Barn owl (9months old ) decreases food intake

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Hi all-

My barn that I have hand reared is now 9 months old. I've had no problems with her until the last couple of days where I've noticed she has been limping and has decreased her food intake. She's been leaving uneaten chicks on the floor. She isn't a feathered bird,she lives in a aviary which has many different sized perches for her to perch on as well as a nest box to keep her warm. I have checked whether it's bumblefoot infection but her feet seem fine and no signs of bumblefoot. I have booked her in for an appointment with the vet. Can anyone advise me what her condition could be.

Thanks

[HawkMom]

Let the vet decide. Could be a systemic infection. You need to add mice to the owls diet. Their natural food. DOC's should be a smaller portion (about 20% of their diet. http://www.themodernapprentice.com/nutrition.htm

[Outdoor Miner]

Hello , sorry to hear that your Owl is having problems - has the Vet seen the bird yet and were they able to decide what was causing the symptoms ? I wonder what you mean by "not a feathered bird" ? Do you have records of the bird's weight which may be useful when deciding whether a change in appetite should worry you ?
Best wishes , David .

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Thanks for the advice really appreciate it.

My barn owl has been booked in to see the vet on Thursday, due to the Christmas period they have been clothed.

Feathered was a typo it should have read teathered.

I have a record sheet of the birds weight, she' hasn't lost any drastic weight she weighs 345g she is 9 months old. but this morning when I weighed her she was weighing 335g. 😬

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Just a quick update - I have decided to bring her indoors and she seems to be eating better. I will keep her indoors for the next few days and see how she gets on as well as having her seen by the vet. I am concerned about her limping leg.

Will keep everyone updated when I visit the vet.

[BradazTheFalconer]

Good luck with the vets, I hope its nothing too serious. Bringing her indoors was probably a good call, perhaps she won't lose as much weight from being outside and keeping warm.

Kind Regards,

Bradley

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So I visited the vet today, my barn (lunar) is healthy active and has developed really well in terms of her breast muscles and feathers etc. However Upon inspecting her leg- the right leg the muscles have developed properly, but her left has muscle inflammation (just where the joint is) which is causing pain to her and thus resulting in her not eating properly.

. The veternarian administered an anti inflammatory injection to decrease the pain and swelling , hopefully she should start eating properly but I will stick to giving her small pieces of food for now, until she makes full recovery.

[BlueBerry]

Hope she will get better now, Happy new year to you.

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Originally Posted by BlueBerry

Hope she will get better now, Happy new year to you.

Thank you for well wishes. she has made great recovery. I've kept her indoors for a while and it has helped her to recover and put on weight again. i will be introducing her back into her aviary soon. hopefully she hasn't got too used to being indoors.