can a bird live with one leg

Coping with one foot

This morning, my tame cockatiel got hurt and lost one foot. I’m taking him home right now after having his foot amputated. He was kept outside in an aviary, but I want to bring him inside in a cage; how can I help him adjust?

I’m sorry to hear about your bird’s injury. The good news is that because cockatiels have light bodies, they can function just fine on one foot. They can easily compensate with their other foot. In fact, I owned a Cockatiel that was attacked by a big bird and lost both legs. What remained of her were stumps that scarcely protruded from her body. But I never clipped her wings, and she learned to climb in a special cage I had for her. She became proficient in perching as well! She lived a contented life into her late 20s before passing away from old age.

Since you mentioned that your guy is a pet, moving indoors into a cage should be acceptable while he heals and you limit his activity. It would be preferable for a wild cockatiel that is accustomed to living in an aviary to go back there. However, your guy will be most comfortable indoors with you if he is a tame pet. Until his leg heals, you can wrap the perches with a product called Vet Wrap to make them softer while maintaining some grip. Depending on how much he uses the injured leg and whether the perch causes sores without using the Vet Wrap, you might need to use this for the rest of his life. It comes in a variety of colors, so choose the most muted one. Black, white, dark green, or brown are good choices. A bright color could frighten him or make him want to pick at it. If you can locate the stiff kind, you could try looking for flat, wooden perches, a platform, or even a rope perch. Avoid purchasing anything with a rough surface added; these are usually made of sand and can lead to foot and digestive problems should the bird consume the grit.

I think he will end up being just fine. Birds are tough creatures, and I have witnessed some horrifying wounds that didn’t even seem to bother the injured bird. It’s more likely that you are traumatized by this than he is. He will probably adjust before the leg heals. However, don’t hesitate to post again if you have any more questions or concerns because we are here to help.

Brenda Have a question?

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can a bird live with one leg

I’m not sure what happened, but on July 1st, one of the fledglings became a free bird and stopped using her leg. All that is visible is a portion of her foot because it is pressed up against her body. She seems to fly perfectly, and she can land and take off with some ease, though not with the same grace as the other two fledglings. By pressing the top of her foot up against the branch, she appears to be using it as a brace when she sits on it. She continues to circle around with the other two, arriving at the mealworm feeder and joining them for a meal. I even witnessed her take off from a tree, hover like she was looking for a bug, and then take off again. It “seems” like she is still hunting, though I’m not sure if that’s because of a bug or because she didn’t want to land on the ground. She finds it difficult to hold onto the glass dish in the feeder when the other two are also in there, but she manages and eats a good amount of worms. I want to know if there is any chance for her to survive or if she will only be able to use one leg, and if giving her mealworms will only make the inevitable happen sooner. I’m hoping that whatever happened will heal and she will be able to use her leg again, but I’m not sure if that will happen. I noticed this on Tuesday morning. The new babies of Mom and Dad Blue, who are on their second nesting, are nine days old today. The other two fledglings are inquisitive about the nestbox containing the newborns; they frequently perch atop its flat Gilwood top and occasionally peep inside. Yesterday, when the three of them were sitting on it and the Spooker’s mylar strands struck them in the head, they showed no concern at all. I’m hoping the woman’s leg heals and she gets better, but I’m not sure if that will happen. It is sad watching her.

Though it has been moving very slowly on the Bluebird Forum, I thought I would post this here to see if anyone could shed any light.

FAQ

Will a bird survive with a broken leg?

Even though they fly, birds need their legs for functions such as hopping on the ground and roosting at night. If a bird’s leg is broken it may not survive. A broken leg will heal, but unless it is professionally set, will not be properly aligned and thus functional.

Can a bird fly if its leg is broken?

It is completely dependent on the size of the bird. A small bird, such as a robin, sparrow, or even a pigeon, could easily take off with 2 broken legs. Somewhat larger birds such as Mallards will have a lot of trouble taking off, whereas very large birds, such as geese and swans, will be completely grounded.

Can you amputate a bird’s leg?

Abstract. Surgical amputation of a limb is often required to treat raptor orthopedic injuries at rehabilitation centers. In some cases, amputation is an alternative to euthanasia if the bird’s welfare is deemed appropriate under human care.

Can injured birds survive?

Birds go into shock very easily when injured, and often die from the shock. If a bird has hit a window and is still alive, it may just need a little time to regain its senses, then may be able to fly away. Do not try to force feed or give water to the bird.