Why is my 16-year-old budgie not flying, walking, and snapping?

Thanks for reaching out about Kiki. Did the veterinary perform any diagnostics tests such as blood work or radiographs? Age can prevent flying as the bones become weaker or muscle atrophy. Determining the cause of the weakness might provide an avenue of treatment. Good luck.

Thanks for reaching out about Keasha. A veterinary visit is probably urgent. The first thing that is suggestive would be a neurologic condition. This could be a toxin ingestion (lead, zinc, plant), metabolic concern (liver, kidney), neoplasia (pineal tumors are fairly common in budgies), just to mention a few potentials. Fluffed feathers and dropped wings are suggestive of weakness or cold. Providing heat support in the 80-85 F range can give some support but is not a treatment in itself. Good luck.

Thanks for reaching out Hururu and including a photo. A veterinary visit is recommended. Diseases such as Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease (PBFD) and polyoma are concerns. A veterinarian can test for these. Offer food and water via a syringe to maintain nutrition. Good luck.

Thanks for reaching out about Tex. Does he eat any vegetables or only seeds? Seeds are deficient in multiple vitamins, minerals, low in protein, and this, over time, can lead to weakness and falling. A veterinary visit is recommended to assess and provide a diagnostic/treatment plan. If continues to call, remove perches and give a soft towel on the bottom of the cage. Perching requires more energy. Provide heat support in the 80-85 F range, to give some support. 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.

In older small birds, strokes can sometimes cause the use of legs and the inability to grip or perch properly. Other potential causes can include calcium deficiency (which if she isn't on a balanced diet may be possible), bacterial infections such as Aspergillosis, viral illnesses, toxins and even diseases contracted from wild birds if Snowy has had access to the outdoors or with wild birds. If you haven't seen an avian vet specialist, or had any blood work done, that may be your next best step in figuring out what is wrong. Changing Snowy's environment some, such as including flatter or platform-like perches may also help with mobility so that she can continue to have access to food and water.

Nutritional deficiency, liver or kidney disease, intestinal parasites or bacterial, viral or fungal infection are all possibilities. An exam with your veterinarian or an experienced avian veterinarian is strongly recommended to diagnose the exact illness or injury. The vet can administer supportive care if indicated. Offer a commercial pelleted diet moistened with warm water or a hand feeding formula to stimulate his appetite and get some nutrition into him. Keep him warm and as stress free as possible until he sees the veterinarian.