Problem with young cockatiel. Identify?

Hi all!

I've been having cockatiels for the last 3 years (and budgies for 5 years before that) and never come across a problem such as this. A young cockatiel, born October end (8 weeks old now), has been shuffling its feet every second (and i'm not exaggerating) for god knows how many hours now. It's not comfortable at all and constantly shifting it's weight to both feet and not even sleeping. It's not able to place any of it's feet down for more than a second.

I noticed it at 8pm my time (3hrs ago) and I'll take it to the local vet in about 10am, but chances are he doesn't tend to birds and may ask me to wait for the bird specialist who visits some other days. Hence, I'm trying to identify the problem to see if I can help my bird in the meantime, as it definitely won't be able to sleep the way it's shifting it's feet. (up down) (down up) (up down) (down up) << every second. I tried placing it on my shoulder, in a soft towel on my lap, to see if shifting it's weight off it's feet may help, but no cheese. I checked both feet (novice check) and they seem ok at the visible joints.

It has had a healthy diet of fresh boiled potatoes, peas, carrots, white rice, coriander and corn, alongwith Varsele Laga Parakeet premium seeds. It's parents are healthy and at present have just laid another clutch of eggs they are tending to.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Qxt--H2DXY&feature=youtu.be]BabyB Feet problems - YouTube[/ame]

I would appreciate if someone on here who knows about any issue this may be would let me know about it. Thanks.

Other than looking at the bottom of the feet for sores, don't know what it could be. Could it have a impacted GI tract ? Maybe eating paper or wood?

She's nibbling her feet quite a bit and shaking it. That probably rules out the impacted GI tract ? Bottom side of the feet are pink and light pink. Don't see any sores there. All nails are fine so it's not a broken nail.

I actually tend to see that in young cockatiels a lot but they grow out of it. But a vet visit never hurts! Is he already on perches in a cage?

MikeyTN said:

I actually tend to see that in young cockatiels a lot but they grow out of it. But a vet visit never hurts! Is he already on perches in a cage?

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Yeh. She's been on the perch for the last 4 weeks. Climbs are moves around just fine.

The only reason I find this abnormal is it's almost midnight here and all cockatiels are asleep other than her and she's constantly shuffling her feet, nibbling at the ankle joint (main joint before the toes), trying to shake off something of her feet sometimes, and the eyes look tired.

It sounds like what they do really with you painting the imagines in my head but IF you can post a video and pictures, it would help to describe what your seeing, maybe it's different then what I'm thinking of.

Ok. I've shot the video. Here it is >> [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Qxt--H2DXY&feature=youtu.be"]BabyB Feet problems - YouTube[/ame]

no wonder she's tired....I'd be very tired as well from moving my feet constantly, and stressed. I'm guessing here....if her feet were in pain, you would think she'd be sqauwking are her feet hot?, not warm but hot?, the other thing you might want to check for are mites, scaley mites, or red mites.
It could be her legs that are uncomfortable, not her feet....poor thing looks distressed!
have you tried changing perches? that sounds like a long shot, but you never know, she does appear to have a problem, but that type of perch maybe making her more uncomfortable.

the other thing you could try...and I'm stretching this a wee bit, try a heating pad on low, or a hot water bottle,cover it with a towel, maybe just maybe it might relax her a bit. you'd have to remove the perches so she may stand on it.

pls. keep us posted, I would really like to know what the diagnosis is, I am a breeder of cockatiels, and have pets as well, I've never come across this before.
Sorry I couldn't be of more help, maybe someone else could offer some better suggestions.

Yeah ,I'm with you crimson. please let us know what you find out. My wife (the expert) thinks it's neurological . Has the bird fledged and injured it's self?

The best thing like it was mentioned above is to see a avian vet, through the years of raising them I've never seen one do that so much. BUT from what I read a post by some retired professor that it can be stress related and should be held more and given more attention to by hand. Best wishes and keep us posted!

I've just been to the vet (as soon as he opened his clinic) and he checked the bird and couldn't identify the problem. He advised me to observe the bird for another day or two and if that doesn't stop, he'll prescribe painkillers and call the bird specialist to take a look.

Somehow, BabyB (that's her name as she's our first cockatiel baby), isn't as distressed at the moment. She's just sitting on her perch with feet firmly planted and not hopping like last night. Somehow between the time I took her to the vet and brought her back, she's improved.

henpecked said:

Yeah ,I'm with you crimson. please let us know what you find out. My wife (the expert) thinks it's neurological . Has the bird fledged and injured it's self?

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I agree, it looks neurological or vascular. Consider spinal or hip injuries... pinched nerves or circulation problems that may cause a tingling sensation in the birds feet that it finds uncomfortable and therefor cant settle. He doesn't look in pain, but does look uncomfortable and frustrated. Good luck! I hope the bird specialist comes by soon

Kiran said:

I've just been to the vet (as soon as he opened his clinic) and he checked the bird and couldn't identify the problem. He advised me to observe the bird for another day or two and if that doesn't stop, he'll prescribe painkillers and call the bird specialist to take a look.

Somehow, BabyB (that's her name as she's our first cockatiel baby), isn't as distressed at the moment. She's just sitting on her perch with feet firmly planted and not hopping like last night. Somehow between the time I took her to the vet and brought her back, she's improved.

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I hope she will improve some more. Just start holding her a little more each day and see what happens.

**Update **

She seems ok. That issue lasted for another night after I first posted but she's been ok since then. May have been a pinched nerve or maybe reaction from crashing at slow flight into a glass wardrobe door (on top of which she sits) once when she was flying around the house.

A very strange phenomenon indeed.

Kiran said:

**Update **

She seems ok. That issue lasted for another night after I first posted but she's been ok since then. May have been a pinched nerve or maybe reaction from crashing at slow flight into a glass wardrobe door (on top of which she sits) once when she was flying around the house.

A very strange phenomenon indeed.

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That would explain a lot! That's something you have to be real careful about! Should not let them fly anywhere where there's a mirror or window. You have to cover those up when they're out flying!