lovebird with hurt leg

Question
i think i might have broken the leg of my 2 month old lovebird, yesterday.  i had just had the birds for 2 days. i had gotten them a new bigger cage.  i was able to pick up the first bird and transfer with no problem, but the second one grabbled holt of the bars or something and i guess i pulled to hard, i think i felt something like maybe a break but i am not sure, he was biting me so hard, i really couldn't tell.  last night he would hold onto the bar and close his toes around it sometimes and sometimes he would hold it out funny.  today he is not gripping the bar at all, he sats on the bar gripping with 1 leg and balancing holding the leg on the bar in the center of his foot.  he does not use it if he is on the bars.  the other bird is trying to entise him to do things, but he is trying to ignore him.  can he heal like this, i am heartsick but i really don't have the money to go to a vet even if i can find one around here

Answer
Hi Brenda,

You need to take your bird to a vet, this is the cost of keeping pets. And although this can sometimes be a strain on our finances, it is something that is necessary for the welfare, health, and safety of your pet. If the leg is broken, and this bird is not taken to a vet for treatment, then he might never be able to use that leg ever again (not to mention all the pain I'm sure he is in right now).

You can call around to different vets and explain the situation, sometimes vets will do payment plans for you (so you don't have to pay a huge bill all at once, but instead can make smaller payments over time).

If you really cannot afford a vet, I would consider finding a bird rescue group in your area (a rescue that specializes in birds is preferred), and surrendering your bird to them so that they can take him to a vet and get him the vet treatment he needs. It is not the most pleasant thing to think about, but this bird does need to be seen by a vet.

You can try to find a vet near you at these websites:

http://www.birdsnways.com/articles/abvpvets.htm

http://www.parrotpro.com/avianlst.htm

and

www.aav.org

You can try to locate a bird rescue group in your area at these websites:

http://www.birdadoption.org/groups.htm

http://www.avianrescue.org/sanctuary_map.html

http://www.cockatielrescue.org/rescue.phtml


I hope this helps- good luck!

-Maggie