Has anyone ever heard of a quaker parrot having narcolepsy? Oscar falls asleep mid-step. Or while eating. I've known a few people with this condition and he's just like them.
Seconding this, doctors use the phrase " 'when you hear hoofbeats, think horses not zebras" and i think that applies here, chlamydia is much more likely than narcolepsy, as is seizures.I would be worried about health first. When I had sick flock with avian Chlamydia, there was lots of falling asleep
Gee, I feel stupid. I haven't been able to even get him to come out of the cage by his own choice, but I still should have thought about getting his wings clipped! I think he may be used to that. The lady I got him from didn't clip him, nor the lady before her, but when I went to pick him up, the owner stuck a towel in the cage and grabbed him. Somehow she didn't hold on to him and he got away from her and went straight down. Hardly an attempted flap. I've seen very little wing stretches, wing flaps... interesting... and worrisome.I haven't seen it in birds, but I've seen it in dogs, cats, horses, a couple rabbits, and one ferret - so I would imagine there's no reason for a bird to not have it. That's scary though, what if it happens mid flight?
I'm pretty anti wing clips, but I'd say it's a good reason for it, at least until you get definite answers.
He's not a sleepy bird, per se, he's pretty much awake all day, just goes to sleep for a few minutes at the drop of a hat. Then he wakes up again. He's not nearly as active though as I thought he would be from my limited research before I got him. TD's way more active. That could have a lot to do with his overgrown nails. I think he's overweight as well.I would be concerned about such a sleepy bird. I don’t know if they can have narcolepsy but I would be more worried about some illness making the bird exhausted. Can you get him in to the vet earlier? You’re waiting such a long time.
Wonderful advice! Thanks for the link! My new neighbor has narcolepsy and we were just talking about it a few days ago, so maybe that's why I thought of that first.Theres some anecdotal evidence of narcolepsy in chickens
and songbirds do have neurons that produce orexin: Distribution of orexin/hypocretin immunoreactivity in the brain of a male songbird, the house finch, Carpodacus mexicanus - PubMed
But theres like no research on narcolepsy in birds - we don't fully grasp what causes narcolepsy in humans. Soi'd go to a vet and see what they think. Because you'd have to rule out things like seizures or illness first.
I hope it's nothing too serious. Wish I could get him in sooner.I would be worried about health first. When I had sick flock with avian Chlamydia, there was lots of falling asleep
I love that quote!Seconding this, doctors use the phrase " 'when you hear hoofbeats, think horses not zebras" and i think that applies here, chlamydia is much more likely than narcolepsy, as is seizures.
Maybe he’s too scared to just have a daytime nap at minute total on guard during day so maybe the few seconds sleep is just over tired (just a thought ) but On a night lights out no daytime noise maybe he feels more settled to sleep ?Gee, I feel stupid. I haven't been able to even get him to come out of the cage by his own choice, but I still should have thought about getting his wings clipped! I think he may be used to that. The lady I got him from didn't clip him, nor the lady before her, but when I went to pick him up, the owner stuck a towel in the cage and grabbed him. Somehow she didn't hold on to him and he got away from her and went straight down. Hardly an attempted flap. I've seen very little wing stretches, wing flaps... interesting... and worrisome.
He's not a sleepy bird, per se, he's pretty much awake all day, just goes to sleep for a few minutes at the drop of a hat. Then he wakes up again. He's not nearly as active though as I thought he would be from my limited research before I got him. TD's way more active. That could have a lot to do with his overgrown nails. I think he's overweight as well.
I've got the vet on notice to call me if there are any cancellations. I can pretty much leave any moment (getting him into the travel cage might take awhile). I'm also more than an hour away from the vet so it won't leave would have to be an early cancellation!
Wonderful advice! Thanks for the link! My new neighbor has narcolepsy and we were just talking about it a few days ago, so maybe that's why I thought of that first.
I hope it's nothing too serious. Wish I could get him in sooner.
I love that quote!
I truly appreciate everyone's advice and input! I'm pretty new with this kind of bird.
Nope I don’t think you are I think sometimes you just know or sense how they have been treated@Emma&pico yes, I have seen him preening. I gave him a misting shower the 2nd day when our AC went out and it was in the 90s. He loved it and looked like a layer of dust came off of him. He preens quite a bit. Today he's been gnawing on the nail of his middle digit. It's the longest one. It's like he's trying to bite it off but maybe his beak isn't sharp enough. It's the one that gets stuck in the bars.
If I were a bird psychologist I would say he used to being yelled at for making noise. His vocalizations have been getting louder. If I happen to respond to a noise he makes by going into his room to talk to him he shrinks back like the he expects me to yell or slap the cage. I just talk with him and make noises with him. I think he's getting louder to see how loud he can get before I yell or slap. It's like he can't believe I'm not doing that. I'm probably reading too much into it!
It does have food/water doors. I'm putting the food up in the corner that he's been staying in. It's right by the access door. You still have the put your hand in to do it, which causes him to go bananas. If it didn't have access doors, I'd be a bloody mess by now. It actually has 4 access doors and two large doors.Started with cage without food/water doors...... not good.
Do you have a travel cage for your guys?