Why is my cockatiel off balance when sleeping after a leg injury?

Question

When I got my cockatiel from the pet store, her left leg was broken and healed by itself. And when she sleeps, she gets off balance a tiny bit. Is this because of the leg, or something else? (she can walk and move around just fine, by the way). Pet's info: Bird | Cockatiel | Female

Miranda Sadar, DVM, DACZM · Accepted Answer

You are correct - this may be due to her injury, especially if when her leg healed that it is a little bit shorter than the other. You can try to give her something to lean on while she sleeps, such as providing her with a conure tent (they look like a hanging triangle). This may allow her to feel more supported while she sleeps. You can also provide her with a platform to sleep on, so she doesn't have to grip a round surface while she is resting. If you provide either of these, please ensure they are high up in the cage, around the levels of the other perches, or she may not use them (birds like to be high up in their cages when they sleep as it makes them feel safe). I would also recommend keeping a close eye on the bottoms of her feet - due to her previous injury, she is predisposed to pododermatitis (inflammation of her feet). I hope that gives you a place to start!

Why is my cockatiel off balance when sleeping after a leg injury?

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