Timneh Affrican Grey

[eliekheder]

I got Lola, a Timneh probably 15-20 yrs?. She started to lose her bite. She does not crack sun flower seeds, pistachio, shelled almond any more like she used to do.
She is also losing her balance and grips.
I have to break down any hard seedds and pellets.
Do you think that is because she is getting older?.....
If any body had experienced such a behavior, please respond.
Thank you.

 

[wrench13]

15-20 years old is just beginning of middle age for a African Grey parrot. She is still young in parrot years, because African Greys can live up to 50-60 years or more. If she is unable or willing to crack open nuts etc, she may have a sore muscle connected to her beak, and should be seen by a real Avian Certified Vet, not a dog and cat type vet. Make sure to offer soft foods like cooked sweet potatoes , yams and other easily eaten foods, mostly cooked veggies, so she maintains her body weight.

This could be a temporary thing from a strained muscle or a more serious permanent thing, so that vet visit is pretty important, as is keeping track now of her weight. A drop of more than 5% of her weight is serious business.. An inexpensive kitchen scale that weigh out in grams and a perch that fits on it can be used to accurately record her weight.

 

[LaManuka]

Excellent advice above!

Things like loss of grip strength and balance are cause for concern, and in view of that and Lola's sudden difficulties with eating I think a visit to a certified avian vet is in order, particularly if she has not seen one in the last year or so. The following link might help you locate one if not already acquainted with one...

https://www.aav.org/search/custom.asp?id=1803

Thank you for joining and I hope you will keep us appraised as to Lola's progress

 

[eliekheder]

P

15-20 years old is just beginning of middle age for a African Grey parrot. She is still young in parrot years, because African Greys can live up to 50-60 years or more. If she is unable or willing to crack open nuts etc, she may have a sore muscle connected to her beak, and should be seen by a real Avian Certified Vet, not a dog and cat type vet. Make sure to offer soft foods like cooked sweet potatoes , yams and other easily eaten foods, mostly cooked veggies, so she maintains her body weight.

This could be a temporary thing from a strained muscle or a more serious permanent thing, so that vet visit is pretty important, as is keeping track now of her weight. A drop of more than 5% of her weight is serious business.. An inexpensive kitchen scale that weigh out in grams and a perch that fits on it can be used to accurately record her weight.

Thank you very much for your reply I really appreciate it.
yes I have been feeding her with softer food and cracking down all the nuts and grind her pellets. also I got a digital scale and record her weight.
The bad part she is very fussy eater and most of the time she accepts hand feeding.

 

[eliekheder]

P

Thank you very much for your reply I really appreciate it.
yes I have been feeding her with softer food and cracking down all the nuts and grind her pellets. also I got a digital scale and record her weight.
The bad part she is very fussy eater and most of the time she accepts hand feeding.

Excellent advice above!

Things like loss of grip strength and balance are cause for concern, and in view of that and Lola's sudden difficulties with eating I think a visit to a certified avian vet is in order, particularly if she has not seen one in the last year or so. The following link might help you locate one if not already acquainted with one...

https://www.aav.org/search/custom.asp?id=1803

Thank you for joining and I hope you will keep us appraised as to Lola's progress

Thank you, it is very hard where I live to find an avian specialist a lot of them treat birds and even perform surgery but they’re not Avian certified. .
I have seen one in San Jose which is about 35-40 miles but I did not like her.
I have searched your website and found Ashley Zehnder in Newark CA 94560. where I live but could not locate a practice.

 

[LaManuka]

Thank you, it is very hard where I live to find an avian specialist a lot of them treat birds and even perform surgery but they’re not Avian certified. .
I have seen one in San Jose which is about 35-40 miles but I did not like her.
I have searched your website and found Ashley Zehnder in Newark CA 94560. where I live but could not locate a practice.

Ashley's practice is located at:

Fauna Bio,
4910 Croydon Pl
Newark
California
94560-1406

I hope this helps you and your Grey

 

[eliekheder]

Ashley's practice is located at:

Fauna Bio,
4910 Croydon Pl
Newark
California
94560-1406

I hope this helps you and your Grey

Thank ytou very much, I will check on her.