One legged Cockatiel

[birdycrazy]

Hi everyone, Im new here. I have had my 2 tiels (Buttercup and Westly) for about 6 years now. These were my first birds, I must be at least the 2nd or 3rd home for these guys. The previous owner said she put them together in an attempt to breed them, but she never had any success. However within a year after acquiring them, they started to copulate, and they have attempted to nest multiple times. We entertained it the first time, but none of the eggs hatched. after that we discouraged further attempts at nesting.

Westly is a Whitefaced Grey male who has to live with the absence of his right leg. We believe it to be a birth defect. The previous owner said that he was like that when she got him. She said that she also didn't notice that he was missing one of his legs until after she brought him home! Can you believe that someone would buy a bird without recognizing something that significant!? He also has a large bald spot on the back of his head, possibly another birth defect, I dont think they will ever grow back as I have not seen any improvement during his time with me. We also believe he is infertile as his eggs never hatched. He seems to get around the cage just fine, he has horizontal bars on the cage though he can climb the virtical bars as well. He does fall to the bottom of the cage every once in a while when he slips off a perch.

He is quite defensive, dislikes hands quit a bit. He acts quite aggrisive if you reach towards him, but he never bites hard enough to cause any pain unless he gets your fingernail at a bad angle. I clicker train them, and Westly seems the most eager out of all three of the birds. He loves to target train to get a rice crispy, he will even climb a ladder on command for his treat.
Recently, he has lost a couple primaries on one wing which have not grown back for at least a month. He still flies, but tires quite quickly. We have no idea how old he is.
Does anyone have experience with a birth defect like this? Any Ideas on how to make his life more comfortable?

 

[SailBoat]

There are many individuals that have Parrot that have some form of a handicap. Web Search: Handicap Parrots and/or Handicap Birds.

Your correct regarding a 'breeder' not noting that a Parrot is missing a leg. The term Breeder does not apply to anyone that dumb. Just because you have a couple of Parrots and one lets those Parrot be with each other does not qualify that person as a Breeder. I am not going to go into the why's that legs are important to the process of mating, but it is only one of many things that must occur for a success 'event'!

So, what are your plans for this group of Parrots?

 

[texsize]

The bald spot you describe is not uncommon. Most professional breeders see it as a defect and wont breed a bird that has this problem.

The missing foor I have never heard of as a birth defect.

I have seen lots of pigeons in the wild like that but have assumed they had a narrow escape from a cat.

 

[birdycrazy]

Your correct regarding a 'breeder' not noting that a Parrot is missing a leg. The term Breeder does not apply to anyone that dumb. Just because you have a couple of Parrots and one lets those Parrot be with each other does not qualify that person as a Breeder.

She defiantly was not a serious breeder, I think she just intregued with the idea. She only had one other tiel and an amazon at the time of my visit.

So, what are your plans for this group of Parrots?

Not sure what you mean by this. I intend to let them live the rest of their lives with me. I am currently in college, living with my parents, and working full time. In about two years, when I finish my degree, I plan to get my own place. Once I have my own place I would like to get a larger parrot to join the flock.

 

[LordTriggs]

I would assume the leg to be not a defect but possibly that his parents attacked him as a baby. They seem like quite nice birds, appear to be quite a happy bunch.

Try getting something soft for the floor of the cage so when he falls it doesn't hurt him unless you already have that

 

[Flboy]

Welcome to you all! I used to call Connecticut home until about 22 years ago, Naugatuck.

 

[birdycrazy]

I would assume the leg to be not a defect but possibly that his parents attacked him as a baby.

I have considered that, but there doesn't seem to be any stub where the other leg would have been.

Try getting something soft for the floor of the cage so when he falls it doesn't hurt him unless you already have that

What would you suggest? They currently have bars over the tray which I line with paper. Should I remove the bars and put some sort of litter in the tray? They like to spend a lot of time at the bottom of the cage. They also tend to drop a lot of food.

 

[LordTriggs]

I would assume the leg to be not a defect but possibly that his parents attacked him as a baby.

I have considered that, but there doesn't seem to be any stub where the other leg would have been.

Try getting something soft for the floor of the cage so when he falls it doesn't hurt him unless you already have that

What would you suggest? They currently have bars over the tray which I line with paper. Should I remove the bars and put some sort of litter in the tray? They like to spend a lot of time at the bottom of the cage. They also tend to drop a lot of food.

It could possibly have been bitten off quite far up his leg when he was young then the body grew 'around' it? Of course defect is still possible, just very rare. either way he seems to be pretty okay with it.

I'm not entirely sure, maybe a thick piece of soft material on the bars with the paper over that? I'm sure there are others here, also try searching for disabled bird cage set-ups.