My cockatiels feet worry me! please help!?

Question

me and my partner just got a pet cockatiel he's about 4 months old and I've noticed his feet are really scaley and dry, is this normal?
also he has a small red mark on the bottom of one of his feet which looks like a sore, is this something thats normal and will just heal? Also last thing, do you need to cut their nails? cos i dunno if his are getting longer or i'm just thinking that.
Thanks, any help much appreciated!!

Answer 1

Some birds have problems with what is called scaling and they sell a product at the pet stores to help with it. I can not remember what it is called but if you explain what is going on someone with show it to you!! If really works. I use to breed cockiteils they are great little birds!!! Also most bird store with have someone that can cut nails or your vet will do if for about 5.00

Answer 2

Their feet do appear scaly - that is quite normal - if they look extremely rough - it may be worth getting it looked at by an avarian vet - although they are hard to find - but I think there is nothing to worry about -

With regard to the apparent sore - in the first instance just wipe it over with cotton wool soaked in warm water - just to see if it clears up - they do sometimes have blotchy feet - but worth keeping an eye on it.

The 'nails' may need clipping every now and again - try using wooden perches of varying thickness - (branches from fruit trees are perfect - just make sure they are cleaned first) - this will help keep the nails shorter - you can aslo use sanded tubes that fit over the perches - again this keeps the claws shorter.

The claws can be cut but you have to have a steady hand - and you must be careful not to cut the vein in the claw - or it will bleed quite a lot - if you can see the claw against a light source - you will see the vein inside the claw.

Keep an eye on the beak as well - sometimes you have to clip the end - it does sometimes grow to long and they have trouble breaking the seeds open.

A good book to buy is 'The Cockatiel Handbook' available from most good pet shops - it gives good guidance on all aspects of Cockatiel health

Plenty of fresh veg as well is good for them - Cabbage, Spinach, Celery and Carrot - try not to use to much pre packed seed - it doesn't contain enough nutrients - supplement the food with the vegetable or a seed base that has Vitamins A - D & E

Answer 3

To me all birds look like they have dry scaley feet and legs
but a balanced diet of pelleted food and fresh veggies , grains and nuts ( almonds are the best for their oils)..this will help your new housemate to have nicer feathers and better looking feet.
Your little friend is the perfect age to start him on new foods..
a variety of new foods.
Nails do need to be trimmed from time to time but have a vet
show you the proper way..if clipped to short they will
bleed..like a dog if you clip the nails too short.

The red spot on the bottom of his foot may have been from one of his clutch mates..they will pick at each others feet.
Just keep an eye on it.
If you want to put some oil on his leggs try a PURE almond only ( no other additives)..it's a little pricey but it works. And it's safe.
Get him use to having his feet and nails touched and massaged..it will make the trimming much easier.
My lovebird does his own by biting the tips of his nails if he thinks they are too long and he will also pick at his legs to keep them looking nice.

Answer 4

Your cockatiels feet sound pretty normal. Sometimes birds will develop sore spots on their feet when they have only straight, round sticks in their cages as the position of the feet is not changed much.

Check on the internet for which types of wood are safe for your bird and then go and cut him a few knobbly, gnarly branches. Put them in his cage and change the position of them regularly so that his feet and ankles are contantly changing position. This is what they would do in the wild. This should help to stop the red patches.

You can also buy various skin conditioners - there are loads on the market! Simply spray on or add to food in some cases.

Also - get the vet to cut the nails of your bird. They do not charge a lot. If you do it incorrectly, they can lose so much blood that they can die. Also - if YOU do it, your bird will remember and could relate you to pain, causing problems with handling. Let the big ol' nasty vet do it!

Answer 5

Ive had a cockatiel now for 16 years,you ask about his feet (that seems ok).. red mark (unsure)...Nail/claws need cutting on occasions at the vets ..approx £10 suggest his perches in the cage are of different diameters,to help his claws. i could recommend proper cockatiel websites for you to find out more from the experts,but to many sites to see,i suggest Google cockatiels.

Answer 6

birds feet are usually dry looking, make sure that you leave a bowl of water in the cage just in case he wants to take a bird bath. As for the "red" mark ,go to a Pet Smart in your area and ask all the questions that you need to know. Yes, any bird needs to get they"re nails clipped ,just like they"re feathers (so they don"t fly away. Then again go to your pet store ,they know what to do and when to do it.

Answer 7

you do nneed to keep an eye on the bird. the legs shouldn't look dry and scaly, they should not have red marks on tehre legs. It prob. is a sore and should be kept clean and you coud put tripple antibiotic on it. yes birds nails do grow. they should be cut DONOT use the sandpaper perch covers the sand paper can do a lot of damage.
You should seek for a good vet who specializes in bird.

Answer 8

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Answer 9

When I see scaly things on my budgies I put vaselin on thier feet or face them everyday The mites bite at the skin and thats why the skin bleed

Answer 10

birds feet are scaly and dry thats natural. You need to keep their nails short and you can buy sandpaper to put on his perch to keep them down, i would get a vet to do it at first and get him/her to show you how to do it properley = good luck