How do I decide that my bird needs veterinary attention

[myfeatheredbabies]

New Zealand Veterinary Association Inc.

There are several obvious external signs of illness that can give you very good clues that all is not well with your bird.

Feathers should be lying close to the bird's body in an orderly fashion. If your bird is chewing or plucking at its feathers, or if they are dirty, or if feathers are missing, then you should seek help. Lots of feathers lying on the floor of the cage, broken or curled feathers, or bleeding feathers are not normal.

Your bird's skin should not be itchy or broken. Birds can develop skin tumours just as we can. If your bird develops a lump of any sort you should have it checked out by your veterinarian.

Beaks should be clean. If crating or scaliness occurs then the presence of a tiny parasite called a mite is likely and treatment will be necessary. These mites can invade the bird's feet as well and cause the same crustiness.

If your bird is sitting on the bottom of the cage with its wings drooping and its feathers fluffed out then it is likely that it is cold, stressed or unwell and you should contact your veterinarian. Birds stress very easily and a sudden change in temperature can be enough to upset them.

Rocking on the perch, head tilting and tail bobbing are not normal behaviours. Gagging, wheezing and gasping are indications of respiratory distress.

Any discharge or excretion is abnormal. Birds can suffer from vomiting and diarrhoea just as other pets can. If you do have a sick bird, it really helps if you bring the bird in its normal cage so that we can observe the birds environment and its faeces or droppings. Normal bird faeces are composed of two parts: a green moist part from the digestive tract and a white solid part from the urinary tract.

Any sign of weight loss, not eating, and reduced singing or talking should be treated with suspicion and help sought.

If you are breeding birds and such problems as poor hatches, nestling deaths or other reproductive complaints occur, then your veterinarian may refer you to a colleague with additional expertise in that area.

[Badjelly]

Great post!

[BkMaurer]

Very indepth!

[wesleydnunder]

Thank you, Carly. That one deserves to be a sticky.

Mark

[Anthony]

Myself well I dont think I could have put your post any better.

well said and well done

10 out of 10 with the information.

[winoomgmg]

Quote
"If your bird is sitting on the bottom of the cage with its wings drooping and its feathers fluffed out then it is likely that it is cold, stressed or unwell and you should contact your veterinarian. Birds stress very easily and a sudden change in temperature can be enough to upset them. "

The above statement is 100% true.
My birds beheaved like that two days ago.
So I moved the cage to a warm place.Previously I put him in a windy place.After giving it some medicine and leave it in warm place for two days, I can hear again the sweet music from my birds.

Thank a lot for this post.