My parakeet has a black spot, missing nail, and isn't moving her foot?

Poor Melvin! A photo would help me see the damage to the nail, and I would be happy to offer you a consultation and let you know what I think after seeing a picture. It sounds like Melvin damaged the quick, or the small blood vessel that goes down the center of the nail. This is initially painful, so Melvin may need to see a vet to get some parrot-friendly pain medication, especially if you notice that he is not placing the foot normally. Do not be alarmed if the nail falls off, or if there is a small amount of blood if the scab falls off. I hope this helps and would be happy to give you more information in a consultation.

Hi and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I'm so sorry Shamrock is so sick. I strongly recommend a visit to an avian veterinarian to help assess his quality of life or if anything can be done to help him. Budgies can be prone to some tumors as they get older, or a traumatic injury to his leg could cause it to become necrotic. Chronic pain or infection can cause systemic illness which may explain his beak become black. Please take Shamrock to a vet for some help asap.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I can see that Baby is missing a toe nail and that the toe is swollen. There is a little bit of caked on feces, but the toe itself is swollen. It is also concerning that the nail has come off and that the toe itself is somewhat gray, as this can be a sign of necrosis, or tissue death. This may have been caused by increased pressure on the foot, so you should definitely try to keep a variety of perches in the cage. This may have been due to trauma from Baby's previous environment, so you should keep a close eye on the area, and have her seen by a vet if the gray color begins to spread. I hope all is well!

I am sorry to hear about Leroy! I would recommend an examination by a veterinarian to try to figure out why Leroy is having pain in his foot. There are many possible causes including trauma, bacterial infection, arthritis, and bumblefoot (pododermatitis). The vet may recommend an x-ray of the foot or may be able to determine what is going on based on the appearance and then recommend appropriate treatment. I wouldn't take a "wait and see" approach to this issue as these problems can worsen and cause long term complications that are more difficult to treat.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Greenna! I can definitely see how her foot is bent inwards, with the claw somewhat contracted. This can be caused by many conditions, but unfortunately, she needs to be seen by vet to figure out what is going on and get some treatment options. This can be caused by nerve damage, a fracture, or a systemic infection, among several other conditions. I hope this helps!

A visit to the veterinarian would be prudent to diagnosis infection or injury. It is possible she may have caught it on the cage, in a toy or food bowl. Check her toenails as well. If they are too long, it can make moving and perching difficult or uncomfortable.

Thanks for reaching out about your parakeet and including photos. The feet deformities are likely developmental problems but could also have an underlying viral etiology. Same for the feather loss. A veterinary visit could help with some diagnostics but keep this bird separated from other, if viral could be contagious. Good luck.