I think my cockatiel is blind?

[AlexHenretty]

So I've recently taken in a 30-year-old cockatiel, his name is Sammy. I've had him for roughly a week, but I've already noticed some things... First I should note, he isn't a social bird, he wasn't socialized with when I got him. The only reason his owner couldn't keep him anymore is that she was being sent into a nursing home. Anyways. The first thing I noticed is when He first came home and I was putting him in his cage, he didn't seem to know where the perch was. I shrugged it off as him being stressed and maybe wanting to stay close to the ground. A few days go by and I see that he likes to hang his head upside down. As if someone were looking up at the sky, except his beak is facing up. Since I let him settle in, I want him to at least have some outside time. I managed to get him to step up and put him on a perch so he could be outside of the cage (without having the stress of me always holding him). I decided to give him some millet. He wouldn't even acknowledge it unless it touched him. So I experimented a little. I pulled it away for a moment, and he kept biting at the air as if it was reaching for it. I moved the millet in front of both of his eyes to see if he would at least acknowledge it's there and he didn't seem to know the difference. I did notice that there was a white spot in his pupil on one of his eyes (which I know in animals is a sign of being blind). So at this point, I'm only making an educated guess. If he is blind, is there any advice or things I should be doing differently for him? I was looking into a new cage for him as the one I was given is very small that I personally would only use for a single budgie. But if he is blind, I don't want to confuse him and make his life harder by giving him a bigger and newer cage.

 

[noodles123]

a vet could tell---you need to verify before adjusting anything major.
Even if he is blind, it is odd that he didn't hear or feel the air from the millet near his face. Has he been finding food and water okay??--birds don't have a very good sense of smell.
You sure this is a COCKATIEL......30 is ancient...32 is the oldest on record...granted there are those off-record stating that they had 37+ year old birds.

If he really is that old, he may just be acting old! lol

 

[AlexHenretty]

I am POSITIVE he is a cockatiel. A typical grey to be exact. I was told he was 30. The owner said she's had him since 1990 or so. Fortunately, he does know where his food and water is, I think he's had the cage for a while (i didn't ask). I assume he's had the cage long enough to know the surroundings. I am planning to take him to a vet soon, just to make sure there's no underlying issues as well (and just to make sure he is overall healthy. What I was told is really all I have to rely on. I assumed they weren't lying as he doesn't seem to have a very good balance either (which I know can be an issue with other animals). Like I said in the OG post, I didn't even consider him being blind until I noticed he was biting at nothing, thinking the millet was still there.

 

[Laurasea]

What a blessing that you could step and offer a home for the senior guy!!! It must be so hard on the owner going to an old folks home, and on your new buddy loosing his long time family. Thank you so much for giving him a home!!!
Sorry no advice on a blind bird....

 

[itzjbean]

I follow someone on Instagram who cared for two blind cockatiels and they were adorable.

It can be done! A vet visit would be ideal to make sure he's healthy as he can be before you jump in making changes.

 

[smbrds]

So good that he ''landed'' in your care. A respectable life for the tiel and lady's time spent together as must be hard to go into a home. At this point providing the best life and care which you are doing is the most important. Getting him to see a vet is a great first step and can determine via examing the blindness (diagnoses).

Since eyesight is lacking, sound and being sociable is extremely important. Associate a specific sound for each food that he eats or associate a sound when he eats so that he knows. I agree about the concerns of a bigger cage since his food and water is closer. As he's only been with you a week, he'll need to adapt.

 

[Noahs_Birds]

I saw a 28 year old cockateil at the vet as I was doing work experience and was the most little darling thing I had ever seen
Try and keep the surroundings in the cage as the same as it used to be because then he will remember where everything is still
Thanks
Noah Till