{"id":46467,"date":"2026-01-22T22:26:46","date_gmt":"2026-01-23T04:26:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lafeber.com\/pet-birds\/?p=46467"},"modified":"2026-03-10T12:35:35","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T17:35:35","slug":"loving-hands-help-arthritic-cockatiel-fly-again","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lafeber.com\/pet-birds\/loving-hands-help-arthritic-cockatiel-fly-again\/","title":{"rendered":"Loving Hands Help Arthritic Cockatiel Fly Again"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Paco-the-cockatiel-perched-on-hand\"
With a little help from his humans, 30-year-old Paco the cockatiel is flying again despite arthritis.
Image courtesy of Holly Conrad.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n

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\u2019t have to be lost to his medical condition. Each day, Holly\u2019s boyfriend takes Paco on a \u201cflight\u201d by holding him and gently moving him through the air. A video<\/a> shared on Holly\u2019s TikTok shows Paco enjoying the experience as he flaps his wings without the strain of staying airborne.<\/p>\n

Carried, Not Grounded<\/h3>\n
\"Paco-the-cockatiel-perches-on-man\"
Each day, Holly\u2019s boyfriend carries Paco on a gentle \u201cflight,\u201d moving him softly through the air. Image courtesy of Holly Conrad.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Paco perches and spreads his wings as he follows a daily flight path around the home. It\u2019s a touching reminder that Paco and his caretakers are deeply connected parts of each other\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\"cockatiel-paco-perches-on-his-owner\"
Holly\u2019s TikTok video captures the tender moment Paco happily flies with assistance from her boyfriend. Image courtesy of Holly Conrad.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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\u2019s diet includes Senior Bird Nutri-Berries<\/a>, which have ingredients known for their anti-inflammatory and joint-supporting properties, such as milk thistle, ginger, glucosamine, and chondroitin.<\/p>\n

The very best is wished for Paco and for other birds living with this age-related challenge.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Paco\u2019s story shows how gentle care and a little creativity can help aging birds with arthritis continue to enjoy life.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8046,"featured_media":46473,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[171],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-46467","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-everyday","bird-type-cockatiel"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nLoving Hands Help Arthritic Cockatiel Fly Again – Pet Birds by Lafeber Co.<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Paco\u2019s story shows how gentle care and a little creativity can help aging birds with arthritis continue to enjoy life.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, 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