Tiel keeps calling off his perches?

TheBirdWhisperer · May 6, 2013

Hi all, my baby cockatiel seems to be very clumsy. He is around 12 weeks and falls off his perch about once a day. Sometimes its at night but most of the time its during the day. I thought it might be the fact his perch was too big so I put a smaller one in there for him but he still falls. Today, he fell trying to climb down the cage from the top perch top the lower one and lost his footing. He seems a little shaken up for a minute after he falls but then he calms down. Is this normal? He seems to be in good health, eating, drinking, and his poo looks normal. He sings and is very active all day so I don't think he is sick. I usually overreact but I just thought I'd ask around just to be sure.

Also he is on an all natural fruit and seed diet (no sunflower seeds). Thanks

WannaBeAParrot · May 6, 2013

Could something be startling him? Like a sudden noise or movement nearby (from a window, another pet in the house, a door closing, an air cond/heat on or off, car door slamming, appliances, etc.)?

See about lowering his sleeping perch or setting up another one lower down. Also, I would put something below the perch to soften the fall, like a hammock, folded up t-shirt, etc. (wll probably mean extra laundry though).

TheBirdWhisperer · May 6, 2013

Thank you for your reply. I am lowering his perches but I notice that most of the time he falls because he tries to fly across the cage (his wings are clipped) and he winds up falling. I'm thinking his clumsiness when he isn't flying is probably just because he is still a baby

MonicaMc · May 7, 2013

You can try putting in some flat perches... doesn't particularly matter what kind, just flat ones that he can stand on. Young parrots do tend to be pretty clumsy! Clumsier often with clipped wings.

BillsBirds · May 7, 2013

Have you checked his ability to grasp perches? Check his feet & toes. You also might mention this to his vet next time he's there, if not improving.

TheBirdWhisperer · May 8, 2013

I've been watching him more closely today and I notice he hasn't quite yet mastered the "downwards cage crawl". He tries to climb downwards and gets scared and then tries to fly, resulting in him falling. His feet look normal and his balance is pretty good. But thank you all for your replies

MikeyTN · May 8, 2013

Baby cockatiels are super clumsy but they will learn over time on how to climb around and such. They usually masters all they need to do good by the time they're 4-5 months old.

Tiel keeps calling off his perches?

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to clip or not to clip cockatiel

Screaming cockatiel!!! Help!!!!

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