Help, Parakeet with hurt leg?

Question

I noticed that my moms parakeet wasn't using one of his legs. After careful examination I found that his leg had swelled around his leg band. Hours later I finally removed his metal leg band and his leg was freed. But it was left with his skin exposed. I applied an antibactial. The next morning I checked on him and he was eating and drinking just using the other foot.

What can I do to help him heal?
What do you think caused the swelling?
Should I wrap up the leg?

Any advice will be gladly appreciated.

I have contacted a Vet and I'm waiting to hear from thier Bird Specialist.

What can I do until then?

Answer 1

I assume his bad leg foot is able to move, but he just avoids using it. If he's eating and drinking his leg will heal. Looks like you did the right thing.
It sounds like there was (is) and infection, maybe aggravated by irritation from the leg band.
Some leg injuries, like a bad sprain, take weeks to heal, but they do heal. I expect this will heal faster.

Answer 2

Sounds similar to what happened to my moms canary. But by the time she had found hers it was too late. I removed the band, but we checked on him later in the day and his leg had begun to bleed. I applied some styptic powder to stop the bleeding. The next day the leg had turned black. We took him out of the big flight cage and put him in a small cage so he could be isolated. After about a week he started using the perches again, but his leg never got better. I think he eventually lost the entire leg. He is still eating, singing, and getting around the best he can. The other canaries tries to pick on him, but the Zebra finch that is in the cage will chase off the other birds who tried to pick at the bad leg.
Don't wrap the leg. You might get whatever you would wrap it with too tight and could cause further damage. Just keep an eye on him. If his leg turns black, there is no saving it. As long as he keeps eating and going on with his normal routine, he will probably be ok.

Answer 3

You have done all the right things - as long as the bird is eating and using his other leg, he will be okay until your vet's bird specialist can get back to you. Do not wrap the leg or do any more until you hear from them.

If you or your mom have other birds, you may want to think about removing their bands as well, but it is best in non-emergency situations to have your vet do that, so the bird's leg is not broken or damaged. The vet should have the proper tool to remove the band safely and easily. If you have them removed, you may want to save them for the info on them.

Here is a great article on legbands and their importance: http://www.birdsnways.com/wisdom/ww5eiii.htm

Best of luck with the little fella!

Answer 4

Really the only thing you can do is get your baby to an avian vet, which hopefully by now you've done. Until them, keep him warm and quiet. Since he has exposed skin (a sore I'm presuming) he'll likely need to be put on antibiotics.

Good luck!