Funky Foot???

[Crayon Parrots]

Ive recently started to notice that my ringneck baby uses his left foot very weird. First I started to notice that he would not grip my finger with it, or the side of his baby cage. I thought he was just not used to perching yet. He is a very awkward bird motion wise compared to my zippy conures. Sometimes he would grip normal others he doesnt. But now he has started to fly and he cant land right because of it. Its the longer back toe, he holds it like a front toe or curls the whole foot. Sometimes he walks right with the foot in normal position, sometimes he hobbles. It doesnt seem to hurt him or anything. I pulled the toe back into its natural position and it didnt have much resistance like the other toe on the other foot and he didnt scream in pain or anything while I was fidgeting with his toes. Since he cannot stand on it right it throws him off balance and he holds it up alot now. What is this? Is he just learning how to use his feet or is there something wrong?

[MissK]

-Best wishes,
-MissK

[Crayon Parrots]

I work in a vets office and will be bringing him in tomorrow to try to get a little brace on him. My boss doesn't specialize in birds but were going to give it a go. I'm going to try to find some pics to go off of.

[MissK]

How convenient to work at the vet's!

-MissK

[Sunchaser]

Honestly, there isn't much I can say about his foot (sorry) but I thought you'd like to hear OMG HE IS SO CUTE! And Very photogenic!! Mibne wont stay put for pictures >.>'

[InTheAir]

Hey there,

I hope you don't mind me adding our birds funky foot issue to your post.

It has just been pointed out to us that our ringneck appears to be pidgeon toed. Has anyone one got any advice on this? Here's a picture of him standing on a flat surface: http://www.claireintheair.com/Pic.html (sorry, I don't have a photobucket account or anything and can't figure out how to share the image to this board).

He gets around ok, but is not the most co-ordinated bird when it comes to climbing. He is about 7 months old, and as I have no prior experience with birds I have no way of gauging whether this is due to his funny little toes or that he is still learning.

I guess by this age he is not likely to grow out of it?

Claire

[Crayon Parrots]

Well its not club foot and it can't be fixed. He has nerve damage causing the toes on that foot to be weak. I'm hoping that over time the toes will become stronger. He's just even more special to me now. My little handicapped baby. I guess Imma have him sexed while he's here, I've been calling him a he this whole time haha. Out of a wad of babies I pick the handicapped one.....sheesh lol.

[MissK]

Well, that's kinda sad news!

[Crayon Parrots]

Its all of his toes that are weak, not just the one but he cab grip a perch fine once he gets in up there, just not like a normal foot. I will see be working with him to take care of his lol ol foot.