more on Patches

Patches behavior has been extremely odd. I am still waiting from the throat culture results from my vet (and DNA test). In the meantime, Patches has been regurging as if he has a mate to feed. He also has been scratching his face and then licking his food. I checked him for any thing that may look odd around his nose and ears but he looks fine.

He also will not poop nor eat in his cage. He behaves like a male but then, the vet felt two round lumps in his abdomen that felt like eggs.It is possible that it was also his liver BUT if he had liver problems his poop would be yellow.

I am anxious to see what the results are and at the same time, could this bird possess both male and female organs? Could he/she be a freak? I read that it can occur in bird but it is extremely uncommon and for the most part, hermaphrodite birds do not live long. Patches is at least 10 years old.

I thought I would share this letter I found on a parrot website:

I have two questions concerning my 22 year old derbyan parakeet hen. She was born blind, but has laid some infertile eggs alone and with a fertile male companion (for fun only!). The past year, Lani began to get a huge amount of orange on her beak like amale does. has anyone ever heard of an aged derbyan female that did that?Could it mean she is hermaphrodite?Also: Would there be a health reason that an older parrot would totally refuse and go off dry foods (that she formerly liked best)--like pellets and some seeds, in favor of only soft, raw soaked and cooked foods? Lani did this last year also.
Answered by Dr. Brian Speer, DVM:These types of color changes can and do occur. There is the possibility of a shift in hormonal production, and some hens actually will develop an active ovotestes as they age that begins to product testosterone. There also health issues that could be of concern, and some forms of tumors could be of concern here too. For this reason, if you have not already had this done, a good physical evaluation of your bird is appropriate.A change in dietary preference for soft food items could merely be a sift in personal preference, or it could be related to pain and increased sensation of the tomium and occlusal ledges of the lower and upper mandibles. A physical examination is most certainly a worthy consideration here too
filed under: Health and Nutrition