Why is my 12-year-old bird falling and too weak to crack seeds?

Thanks for reaching out about Tweety. Providing heat support can give some aid but is not a treatment in itself. A veterinary visit is highly recommended, as Tweety appears to be ill. Check and correct diet, as an all seed diet is not sufficient for proper health. Vitamins, mineral and proteins are also needed. A vet visit should be scheduled for today, as we are entering the weekend and small birds do not have much energy reserves. Good luck

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.

Thanks for reaching out about Verde and including photos. Getting ready to lay an egg can change behavior. Can't tell by the first photo if the beak is elongated. Concerns would be about the falling. Heavy metal toxicity (zinc, lead), low calcium levels, other malnutritions could all be causes. A veterinary visit is recommended for diagnostics and a treatment plan. Good luck.

Thank you for reaching out about Timmy. First, congratulations at having a 12 year old budgie - that is so great. With the signs that you are seeing, I would be concerned about something serious due to his age. With weight loss despite an appropriate appetite, there may be a disease that is consuming all of his energy so he has higher nutrition requirements than normal. The weakness that you are appreciating with the lack of gripping may go along with this as well. One disease that is very common in older budgies is problems with the kidneys - this can manifest as weakness in the legs as well as watery droppings. I would recommend having Timmy evaluated by a veterinarian to help to determine what is going on. I hope this helps to answer your question, and I wish you two the best of luck.

I would be concerned that something serious is going on with your bird. Weakness and seizure activity can be a sign of progressive liver disease. Ideally you should find an avian veterinarian in your area that can help diagnose what is going on with Tequila. The vet will most likely recommend lab work and possibly X-rays. I’m sorry we can’t be of more help. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

Thanks for reaching out about your cockatiel. Fragile feathers could be an indication of a poor diet but also some other more serious diseases. If he is that weak, a veterinarian should be visited. Providing heat support in the 85-90 degrees could help stimulate the immune system but does not replace a veterinary visit. Good luck.

He should be examined by your veterinarian or by a veterinarian experienced in treating birds. Lethargy, chronic regurgitation and loss of balance would be serious symptoms in a young bird. Given Tweety's age, he should be seen as soon as you can get an appointment. Birds are very good at hiding illness or injury until it is quite serious. In the meantime, keep him warm and as stress free as possible until he sees the vet. Do not allow him to fly and remove or lower perches to prevent injury from falls. Consider feeding a commercial handfeeding formula temporarily or soaked commercial pellets to get some food into him.