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Post by sturnidae on Jan 18, 2013 19:20:32 GMT -6
I have a 13 year old Starling that was misdiagnosed with scaly mites years ago, now I have found it to be hyperkeratosis. I am having difficulty getting her back to normal after such a long time. Have been feeding blue buffalo 40% protein cat kibble(crushed) and as much variety of other foods as possible, but she is very finicky. Had little to no results with full spectrum avian light bulbs, but some results with straight window light. Her feet remain unchanged ( large scales) but feathers improved quite a bit but still not enough. Some straggly feathers above both legs, some stars on her chest returned, blue, green , purple colors still dull. CAN ANYONE HELP? I love her dearly and it breaks my heart to know I most likely caused this with years of improper care due to lack of knowledge.
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prb
New Member
Posts: 22
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Post by prb on Jan 19, 2013 15:20:04 GMT -6
I don't know that anyone has the answer to hyperkeratosis. It seems that some starlings get it and some don't even if they are in the same environment and same diet. I have taken my birds to an avian vet and he doesn't have any answers either. Hyperkeratosis has been discussed on many starling boards. There have been suggestions but no difinitive answers there either. Most of the suggestions are from circumstantial evidence. I wish we had the answer. prb
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Post by Robin on Jan 25, 2013 22:29:23 GMT -6
I agree with PRB- Zippy started having leg problems and i put a little oxine in her water- i use it with the chickens when they are feeling down, it is a natural substance that can eliminate bacterial issues, zippy recovered- from what i have read- just adding say some scrambled egg to the diet can help - the diet issues are that the starling needs animal protien oxine Oxine is known to kill every bacteria, virus, and mold it has ever been tested against and is 200 times more effective than chlorine bleach. But one of the most impressive things about Oxine for me is that it does it with such relative safety (when used according to label instructions). Environmentally speaking, Oxine actually biodegrades to ordinary table salt. And it is so safe to use on livestock that it is actually approved for use in the drinking water of ‘organically grown’ animals. I use it myself at the rate of 7-15 drops per gallon of water in our stock tank of drinking water for our own sheep. It keeps the water impressively clear and algae free, while keeping down the biofilm ‘slime’ that tends to develop on the sides of the tank. www.shagbarkbantams.com/oxine.htm
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Post by Poppys mom on May 19, 2013 10:07:50 GMT -6
Hi, Poppy is turning 9 years old this Tuesday (may 20) and he is one happy starling. Poppy developed hyperkeratosis on his leg scales at about 2 years old and I have been trying everything to help him- I love him so, so much. I fed him the starlingtalk recommended diet from day 1, with supplements of diced chicken breast, brocolini rabe leaves (highest form of vitamin A), blueberries and NO People food EXCEPT for some cheese- very rarely as a treat. I have decaf Tea for him to drink when he is out of his cage (everyday, almost all day). I have researched and read everything I can think of to help him and have read starlingchat and starlingtalk for any tips. I wish there was some better clue or advancement for this iron storave/vitamin A disease and hold out hope. If anyone has any suggestions for shedding overgrown leg scales due to hyperekeratosis please let us know! Poppy is adorable and still sings and whistles Mozart and Dixie, talks- kisses and is a wonderful pet. ;D
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Post by sturnidae on Aug 12, 2013 3:19:53 GMT -6
I have finally had some dramatic improvement with hyperkeratosis. I cant get this site to work correctly. Please go to Petstarlings@yahoogroups.com All info and "befor and after" photos are already posted there. Pleasecheck it out, it might help.
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Post by Babybird on Dec 26, 2014 10:39:50 GMT -6
Hi,I'm not sure how active this message board still is but I would really appreciate any advice anyone has. I just found this website as I have been frantically searching for more information about hyperkeratosis which I believe my starling (Baby Bird) has. Over the last several months, I have noticed his leg scales thickening and now some of them are actually starting to fall off. I really don't know what else to do for my Baby Bird. He is already on the correct dog food diet that I found on starlingcentral.net. He also gets tiny pieces of hard boiled egg, berries, the foods that starlingcentral.net mentioned would be safe. He does not act like he is in pain at all. He still comes out of cage daily for his free flight time and talks all the time. I would just really appreciate if anyone has any ideas on what else I could be doing to prevent this from getting worse. I can't get the petstarlings@yahoogroups.com (in the above post) to work so if anyone has any other sites they can recommend that would be great too.
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Post by prb2 on Dec 27, 2014 12:53:19 GMT -6
Baby Bird, hyperkeratosis seems to be one of those conundrum diseases; no one seems to have "the" cure. Some caged birds in the same environment and eating the same diet will have it and others will not. The avian vet my birds go to doesn't have an answer either. I was unable to access the files at the Petstarlings@yahoo group but I seem to remember reading at that sight that there was some controversy about the treatment. It sounds as though you are feeding a good diet and have a happy bird! I have a Starling with hyperkeratosis too. She is 13 years old and although her eyesight is very diminished because of cataracts she remains an active and seemingly happy girl.
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Post by Irys on Mar 28, 2015 10:39:28 GMT -6
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Post by Susan on Apr 11, 2017 4:09:02 GMT -6
Dr. Stephanie Seneff of MIT, speaking on the toxic effects of glyphosate (Round-up), said that birds are suffering from hyperkeratinosis that can even be affecting and deforming their beaks, so that they can no longer crack open seeds to eat. She states that sunflower seeds are sprayed with glyphosate (Round-up) just before they are harvested, to dessicate (dry them out) them. It is the glyphosate that is causing the hyperkeratinosis, and our birds could be getting that if they are outside just trying to find food in places where someone has sprayed that carcinogen. (Now labeled as such in California, finally.) Or, if we are feeding them foods that we might not know had been treated with glyphosate, we would unintentionally be subjecting them to this harm. Corn, especially, has been highly sprayed with glyphosate!!!!! I hope this information will be helpful to someone. When I learned of it, I was so upset that I could hardly sleep. Our precious animals deserve a safe world!
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Post by Uno2005 on Jan 10, 2018 9:52:33 GMT -6
I have finally had some dramatic improvement with hyperkeratosis. I cant get this site to work correctly. Please go to Petstarlings@yahoogroups.com All info and "befor and after" photos are already posted there. Pleasecheck it out, it might help.
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Post by Uno2005 on Jan 10, 2018 9:53:31 GMT -6
I have finally had some dramatic improvement with hyperkeratosis. I cant get this site to work correctly. Please go to Petstarlings@yahoogroups.com All info and "befor and after" photos are already posted there. Pleasecheck it out, it might help.
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