeds could have made him sick.

kitt · Jun 13, 2011

He should be getting weighed on a regular basis......I use a food scale or a postage scale....you could probably google what a healthy weight is for an amazon...Weight is important to keep track of on our birdies because it can let us know when something is wrong...
I am so glad to hear that he gets something other then sunflower seeds....good job...an all seed diet can lead to some health problems.
Yes pellets are better but it is a passionate subject among bird owners....in my personal opinion my birds rarely get seed...they are on pellets and fruits and veggies and nuts, beans and brown rice............they do get seed and millet as a treat....
I really hope he is doing better and that your vet gets back to you.....please keep us updated....big hugs.

merlinsmom13 · Jun 13, 2011

They could be more fatty, I just don't know. I really think a vet check is in order. You are right, animals do not change habits of 50 years w/o a reason. Your avian vet can give you advice about diet.

Conurekidd · Jun 13, 2011

What species of amazon does your mom care for? Btw kudos to your mom on raising him his entire life. That's a prop and prime example on parrot care.

Larger zons like the big mealy can weigh avrage 500 grams but is perfactly healthy to see a 600 gr mealy. Next size down (dyh yc and yn as well other simular sized zons)
400-500 gr. Next size down. (lilacs and Mex red head) 350 to 450
Then wf and ow zon. Typically same as above. Amazon vary on overall size. Doesn mean there fat. Just big. Alotta people mistaken amazon as fatties. But really there just plump and naturally they are plump lol.

To you zon a vet would be best. At 50 yo changing his diet can be sevorly stressful
Continue with his base diet. Even if it's unhealthy you stated that your were still feeding him fruits and veggies. Keep him warm and safe. Stress is one thing you can't provoke at this age. Again congrats to this.

Ps. Amazons have the tendacy to live Past 75 years

.

hayduke · Jun 13, 2011

Yes, I thought life expectancy was 75,so I was surprised that you all were surprised that he was 51.
He is perfectly fine and back to normal today.

I cant imagine Sam on a scale. My mom is the only one who can pet him. He comes out on his own,but he has never been picked up.

I would upload a pic but all the good ones are 5mbor more

merlinsmom13 · Jun 13, 2011

You might be suprised that he's probably the oldest bird among active forum members. I saw a old post that had a red crowned amazon that was 60, but I havent seen any older.

Did your vet call u back?

Conurekidd · Jun 13, 2011

Yea due to so much stress amazons go through. Life expectancy 75+ with proper care and one maybe 2 owner at most. Amazon are one to be regimes about 5 times on average. Sad to say but owners keep posting in the "loving memory" section about how there 30-50yo zon has died. I sure hope my Sammy makes it 75+ years. He's only 8 so I assume so

Conurekidd · Jun 13, 2011

Oh yea I'm with merlinsmom on her previous post. Any 411 on the vet?

Btw what kind of zon his he??

hayduke · Jun 14, 2011

Thank you for your interest. Sam is A OK

Just learned to resize a pic,so here he is

Conurekidd · Jun 14, 2011

What a handsom devil. He seems so content and relaxed lol.
I'm glad he's doing better!! Joy

wibitywab · Jun 14, 2011

Wow, your mother si 95 and your bird is 51, that is awesome!

Mondos Parents · Jun 14, 2011

Wow, your mother si 95 and your bird is 51, that is awesome!

Now that is something!!

ann · Jun 14, 2011

WOW 51, thats realy is something! i hope hes ok, good luck and best wishes!!!

51yo amazon on bottom of cage today

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