Walking on Ankles

DallyTsuka · Aug 30, 2013

so, i notice tsuka perches and walks on his ankles, nearly all the time. my other birds all stand firm on their feet, with their ankle upright and not touching the ground.

but tsuka perches and walks with his ankles low, and i'm just curious as to why. genetic, deformity, health problem, personal quirk? other?
he actually has callouses on the joints of his ankles from it. it doesnt really affect him, i'm just curious mostly.

history:

came from an ad on kijiji when he was 5 months old
previous home heavy chain smokers
follicle damage in wings and tail due to weak feathers breaking during nightfrights, feathers weak from smoke.
attacked in the nest as a baby, toes on one foot injured with toenails now deformed. has some scar tissue on one eye from attack.

he's also pigeon toed lol

you can see what i mean in the photo

MonicaMc · Aug 31, 2013

Can't say I know, sorry!

It just might be from his experiences as a chick?

Julianna · Aug 31, 2013

I don't really know either, but could it be because of his foot deformities? So sorry for the little guy!

weco · Aug 31, 2013

If you watch them, most companion birds have some degree of being pigeon toed as they walk and whether that & Tsuka's propensity for walking/sitting on his hocks was a genetic or dietary deficiency caused malformation, you'd probably have to check with an avian orthopedist.....it could also be that the bird just got used to sitting/moving in that position when it was a small chick.....

When I was growing up, we lived next door to a family of 3 kids that had to be re-taught how to walk.....their father worked mids & the kids got used to tip-toeing around while their dad slept.....the two oldest were twins & when they started school, the school nurse sent a note home that the kids were walking on their toes & the balls of their feet.....they ended up having to go through some primitive physical therapy because the muscles on the backs of their calves were beginning to shorten to compensate for their way of walking.....the kids had to wear braces for the better part of their first year of grade school.....

Like with splay/spraddle-leg any corrections would have had to be done while the bird's bones were still soft & pliable.....

DallyTsuka · Aug 31, 2013

yeah i asked my tiel breeding friend, she knows a heck of a lot about this stuff too, and she agrees deformity as well.

oh well, it doesnt affect him, he gets around fine, but he does have 2 wonky toes on one foot too. his inner back toe is stubby, and the claws on the same foot are deformed, one grows kinda straight and the other on the stubby toe is a little nub.

these were the toes that were attacked as a baby

Pajarita · Sep 1, 2013

It's most likely a congenital defect that was not corrected and now it's set. Nothing to worry about.

Featheredsamurai · Sep 1, 2013

Poor baby

make sure to watch his feet for sores, the weight doesn't sit how it should when they are like that and it makes sores and wear more likely to happen.

Rosie also sits on her ankle with her bad leg, that half of her breast has noticeably less muscle because she favors that side. But you shouldn't have to worry about that since your tiels legs are equal.
I have to check Rosie's feet often to make sure it isn't showing irritation.

DallyTsuka · Sep 1, 2013

i remember seeing some of rosie's history before, but what exactly was up with her leg that caused it? she's so beautiful!

cockatielmama · Dec 5, 2018

Hello,
I know this is a very old thread but I'm having the same problem with my cockatielx she's always walking on her ankles. And like someone said, it could be a deformity. My bird is currently getting a treatment for her bumblefoot on both legs. It was so bad that it took almost 2 months to see a difference. It's still there but it's gotten alot better. My theory is that she developed bumblefoot because she's always using her ankles. I've notice that her foot that she "favors" more is more stubby. I don't know how to explain it but it has more muscles on the ankle area. And the foot that is thick is the one she's always using to eat or rest on. She kind of ignores the other foot because it had bumblefoot that was far more severe than the other foot, so she forgot about it. Can someone give me advice on how I can avoid it.

Laurasea · Dec 5, 2018

Pictures help. How long have you had the bird? Hi, welcome to the forum..sorry your birdie has issues. Birds need some wide perches, much wider than you think, at least one where the foot is almost flat. What kind if perches and types do you have? How old is your bird? I'm so glad to hear you are getting treatment. A lot of older birds are down on their hocks, because if not having large perches to rest on, and perches of different diameter and types. They spend all day on their feet and don't get the chance to move around a lot in cages during the day, as they age this really takes a toll on the feet and joints. Not saying this is what happened with your bird, but for other folks reading this , it will save their birds feet in the future. Bumble foot can be difficult to get over, takes time and dedication. How is your vet treating?

ChristaNL · Dec 6, 2018

Sunny used to use the ankle-part a lot when she had no tail (and crappy balance!)... now she has almost half a tail (keeping fingers crossed she'll keep it this time) she sits a lot more like a regular bird.
(If she relaxes she will still latch on the bars of the cage for comfort? balance?)

She has perches of different sizes and atm preferes the one that is really, really thin!
(she gnawed it that way herself)
Though she will sleep on the thickest perch (normal birdystyle, with the head tucked in the feathers)

so I totally agree: get your bird as many different sized perches as possible

cockatielmama · Dec 6, 2018

Laurasea said:
Pictures help. How long have you had the bird? Hi, welcome to the forum..sorry your birdie has issues. Birds need some wide perches, much wider than you think, at least one where the foot is almost flat. What kind if perches and types do you have? How old is your bird? I'm so glad to hear you are getting treatment. A lot of older birds are down on their hocks, because if not having large perches to rest on, and perches of different diameter and types. They spend all day on their feet and don't get the chance to move around a lot in cages during the day, as they age this really takes a toll on the feet and joints. Not saying this is what happened with your bird, but for other folks reading this , it will save their birds feet in the future. Bumble foot can be difficult to get over, takes time and dedication. How is your vet treating?

I've had the bird for 6 years. We think shes about 7 years old so not that old to have problems like these. We have changed all of out perches. It's been a long road trying g to heal her bumblefoot. It was so bad that it took 4 weeks to see a slight difference. It's been 2 months since her diagnosis and it's gotten better. We give her antibiotic, vetryicyn, and anti bacterial ointment twice a day religiously. We got ride of the gritty and dowel perches and replaced them with natural wood perches that come in different sizes. I will try to post a picture tomorrow. But her right foot looks alot like this bird( the ankle part). She likes foraging so alot of times she walking on the bottom of the cage with her ankles rested on the ground. Only one side of her foot is larger. It doesnt look like gout at all. The ankle itself looks very muscular.

Laurasea · Dec 6, 2018

cockatielmama said:
Laurasea said:

Pictures help. How long have you had the bird? Hi, welcome to the forum..sorry your birdie has issues. Birds need some wide perches, much wider than you think, at least one where the foot is almost flat. What kind if perches and types do you have? How old is your bird? I'm so glad to hear you are getting treatment. A lot of older birds are down on their hocks, because if not having large perches to rest on, and perches of different diameter and types. They spend all day on their feet and don't get the chance to move around a lot in cages during the day, as they age this really takes a toll on the feet and joints. Not saying this is what happened with your bird, but for other folks reading this , it will save their birds feet in the future. Bumble foot can be difficult to get over, takes time and dedication. How is your vet treating?

Click to expand...

I've had the bird for 6 years. We think shes about 7 years old so not that old to have problems like these. We have changed all of out perches. It's been a long road trying g to heal her bumblefoot. It was so bad that it took 4 weeks to see a slight difference. It's been 2 months since her diagnosis and it's gotten better. We give her antibiotic, vetryicyn, and anti bacterial ointment twice a day religiously. We got ride of the gritty and dowel perches and replaced them with natural wood perches that come in different sizes. I will try to post a picture tomorrow. But her right foot looks alot like this bird( the ankle part). She likes foraging so alot of times she walking on the bottom of the cage with her ankles rested on the ground. Only one side of her foot is larger. It doesnt look like gout at all. The ankle itself looks very muscular.

Cockatiel mamma,
That bumble foot is difficult to treat, as I said before. So fantastic job that you are seeing improvement! I'm afraid 6 years on those dowels , and with sandpaper perches, is what caused all your problems. They shouldn't sell those dowel perches with the cages, how are people supposed to Know how wrong that is! And those sandpaper perches should be oulawed!!! You can try some of those rope perches for her, and I would put one of those corner shelf perches in too. I'm sorry to say the sandpaper perches caused your bumble foot, and the dowels caused the other problem. So you already have better perches, and you are treating the bumble foot with vet, do you are doing great now. They make those soft chewable perches that are made out of mineral block stuff, with bee pollan , you could get one of those very soft on the feet , and get a really wide one, to help take pressure off the feet. I got mine at pet supermarket, they are soft chalk like and come in fruit flavor, mine like the watermelon one. Or order them online. It will be good to see pictures. And if you are making progress with the bumble foot , then you are doing a great job!!

cockatielmama · Dec 6, 2018

Laurasea said:
cockatielmama said:

Laurasea said:

Pictures help. How long have you had the bird? Hi, welcome to the forum..sorry your birdie has issues. Birds need some wide perches, much wider than you think, at least one where the foot is almost flat. What kind if perches and types do you have? How old is your bird? I'm so glad to hear you are getting treatment. A lot of older birds are down on their hocks, because if not having large perches to rest on, and perches of different diameter and types. They spend all day on their feet and don't get the chance to move around a lot in cages during the day, as they age this really takes a toll on the feet and joints. Not saying this is what happened with your bird, but for other folks reading this , it will save their birds feet in the future. Bumble foot can be difficult to get over, takes time and dedication. How is your vet treating?

Click to expand...

I've had the bird for 6 years. We think shes about 7 years old so not that old to have problems like these. We have changed all of out perches. It's been a long road trying g to heal her bumblefoot. It was so bad that it took 4 weeks to see a slight difference. It's been 2 months since her diagnosis and it's gotten better. We give her antibiotic, vetryicyn, and anti bacterial ointment twice a day religiously. We got ride of the gritty and dowel perches and replaced them with natural wood perches that come in different sizes. I will try to post a picture tomorrow. But her right foot looks alot like this bird( the ankle part). She likes foraging so alot of times she walking on the bottom of the cage with her ankles rested on the ground. Only one side of her foot is larger. It doesnt look like gout at all. The ankle itself looks very muscular.

Click to expand...

Cockatiel mamma,
That bumble foot is difficult to treat, as I said before. So fantastic job that you are seeing improvement! I'm afraid 6 years on those dowels , and with sandpaper perches, is what caused all your problems. They shouldn't sell those dowel perches with the cages, how are people supposed to Know how wrong that is! And those sandpaper perches should be oulawed!!! You can try some of those rope perches for her, and I would put one of those corner shelf perches in too. I'm sorry to say the sandpaper perches caused your bumble foot, and the dowels caused the other problem. So you already have better perches, and you are treating the bumble foot with vet, do you are doing great now. They make those soft chewable perches that are made out of mineral block stuff, with bee pollan , you could get one of those very soft on the feet , and get a really wide one, to help take pressure off the feet. I got mine at pet supermarket, they are soft chalk like and come in fruit flavor, mine like the watermelon one. Or order them online. It will be good to see pictures. And if you are making progress with the bumble foot , then you are doing a great job!!

I think the whole bumblefoot thing took a toll her legs. I noticed that when she's eating one side of the toes are not straight, they're kind of curved. And that's foot that touches the ankle when she's walking. I suspected arthritis but I'm not sure if a 7 year old bird suffer from it. The other foot's ankle is upright and doesn have swelling. She's still a very strong bird. She can eat and sleep with one leg.

. Lately, she's been sleeping on a really thin perch. There's a rope perch inside. And I'm gonna put new food bowls so she can use her ankles more to reach the food. The bumblefoot so bad, I dont think I've seen that bad on a bird before. Poor girl had to go through so much pain.

cockatielmama · Dec 6, 2018

cockatielmama · Dec 6, 2018

cockatielmama · Dec 6, 2018

I'm having some trouble with uploading pictures on this forum so I have added a link.
https://imgur.com/a/wJGjKcV

cockatielmama · Dec 6, 2018

ChristaNL said:
Sunny used to use the ankle-part a lot when she had no tail (and crappy balance!)... now she has almost half a tail (keeping fingers crossed she'll keep it this time) she sits a lot more like a regular bird.
(If she relaxes she will still latch on the bars of the cage for comfort? balance?)

She has perches of different sizes and atm preferes the one that is really, really thin!
(she gnawed it that way herself)
Though she will sleep on the thickest perch (normal birdystyle, with the head tucked in the feathers)

so I totally agree: get your bird as many different sized perches as possible

Did you ever see any swelling in her feet from walking ankles alot?

ChristaNL · Dec 6, 2018

Not that much.
She had issues with her legband digging into her leg/foot and causing issues there, the pad just looked swollen and slightly pinkish. It went down a lot the week after I got the thing removed. The indentation is almost gone now.
She spends a lot more time sitting upright instead of hanging from the ceiling, so I assume it helped her a bit.
(She now hangs from the ceiling/top of the cage to get closer to the action-- but no longer "spacing out" for hours on end during the day...she still does it a bit when I keep her awake after her bedtime ( when watching a flim etc.), like kids sucking their thumb when they get tired.)

Good question- I need to update her journey again

cockatielmama · Dec 6, 2018

ChristaNL said:
Not that much.
She had issues with her legband digging into her leg/foot and causing issues there, the pad just looked swollen and slightly pinkish. It went down a lot the week after I got the thing removed. The indentation is almost gone now.
She spends a lot more time sitting upright instead of hanging from the ceiling, so I assume it helped her a bit.
(She now hangs from the ceiling/top of the cage to get closer to the action-- but no longer "spacing out" for hours on end during the day...she still does it a bit when I keep her awake after her bedtime ( when watching a flim etc.), like kids sucking their thumb when they get tired.)

Good question- I need to update her journey again

Did it look like this? I think her bumblefoot is causing the inflammation
https://imgur.com/a/wJGjKcV

Walking on Ankles

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first post and urgent help needed please

uhg stressful night story.

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