Expert: Chrys Meatyard - 11/11/2007

Question
My parakeets had some baby birds and two of them got their little feet caught in some nesting strings.  We did not notice until 2 weeks later and after we carefully cut the strings, we noticed one of each baby birds foot is completely black and dead.  One is dried up.  Should we put them out of their misery or just let things be?  They are 3 weeks old.  There are 8 other baby parakeets in the other nests and we took all the nesting material out and replaced it all with Timothy Hay.  Seems safer.

Answer
Hi, Ron,

The black foot will eventually fall off or the bird will chew it off.  You don't have to put them to sleep, especially young babies.  As young birds, they will easily learn to adapt to their handicap.  I've had several keets that had injuries and have lost legs/feet/toes.  I've had adults who've chewed off babies wings, etc.  They get along just fine.  You may have to adapt their cage to fit their disability, but most get along as though nothing happened.  

Actually, you don't need any substrate in the nesting boxes until after babies arrive.  Then just a small layer of pine shavings on the bottom in order to keep the babies dry from their droppings (don't use cedar).  Clean the box out as necessary and put new pine shavings in.  Hay is OK, but could harbor disease/illness inside the shafts.  String is definitely not a good thing around birds.  They can get string around their necks, legs/feet, etc., just like you've experienced.  Be careful what you use inside the cage, such as small chain or anything that can result in injury.

Chrys