TheTameParrot.com - Say “BYE” To Your Parrot Problems

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One of the sad facts about bird owners is that they rarely give their birds a careful health examination. This is mainly due to the lack of education on what to look for. What are the signs of a sick bird? How do they act? What should you do if they are showing signs of being sick?

Birds have a built an instinct of hiding signs that they are sick. This goes back to when they lived in the wild. A sick bird became the immediate target of predators. Even in an aviary condition it’s dangerous to show weakness. Many times we have had a sick or injured bird become attacked by the other birds in the cage. So their instinct tells them to hide those signs.

Even with all of our experience, it can be difficult. My wife, fortunately, has an instinct of being able to tell when a bird is sick. Many times while feeding and doing our daily maintenance, my wife will suddenly stop and begin examining a bird. To me it looks fine, but she sensed something. And most of the time she was right.

But for the rest of us, we need to learn what to look for, and identify the signs they are sick.

EARLY PREVENTION FIRST

Birds also have another ability…to get sick on weekends, holidays, or when the vet is on vacation. I haven’t figured this out yet either. So you need to be ready in the event this happens. Remember that once a bird begins to show obvious signs of illness, it may be too late to do anything to save him. Early identification of problems is very important.

Have your normal avian vet give you a list of competent vets in your area that know how to treat birds. Note that many vets do not have a clue about avian medicine, and the last thing you want to do is begin searching when an emergency hits. Get the names of after hour vets and clinics. Your vet may even be able to supply you with an experienced bird breeder who you can contact. My wife is available to do emergency “triage” to stabilize a bird until we can get to a vet. This has saved many birds lives.

>> There is a very good article on how to put together an avian first aid kit at The Tame Parrot Blog – First Aid Kit. This article covers all the important items you need, and why you should have them available in case of an emergency. Read this article, put together your own emergency kit, and keep it handy!

Also, begin to practice a good cleaning ritual. If the bird is forced to live in a dirty cage, you are just asking for problems. You need to clean and disinfect the cage every week, examine the cage for any dangers, and fix them immediately.

WATCH FOR BEHAVIOR CHANGES

Hopefully, you have been watching your bird for a while. By now you know it’s routine, how it acts, what it does during the day, and all of its habits. By monitoring these habits for any changes, you can detect the early warning signs of a bird.

Has it changed its eating habits? Does it seem to spend more time on the bottom of the cage and not on the perch? Have you noticed he doesn’t make much noise in the morning, when before he would wake the dead with his loud screams?

When you stand next to his cage, he may look active and not show any problem signs. Walk away from his cage and observe him for a few minutes. If possible, peak around the corner so he doesn’t know you are watching. Now that he knows you are not watching, he may begin to show signs of a problem.

BIRD PHYSICALS

It’s also important to do some up close inspections. Here is what to look for

Blood Feathers – These are feathers where the blood has not retracted back into the skin after development. They become irritating and the bird will begin to chew on them. If they rupture, your bird will bleed to death. Learn how to identify and remove them.

Fluffed Feathers – Most common indicator of a sick bird. They do this to stay warm. If you see this frequently, or for long periods of time, start looking for the cause. It could be something as simple as a draft, or something more serious. Look further….

Vent – This area should be clean and try. Dirty vents are signs of diarrhea. This could be caused by over consumption of certain foods, stress, parasites or internal organ problems. Immediate attention is needed to prevent dehydration.

Droppings – Keep clean newspaper on the floor of the cage and you can easily examine the birds stools on a daily basis. You should see the urates opaque fluid) with a dry white dropping in the middle. If it looks green, yellow, or any other color, you could have a problem. If it is runny you have a diarrhea problem. Also pay attention for undigested seed or food, foamy stools, or changes in the volume of the droppings.

Bird is quiet and not singing – Sick birds do not want to attract attention to themselves. They will remain quiet.

Eyes – Are they open and alert, or are they half-closed, and watery/glassy? That is another sign of a sick bird.

Nostrils – Draining, runny nose, or clogged, can be signs bad signs.

Respiratory Problems – Is the bird showing signs of heavy breathing? Coughing, sneezing, and excessive nasal discharge are all potential problems.

Change in eating habits – especially if they reject their favorite treats.

Lethargy – They are not active at all, and may sleep a lot more then normal.

There is also an excellent website where you can go and look up a number of symptoms, and get a diagnosis of what could be wrong with your bird. This is no replacement for a trained avian vet, but in an emergency it could save your birds life. Check out The Bird Channel for more information.

WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU NOTICE SOMETHING

If you have other birds, you MUST put your bird into quarantine. Better yet, place it into a brooder, or any type of container that can be monitored and heated. Sick birds need to be kept in a warm, dark area.

>>There is an article that will show you how to build a simple brooder using easy-to-find parts. For a small investment you can save the life of your bird in case of a medical emergency. Check out The Tame Parrot Blog – Brooder for instructions.

Seek immediate attention from your vet. Remember that once a bird begins to show signs of sickness, it may be too late…but immediate emergency attention can save it.

If you can not get your bird to a vet immediately, supply the bird with pedialyte (this should always be in your emergency first aid kit) to prevent dehydration. Birds with severe diarrhea can be given a drop of Pepto-Bismo. Your kit should also contain some soft baby food or powered rice cereal (make sure it does not contain zinc), and powered hand feeding formula, so you can feed your bird by hand if necessary.