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Hi everyone, I'm new to this board and yesterday I took in a crippled cockatiel. It's right leg, from the "knee" part down has been twisted around and points backwards. It seems as though he can clutch with the foot on that leg and can use it to cling to the bars, but it's VERY far away from normal position and so he can't use it to perch, in fact, I put a thick low perch in the cage he came with just in case the previous owners didn't TRY, he chewed on it from the floor a bit and hasn't even given it a second glance since, so apparently he doesnt' know a perch is for sitting. I came here mostly for help in keeping him happy, all that came with him was a large cage, and two dishes for food and water, that's it, no toys, no instructions, no perches or anything, I'm lost here..... HE seems so bored sitting there on the bottom. I would love to get some insight from people with experience with cockatiels with disabilities. I am NOT new to cockatiels. Since I was 2 years old, We've had a cockatiel named Elvis, which means he's heading towards his 19th birthday. He's great and still active and loving and healthy, so I'm not a beginner with cockatiels, but a beginner to any bird with disabilities. Thank you in advance for any advice, tips and tricks you can give me for enhancing his quality of life.

Add: I named him (don't know actual gender) Zephyr and he's a white faced gray.

My cockatiel Yadira has an injured foot too. She was injured on a toy shortly after I got her and lost all movement in her left foot. She was only about four months old at the time. In the beginning the only perches she could use very easily were rope perches. It's been over a year since her injury and she has learned to compensate so that she can perch on anything she wants to perch on. However, wide perches with at least an inch diameter are easier for her to perch on. She also prefers textured perches with variable widths over dowels and smooth branches. When stepping up, she prefers that I give her my flat hand rather than just a finger. She uses her beak to help her climb from one perch to another or onto my hand. Yadira has compensated for her handicap so well that most visitors never even notice it.

I would give Zephyr a variety of things to climb and perch on and then encourage him to try them by clipping treats (fresh veggies or fruit perhaps) in places where he has to climb a bit to get them. If he hasn't ever been given a perch in his cage, he might need someone to help him make a game out of learning. Toys will also encourage him to move around. You can watch what types of perches are easiest for him to use and provide more of them. The one perch you added sounds good. Since you've only had him a few days, maybe introduce the new things gradually so you don't scare him.

It tooks months for Yadira to reach the point she is at. I'm sure with love and patience Zephyr will learn to get around with his foot as well.

-Maija