Bumblefoot is not contagious, but the underlying cause may be. Sharing an uncomfortable perch won't transmit pododermatitis among cockatiels, but it can cause problems for other birds. If a cockatiel has bumblefoot due to a bacterial infection, it becomes more likely to be contagious. Staphylococcus, in particular, is highly infectious and can quickly spread to other birds in the same cage. To prevent this, it's recommended to separate and isolate the cockatiel until it has fully recovered.