Hi Ola. What are the changes you have seen in his droppings? Color, consistency, amount?
Please tell me everything in his usual diet?
Does he have any wooden chew toys within reach and if so, do you see him chewing them much?
Does his breathing seem to be affected in any way? Any gasping for air, any bobbing of his tail up and down in rhythm with his breathing?
Are you aware of the long list of products and items you cannot use in the home, now that you have a bird? (If not, I'll help you with that because there are many, and if this is a respiratory issue, we must get to the bottom of it right away.)
Do you already have a competent avian vet that you use?
Thanks, Patricia
Okay. Thanks for the extra information. I hope this is a really experienced vet so far as birds are concerned. But, I very leery that he/she jumped right in with that kind of medication and a vitamin supplement without really knowing what is going on with him. Adding supplemental vitamins is very close to worthless for our parrots. Their vitamins must come from their diet to be readily usable to their bodies. One thing really alarms me and that is the corn cobs. He should not have anything like that near him, and he for sure should not be ingesting any of it. Also, peanuts can be very dangerous. They are grown underground and are one of the main sources of Aspergillosis. That's a fungal infection in the lungs and is not only hard to diagnosis, can be very hard to treat with success. The problems with the corn cobs are similar with the added danger of causing an impaction in his crop. A crop impaction could account for the beak motions you are seeing. He is trying to swallow and cannot, if his crop is clogged up with corn cobs that he cannot process. Obviously there is no way for me to diagnose for you from this distance. I just wish you were either in the States or that you could know for sure that you have access to top of the line avian vet care. In the first place, he needs to be eating lots of fresh fruits, vegetables, leafy greens and other people type foods. The pellets are okay, depending on who makes them but they are not a source of total proper nutrition. They must be supplemented. About all I can do for you is to tell you to keep him warm, do not allow him to get chilled, and keep him as quiet and stress free as possible. I'm going to give you links to information on these possible suspects. Depending on how experienced you vet is, it may be helpful to you both. Click here: Aspergillosis Fungal Infection in Birds If the beak action is being caused by crop stasis, it may be the corn cobs, or something else or it could be PBFD. Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease (PBFD) For your and his sake, I hope it is not that one. The problem is bird breeders operating outside the U.S. have little if any laws and restrictions on how they handle the birds, what the conditions are under which they are bred and so on. The possible things that could be wrong with your guy are literally almost endless. The reason I asked about the chew toys, (which he does need, by the way) is on occasion, if it's not a proper toy for them, they can get a small piece or splinter wedged in the upper beak, just as a dog can get a bone or piece of stick, stuck in the roof of their mouth and they cannot get it out by themselves. That is one thing that can be checked on also. The vet needs to run test on a dropping sample and he needs to be looking for Giardia and all the other bacterial, fungal or protozoa based possibilities. Then, and only then, the bird needs the proper antibiotic, based on the issue and on his body weight. And it needs to be a true full strength antibiotic that is given orally, not put in his drinking water to foul it and water down the medication. I wish there was more I could do for you and I really wish you were in a location where I could recommend a good Avian vet for you but, I'm afraid this is pretty much it unless you have additional questions or if something new has come up. If so, by all means, just let me know and I'll help in anyway I'm able. I'll sure keep him in my thoughts and will hope for the best. Patricia
If this might be a respiratory issue, here is some more information that may be helpful.
Click here: Winged Wisdom Pet Bird Magazine - Avian Respiratory Disorders Part I - Pet Birds
Click here: Winged Wisdom Pet Bird Magazine - Avian Respiratory Disorders Part II - Pet Birds
Here are a few more misc. articles on Grey care that may help you also with the diet and other issues.
Click here: Care of African Grey Parrots
Click here: Parrot Articles ~ It's A Grey's World Educating on the African Grey Parrot
Click here: African Greys
Click here: Feeding Your Pet African Grey - Kim's Aviary
Parrot C&onsultant
Published author, free lance bird behaviorist, adviser to the parrots at Sarasota Jungle Gardens.