How to Treat Injured Cockatiels

PDF download Download Article
PDF download Download Article

Though you may take great care of your pet cockatiel, it still might get wounded. You should always take wounded birds to the vet, but you may need to perform first aid on the bird before you get it to the vet. The most important thing to do is to stay calm so your bird doesn’t get stressed out and go into shock, and then locate the injury and treat it.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Treating a Broken Blood Feather

PDF download Download Article
  1. Anytime a bird has a broken blood feather, it can be life threatening. The bird can bleed out very quickly, so it is important to act fast in order to help it survive.
  2. To help restrain and calm the bird, you should wrap them in a towel. Cover the entire bird in the towel, except the part you are working on. Make sure the towel isn’t too tight around the bird, and keep a loose grip on it. Toweling the bird helps them safe and secure.
    • Make sure you gently fold the wing you’re not working on against their body.
    • If you don’t have a towel of the right size, you can use a sock or t-shirt.
    Advertisement
  3. Stay calm and talk to your bird in a calm, even voice as you help it. Birds can pick up on your stress, so it will not help the situation if you from become upset. Even though they can’t understand you, tell them calmly what you’re going to do to help them. [1]
  4. Once your bird is toweled, get someone else to hold the bird for you. Having another person hold the bird allows you to be able to concentrate on removing the delicate blood feather and gives you the use of both of your hands. [2]
  5. Removing feathers is very delicate work. You can accidentally break the bird’s bones or cause them more harm. Have someone hold your bird while you use a pair of pliers or hemostats to grip the feather. Get as close to the skin as possible and grab the feather shaft above the break. Secure the wing against the surface of your work area, and pull with a quick, firm yank.
    • The end of the feather should have a rounded bulbous end if you removed the entire feather shaft.
    • Coating the feathers with water before you remove it can help you move the feathers and find the broken one. Use a cotton swab to coat the feathers in water.
    • If you don’t think you can remove the feather from the follicle, stop the bleeding until you get your bird to the vet.
  6. If the follicle starts bleeding after you remove the feather shaft, apply pressure on it. Then, place cornstarch on the area and apply pressure again. Applying cornstarch and pressure should help stop the bleeding.
    • You can also use styptic powder or a styptic stick to stop any bleeding.
    7. Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Treating Bleeding Wounds

PDF download Download Article
  1. No matter what the injury is, you want to get the cockatiel to the vet as soon as possible. However, you need to stabilize the bird first to make sure it doesn’t go into shock or bleed out. While you treat your bird, stay calm. Your bird can sense if you are panicking or upset, which can add more stress to them. [3]
    • Don’t allow other family members or pets around the bird. Keeping others away helps keep the bird calm.
  2. If your bird has gotten injured or you spotted blood, examine the bird’s entire body. Be careful as you look for the wound or the source of the bleeding. [4]
  3. For wounds on the skin, use a solution made of Betadine and sterile water. Gently wipe around the bleeding wound using a cotton ball, gauze, or cotton swab covered with the solution. [5]
    • If it is a surface scratch that isn’t bleeding, just put some antibiotic ointment on it and let it heal.
  4. If your bird is bleeding, press gauze or a paper towel against the wound. The pressure should help stop the bleeding. You apply pressure for skin, nail, or beak bleeding.
  5. If pressure doesn’t stop the bleeding, you can use a substance to help stop it. Try cornstarch or flour on a moist cotton swab to help stop the bleeding.
    • You can also use styptic powder or a styptic stick.
    • If you use any of these substances to stop bleeding on the bird’s face, make sure you don’t get it in their eyes, nose, or mouth.
  6. If the bleeding does not stop, then you must take your bird to the vet. Once you've put the powder on, check to make sure the bleeding stopped and put the bird's cage in a quiet, calm spot so that it can relax and heal. Again, speak to it calmly and quietly with affection and care.
    7. Advertisement
Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Seeking Veterinary Attention

PDF download Download Article
  1. If your bird gets injured, even if it is a minor injury, you should take them to the vet. Taking them to the vet is important so that you can have the vet check over your bird, make sure there are no other wounds, and administer any additional needed care. [6]
    • Most towns have vets that can see and treat birds.
  2. If you’re taking your bird to the vet for a broken wing bone, you need to secure the wings. The bird may try to flap the wings or fly, which could cause further damage. Wrap gauze loosely around the bird to secure the wings. Tape the gauze so it doesn’t come loose. [7]
    • Don’t wrap the gauze too tightly around the bird. Wrapping them too tightly will restrict the bird’s breathing.
  3. Leg or skull breaks should not be treated at home. Don’t try to wrap or treat them. Take the bird to the vet immediately if they experience this kind of break. [8]
  4. Most birds hide their weaknesses and won’t let you know they are sick. Keep a close eye on your bird to make sure it's okay and doing well. You know your bird, so if something is off, take them to the vet. Taking them to the vet is especially important if your bird has suffered a recent injury. [9]
    • You can weigh the bird monthly to make sure they are not losing weight. Weight loss without being on a diet is one of the first signs of problems.
    5. Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    My tablet fell on my cockatiel's face. There's no bleeding, and the bird eats properly and is active. Could there be a fracture or internal injury?
    Melissa Nelson, DVM, PhD
    Veterinarian
    Dr. Nelson is a Veterinarian who specializes in Companion and Large Animal Medicine in Minnesota, where she has over 18 years of experience as a veterinarian in a rural clinic. She received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Minnesota in 1998.
    Melissa Nelson, DVM, PhD
    Veterinarian
    Expert Answer
    It is possible. Please bring your bird to a veterinarian for an examination in this case.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 0 Helpful 5
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Tips

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Tell if a Cockatiel Is Male or Female
      How to
      Understand Cockatiel Gestures
      How to
      Breed Cockatiels
      How to
      Tame a Cockatiel
      How to
      Spot Signs of Illness in a Cockatiel
      How to
      Keep Your Cockatiel Happy
      How to
      Train a Cockatiel to Talk
      How to
      Treat Diarrhea in Cockatiels
      How to
      Treat Conjunctivitis in Cockatiels
      How to
      Take Care of a Cockatiel
      How to
      Get Your Cockatiel to Stop Laying Eggs
      How to
      Have Fun With Your New Cockatiel
      How to
      Clip a Cockatiel's Flier Feathers
      How to
      Massage a Cockatiel
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ http://www.cockatielcottage.net/medical.html
      2. ↑ http://www.cockatielcottage.net/feathers.html
      3. ↑ http://www.cockatielcottage.net/medical.html
      4. ↑ http://www.cockatielcottage.net/medical.html
      5. ↑ http://www.cockatielcottage.net/medical.html
      6. ↑ http://www.cockatielcottage.net/medical.html
      7. ↑ http://www.cockatielcottage.net/medical.html
      8. ↑ http://www.cockatielcottage.net/medical.html
      9. ↑ http://www.cockatielcottage.net/medical.html

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      If your cockatiel is bleeding, take it to the vet as soon as possible before the injury gets worse. In the meantime, you'll need to stabilize it by calmy searching for the source of injury. For example, if your bird is bleeding, you'll want to wash the wound with Betadine and sterile water. Next, apply pressure to the wound with a gauze or put some cornstarch or flour on the affected area to stop the bleeding. Alternatively, if your bird has a broken wing, loosely wrap gauze around it to keep it from further injury. To learn how to treat a broken blood feather in your cockatiel, keep reading!

      Did this summary help you?
      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 71,244 times.

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement