Birdie's Leg Injured, Please Help! No Avian Vet Here!

[micro]

Hi.
I've got a common babbler (see below) which was fine until the day before yesterday, when I accidentally stepped on her and she flew away. When I caught her, I saw she can't control his left leg. As I examined, it's not broken (I'm not a pro so if there are special examinations, please tell me). She can't fully keep it up in her feathers, just keeps it high enough so that it is not drawn on the ground. She can not walk on it, and doesn't use it. Whenever I touch her she screams and flies out of my reach.

I don't know what's wrong with her and I'm so unhappy of this.

The worst problem is there is no avian vet here! I asked a dog vet and he just suggested that feeding her with multi-vitamins may help her cure.

Please help! I don't know what's wrong with her.

Common babbler is a bird living in southern Iran and is very similar to sparrows and nightingales, just a bit bigger and with a very longer tail. They mainly eat insects, both big and small insects. Those who live at home as pets usually eat meat, but also eat almost whatever else humans eat. See pictures in wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Babbler

[BlueMoon]

Gorgeous bird!! And I'd never heard of them before so thanks for posting about them

As for her problem, if she is still shrieking in pain and refusing to walk on it, flying away etc. after a few days then it sounds to me as if it is possible she has broken it, or at very least damaged the tendons/ligaments in her leg pretty badly.
Do you know where the nearest avian vet to you is??

[micro]

It's indeed gorgeous! And it easily makes friends with humans. She sometimes sits in my hand and pecks me so that I caress her...

This is the 4th day and she can move her fingers a bit, but it's obvious it's very painful to her.
Is there a way I can know whether she has broken her leg? If the problem is with tendons / ligaments then multivitamins should be used?

Nearest vets to us are in Shiraz, 260Km / 160miles to the north of here!

I forgot to say in the first post that I coated her foot with animal oil in the first day of accident (this is what grandma always did with me!) but I didn't do this again.
And the only time I tried to bend her foot to body by tying a band around her body (I left her wings open) she easily got rid of it by its beak.

What should I do?

[FlyingCircus808]

Hi Hossein, please, no animal oil, no bands (if we don't know what we are doing, we may do more harm than good)... are there any bird breeders near you who might be able to advise you? Another way to look at it is this: if the bird were in the wild, the leg would have to heal on its own. If you truly cannot find help for the bird, then letting it heal on its own is the only thing you can do. Is she eating and drinking well? Try to keep her warm, and in a quiet place.

Also, the multivitamins would not really help. In addition, they must be vitamins for birds only, not for humans or other pets.

[micro]

are there any bird breeders near you who might be able to advise you?

This sounds a good suggestion, I'm going to look for some people.

if the bird were in the wild, the leg would have to heal on its own. If you truly cannot find help for the bird, then letting it heal on its own is the only thing you can do.

Will the leg fully cure and in its normal position?

Is she eating and drinking well? Try to keep her warm, and in a quiet place.

Yes, she's becoming finer and more active. I'm letting her free everyday so that she does whatever she likes.

Actually I read two kinds of opinions about similar issues on the net. Some people said going to the vet was really helpful, while some others said the vet did nothing for the bird and it healed by itself.
To me, going to the vet is now looking the more proper way, but I can't find a vet and take her there in a few future days.

I wonder if anyone has cured an injured bird at home? Could they share their experience with me?

[FlyingCircus808]

The leg may not fully cure in its normal position, depending on what the problem is. She should still be alright with a crippled leg if this is the case. The best would be to take her to a vet as soon as possible. A good avian vet would be able to tell you if the leg is broken or if there is a muscle/tendon problem, or if it is merely badly bruised. Certainly a vet can't fix a bruised leg, but a broken one, yes. It does not sound like getting to a vet is an option for you. I'm glad she is becoming more active and appears to be feeling better. Very pretty bird! I do hope you find a bird breeder in your area. Lots of them are very knowledgeable about these things. Please let us know how she is doing.

[micro]

Sorry I had to reply sooner, I saw my own topic accidentally after a long time.
After 15 days birdie can walk again flawlessly! There isn't any problem and she's happy and plays again.
Thank you for all your answers and support.

And if anyone again encounters this problem I strongly suggest they take their bird to the nearest vet in the first days.