Scoliosis

[Dave007]

This post has photos in it that may disturb people. I/m not posting in order to shock people but it's important that you know how sometimes problems can't be diagnosed by vets when trying to do a *well check* on an unweaned grey. This is one reason I don't like the sale of unweaned chicks. I've seen this problem many times in the past. I say grey because they're prone to this.

Earlier today, I received a PM from someone here who owns a 7 week old grey and who was worried that the chick is constantly keeping his head bent to one side. I asked specific questions, told him what he had to do immediately. I've yet to get back any response and it's important enough to send back a response. I hope all goes well for the bird.

First of all, the bird below is now approx 15 yrs old, is living well, is being cared for as a special needs bird. The owner of this bird made sure that everything was rearranged for this bird from the time it was very young. The bird is eating well, socializes well even with other birds and is nippy just like any grey is.

This bird has Scoliosis. Some of you may be familar with this deformity in humans. It's a deformity of the spine. In birds, it's usually in the upper spine. This can be corrected when the bird is still a chick with no feathers yet. A vet can't see it though unless he's sees the bird before it 4 weeks old. 99% of the time, it's too late to do anything about it because it's visible only after a bird is about 5 to 7 weeks old. The position of the head and neck remain this way permantently.
These photos may sadden people but understand that this can happen to you and you won't be able to do anything about it. Think twice when thinking about having a very young unweaned bird just for handfeeding purposes or thinking that that unweaned bird will be closer and bond better and an unweaned bird.









<br><br>Post edited by: Dave007, at: 2008/12/14 22:25

[judygram]

A very fine post Dave and the pictures are graphic but this grey looks like it lives a full life and doesn't know that he is different.

Yet another reminder of why people who don't know what they are doing as in handfeeding greys would not see this until it is too late.

It does kind of hurt to look at these pictures but I thank Dave so much for posting them for us to see and I am so glad that this grey is cared for and loved as that is all that counts.

Karma coming your way Dave, you have such a way of opening our eyes and I don't mean that literally.

[Talon]

WOW! I was not aware of this before. Thank you for the warning in advance, but I am happy to be better informed. Another excellent reason why we should not buy an unweaned bird.

[luvparrots]

Dave I hate to cry and you made me cry. But we all need to be aware so I thank you Dave for your caring.

[Poppy]

Dave as always you keep us well informed .
Hopefully people will read this and take heed .

[BaxtersMom]

Thanks for taking the time to get us all more informed. I must say, the bird looks happy as can be though and I'm glad he has a reponsible care giver to go the extra mile for this wonderful creature.

I went to a bird show yesterday and for the most part it was good and enjoyable but was appalled to see a breeder selling birds that were 4 and 5 weeks old, they were just starting to develop feathers and couldn't even hold their heads up yet:angry: At first I thought they just brought them so someone could put a down payment on them but they were for sale at that young age They weren't grey babies but macaws but they did have greys for sale there too, just not that young. That group really disturbed me.

Thanks again for making us more aware

[danmcq]

What a great topic Dave and good warning to anyone considering getting a young unweaned Grey.

That Grey looks like it does not think it's handicapped and seems to be very active with the flock.

Thanks for sharing this!! Who couldn't fall in love with that Grey?? :-)

[Dave007]

That bird is a very happy bird. The owner made sure that the bird didn't know it was handicapped. He set up for the when it was very young. he made sure it learned how to move around well in the cage. All the while, other birds were nearby. None of the birds treat him badly. He has a bull dog personality. He bosses another grey around all the time. He's friends with an amaxon and 2 quakers. He's out of the cage alot. He likes getting bathed. Another great thing is that he's also nippy at times and stubborn and strong willed and will to stand up for himself and that tells me that there's no bad mental situations that would hamper him in everyday life.
The only thing he doesn't do is fly but that hasn't deterred him from all the other good things that he lives with. When the other birds get their nuts, he demands his too. He's not treated as a special needs bird in that he's taken care of first. When the nuts or food or water comes out he has to wait his turn just like all the other birds.

[ranaz]

Thank you for al this info, though its sad to see, but one can never be too careful...and those birds make us so in love with them, that we always need to learn things to make sure they live healthy and happy...
Thanks again...
Rana

[Cheshire Cat]

The poor little thing!! This post actually caught my attention because my fiancee had this complaint and had surgery...leaving him with rods in his spine. I really had no idea that birds could get it, too. I thought it was only a human disease. Bless him. My heart goes out to him and his owner.