Apr 5, 2019 23:14:31 GMT
reenie
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Post by reenie on May 1, 2019 18:15:50 GMT
The last couple of evenings, Stuart has been biting one of his feet a lot. I think he might be moulting too as there has been quite a lot of downy feathers. He seems happy enough, and his foot looks OK. Is itchy feet something that goes with moulting?
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Post by Hezz on May 1, 2019 19:25:52 GMT
Not generally, but perhaps the air is dry? His feet might be a little dry. If you are really concerned, if for instance he is worrying his feet to the point of leaving redness, then you can rub them with a little oil. Any of the vegetable cooking oils, or coconut oil, olive oil will suffice, and only the smallest amount, of course. Birds do spend time looking after their feet just as they do looking after their feathers, so it may just be that evenings is his time for doing this.
On a more serious note, do check that there is no redness on the bottom of his feet, no bruising, swelling or redness in the joints of his feet and toes, and check that there are no small white raised blister-like bumps on the top-side of his feet and on his legs, as these could be from scaly mites. Also, are all his toes straight, are all his claws sitting properly - curling around his perches, and do all toes have grip?
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Apr 5, 2019 23:14:31 GMT
reenie
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Post by reenie on May 1, 2019 19:42:36 GMT
It seems to be his left foot he's bothering with, but yes it does seem to be around the same time every night. Both feet look the same, but I will keep an eye on that. I thought at first he'd maybe 'broken a nail' and it was annoying him, but his claws look perfect. I'll definitely watch for any of the signs you've said. Thanks for replying so quickly.
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Oct 6, 2011 7:41:27 GMT
Marianne Marlow
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George, Daisy, Iris, Billy, Peter, Chipper, Dinku, Barney, Ayla and Rocky
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Post by Marianne Marlow on May 2, 2019 9:17:50 GMT
Is he definitely biting his foot, or preening it? Sometimes they may look like they're biting but they're just trying to clean it.
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Post by jellybean on May 2, 2019 11:00:09 GMT
My two clean and preen their feet too. Would he maybe go for a paddle if you left some tepid water in a small casserole dish or the like, it might help. My boys love that for a bath and a splash about.
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Apr 5, 2019 23:14:31 GMT
reenie
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Post by reenie on May 2, 2019 14:14:23 GMT
I've tried putting water bowls in, but he panics, then shows no interest. (my next question will be around how to persuade him to take a bath!) I'm going to keep my eye on this though, as it seems to be one foot in particular, but maybe he's doing the other one at a different time.
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Post by Hezz on May 3, 2019 1:12:16 GMT
Definitely keep an eye on his feet. Health issues can come up unexpectedly and often we don't pay a whole lot of attention to their little feet. My guess is that he is only cleaning his foot. They will pick up their feet and seemingly chew on their claws, but again, this is all part of keeping their feet clean and healthy. If you wish, get a good clear picture of his feet, both on a flat surface and on a perch. There might be something that we can see.
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Post by Shirls on May 3, 2019 8:55:33 GMT
Don't put water bowls 'in' reenie. Place a casserole dish lid on top of the cage with some tepid water in and perhaps a little piece of basil or herb to entice him in.
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Apr 5, 2019 23:14:31 GMT
reenie
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Post by reenie on May 3, 2019 9:54:42 GMT
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Post by Hezz on May 3, 2019 10:43:08 GMT
There is a spot on his left foot, on the long forward toe that appears in the photos to be darker than the rest of his foot. It might just be the lighting, or it might be something else. I think it might be nothing as it doesn't appear in the same place in photos #1 and #4. Confusing, to say the least.
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Apr 5, 2019 23:14:31 GMT
reenie
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Post by reenie on May 3, 2019 11:03:45 GMT
Hmm. Weird. I don't see it in the flesh, and one of his claws is curled in front of his toe in the first pic, so it might be that. I'll keep an eye. I've been off work today and he's not bothered at all, so hopefully he is just scrupulous about footcare.
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Post by Hezz on May 4, 2019 0:28:49 GMT
Hmm. Weird. I don't see it in the flesh, and one of his claws is curled in front of his toe in the first pic, so it might be that. I'll keep an eye. I've been off work today and he's not bothered at all, so hopefully he is just scrupulous about footcare. This is simply because the "perch" is too small for his feet; nothing to worry about at all.
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Oct 6, 2011 7:41:27 GMT
Marianne Marlow
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George, Daisy, Iris, Billy, Peter, Chipper, Dinku, Barney, Ayla and Rocky
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Post by Marianne Marlow on May 4, 2019 10:25:05 GMT
That's right, he's curled his foot around a small part of the perch, that's why his feet look funny. If he was on a perch of normal thickness then he'd look different.
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Post by Shirls on May 4, 2019 14:59:47 GMT
reenie you would really need to take a picture of the underside of his feet, perhaps when he is climbing up inside, on the cage bars.
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Apr 5, 2019 23:14:31 GMT
reenie
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Post by reenie on May 4, 2019 19:11:14 GMT
I'll certainly try, but it does seem to be a certain time of the day thing. I'm a lot less worried than when I first posted
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