My cockatiel's chest bone sticks out, wings bleed, and he falls. What's wrong?

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.

Thanks for reaching out about Oscar and including photos. Did you have wings trimmed recently? This appears to be a contusion on the tissue close to the vent (but not) that happens when cockatiels jump/fall, wings are over trimmed and they hit the ground hard. The tail becomes hyper-extended dorsally, ripping the skin. The wound needs to be cleaned, and systemic antibiotics can assist with infection prevention. A veterinary visit is recommended. Lower perches to 3-6 inches above the bottom of the cage, place a soft towel to lighten falling. Good luck.

Pretty boy is very sick, but i couldn't tell you what is wrong based on these very general symptoms, you will need to take him to an avian vet urgently where a blood test and faecal exam will be done to determine what is the cause of the disease, then it will be possible to treat him accordingly.

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.

Ideally, Pedro should be physically examined by a veterinarian. If an avian vet is not available, see the local veterinarian. He or she can contact an avian specialist by phone or online. Place him in his own cage or remove the chicken chicks. It isn't recommended to keep these two species caged together. Offer a mash made with warm water and a handfeeding formula to get him eating. Unflavored PediaLyte can be given via dropper if he will accept it. Keep him warm and as stress free as possible until he sees the doctor.

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.

If Tuddie isn't able to hold her wings properly or is losing balance and falling over, I would have her examined by your vet ASAP. These are very concerning signs that could indicate an issue such as illness, injury, or a neurologic or muscular condition that is causing her problems. Until you can get to the vet, keeping her in a warm hospital cage with low, flat perches and food and water dishes she can easily get in and out of may help make her more comfortable.