Kyo's first injury :( Keep an eye on rough perches everyone.

[Kyoto]

My poor baby. I'm so sad and upset. She seems okay, but I still had to rant about myself not being careful enough.

I didn't realize until last night that she has been actually sleeping on one of the 2 rough perches in her cage... and this morning about 10 minutes after I let her out I finally noticed dried blood on her little foot. I immediately picked her up and laid her in my hand (which she was absolutely perfect about) and checked her over. I can't find a cut anywhere. She is acting normal and walking perfectly fine, doesn't even seem like it happened. She lets me touch her feet no problem without acting like it hurts either.

I then checked everything in her cage for sharp points and other blood. Couldn't find blood anywhere! Then I saw the perch by her water dish (where I caught her sleeping last night) with little blood spots on it. Luckily this I could remove from her cage, but man do I ever feel awful

Beware of the perches with rough surfaces. This one was one of the smaller ones (non cement) and I will only ever use the cement ones with soft upper surfaces from now on. I'm about to disinfect everything in her cage to prevent infection too.

 

[Kyoto]

Upon further investigation, I have discovered a piece of her red food coloured wood in her water dish. Sooo probably the reason I can't find a cut is because there may not be one. Being cautious and keeping an eye on her either way, but it would make sense for the red to be from red food colouring in the water.

 

[Newbsi]

I have a sandy perch as Gollums sleeping perch. He sleeps in the top right back corner of the cage. I thought having a sandy perch there would make sure he got his nails done. Is this not good? Should I have a soft perch, like a rope one for him to sleep on?

 

[Flboy]

Or a nice tree limb?

 

[Williamsong]

Upon further investigation, I have discovered a piece of her red food coloured wood in her water dish. Sooo probably the reason I can't find a cut is because there may not be one. Being cautious and keeping an eye on her either way, but it would make sense for the red to be from red food colouring in the water.

This happened to me just yesterday, I noticed my green sheet on your sweet were much more pink than usual and I was thinking something was wrong but then I realized she had put some dyed wood in her water dish and made the water a red color and then she got in the water dying her feet pink lol

 

[Kiwibird]

Upon further investigation, I have discovered a piece of her red food coloured wood in her water dish. Sooo probably the reason I can't find a cut is because there may not be one. Being cautious and keeping an eye on her either way, but it would make sense for the red to be from red food colouring in the water.

Lol. This was going to be the first thing I was going to ask after reading your first post From my experience, parrots are big babies about injuries (even little ones) and scream bloody murder when you come within a 6' radius of the wound. Generally, if you can inspect it easily, there isn't a wound there Glad she wasn't actually hurt! Kiwi frequently naps on his rough perch and he's never had any issues with injuries. Now those red toys, strawberries, pomegranates ext... those can cause a human some serious concern

 

[dhraiden]

Relieved to hear it wasn't serious (or even existent)! I read good things about the 'tree limb' type perches and want to get a few when I can.

 

[Flboy]

Relieved to hear it wasn't serious (or even existent)! I read good things about the 'tree limb' type perches and want to get a few when I can.

Just cut your own!
Lowes carries SS hardware, Or just wedge in cage!

Safe and Dangerous Woods
Bird; Birds: Safe, Toxic Trees, Woods. Safe Tree Wood. Parrots. Parrot cages.
Safe plants for pet birds and parrots. Safe branches for foraging, chewing, perching and toy making. The Laughing Parrot has everything to please your parrot!
Toxic and Safe Plants/Trees for Birds - Household Poisons

 

[jiannotto9492]

Glad to see it is nothing. Always look for the red colored wood and stuff in the cage when you think you have a case with blood. Bleeding is a serious issue with birds and you should always seek medical attention right away if you suspect your bird is bleeding. What may not look like a lot of blood to you is a lot to a bird.

 

[ZephyrFly]

I understand what you mean, I found a fresh poop on one of Pazu's toys once and freaked the hell out, it was red (very red). Convinced it was blood I took a photo of the tissue, and took the toy out to clean as I figured out what to do... This was a wooden dyed toy, and yes, dyed red. I nearly fell over when I realised the dye had leached into the poop (I can recognized the difference between blood and dye, but only after I rinsed it and saw how much dye ran off), same shade as the dyed toy.

I washed the toy thoroughly then and there, it is no longer hideously brightly coloured but at least I know to consider that now.

 

[itchyfeet]

Upon further investigation, I have discovered a piece of her red food coloured wood in her water dish. Sooo probably the reason I can't find a cut is because there may not be one. Being cautious and keeping an eye on her either way, but it would make sense for the red to be from red food colouring in the water.

This happened to me with one of my humans babies once. She was about 18 months and mouthed on some red crepe paper at ANZAC day celebrations at kindy - I panicked and thought she was pooping blood bits - the relief was insane, once I realised! Felt like a tool but better safe than sorry.

 

[Skittys_Daddy]

My vet told me the best perches for parrots are tree branches. "Ideally" from 'real trees'. Skittles has all wood perches and so does Peaches. They are made from 'natural' wood of different types and textures.

Having a variety of sizes is important, I heard.

Skittles sleeps in his cuddle hut. Peaches sleeps on her perch.

 

[SoCalWendy]

I have a sandy perch as Gollums sleeping perch. He sleeps in the top right back corner of the cage. I thought having a sandy perch there would make sure he got his nails done. Is this not good? Should I have a soft perch, like a rope one for him to sleep on?

No, if you must use them then place it in front of his feeding dish or use is as a perch outside of his cage, this way he will still use it just not as a favorite perch. I hope hat made sense. :20: