| COLDS |
| SINUS & RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS |
| DIARRHEA |
| Sometimes our birds may have a simple cold, a little diarrhea or some sinus/repsiratory problem that we cannot contribute to another disease. Read this page to find out more about the potential reasons and treatments for these problems. |
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| Colds, Diarrhea, Sinus & Respiratory Disease |
| Like humans, sometimes our birds "just get a cold". They may have been stressed lately, lowering their immune system, or they may have been subjected to a draft that allowed them to become chilled. Cold symptoms may include runny nose, sneezing, and fluffing...it may be obvious your bird just doesn't feel good. Sound familiar? Think about the last time you had a cold! You didn't feel very good either! The best treatment for a cold is to place the bird in the hospital cage with some heat until it appears to feel better. Electrolytes may be administered for a few days. After the electrolytes, a little citric acid in it's drinking and/or bathing water (at a rate of 1/4 tsp to 1 litre of water) should help to keep any bacteria from taking hold in it's system while it is "down". If your bird does not respond to the above treatment, consult your Avian Vet for a more thorough examination. |
| Again, like us humans, sometimes our birds get a little tummy trouble going on. If they ate a new food or were recently stressed, their poo may be off and a bit watery. BUT, wet messy poo isn't usually considered diarrhea unless it continues for several days and gets worse. A few days of wet poo isn't anything to worry about unless it continues. If you know your bird has been stressed, you've changed their food recently, or added something new, like fresh greens, chances are the wet poo will go away. A couple days in the hospital cage with heat and electrolytes should cure the problem. However, if it continues, the bird may have contracted a bacterial issue, or even internal parasites of one kind or another. If the wet poo persists, consult your Avian Veterinarian! |
| Sometimes our birds will have a nasal blockage resulting in noisy breathing and/or tail bobbing. If they've had a cold or a recent case of scaly face mites, there may be discharge or exudate (waxy substance the bird produces to protect it's beak from the mites) blocking the nares and causing sneezing, pronounced wiping of beak on perches, scratching at their heads and rough breathing. Applying oil or Vaseline to the clogged areas should soften it an allow the bird to dislodge the blockage itself. If this does not work, you may need to attempt to remove the blockages (or have your Avian Vet do it) with a toothpick or needle. This should be done with extreme caution, however. On occasion, a bird with nasal discharge or phlegmy material in it's mouth and throat may be suffering from a Vitamin A deficiency. Proper nutrition, and the use of an electrolyte - as well as a bit of heat will help the bird to regain it's strength and recover more quickly. |
| Keep in mind that "tail bobbing" is typically associated with some type of respiratory disease. However, there are many reasons for tail bobbing including obesity, a hen preparing to lay an egg, poor condition and recent stress. If your bird is tail bobbing and you do not know why, first check the bird for signs of respiratory distress - visually, check for nasal discharge and lesions or mucous in the mouth, listen to their chest - are they clicking, have raspy breathing or gurgling sounds? If the bird does not show signs of illness, check for obesity - blow the feathers away from the crop area just above the breast and again under the rib cage in the abdomen area. See signs of fat under the skin? It will look like yellow pillows under there! If you don't find any of the above, watch the nest box and cage bottom for eggs! You may have a hen that is trying to pass eggs - whether she is in condition or not! |
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