Health & Illness in Birds
Dorene Olson, BA, CPDT, APDT #761, NADOI #1001C
TARA Training and Behavior, LLC
WyndSong Border Collies and Canada Goose Management
Teaching Animals with Respect and Affection
314-956-1310
Birds are prey animals in nature and depend upon their flocks for the safety of numbers. When a singular bird is ill or injured, it can call the attention of predators to the flock, which can endanger the safety of the entire population. As a result, the flock will usually drive the ill or injured bird away from it as only hope for survival. Consequently, birds are masters at masking their illnesses until they can sometimes be in quite an advanced state of disease. It becomes essential, therefore, to learn to recognize and respond to signs of subtle and overt ill health in captive parrots.
It is helpful to have in ones mind a picture of a bird in good health in order to make a comparison to one lacking in overall fitness. A well bird should have an active interest in its environment and present an overall smooth silhouette without flaw or exaggeration. The eyes should be bright, shiny and clear and seem able to respond to stimuli in front of, behind, and to both sides of the bird. The eyelids should open and close without effort and should not have any discoloration, swelling or scaling. Its nares (nostrils) should be clear of any exudate, swelling, abrasions, scales, (which might indicate parasites, especially in budgies, also called Parakeets) as should be the rest of the beak and any skin surrounding the beak on the face. The beak should be smooth and the surface level free of layers, chips, or dents. The beak should meet evenly and the bird should be able to eat, preen, and open and close its mouth without effort.
The feathers of the bird should be smooth, glossy and full, held nicely as a silhouette against the body. Wing and tail feathers may appear ragged if the bird has been caged in too small of housing or received bad trimming, but there should never be any bald patches, raw skin showing, or downy undercoat present on any of the body or appendages. The feathers around the vent should be clean and free of droppings. The feathers near the face should be free of any discharge from eyes, mouth or nose.
The feet of the bird may show signs of stress or trauma, such as missing toes or toenails. A complete set of toes in captive parrots consists of four per foot: two facing forward and two facing backwards. If there are missing digits, carefully inspect to ensure that the wound is old and completely healed; there should not be any raw, open or infected wounds. Otherwise the feet should be able to firmly grip a perch, the nails should be of moderate to short length, and the legs sturdy, straight, and capable of bearing the full weight of the bird. A bird will normally rest with one foot or the other tucked up into its belly feathers. Ensure that each foot is capable of bearing the weight of the entire bird during these resting times. Feet should not appear to have scales, layers, draining sores or discoloration. Inspect the bottoms of feet to make sure that the surface is level and the tissue is sound. Bumblefoot is a condition whereby portions of the feet (most often what would be the heel in a person) can swell, become crusty, or have open lesions.
A sick bird, on the other hand, presents a radically different picture from one in good health after one learns to recognize a problem free creature. Sick birds are often very still on the perch, frequently with head tucked over its shoulder, feathers fluffed around it for warmth, and perhaps standing on one foot. Sometimes the bird is huddled so low on the perch that no feet appear present; at other times it may appear to be laying horizontally on the perch. Observe the tail if the above symptoms should be present: frequently a bird in respiratory distress will appear to bob, dip, or sway its tail as it struggles to breathe. Watch the rise and fall of such a birds chest to determine if breathing is heavy and labored. Conversely, a bird may be appearing to stand very tall with its head stretched out, or even hang from the side of the cage by its beak in an effort for better breathing. Eyes are frequently closed to any activity going on around the bird, and the bird may be subtly or noticeably inactive compared to its cagemates or its own earlier behavior. Eyes and or nose may appear to have discharge, or may be clogged with debris. Frequent sneezing may be observed, as well may be loud or noticeable breathing. Wings may appear to droop at the sides.
Behaviorally, a normal bird may vomit as an offering of affection, but a sick bird can vomit without social interaction and may or may not remain clean from the waste. A soiled or pasty vent, and abnormal dropping are all very common signs of sick birds. A well bird can have a variety of dropping types but most should consist of an outer urate center and an inner fecal content. Abnormal dropping can be malodorous, watery, clear, have diarrhea content, and tend to be consistent in their abnormality. Normal activities (preening, play, social interaction, and talking) will cease in an ill bird, and feeding behaviors usually cease. Some birds can have an odor if feather health has not been routinely addressed through bathing, but any particularly strong or offensive odor is worthy of further investigation.
It is important to create the discipline of a quick mental scan of the health of each bird in your care routinely during the day. Get to know each birds time tables for napping, playing, eating, vocalization and interactions. Become familiar with the patterns and consistency of its dropping (which should be monitored on newspaper rather than any other substance which could interfere with interpretation of its content). Visually scan any incoming birds for glaring signs of illness, then monitor closely over the next few days. A sick bird has a compromised chance at a good prognosis for recovery once signs of illness are readily apparent. A bird with only subtle signs of illness, or of questionable health, is usually in an earlier state of disease and will usually be stronger and better able to respond to treatment.
