Perfect video! OK, so this is not a typical 'baby feeding' stance so we can let that be eliminated. What it could be is a condition called torticollis -
It’s often thought that a twisted neck (also called Wry neck; Star Gazing and a host of other terms) is an infection, either viral or bacterial. Torticollis (Latin for ‘twisted neck’) may be congenital (born that way), the result of an injury or as mentioned, because of an infection either system wide or inner ear.
Toxicity (such as zinc or other heavy metal) could be behind it and something as seemingly simple as a yeast infection could also be happening. It has a few other possible causes as well, usually associated with nutritional problems or more complicated systemic disease. In some birds too MUCH calcium may contribute to this condition, as well as too little. Lack of the sunshine vitamin (D) may also be the problem.
Since a twisted neck doesn’t point to any one of the potential causes in and of itself, a vet visit is an absolute must in order to figure it out. -
This condition occurs in humans, cats, dogs and other animals as well, so fortunately there is a lot of solid information out there about how to treat it once the real underlying cause is found.
- What we’d LIKE to find is an infection because this would be relatively simple to treat with the proper antibiotic, antifungal, sulfa drug or combination of one or two. Again though, I can’t stress enough that this needs to be diagnosed first. Treating something that’s not there can lower a bird’s immune system when they need it the most (antibiotics are notorious for this) and can give a bird a resistance to the drug so when they actually DO need it, it won’t work. You wouldn’t believe the headaches and expense associated with this.
- Waiting for ‘self correction when it’s an infection only gives the infection more time to spread and possibly become life threatening. Plus, as it looks, this condition isn’t a pleasant thing to live with and is at least uncomfortable if not painful depending on the underlying problem.
- In the meantime, you might want to lower the perch so she doesn't have far to fall - the poor dear has no idea what's going on and since these are now known to be self-aware birds (just like we humans, apes, elephants and dolphins) though she's not showing it, she's scared; confused and even worried.
--
I have a bird in sanctuary here who began showing the same exact symptoms years ago. Multiple testings for different causations finally determined that for whatever reason, this is how he liked to hold his head. He still does it to this day, but eats well and interacts fine - it's just that when he's at rest, his head/neck seem terribly distorted.
- Please keep me in the loop ok? I'll be here to support you through this once she gets diagnosed (I wish it were possible to do labs online) and prescribed the appropriate drug protocol. - You got this - and I'm here with you ok?