Green Cheek Conure Freak out

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Green Cheek Conure Freak out

by Anonymous
(USA)

Green Cheek Conure

Today my green cheek conure, 2 years old, flew off my shoulder and fell to the floor (his wings were just clipped yesterday). When I picked him up he seemed a little freaked out, but fine. Within a minute I looked at him and he was standing awkwardly and then things rapidly progressed from this discovery, I sat down with him and one of his eyes was closed, he was shaking, fanning out his tail, rolling his butt under, loss of balance, and lifting and holding one wing up, then the other.

I couldn't tell what hurt. I though his eye, then i thought his back, then i though his wing, then he switched wings. He was very gently biting my finger with his beak as if to hold on. He had no balance at all and I just had to hold him in my hands not knowing what to do. After about a minute he seemed fine and slowly regained his balance. Nothing like this has ever happened before, and I am very very scared.

I kept him with me for the rest of the night to see if he was showing any more symptoms- and he did not. I'm not sure if this was a one time freak out or if I should take him to the vet. I've been trying to research online but I can't seem to find any similar stories such as this. Could this all just have been from his fall? Or is he possibly very sick? What should I do???

Comments for
Green Cheek Conure Freak out

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Feb 06, 2012

Wing clipping
by: Original Poster

I have him clipped where I purchased him. They seem to be a reputable store, but they have been clipping only one wing rather than both. Could this possibly be the cause of this? Is it better to have one wing or both clipped? I've read articles promoting both.

Jan 07, 2011

Bad wing clip
by: Tracie

In your first post, you said "wings" were cut, but now you are saying only one wing. I am of the opinion that you should NOT clip just one wing. Why make the bird unstable? If you clip both, as Linda instructed, then the bird can fly, but only by gliding down safely. Clipping one wing seems to disorient the bird and can cause injury.

The store may be "reputable" but that doesn't mean the person clipping the wings knows what they are doing. Also, make sure you are standing there watching, if you insist on going to the store to get this done.

If the bird is held too tight, it's hollow bones can be broken. We only let our breeder or vet clip our bird's wings until we felt confident doing it ourselves. (We got them to instruct us and watch several times.)

Nov 12, 2010

Green Cheek Conure Freak out
by: Linda

To add a bit to Dr. B's answer. A correct wing clip is clipping ONLY the 6 long primary flight feathers at the ends of each wing. When these are clipped, bird is able to gently glide to the floor instead of dropping like a rock. Improper wing clipping includes going up into the secondary feathers which causes bird constant pain and cripples bird. When bird falls, they drop like a rock and many injuries can happen here.

Never allow a pet store person or groomer to clip your bird's wings. Only have Avian Vets do it, and caution them to only clip the primary feathers of which there are 6 per wing. To cut up any higher indicates a person who does not have a clue as to what they are doing and your bird suffers for their ignorance.

Hopefully, your bird is going to be alright until his wings grow back out.

Linda

Nov 09, 2010

Bad wing clip on conure
by: The Avian Vet

Unfortunately your bird has been the victim of a bad wing clip. Whoever it was that clipped your bird, should never be allowed to clip him again. A fall like that can cause significant injury such as fractures to the keel, beak, or legs. It can also cause internal injuries, and at the very list pain and discomfort.

A wing clip should be just enough to prevent upward flight and allow them to gently glide to the floor. When they are over clipped, they have problems with balance and they tend to fall frequently.

You need to take your bird to see an avian veterinarian to be sure there is no significant injuries from the fall.

Find an Avian Vet

Dr B

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