Health

Just like you have a family doctor that you see when you are unwell, your bird needs their own doctor too - a veterinarian is an animal doctor.

It’s a good idea for your family to find out which veterinarian they plan on using before you get your birds. Not all veterinary clinics specialise in birds, so it is important you find a vet that is very experienced with companion birds. If possible, visit the clinic beforehand and look around. Ask yourself: Is the waiting area clean? Are the staff helpful? Find out the opening hours and if they handle emergencies after hours as well.

Once you get a new bird, your family should have him/her checked by your chosen local veterinary clinic straight away. Make an appointment as soon as you can for a check-up. Your vet will have lots of useful advice that may help your bird settle in. It is helpful to write a list of the questions you want to ask so everything can be covered.

Birds feel pain in the same way as other animals, including people - but they are not very good at showing outward signs of pain and may be suffering a great deal before you notice anything is wrong.

A change in the way your bird normally behaves can be an early sign they are ill or in pain. If your bird is not eating or is more quiet than usual, they are highly likely to be ill, or in pain. You should talk to your bird’s veterinarian immediately.

The main health problems that we see in birds are:

• Nutritional disorders (from being fed an incorrect diet), such as obesity or poisoning,
• Parasites (such as mites or worms),
• Foot problems (e.g. bumblefoot)
• Stress-related behaviours (e.g. feather plucking)

Regular health check-ups with a vet are the best way of detecting any problems with your bird early. It's important to remember that if any of your birds show any signs of injury or ill health, you must take them to their veterinarian immediately. If it is late at night or on the weekend and your veterinary clinic is closed, there are great after-hours clinics available for emergencies. Make sure your family know where your closest after-hours veterinary clinic is.

Birds moult one or two times a year, which means they can look very scruffy during this time. It is extra important to provide the best nutrition you can during this period, as moulting can be exhausting for a bird.

If you see your bird plucking out their feathers, contact a vet, as this is not normal. Your bird is either stressed, frustrated or bored or maybe has a medical problem that is causing them to pluck out their feathers.

It is important you seek veterinary advice immediately. If your vet determines that your bird is bored or frustrated, take a look at our enrichment ideas for birds, for ways to make your birds life more interesting.

Ask your parent or caregiver to help you check your birds for signs of illness or injury every day. The best time to observe this is when you put food out for your bird and watch how they move and feed.

Make sure this is done by someone else if you are away. Consult your vet immediately if you suspect your bird is in pain, ill or injured.

• Eyes, ears and nostrils:
  These should be clear, clean and bright looking with no discharge (gunky liquid). A bird's ears can be hidden underneath their feathers. The best way to find them is to look directly behind their eyes on each side of their head. If your bird is shaking their head a lot and scratching around their ears, it could be a sign of ear mites. You will need to take your bird to see their veterinarian.
   
• Feathers:
  Your bird's feathers should be sleek, shiny and smooth. Frayed or dull feathers and discolouration or itching can be signs of illness and should be checked by your vet. If your bird is actively pulling out his/her feathers, you should contact your vet ASAP.,
   
• Bottom:
  A bird’s poo can tell you a lot! Find out what normal poo looks like for your bird and show an adult if you notice it looks different. Occasionally certain foods (such as beetroot or carrot) can change the colour of your bird’s droppings, so try and remember what food they ate that day. If your bird is doing less (or more) droppings than normal, you may need to contact a vet. Look underneath your bird to check that no droppings are sticking to your bird’s feathers. Droppings underneath a bird can be a sign of sickness as they show that your bird does not want to move around.
   
• Beak
  Check that your bird is having no difficulty eating. Beaks can become overgrown if given an improper diet. Annual vet checks are important to make sure your bird's beak is not becoming overgrown.
   
• Claws and feet
  Birds’ nails need clipping regularly... it is easy to accidentally cut through the main blood vessel in the nail (known as the ‘quick’) if the nails are cut too short, which is incredibly painful. Ask your veterinarian to show your parent or caregiver how to do this.

• Is not interested in food or shows rapid weight loss
• Is unable to chew or eat
• Vomits or regurgitates food.
• Has discharge coming from their eyes, ears or nostrils.
• Is producing abnormal droppings (or more/ less than usual). Be aware some vegetables can change the colour of faeces (e.g. beetroot, carrot).
• Has excessive loss of feathers, feather plucking or poor condition. Birds do undergo a normal moult that can take 1-2 months to complete.
• Have any injuries, wounds or is struggling to move normally.
• Has any lumps, tumours or swellings.
• Has overgrown nails, sores, blisters, scales or peeling skin on their feet.
• Shows any sudden change in behaviour

People often think a trip to the vet as something only needed when one of their birds become unwell. However, it is also important to remember that annual health checks are important for your birds’ well-being. These annual checks are a great way to detect any small problems before they become more serious.

During this 15 - 20-minute appointment, your veterinarian will carefully examine each bird’s entire body – from the top of its head, its wings and tail! This is a good time to check your bird for any internal or external parasites. Your veterinarian will also discuss any concerns you have regarding your bird’s health, diet and behaviour.

Whenever you want to introduce a new bird to your current flock, it is important that all introductions are done carefully to avoid stress, health and aggression problems between the birds.

To avoid passing on any illnesses, you will need to quarantine any new birds for a period of approximately 6 weeks before introducing them to your existing birds. Quarantine means keeping the bird in a separate aviary, away from your existing birds to prevent the spread of disease. It is important to:

• Wash your hands after handling the new bird,
• Clean the aviary last,
• Schedule a vet check once the quarantine period is almost over.

After the quarantine period, and the vet determines that your new bird/s are healthy, it's time to introduce your birds to each other. See our section on Mental Wellbeing for advice on introducing birds.

If any of your birds ever show any signs of injury or ill health, an adult must take them to their veterinarian immediately. Birds can become highly stressed by being physically handled. To find out the best ways to move a bird into a carry cage, see our Mental Wellbeing section.

If it is late at night or on the weekend and your vet is closed, there are great after hour clinics available for emergencies. If you find a bird that doesn’t belong to you or that shows signs of sickness or injury, get an adult to contact your local bird rescue or SPCA Centre immediately.

Remember to always find an adult before you approach any bird that appears sick or injured – even your own bird. Birds may respond differently because they are in pain.

There will be times when you may need to look at your bird more closely, such as for health checks. Birds are prey animals and can easily become stressed (or hurt) by being handled.

To help minimize the risk of accident or injury, bird need to be handled in a safe and gentle manner. Birds can be taught to “step up” on your hand, which is a great time to check them over for any health problems.

See our Mentall Wellbeing section for more information.