My bird is at the bottom of the cage, chirping, and losing balance.

It would be best to bring your bird to a local avian veterinarian, especially if he has been ill for a few weeks. it's possible that an underlying illness, neurologic issue, muscular disease, stroke or other problem has occurred that needs to be examined and treated as needed. In some cases birds may not recover fully, and you may need to adjust your bird's environment to help him get around a little easier, such as adding in flat platform perches or changing access to food and water.

Thanks for reaching out about Blueberry. The most common finding with ataxia and possible vision concerns is the ingestion of heavy metals (lead, zinc). These can come from ingested paint, small pieces of metal or other things. A veterinary visit is recommended as these show up very well on radiographs, and prognosis is very good with proper treatment. Renal, liver, heart problems and vision loss can also account for these signs, and veterinarian can help with this. Remove perches and place a soft towel on the bottom of the cage for comfort, providing heat support in the 80-85 F range can give some aid. Good luck.

Loss of balance is a very concerning sign and I would recommend bringing her to a local vet for a complete exam. Muscular and neurologic issues, underlying illness, seizures, old age, toxicity, nutritional issues and more can call cause problems with balance and requires an exam to help narrow down the possible causes. Until you can get into the vet, you can move Millet's perches closer to the floor of her cage to prevent injury if she falls, and make sure she has food and water dishes that are easy to climb in and out of if she is having trouble getting around. If you see any additional signs of illness, be sure to let your vet know.

If your bird is sitting on the bottom of the cage, this is often a sign that your bird is too week to perch. Shaking the head might be a sign of nausea or regurgitation, or a sinus infection. A veterinary visit is recommended. But, providing heat support at home might help provide some strength to your bird. Most veterinarians will attempt to keep sick birds in incubators at 85-90 F. Take the perches out of the cage and provide a towel on the bottom of the cage for comfort. Place food and water bowls on the bottom within easy reach of your bird. Using a small syringe for administration of water could help with some dehydration. Good luck.

Thanks for reaching out about Olive. Ataxia or loss of balance can be an inner ear infection, paramyxovirus and other viruses, ingested or inhaled toxins, metabolic disorders (liver, kidney) and others. A veterinary visit is recommended to assist. Monitor water and food intake. If continues to fall, lower perches and provide a towel on bottom of cage to soften falling. Good luck.

Thanks for reaching out about Bulbul and including photos, although the photos do not include the legs. A loose leg is likely a fracture, dislocation or neurologic problems, each requiring a veterinary visit to treat. Nutritional deficiencies can lead to weak bones, more likely to fracture. Veterinary intervention sooner than later can improve prognosis and recovery. Provide supplemental heat in the 80-85 F range, as young birds have difficulty thermoregulating. Offering food and water via a syringe might give some hydration and energy. Good luck.

Thanks for reaching out about Tipu. Monitor for repetition of the episode. If persistent problem, a veterinary visit is recommended. Possibilities include neurologic disorders due to ingested toxins (lead, zinc, plants, etc.), metabolic disorders, nutritional deficiencies, head/neck trauma, infections (viral, bacterial, fungal), just to list a few. Monitor appetite. Providing supplemental heat in the 80-85 F range can give some support. Good luck.