Geriatric care

smb

New member
Nov 21, 2013
3
0
I joined this site to ask a question about an old Cockatiel.
In the 70s and 80s I did a lot of parrot rescue so I am not new to birds. My first bird however was a male Cockatiel who fathered several offspring (despite being a terrible parent). He died a few years ago at the age of 36.
I now have just one bird who is the son of the above Cockatiel and who is now 31 years old. He is quite spry but I think he has at least one cataract and perhaps a little hearing loss. (So he takes after me.) This old guy falls off his perch now when he is startled and this has lead to breaking most of his tail feathers. He has not had a complete molt for at least a year.

Is there anything I can do to stimulate regrowth/molting of the tail feathers? I have tried to arrange perch sizes etc to reduce the crashes, but like most birds he prefers the high spots. I do not want to rearrange the cage to much or get a new lower cage because I think it would be disorienting. He eats well but has never been a huge veggie fan. He will sporadically demolish kale and broccoli.
Mostly he loves warm pasta of any sort. (and Grape Nuts cereal in the morning.)
Any thoughts on geriatric care would be appreciated.
 

GaryBV

New member
Nov 2, 2013
627
7
Southwestern Pennsylvania
Parrots
Pacific Parrotlets - green Beanieboy and blue Skya;
Fischer Lovebirds - Mariposa and Papillon
You must give excellent care and nutrition to your cockatiels as demonstrated by the longevity of your birds. Instead of asking for advice - you should be giving it! I did have an elderly lovebird, and he kept falling also, and I just had to break down and put him in a lower cage because I was afraid he was going to break a leg, wing, or his neck. He adjusted very quickly and within a day it was like he lived in there forever. I can't offer any advice on how to stimulate the regrowth of his tail feathers but hopefully another member will be able to help.
 

Jewelz

New member
Oct 26, 2013
124
0
Vancouver, BC, Canada
Parrots
Black-cap Conure - 'Felix' -Hatched May. 12/2013
Peach-Face Love Bird - 'Sam' (1990-2013)
My lovebird passed away in January...he was 23. He develooped cataracts & had a few other issues. One of the best things I could have done for him was downsize him into a smaller cage with ladders all over the place. I also padded the bottom of the cage with old towels with paper towel on top that I changed daily. Sam was on a booster supplement made by avitech but the name is escaping me at the moment. In my experience a smaller cage was perfect for Sam.... I put his food & water down there he loved it so much he'd sleep down there too. Extra heat would go a long way to helping your old friend. We had two heat lamps on Sam....one day time light that was on a timer & the other a heat lamp that stayed on 24hrs a day....
 

Attachments

  • image.jpg
    image.jpg
    89.1 KB · Views: 1,131
Last edited:

Featheredsamurai

New member
Aug 24, 2011
4,172
19
California
Parrots
African Greg
2 cockatiels
What diet do you feed you cockatiels? I'm impressed they have lived such long lives

He may do well with a shelf perch, or even giving him platforms with the perch sitting directly on top. It's possible the falling could be caused by arthritis in his old age, and that will help to make him feel more stable.

As for molting, I generally relate that to overall health and diet. If their body can support he growth of new feathers they will, but if not those big tail and flight feathers won't be molted as often because the body can't afford to do so.
 

GaryBV

New member
Nov 2, 2013
627
7
Southwestern Pennsylvania
Parrots
Pacific Parrotlets - green Beanieboy and blue Skya;
Fischer Lovebirds - Mariposa and Papillon
To add on to what Jewelz said, I have also seen heated perches, they are rather pricey but should be a one-time investment. Here is a link to one on Amazon if you are curious:

[ame=http://www.amazon.com/K-H-Thermo-Perch-Small/dp/B000795ZE0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1385068775&sr=8-1&keywords=heated+perch]Amazon.com: K&H Thermo Perch, Small: Pet Supplies[/ame]
 

TessieB

New member
Nov 3, 2013
1,230
Media
6
2
Upstate, South Carolina
Parrots
1 Blue Front Amazon, 1 Yellow Head Amazon, 4 Cockatiels, 2 Parakeets
I, too, have had geriatric cockatiels who are quiet spry into their late twenties. I found smaller cages work well, extra large knobly perches, ramps and a sunning area whose warmth was supplied by a red bulb normally used to brood chicks. Just make sure your old timer is capable of moving to a cooler spot if necessary. However, if necessary, you can keep the tail feathers short as he might find he can get around easier without those long feathers impeding him.
 
OP
S

smb

New member
Nov 21, 2013
3
0
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #7
Great help everybody, thanks.
I do have a lamp for him and I will look into the heated perches. Also will try to find a cage with less height.
Maybe I won't worry so much about the tail feathers. The problem is that as one comes in it is unprotected so very easy to break.
Anyway, he likes his window during the day, and prefers to be in the cage because it is familiar.

They had no special diet. Dad and Son were in a cage together and loved their pasta. For 20 years they ruled the bird room and stole food from the Moluccan, Amazons and African Grey. In the winter the father used to sleep on the floor, in the sun, curled up with our Springer Spaniel.

I have no tricks for longevity other than good genes! His Mom only made it to 20 due to a run in with an Iguana, but that is another story!
 
Last edited:
OP
S

smb

New member
Nov 21, 2013
3
0
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #8
No luck so far, locally finding a suitable smaller cage. (Present cage is 19x14x28 inches.) Will start an online search today.
Open to suggestions.
 

Jewelz

New member
Oct 26, 2013
124
0
Vancouver, BC, Canada
Parrots
Black-cap Conure - 'Felix' -Hatched May. 12/2013
Peach-Face Love Bird - 'Sam' (1990-2013)
No luck so far, locally finding a suitable smaller cage. (Present cage is 19x14x28 inches.) Will start an online search today.
Open to suggestions.


Kijiji.....craigslist???
 

Most Reactions

Latest posts

Top