About a month ago, my Senegal parrot Tycho (~150g, 24 years old) started chewing on his leg, and wouldn't stop. Without going into agonizing detail about this -- other than to say he's been in constant care of excellent avian specialists from the day this started -- the process unfortunately ended with a surgical leg amputation two days ago, as we just couldn't clear up the osteomyelitis.
Because he was in an e-collar (which is a heartbreaking thing to do to a bird) before the surgery, he's been in a smallish hospital cage with no perches, but with some sea grass mats for his comfort.
The good news is that the amputation seems to have done it's job. He's perking up, and showing more of his old self every hour (and complaining more about taking his meds) -- and most importantly, he's not self-mutilating without an e-collar (knock on wood). I'm leaving him in his hospital cage until he learns to deal with his mobility issues. The question I have is if there's any advice on coaching him through his new situation. I was thinking a ladder in his hospital cage, mounted low so that it has a very gentle slope, might be a good device for him.
It would be great if I can get more suggestions about things that would help him rehab, as well as any heads-ups about what he's going to be going through. I'd welcome any and all ideas from anyone, but if your recommendation come from actual experience, please try to highlight that so I can weight my decisions appropriately.
As a last request, any ideas to facilitate a modified "step up" would also be great. With one foot, I think he's going to need to stabilize with his beak, and I just can't envision how this will work out.
