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Birds--General/Cockateil
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Question
My Cockatiel is suffering from some kind of Disease. Please help me to determine what it is a what to do for her.
About a year ago she quit flying and got a bit clumsy. Stayed in her cage a lot.Would fall on the floor or in the cage. She looked fine. Then about 3 months later one of her feet lost a toe nail. I never found it or saw blood. Thought she must have pulled it off on the cage somehow. Then she lost another one. Still no blood no sign of the nail. Then her 2 toes with no nails became deformed and they now drag and she cannot use them. They are all facing forward and clumped together.
The leg that the foot is on that is not well is now losing feathers. When she spreads her wings under the wing nearest that foot and leg she has no feathers.
Her feces is abundant, no smell.
I give her Vits. She will not eat anything fresh at all. I am here 3rd owner and she is very sweet but won't allow me to hold her. Her name is Cha Cha.
Can you give me advise on how to help her?
Thank you so much,
Mona
Hi, Mona. Thanks for posting!
You need to take this tiel to an avian vet for a medical evaluation. Not a cat/dog vet, but an exotic animal vet...one who treats animals such as reptiles and other exotics. You should have taken this bird to see an avian vet a year ago when symptoms began.
Chrys
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Answers by Expert:
Chrys Meatyard
Expertise
I`ve been raising/breeding/handfeeding/selling parrots for over 20 years (parakeets/budgies, cockatiels, 6 subspecies of conures, parrotlets, amazons, lovebirds, etc.). I've been published in "Budgies" and "Cockatiels" offered by Bow Tie Productions, and have written avian articles for publication in England. I can provide advice in raising healthy birds, handfeeding/weaning babies, some health problems (although I'm NOT an avian veterinarian), nail/beak/wing clipping, general husbandry, etc. I also have experience with racing/showing homing pigeons. I cannot diagnose specific illness over this website. If you suspect your bird is ill or if you have an emergency, contact an avian veterinarian or emergency pet clinic ASAP.
Experience
Experience: Over 20 years raising parrots and over 13 years raising pigeons. Organizations: Currently, American Racing Pigeon Union and American Federation of Aviculture. Prior member Miami Valley Bird Club, Southern Ohio Pigeon Association, National Cockatiel Society, Miami Valley Sportsman's Club, others. Publications: Monthly newsletters of bird clubs.
Publications
I've been published in "Budgies" and "Cockatiels" offered by Bow Tie Productions, and have written avian articles for publication in England.
Education/Credentials
American Federation of Aviculture, completed Level I course, Fundamentals of Aviculture. Keeping/breeding parrots and other birds for over 20 years.
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