If you can get to an emergency vet that sees birds, that would be the best course of action. If not, I would recommend looking to see if there are any other vets around that have availability within the next 48 hours. It sounds to me like your cockatiel is very sick and in need of care as soon as possible.
I am by no means an expert or experienced bird owner, but I have tried to do research regarding what to do in an emergency if a vet is not available. So if you absolutely cannot get to a vet within the next few hours, here is some advice on what you can do in the meantime based on what I have read and been told:
If you have a parrot brooder or hospice tank setup, whether it’s a commercial or DIY unit, that would probably be the best place for him. You can look up DIY parrot brooders and hospice tanks online to see if you have the materials. This will keep him safer and warmer.
If not, then do the following:
- If he is in a cage with any other birds, ideally he should be seperated into a different cage (if you have one). This will prevent others from picking on him, and possibly reduce the risk of spreading illness if he has something contagious.
- Line the bottom of his cage with a soft material like sheets, towels, or blankets. This will help in case he falls, as sick and injured birds are more likely to lose balance. You can also put a layer of paper on top to make cleanup easier.
- Move his perches closer to the bottom of the cage to reduce the height of any possible falls.
- Keep him warm — cover his cage, turn off any cooling or fans, turn up the heat, etc.
Additionally, whether you have him in a cage or in a brooder:
- Give him access to fresh food and water at all times. Favorite foods like millet or seed mix is good to have, as well as high-potency / breeder / recovery foods.
- If he at any point stops eating, break up some of his pellets (if that's what he eats) and mix it with warm water to make a formula-like food. Try to hand feed him with a small spoon. Alternatively, you can buy baby bird or recovery formula (or plain oatmeal if you absolutely can’t get anything else in him).
- If he is drinking less, you may also want to provide him with electrolytes to help keep him hydrated — either by mixing some avian electrolyte into his water, or giving him unflavored regular Pedialyte. Make sure to follow dosage and usage instructions, and ideally provide him with an additional source of fresh unsupplemented water.
Best of luck to you and your tiel
