One of the biggest challenges new bird owners face is ascertaining signs of illnesses in their pet birds. This is because birds are naturally good at hiding sickness, and by the time you notice the symptoms, the illness is probably at the advanced stage. 

In this blog, you will see some important tell-tale signs of illness in birds, which will tremendously help you to save them from life-threatening situations. 

1) Colour Change in Droppings

It’s not a nice feeling to always check on your bird’s droppings, but it reveals a lot of important things. Although the colour of your bird’s droppings depends on what you are feeding them, you should be a bit concerned when you see yellow, rusty brown or tarry black colour. This is probably indicating internal bleeding in the birds or other similar health problems. Contact your veterinarian as soon as you see these signs. 

2) Ruffled Feathers & Loss of Weight

If you see your bird sitting with its feathers fluffed out for a long time, they may be experiencing respiratory problems or other illnesses. Ruffed feathers can also hide weight loss, which can be life-threatening for the birds. If you see this sign for more than a day, you should contact your vet immediately.

Weight loss is not just dangerous for the birds since it reduces their strength, but it also stops their organs from functioning as well. So weigh your birds regularly to make sure that they are in excellent health.

3) Cere and Eye Condition

Although many people think of Cere as the nose of birds, it is essentially the patch above their beak that holds the nostrils. Keep checking this region of the birds regularly for redness, inflammation or discharge, as these are signs of serious illnesses in them. Similarly, if you see your bird’s eyes are clouded or it is releasing a discharge, the bird is likely suffering from respiratory, nervous or muscular disorder.  Once you notice these signs, keep your birds warm and wrapped and take them to the vet without any delay

4) Refusal to Eat

Since birds have an extremely high metabolism, they generally eat a lot to fulfil their energy demands. If your bird has been eating less lately and is also losing weight, it could be a sign of intestinal blockage or impaction, both of which require immediate medical intervention. Clean the bottom of your bird’s cage every day, as this will help you to check their food consumption and changes in their droppings. 

5) Open Mouthed Breathing

One of the most common bird sicknesses is respiratory issues and unfortunately, the most serious as well. If you notice your bird is breathing through its mouth while at rest, they might have been sick for a long time. This is a serious symptom in birds that need immediate medical attention, and even hospitalization as well. 

6) Change in Vocal Pattern

Just like us humans, birds too become less talkative when they are sick. It is highly important to pay attention to the normal vocal patterns of your birds so that you can notice any sudden change in the tone or frequency. If you see any differences in their vocal pattern, you should watch out for additional symptoms over the next few days. 

7) Tail Bobbing

Like other common signs of illnesses in birds, continued, repetitive tail bobbing in birds may indicate a respiratory infection. Unlike us humans, birds don’t have a diaphragm that separates the chest cavity from the stomach. The muscles at the tip of the tail allow your bird to breathe by making the lungs expand for air intake.

If your bird is facing difficulty in breathing, their tail muscles work harder, causing it to bob up and down. Also, you won’t see tail bobbing in birds unless there is some advanced form of illness. This is why you should contact your vet immediately once you see this sign. 

 In a Nutshell,

You have seen 7 common signs of illnesses in birds, which will help you to take the necessary steps to proactively deal with them. It is important to contact your vet without any delay as these signs are indications that the birds need urgent medical help. An early diagnosis helps a lot in restoring normal health in the birds quickly.