Something is Wrong with Bixby.

Anansi

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Hello, all.
There seems to be something suddenly wrong with Bixby. Last night I thought nothing of it, but he was far more needy than he usually ever is. Then, this morning, he took off from my arm and flew into the French doors. Not very hard. I've definitely seen him hit walls harder when he was first learning to fly. But it was strange. He has become rather skilled as a flier, and crashing into doors BEHIND his accustomed playtop is outside the norm. He stepped up afterward and seemed none the worse for wear, so I prepped his breakfast and went to eat my own.

Normally, he wouldn't call out for me until he was done, but he was insistent throughout. When I took him out, I realized that he was having trouble eating! He was hungry. Desperately so. But he couldn't open his mouth wide enough to eat. And he was frustrated. (Understandably so.)

I was able to help him by feeding him softer foods through the side of his mouth. He had the easiest time with grapes and bananas.

Also, the past four poops have been watery. Now, I know eclectus poop tends to be more watery than most other parrots because of the relative amounts of fresh fruits and veggies, but this is practically green tinted water.

And his balance seems slightly off. He's not wobbling or anything. And he can balance relatively well on my arm or even finger, but when he lifts his foot to rest he curls it into a fist, as usual, and then rests the "knuckles" against the perch. Could be a balance thing or a weakness thing. I lean more toward the former, however, since he can still fly. (He's flown since the crash. No problems.) Also, he uses his right wing (seemingly) to help maintain his balance when he has one foot lifted up. Right foot or left, he holds that wing slightly apart from his body (though still folded), so that it rests lightly against the perch. Again, seemingly more for balance than support.

I haven't ruled out the possibility of this being an effect of his impact against the doors, but I'm more inclined to believe it's something else. It wasn't that hard a hit, (though angle could be a factor, admittedly) and I don't see how such an impact would lead to watery poop. (There was a fifth just now. More solid. Could be because he wasn't able to eat much solid food until I helped him eat.) And also his behavior has seemed slightly off since yesterday.

I'm searching for an available avian vet right now, but at the same time I'm hoping someone here on the forum might be able to give me some insight as to what is wrong. Thank you.
 

Sterling1113

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Oh no :( I'm so sorry to hear. I have no idea what it could be but I'm sending positive vibes your way. I know how much I freak out when the littlest thing is wrong, I can only imagine how you are.
Best if luck on your search for a vet. It might help to contact a regular vet an get their recommendation. That's what I did.

Keep us updated on Bixby, I hope everything is okay and he just had a rough morning. :(
 

Freespin

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Awww poor baby. I'm not much help sorry but I hope it's not too serious. Perhaps make him a mash with some Kumara, carrots and pellets etc to keep his energy up while you sort out getting him to a vet. I think that's the best option by far. Try to make sure he is kept warm too just in case. I'm sure it will all turn out just fine. Thinking of you and Bixby!
 

Terry57

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Oh Stephen, I am praying everything is going to be okay with Bixby! I agree with Sophia about keeping him warm. I would also limit his movement until you know what you are dealing with, just in case it has to do with his accident. I think something else may be going on though since his crash happened after you noticed he wasn't quite himself last night.
Have you been able to find a vet yet? Why do these things always happen on
weekends:(
I am praying for you both.
 

GW.Joe

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HI Fellow Parrot Lovers! Baby Green Wing Macaw, Loving Departed Yellow-naped Amazon "Poe"
Very Very Sorry Stephen, Things like this just kill you cause of the injury being just completely by "chance"

After thinking about it, trying to picture what you are describing, it sounds like he is just sore

Stay strong, odds are he will BE FINE !!

But he couldn't open his mouth wide enough to eat

Jaw "sprained" or sore? *I could almost feel it myself thinking about it)

the past four poops have been watery

Factor of not eating?

rests the "knuckles" against the perch, Also, he uses his right wing (seemingly) to help maintain his balance when he has one foot lifted up

Sounds like he is sore, holding up leg hurts so using wing he doesn't have to balance with leg muscle
 

RavensGryf

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Oh Stephen!! I'm so sorry to read this about Bixby! All of a sudden too! It's so frustrating how we always seem to need a doctor on weekends. I'm praying everything will be okay with Bixby soon, and that you will get a definitive and accurate diagnosis asap, and that it is something related to external injury, rather than something more serious internally. Stay strong Stephen... I know you'll keep us posted, and your friends and members will be thinking positive!
 

tab_xo

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Aw Stephen!!!! :( This wasn't good news to wake up to!
My fingers and toes are crossed that everything will be ok!!! Give Bixby a big hug from me and my lot!

It is monday here in Australia, silly time zones you are still on sunday!

Keep positive! <3
 

labell

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Oh no! This is concerning especially not being able and needing help to eat, as anyone with eclectus knows eating is typically not an issue. I would get him into a vet as soon as you can. Please keep us posted, I am sending good thoughts and vibes Bixby's way.
 
OP
Anansi

Anansi

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Thank you all for your well wishes, advice and support. It means a lot and I deeply appreciate it.

Bixby update: As of tonight, Bixby still needed some help eating. I took the spirit of Sophia's advice and made Bixby a mash of banana, wheat bread, and blueberries. He was able to eat much of this by himself by angling his head and taking it through the side of his beak.
I also hand fed him pomegranates and grapes. He was basically getting spoiled with his favorite foods to keep his weight up. I apparently did too thorough a job in that regard, as Bixby's nighttime weight was actually almost 30 grams heavier than usual! Probably a combination of having that mash fed to him and the fact we didn't do any flight training, today.
Oh, and his poop has been consistently solid since I started hand feeding him, earlier.
I'm really hoping that he's just sore from the crash like Joe suggested, though I can't shake the feeling that he seemed a little off last night.

He's fast asleep right now, and I'm going to join him. I'm going to get him to a vet as soon as possible. Again, thank you all. And I'll make sure to keep you updated.
 

MikeyTN

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i'm with Joe there about the crash! It'll just take Bixby a few days to recuperate and will be better in no time. But in the mean time, a vet visit wouldn't be a bad idea....Hope everything goes well for Bixby!!!
 

Freespin

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Thanks for the update, great to hear is still happily eating with a bit of help. Its a good sign he hasn't lost his appetite! Good idea to get him to a vet just to make sure everything is in order though, i hope that all goes well. I know you said his crash didnt look the worst he has had but i know with horses some of them fall over and you think "oh lord it has to have broken its neck!" and then they get up looking a bit sheepish, shake it off and carry on like nothing happened. Then you get the ones who look like they have had the softest fall and end up battered and bruised. I hope you both get a good nights sleep and feel better in the morning!
 

JerseyWendy

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Jul 20, 2012
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Oh Stephen, I'm so sorry to hear Bixby isn't feeling well. :(

I would get him to a vet, even if it's just for peace of mind.

Can't wait to hear how he's doing this morning.
 

khaiqha

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My alexandrine got a concussion from flying into a window. For two days he sat hunched over, wings drooping, and could barely eat. Normally he eats mostly pellets, but I gave him rice and soft fruits while he was hurt. By the third day he was fine, though he pretended to be hurt so he could get more of his favorite foods.
 

Terry57

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Stephen, how is Bixby this morning? I hope he is feeling better this morning and I am anxious to hear what the vet says. Hope you and he were able to sleep last night.
 

RavensGryf

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Waiting anxiously for your update on Bixby. I'm so glad his appetite is up. Good sign. Is he eating a little easier today? I hope so. I'm praying for you and Bixby.
 

Kiwibird

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Jul 12, 2012
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I must have missed this thread yesterday, but I'm hoping that Bixby is feeling much better this morning:) Crashing can be pretty traumatic and leave them in a 'daze'/sore for the rest of the day. Again, hope he's feeling better.
 
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Anansi

Anansi

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Thanks, everyone!
As of this morning, Bixby was still having trouble eating. He was, however, able to take food in through the front of his beak, which is a HUGE improvement over yesterday. We got an appointment today for 5:00. Hopefully I'll have good news for later.
 

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