Why is my aging parrot falling off perches? Could it be arthritis?

You really should get him to your vet for an exam. Gout is a very strong possibility. Gout is the accumulation of uric acid crystals in body tissues, especially the joints. Gout can cause difficulty perching due to painful swollen joints. It is a common problem in pet birds, although it is different than the disease in people. In birds, gout is often associated with kidney failure and treatment aims to address both the painful joints and the underlying disease. Other conditions can also cause a bird to have a weakened grip. Arthritis can affect the toes. Many birds develop a foot infection called pododermatitis or “bumble foot”. Nutritional deficiencies will play a role in the development of many of these conditions. Make sure your bird has no exposure to lead or zinc. Some neurologic problems cause similar signs and should be ruled out. In addition, older birds may develop tumors that will impact the ability to walk or stand. As you can see, any number of conditions can result in his difficulty with his feet. I would recommend that you start by having a physical examination performed by a veterinarian experienced with treating birds. Your veterinarian will evaluate him and make treatment recommendations based on the diagnosis.

There are a lot of reasons why a bird may have trouble perching including nails that need trimming, perches that are the wrong sizes (usually too small or narrow), muscular or neurologic issues, age, deformities, illness, etc. It is always a good first step to schedule a vet checkup and rule out any more serious causes first. If Haru checks out healthy, making sure he's on a balanced diet can help keep him strong and fit. You may also want to add in some larger perches where he doesn't have to curl his toes all the way around as it may help with balance. Adding in a flat shelf platform to sleep on can also help make sure he stays comfortable while asleep without falling off the person. Making sure all of his food and water dishes are easy to get into and out of can also help if he has trouble getting around.

Thanks for reaching out about your budgie and including photos. How was the fungal infection diagnosed? Fungal infections usually affect the respiratory or gastrointestinal tracts and not neurologic issues. Arthritis or articular gout are possible and radiographs are recommended to assess. Anti-inflammatories could help relieve discomfort but blood work should be taken prior to long term medications. Removing perches or providing broad platforms and climbing ladders, could make perching more comfortable for birds with disabilities. Good luck.

Ouch! Those feet should be checked out by a vet and some blood tests run to make sure there isn't a nutritional deficiency or other illness causing the foot problem. If your bird checks out OK, then it may be a genetic deformity that will be there for life. Birds that have trouble perching or getting around may do better with large, flat perches, or flat shelf-like platforms so they can rest their feet and move around without falling off. Food and water dishes with similar shaped platforms can also help make it easier for your bird to access.

Thanks for your question about Franks, and I am sorry that this is happening to the two of you. Thank you for the photos as well - they are very helpful. I agree with you that he is standing very low on the perch. I didn't see how old he was, but if he is an older cockatiel, this may be due to arthritis or another type of joint pain. Also, I didn't see where the feather destruction was occurring, but if it is also over the joints, this could support the theory as well. Sometimes if there is pain elsewhere in the body, such as in the belly (coelom), that can manifest as birds plucking feathers over that portion of their body and it can cause them to walk around differently and bear weight on their limbs differently as well. I agree with you that a veterinary visit is a good idea - they can perform a thorough physical examination, including feeling the belly for any abnormalities and taking a close feel of the legs and wings. They can see if there is any decrease in the range of motion of the legs, and also if there is any abnormal noise that occurs when the joints are moved (called crepitus). These would be indicators of arthritis. Depending on what they find, they may recommend diagnostics such as radiographs (x-rays) to confirm their findings or systemic blood work to evaluate his organs if they feel that chronic medications need to be prescribed (such as anti-inflammatories). Please do not give Franks any human medications at home, as many of these are harmful for our feathered friends. I hope that gives you a place to start, and that Franks feels better soon.

Check his feet for overgrown nails or sores. Make sure the perches or climbing surfaces are not to slick/slippery. Have him examined by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating birds to diagnose injury.

It's possible the nails were trimmed too short and are either now a bit painful or making it hard for him to grip properly. Making sure he has the right size perch for his size may help make it easier for him to grip and stay upright. If the problem persists, or he shows any other issues or signs of illness, then ruling out anything more serious with your vet is best.