Image courtesy of Holly Conrad.
Growing older brings wisdom, but it also brings changes in our bodies that remind us we are aging. Just as our thinking evolves, our bodies change, too. One of the unfortunate effects that can beleaguer a person is arthritis. Most of us are familiar with arthritis, even if we haven’t experienced its discomfort firsthand. However, we must also acknowledge that what typically affects humans can also afflict our fellow animals, and arthritis is one of them.
Paco, a 30-year-old cockatiel, has arthritis in his legs and wings, which makes flying much more difficult and often painful. An activity he once took for granted now requires extra care. With help from his caretaker, Holly Conrad, Paco is discovering that the joy of flying doesn’t have to be lost to his medical condition. Each day, Holly’s boyfriend takes Paco on a “flight” by holding him and gently moving him through the air. A video shared on Holly’s TikTok shows Paco enjoying the experience as he flaps his wings without the strain of staying airborne.
Carried, Not Grounded
Paco perches and spreads his wings as he follows a daily flight path around the home. It’s a touching reminder that Paco and his caretakers are deeply connected parts of each other’s lives. He has also struggled with primary feathers that grew in improperly, causing discomfort and leading him to pull them out. Even so, with the steady care, patience, and affection of those around him, Paco is well supported as he continues to age gracefully.
Arthritis can be life-changing for birds. When it affects the legs, birds may limp or move more slowly to ease discomfort. If the wings are involved, you may notice difficulty perching or your bird falling off perches. Behavior can also change, including feather plucking in response to painful feather growth. Arthritic birds might also curl their toes, favor one foot over the other, or show swelling in the affected areas.
Regular health checkups are important for spotting these issues before they become painful. Simple adjustments can also help, such as providing softer, lower perches to reduce the risk of high falls. Gentle heat, much like in people, may help ease discomfort as well. Veterinarians can prescribe medications and therapies to help manage pain, and offering anti-inflammatory foods can also help alleviate pain. Paco’s diet includes Senior Bird Nutri-Berries, which have ingredients known for their anti-inflammatory and joint-supporting properties, such as milk thistle, ginger, glucosamine, and chondroitin.
The very best is wished for Paco and for other birds living with this age-related challenge.
Thank you for your story. I have a 33-year-old cockatiel. He has pretty bad arthritis in his feet but padding his purchase and giving him anti-inflammatories has really helped. Give him a better quality of life. He does flap his wings, but doesn’t fly around much. I will try doing what you’re doing to see if he would enjoy doing this. Thank you so much.
Paco is one lucky bird with owners like Holly and her boyfriend. Deep respect for such loving and caring people. The world would look a lot better if more people were animal lovers like they are. All the best for you Paco and your fantastic owners! Keep flying!
I have a 28 year old cockatiel who is on anti- inflammatory meds and a varied diet of natural pallets, El Paso Nutra Berries, dried green veggies, a pinch of high-quality bird seed, Senior Bird Nutri Berries, of which he hates the pellets so I crush them. I also have started adding egg food to his diet. I make sure I gently missed him with warm spring water 2 to 3 times a week and take him out for psychological enrichment daily.. I can recommend to get flat, Manzanita perches so his feet splay instead of curling around a perch. I also have two ropes for him to maneuver. He has age related cataracts, so his vision is not the greatest. My bird is precious to us. I got him at the local shelter so long ago. He came to us with a traumatized eye that doesn’t see. He gets regular vet care as it is so important thank you so much for sharing this article. It was fantastic. I’m gonna try carrying him around on my finger and gently letting him flap his wings. Thanks again, Susan and Tom
Paco is a very lucky guy to have such loving humans!
Great information!
That is so sweet!!
Smokey, my senior cockatiel, also had arthritic feet and wings. I put a window seat inside his cage for sleeping. it was similar to the bars on the cage and made it easier to stand and poop at night. He also has several different sized perches so his feet had some variety. He was my first bird and lived to be 30 years old.