How To Treat A Sick Bird At Home

29.06.2023 Chukwudi Eze 0 Comments

Do not change your bird’s sleep cycle – While healthy pet birds typically adapt to their owners’ sleep schedules, most become accustomed to approximately 12 hours of light and 12 hours of darkness each day. Many bird owners, however, leave a light on their sick pets all the time so that they can see them better.

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Will a sick bird still eat?

3. Hand feeding – Although an ill bird may peck at his food and pretend to eat, he will actually swallow little or nothing. As a result, hand-feeding or spoon-feeding is the best option. On some occasions, your bird may need to be tube-fed. If this is the case, consult your veterinarian for instructions on how to properly do this. Otherwise you could damage your bird’s trachea or lungs.

Can I give paracetamol to my bird?

Paracetamol. Use in other food producing species: This medicine is authorised in other food producing species including pigs. Function: Pain relief and reducing fever. Use in birds: Bird with painful conditions or those with a high temperature.

Why is my bird suddenly sick?

What can make my pet bird ill? – Many things contribute to ill health in birds. Improper diet is the most common cause of ill health in pet birds. Trauma, poor upkeep, inferior hygiene, stress, and genetics may lead to ill health. Just because the bird’s outward appearance is normal does not mean the bird is healthy.

poor general appearance (feathers look ratty) fluffed feathers (looks fatter) not eating, changes in eating habits, or reduced appetite changes in amount of drinking weakness drooping wings listlessness, inactivity, depression reluctance to move sleeping more trauma or bleeding changes in weight (increased or decreased)

Behavior

any change in regular attitude, behavior, or personality unusually tame behavior irritability, agitation, biting

Eyes

closed eye eye discharge red eye cloudy eyes swelling (around, or of the eyes)

Respiratory

labored breathing or open mouth breathing tail bobbing with each breath nasal discharge blocked nostrils increased or decreased nostril size sneezing (excessive) wheezing or wet breathing coughing cere (the skin around the nostrils) irregularity staining of the feathers around the nostrils change in voice or no voice

Skin and Feathers

abnormal feathers (dull color, texture, shape, structure, growth) bleeding blood or pin feathers (new feathers) prolonged molt feather changes (color, chewed, plucked, damaged, baldness, or feather loss) skin (flaky or crusty, or sores) excessive scratching abnormal beak (color, growth, overgrown, texture) abnormal nails (color, growth, overgrown, texture) trauma, cuts, bruises lumps, bumps, swellings, or bulges on the body

Musculoskeletal

sore feet sore wing lameness or shifting of body weight swollen joints paralysis weakness drooping wings not perching, sitting on bottom of cage

Digestive and urinary

wet droppings diarrhea (watery feces) change in the color of the droppings (red, yellow, tarry, pale) staining of the feathers around the vent (anus) decreased droppings straining to defecate wet feathers around face and head vomiting or excessive regurgitation protrusions from the vent (prolapse)

Neurological

balance problems head tilt falling seizures unconsciousness paralysis weakness

If you are concerned about anything, consult your veterinarian immediately. Do not delay as serious illness can develop quickly.

Can a sick bird be saved?

Make sure your bird eats and drinks – Sick pets need extra calories to fight illness and recover. Without adequate nutrition and fluids, sick birds will not get better. If your bird is not eating and drinking as he normally would, notify your veterinarian immediately. He may need to be hospitalized for force feeding if he will not eat on his own.

Should I help a sick bird?

With the right care from a trained rescuer, injured, sick, and orphaned birds can be returned to the wild. Photo by WabbyTwaxx via Birdshare, If you find a sick or injured bird, contact a wildlife rehabilitator or local veterinarian to see if they are able to care for it.

Make sure you call first as some clinics don’t have the facilities to isolate sick birds, and can’t take the risk of spreading a communicable disease among their other birds.
To protect yourself, your family, and your pets, don’t handle any potentially sick bird without disposable gloves, and make sure you have a box prepared for it, and a place to bring it, before you put it through the trauma of capture.

If you notice sick birds around your feeders, make sure you clean your bird feeding area. In fact, it is a good idea to regularly clean your feeders even when there are no signs of sick birds: prevention is the key to avoiding the spread of disease. To clean your feeder, take it apart and use a dishwasher on a hot setting or hand wash either with soap and boiling water or with a dilute bleach solution (no more than 1 part bleach to 9 parts water).

Rinse thoroughly and allow to dry before refilling. If a sick bird does come to your feeder, minimize the risk of infecting other birds by cleaning your feeder area thoroughly. If you see several diseased birds, take down all your feeders for at least a week to give the birds a chance to disperse. And make sure to keep your birdbaths clean.

Water allowed to sit for more than a few days can provide perfect breeding habitat for the very mosquitoes most likely to spread West Nile Virus. If your area is possibly having an outbreak of West Nile Virus or other disease, you may need to report it to your county health department or department of natural resources.

To find out, call your nearest game warden or conservation office. Take a look at our West Nile Virus FAQ for more information about what to do if you think you find a bird infected with the virus. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Project FeederWatch web site has additional information on sick birds, including a review of several of the more common diseases that might show up in backyard birds.

If you find a dead bird and are aware of a disease outbreak or you are concerned about health issues, contact your local or county health department or the National Wildlife Health Center, With their permission, you may proceed in collecting or disposing of the dead bird as they direct you to.

In many cases health departments will not be able to analyze a bird that has already started to decay, so you may be asked to double-bag it and put it in your freezer, or to take it to them immediately.
If you do pick up the bird be sure to wear disposable gloves, and wash your hands thoroughly afterward.

If you’re instructed to bring the bird in, remember to record your name and contact information, the date and location, the bird’s species (if known) and a description of the circumstances, including your best guess about the cause of the bird’s death.

What is a natural antibiotic for birds?

Happy Bird Echinacea natural antibiotic for birds lang: en Echinacea Happy Bird is known for its immunostimulating and antiviral properties, it is useful for promoting the immune system and treating the symptoms of bird colds. It is a real natural antibiotic, widely used for the treatment of respiratory diseases.

Its action is carried out in particular with the increase of leukocytes and monocyte-macrophages capable of engulfing harmful external agents. Echinacein exerts a cortico-like anti-inflammatory function. Dosage and use: mix carefully 2 g of ECHINACEA in 1 kg of food and administer for 5/7 days. In water, dissolve 1.5 g of ECHINACEA in 1 liter of water and administer for 5/7 days, making sure to change the water every day.

Packaging: jar 100 gr available birds : Happy Bird Echinacea natural antibiotic for birds

Why is my bird not eating or drinking?

What causes anorexia and lethargy in birds? – There are many causes of anorexia and lethargy in pet birds, including cancer, viral or bacterial infections, fungal or yeast infections, external and intestinal parasites, endocrine or hormonal diseases, toxicities, nutritional imbalances, and organ-specific problems such as liver, heart, or kidney failure.

How do you know if a bird is in pain?

Confirm It Is Truly Sick or Injured – The following are indications that a bird may be sick or injured:

The bird is quiet, dull, the eyes may be closed, and it has fluffed feathers (the bird looks “puffed up”). It may have an obvious wound, breathing problems, a drooping wing, or show lameness or an inability to stand. It does not fly away when approached. Learn how to tell if a bird that doesn’t fly away is a fledgling (a young bird learning how to fly) For further assistance on Transport, please refer to the “Who to Call for Help” section on this page.

What is the best medicine for bird?

– Sort by: Featured Best Selling Alphabetically, A-Z Alphabetically, Z-A Price, low to high Price, high to low Date, new to old Date, old to new Medications Baytril 10% Oral Solution Baytril 10% is a broad spectrum antibiotic used for Birds, Rats, Reptiles and other Pets.

STOP Are. $25.95 Sold Out Medications Amtyl is a very safe and effective broad spectrum antibiotic that treats a wide range of bacterial infections in birds, rats. When using any antibiotic be sure and continue the. $18.99 Sale Medications Enrofloxacin 10% Oral solution for Birds. Veterinarians and Wildlife Rehabilitators around the world, depend on Enrofloxacin 10% to treat Birds with many different types of illnesses.

Your birds are sick,. From $24.00 $40.00 Medications Baytril 2.5% Oral Solution Baytril 2.5% is a broad spectrum antibiotic used for Birds, Rats, Reptiles and other Pets. Is your Bird sick and in need of Baytril? No Bird. $21.95 : Bird Antibiotic Medications

What human medicine is used for birds?

Answer: – “> Hi Jadranka, Thank you for viewing the webinar from Macedonia! Here is Dr. Lamb’s response: There are many “human” medications used in birds. Just as one example, people will take an antibiotic with the brand name Augmentin. The generic name for this is amoxicillin/ clavulanic acid. Birds can take this medication just fine as well but the brand used most frequently is called clavamox. They are both the same drug, just different formulations. If you are a veterinarian and are seeing birds I suggest getting the Exotic Animal Formulary by Carpenter as this has a nice list of medications that can be used in birds with appropriate dosages. https://www.elsevier.com/books/exotic-animal-formulary/carpenter/978-0-323-44450-7 Dr. Stephanie Lamb

What do birds look like when they are sick?

Signs of Illness in Birds Hello everyone! This month we thought we would talk to you about signs of illness to look for in our exotic pets. It is extremely important to be on the lookout for these things so that we can address any medical issues as soon as possible.

We are starting with our feathered friends.
As many of you are probably aware, birds are the masters of disguise when it comes to illness! This is of course a natural instinct in birds and many other creatures we see, as appearing ill/injured/weak will make them an easy target for predators.
This often means that the early stages of illness are not noticed, and our patients are often critically unwell by the time they make it into the clinic.

Do you know the signs to look for in your bird? The typical signs of a sick bird are often referred to as the ‘sick bird look’ or SBL. This is typically a bird that is quiet, eyes closed and feathers fluffed up. When a bird is in this condition, it means they have lost the ability to pretend they are well, and are now very ill.

Birds in this condition can deteriorate very quickly, and should be seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible.
These signs do not reflect any disease in particular, so a thorough physical exam and possibly further diagnostics will be required to determine the cause of illness and appropriate treatment.

So, what are the early signs to look for? Common symptoms that are often overlooked are:

increased sneezing increased ‘yawning’ or stretching open the beak coughing vomiting reduced appetite. Did you know that birds will pretend to eat?! You have to look closely to see that the food is actually being consumed! increased sleeping and reduced interaction with the owner reduced vocalisation, change in voice increased respiratory rate or effort, often noted as a slight ‘tail bob’ when the bird is perching loose/unformed droppings, more water around the droppings

You might be interested: How To Treat Dog Cold

If you see any of these signs, you should contact your avian veterinarian immediately and arrange an appointment as soon as possible. In the meantime, keep your bird warm and quiet, and offer favourite foods to encourage them to eat. Birds are very good at hiding signs of illness, particularly when they feel they are being watched, or when they are in a new and unfamiliar environment. If you look closely, you can see some wet feathers around the face, this may indicate nasal discharge or vomiting. This little dove has been vomiting, you can see the vomit with some seeds in it on the walls of her hospital cage. If you are ever unsure if your bird is unwell please feel free to book your scaled friend in for a health check today on our website or by calling the clinic on 07 3217 3533.

How do you tell if a bird has a virus?

Signs of Avian Flu Illness in Birds Sudden death; lack of energy, appetite and coordination; purple discoloration and/or swelling of various body parts; diarrhea; nasal discharge; coughing; sneezing; and reduced egg production and/or abnormal eggs.

How do you tell if a bird has a fever?

Download Article Download Article You should always take your bird to the veterinarian at the first sign of illness. Birds disguise their illnesses because in the wild they would attract predators. But in captivity, this behavior just makes it hard for us to know when our birds are sick.

1 Weigh your bird daily. Weigh your bird at the same time every day so that its weight will fluctuate less due to meal times. Declining weight is a significant sign of illness. If your bird’s weight drops by 10% or more, you should immediately take your pet to the doctor.
- While this might seem like too much work, changes in weight are one of the earliest signs of illness, so monitoring weight is often the only way to effectively catch health problems in time for intervention.
- Alternatively, feel your bird’s breast bone. Its chest should be well-rounded and muscular. If you can feel the bone (the keel), your bird has lost too much weight and should be taken to the doctor immediately.
2 Check its droppings. Put plain paper on the bottom of the cage to make it easier to see and monitor droppings. Watch droppings for any change in frequency, color, texture, or quantity. Take your bird to the veterinarian if any change in the nature of your bird’s droppings persists for 12 hours or more.
- Feces naturally varies somewhat in color. However, you should watch for bright red, bright black, and bright green feces.
- Undigested food in the droppings or hard feces can be a sign of illness. Diarrhea is a sign of bacterial and fungal infections.
- The bird’s feces should have white parts called urates. If the white part is missing from the feces you should take your bird to the vet immediately.
- Unusually large amounts of urine can indicate an issue with digestion. Be mindful if this continues for an extended period of time.
- It is also a bad sign when feces is stuck to the tail feathers after your bird goes to the bathroom. Matting of the feathers in the area suggestions diarrhea.
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3 Pay attention to how much food your bird eats. If your bird begins to eat less, this could indicate a health issue. Monitor how much food you give you bird and how much is left after a feeding. A sick bird might try to disguise its lack of appetite by picking up food, only to drop it on the floor of the cage. Be mindful of scattered food.
- Be especially mindful if your bird isn’t eating its favorite food. If you believe that it is sick, test its health by feeding it a favorite treat. See how it responds.

1 Look for unhealthy feathers. A bird’s feathers should look bright and colorful. Young birds might exhibit some issues with feather care. But mature birds should not have feathers that are torn, misshapen, or discolored. If feathers are torn up, exposing the skin underneath where it is normally hidden, your bird might well have an infection.
- It is common for the feathers of a sick bird to look duller in color than they otherwise would.
2 Watch for puffed-up feathers. Birds will often puff up their feathers to look bigger when they are cold or asleep. This behavior is normal. However, if your bird has its feathers puffed up through much of the day, something might be wrong. If it is sick, it might also bob its tail up and down as it puffs up its feathers.
- This could be a sign of nearly anything, birds will puff up their feathers in response to most varieties of illness. Birds puff up their feathers because they are cold. This is likely because their energy is being diverted toward fighting of illness or stress. Puffed-up feathers then, are something like the bird equivalent of a fever. They are the first sign of any illness in your flying friend.
3 Notice its posture. A sick bird will often lean over, instead of sitting up. A healthy bird might not sit up all the way, but will at least sit up partially. Often a bird that is having difficulty sitting up because of poor health with also puff up its feathers.
4 Check its ears. The ears of a healthy bird should not be red or swollen. They should also not produce any liquid discharges or show signs of blockage.
- A bird’s ears are generally not very easily visible, but can be found under its feathers on either side of its head.
- These symptoms can be a sign of an ear infection, like Otitis externa
5 Watch for growth in the beak. A beak that grows rapidly is indicative of some sort of metabolic problem. Similarly, it is an issue if the beak is changing shape or becoming asymmetrical. The tissue inside the beak should have a light pink color.
6 Be attentive to normal signs of illness. Just as with humans, sneezing and vomiting are generally signs of an underlying illness. Take your bird to the vet if it exhibits these symptoms.

1 Play with your bird daily. Birds are social animals that enjoy time outside. Furthermore, one important sign of illness is lethargy. To monitor whether your bird is sick, you need to see how it responds to physical activity. If you bird seems lethargic or does not respond to stimuli, there might be an underlying issue.
- When you do play with your bird, make sure that it does not breath heavily afterward. Breathing should appear effortless. It should not be breathing through an open mouth, or exhibit tail bobbing when it inhales.
- Sometimes your bird will be lethargic because it has not gotten enough rest. If you see that it gets sleep and is still tired afterward, you should be concerned.
2 Be mindful if your bird spends a lot of time at the bottom of the cage. A bird that sits on the bottom of the cage might have balance issues. Watch to see if it seems to mostly be leaning on one of its legs to the exclusion of the other. These can be signs of injury.
3 Watch for changes in personality. Any change in personality could reflect an underlying issue. Watch to see if an otherwise friendly bird no longer wants to socialize, if an active bird seems lethargic, or if a calm bird seems agitated. It is particularly common for a sick bird to become more aggressive with other birds.
4 Watch for increased sleepiness. One sign of dangerous lethargy is increased sleepiness. Be mindful if your bird is sleeping at unusual hours or has its eyes partially closed.
- How much and when a bird sleeps can vary significantly even within a species. Pet parrots, for example, have very different schedules from one household to another. However, schedules should be consistent. If your bird has begun sleeping during a time of day in which it is normally awake, that is a cause for concern.
5 Listen to your bird. A bird that is sick will be less likely to vocalize or sing than a bird that is healthy. If your bird isn’t as talkative as normal, be attentive to its other behavior, because something might be wrong. It is also possible that your bird’s voice might begin to sound different if it is sick.

Add New Question

Question Why is my budgie puffed up? Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years. Veterinarian Expert Answer Birds fluff up to keep warm or when they are sick. Look for other clues, such as if the bird’s droppings have changed, if they have a discharge from the cere (the covering at the base of the upper beak), if they are tail bobbing, or if they have lost weight. A trip to the vet may be necessary.

Ask a Question 200 characters left Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Submit Advertisement Article Summary X To know if your bird is sick, monitor its droppings for changes in frequency, color, texture, or quantity, which could be a sign that there’s something wrong it.

How can I help my bird recover?

By now wild birds are flocking to your bird feeders and darting across your yard; what a welcome sight! But seasoned bird advocates know that bird feeding, and watching, isn’t always all about Cardinals and Blue Jays. The most common backyard dangers, like windows, and predators, like rogue cats, can injure your favorite feathered friends.

Feeders, especially hummingbird feeders, should be placed within 15 to twenty feet from the nearest window. Windows that are made of a large pane of glass, such as a bay window, are the most dangerous type of window to place near a bird feeder. Since many wild bird species have exceptional vision, they can be baffled by the reflection of the sky and gardens seen in windows from the outside.

Some birds will recover after crashing into a window, but many may not. Additionally, neighborhood pets and feral cats are common threats to the birds feeding in your yard. Birders may notice that the seed offered in bird feeders is the main proponent of visiting feral cats.

Unfortunately, in order to deter these predators and preserve the lives of the birds in our yard, you may need to take down your seed feeder and either move it or wait until the cats are no longer visiting your yard. Windows and backyard predators are the most common causes of injured, or ailing, wild birds.

If you find a helpless, injured bird in your yard, here are three simple steps to take. 1. Make sure the bird is injured not orphaned. Some birders can mistake young, orphaned birds for injured ones. Young birds have weak flight muscles, short tail and wing feathers, and are often fed by their parents outside of the nest for a few days. So, assess the situation and if the wild bird is indeed injured move on to the next step of care.2.

Place the wild bird in a cardboard box and cover it with a lid or towel.
Then place the box in a cool, safe place to give the wild bird time to recover from the shock of the injury.
Be careful when handling the injured bird; use gloves to protect yourself from any disease or germ.3.
Check on the bird periodically to ensure that the situation is getting better.

After multiple hours, and a stable condition, call a local wildlife rehabilitator that can nurse the wild bird back to health. Vigilance is the key to bird feeding success for you and safety for your backyard buddies. Make sure that you are:

Aware of bird feeder placement and maintenance – Remember to re-fill your feeders on a regular basis. Filling will become a common occurrence the more birds visit your yard. If you are offering a hummingbird feeder, clean the feeder two to three times per week; and more often during warm temperatures. Watching the activity at your bird feeders daily to determine patterns and behaviors – Typically the same birds will continue to visit your feeders once they establish it as a secure food source. They will more than likely return daily to feed, drink water, and clean their feathers if you’re offering a water source. As birds continue to visit feeders and you begin to learn their feeding patterns, consider adapting when you’re offering food. For example, birds feed early in the morning because that’s when they are the most hungry and active. Instead of leaving a bird feeder out all day for squirrels and other pests to get into, remove the feeder during the peak daylight hours. Enjoying the sights and sounds of summer bird feeding! This is an easy suggestion for us to pass on to birders. Enjoy the sights and sounds of wild birds flying around your yard and feeding at your bird feeders. Take out your camera, binoculars, and favorite bird identification guide and start bird watching!

We love to see your bird encounters, share them with us on our Facebook page,

Do birds heal themselves?

When you break a bone, you might get a cast or a set of crutches from your doctor. But what do we do for birds with broken wings? Every year dozens of birds are brought to the Wildlife Medical Clinic with wing fractures, unable to fly. There are many steps we take to fix the wing and get them back to flying! When a bird is brought to the Clinic, it is given a full medical exam. Before we can work to fix a fracture, we must first take radiographs, or x-rays! As you can imagine, wild birds aren’t the most cooperative patients when it comes to staying still for x-rays. So, for their safety and our own, birds are often sedated to ensure the process is as pain and stress free as possible.

Radiographs show us which bones are broken, where in the bone the break is located, and how significant the break is.
This information is key to planning surgical correction of the fracture.
When a wing is involved, often bandaging won’t sufficiently allow the wing to heal.
Instead, the most common way we fix fractures is by surgically inserting an “intramedullary” (or IM) pin into the broken bone.

This metal pin is drilled into the middle of the bone so that each piece of the broken bone is now lined up. Several “K-wires” (or Kirschner wires) are then placed perpendicular to the IM pin, with the ends sticking out of the skin. K-wires are the narrowest metal pins used in orthopedic surgery. After surgery, an acrylic bar is attached to the ends of the K-wires. Think of it like a piece of clay that’s rolled out in a cylinder, placed over the ends of the K-wires. The acrylic hardens, securing the wires in place. The whole set-up is referred to as an “external fixator”. Birds get physical therapy after surgery just like people do! To make sure the bird will be able to fly, we gently extend the joints of the wing and hold them in that position for one minute, stretching out the muscles of the affected wing. We do this every few days while the bird is recovering, and every physical therapy session we measure how far the joints are able to extend with a protractor-like device called a goniometer.

The angle we measure is called the passive range of motion, or PROM, and logging changes in the angle helps us see how well the bone is healing.
We can also use a cold laser as part of the bird’s physical therapy plan, stimulating healing processes and reducing pain! Birds bones heal much faster than mammals, and the bones may be sufficiently healed after just 3-4 weeks of care.

Once the fracture site is stable, we remove all of the pins. The bird is then ready for flight conditioning before it can be released. For this, we typically partner with licensed wildlife rehabilitators who have the facilities to best support these birds during the final stages of their recovery. It can be a long process to fix a bird’s fractured wing, but it is incredibly rewarding to watch them improve from start to finish! This article was written by Katie Havighorst, Class of 2022.

How long does it take for a bird to recover?

When Window Collisions Happen – While there are many ways to prevent bird window collisions, even the most vigilant birder will occasionally have a bird strike a window. When that happens:

Find the bird, If the collision was minor, the bird might fly off right away, or it may move somewhat away from the window. If it were stunned, however, it would likely be underneath the window or very close by and may not be alert or moving.
Observe the bird closely, Before handling the bird, watch closely to see how it reacts. Many stunned birds will sit quietly as they recover, perhaps with their wings slightly drooped, and if they are in a safe area, they do not need to be moved. If the bird is unconscious or thrashing about, however, it may need additional care.
Check for injuries, If the bird is unconscious, gently pick it up or carefully check for visible injuries, including signs of broken bones or cuts. Other indications may be missing feathers or a discharge from the bill. If the bird is severely hurt, contact a bird rescue organization to ensure the bird gets immediate, appropriate medical care. While handling the bird, it is always wise to wear gloves.
Keep the bird safe, If the bird appears just to be stunned, put it in a safe, sheltered place. If possible, leave the bird in the area where the collision occurred, but if the area is not safe from predators or other hazards, put the bird in a small box or paper bag. The box or bag should be large enough that the bird can spread its wings, and it may be lined with newspapers or a clean rag. Loosely close the box while still ensuring the bird has plenty of air circulation, and keep the box in a quiet, warm spot as the bird recovers.
Give the bird recovery time, Depending on the severity of the impact, it may take just a few minutes or up to 2-3 hours for a bird to recover, and during that time it should be stimulated as little as possible. Do not open the box or bag to check the birds’ condition, and do not poke or prod the bird to try and get a response. Instead, listen for it to begin moving around, which will be the best sign of its recovery. If the bird is showing no signs of recovery after 2-3 hours, it should be taken to a wildlife rehabilitator even if there are no other injuries visible.
Release the bird, Once the bird begins to move and show more activity, it should be returned to its environment. Take the box outdoors and gently open it in the same area where the collision occurred so the bird can easily get its bearings. The bird should fly out fairly quickly, but it may not fly far as it adjusts to the surroundings. If it is not safe to release the bird in the same area, take it to the closest similar habitat where it will find good food, fresh water, and safe shelter.

A sick bird may allow you to approach more closely than normal. Mark Tighe / Flickr / CC by 2.0 Not all birds will recover from window collisions. Internal bleeding or injuries may not be obvious but can be fatal, and if the bird dies, it should be disposed of properly,

How do you warm up a sick bird?

by Bob Doneley BVSc FANZCVS (Avian Medicine) CMAV First aid for birds is, like first aid for people, not a substitute for veterinary care. But first aid can be the difference between life and death for a sick or injured bird. All bird owners need to familiar with the basics, and need to be prepared to implement them if necessary.

Recognising the sick bird Birds are masters of deception.
Because they are pretty low down on the food chain, they instinctively know that predators are drawn to a sick or injured animal like moths to a flame.
They have therefore evolved over millions of years to NOT look sick or injured; to hide any signs of illness to avoid attracting the attention of a predator.

Birds will only look sick when they are so sick that they can’t even hide it anymore. There are millions of years of evolution behind this – a few generations of captive breeding can’t change that. But there are subtle signs that an alert owner can detect.

A bird that is normally very vocal chattering and yelling, and flies or climbs around a cage all day long, but now is sitting quietly in a corner, of the cage is not normal. A bird that is fluffed up is not normal. Even if it appears normal when you approach, and then fluffs up again after a few minutes. A bird that normally comes down and starts eating as soon as food is placed in the dish, but is now not interested in food, is not normal. A bird that eats continuously and ravenously is not normal. A bird sitting on the floor of the cage is not normal. A bird that starts to drink water excessively, or not at all, is not normal. A bird that sleeps a lot, particularly if both feet are on the perch, is not normal. A bird that starts sneezing a lot, or has a discharge from its nostrils, or rubs its eyes on the perch or with its foot, is not normal. An excessive amount of water in a bird’s droppings (unless that bird is a lorikeet) is not normal. Diarrhoea is not normal. The urates (the white part of the droppings) turning green is not normal. Bleeding from anywhere is not normal. Bald patches appearing on your bird are not normal.

If you see these signs, now is the time to act. Waiting a few days “to see if the bird gets better” is often a death sentence to a bird struggling to recover its health. First Aid for the sick bird A sick bird has three main requirements: warmth, fluids and food.

A bird’s normal body temperature is 41 deg.C. This is reached by absorbing heat from the air around it (the ambient temperature), and then generating the balance by metabolising food to produce energy (and therefore heat). A sick bird is not eating much, and therefore its production of metabolic energy is decreased.

Its body temperature starts to drop, so it fluffs its feathers to trap body heat (much as a doona does on a bed). If its temperature continues to drop it will become hypothermic, go into shock, and die. This will usually happen before the bird dies of whatever has made it sick in the first place.

So sick birds need to be warmed up – urgently. Putting a blanket over its cage won’t help the bird is not generating enough heat for the blanket to trap and keep warm. The most effective way to warm a bird up is to place it under a light (a bulb, not a fluoro). The heat generated by the bulb will raise the ambient temperature to 35- 40 deg.C.

quickly, making the bird much more comfortable. The bulb should be nearly touching the wire of the cage, right beside a perch. This allows the bird to get right up to it if it wants, and to move away if it feels too hot. The light needs to be left on 24 hours a day, until the bird is no longer seeking its warmth.

By warming the bird up, you overcome hypothermic shock and allow the bird to direct its metabolism towards getting better, rather than just keeping warm.
Try not to disturb or handle the bird too much until it becomes more active.
You need to curb your patience until it is feeling stronger.
Warming a bird up is the single most important thing you can do for it.

Don’t try to do anything else for an hour or so, until the bird is becoming more alert and active. Once you have it under a light, ring your vet to make an appointment. Don’t ask us for a diagnosis or treatment over the phone it just can’t be done. All sick birds look the same it is only by getting a thorough history, doing a careful physical examination, and using appropriate lab tests that we can determine the problem and an appropriate treatment.

Anything else is just a guess, and it is unfair to put us in that situation. If it is going to be some time before you can get to the vet, the next thing to do is to get some fluids into your bird. If it is drinking well (and not vomiting), adding some glucose powder to the water may be all you need to do.

Place 1 teaspoon into 100mls water, and let the bird drinks as much as it likes. If the bird is not drinking, or isn’t drinking enough, you need to give it the fluids, either with an eye-dropper or a crop needle. If you are comfortable injecting fluids, giving the bird 5% of its bodyweight twice daily under the skin is quite effective.

Offer your bird a variety of foods. If it isn’t eating, you may need to crop feed it. We use a hand rearing formula but if you don’t have this handy, a vegetable and/or fruit baby food works well. Remember: don’t give fluid of foods to your bird until it has warmed up. A weak bird given fluids or food by mouth could easily choke on them.

First Aid for the injured bird The basic requirements for an injured bird are similar to those of a sick bird: the bird needs to be kept warm, take in fluids and eat, if it is to survive. However, trauma has its own problems bleeding, the risk of further injury, breathing difficulties, etc.

Try not to do too much, too soon, or too quickly.
It is better to do something quickly, put the bird down for a while, and then pick it up and do something else.
Trying to do everything at once can stress the bird right over the edge.
If the bird is bleeding, determine if it is still bleeding and where it is bleeding from.

A small amount of blood can look like a lot spread over a bird’s feathers, and give the impression that it is bleeding to death. If the bird is bleeding from a ‘broken blood’ feather (a newly erupted feather with blood in the shaft), try pinching the feather between your thumb and forefinger for 30-60 seconds.

In most cases this will stop the bleeding.
If it doesn’t, you will need to pluck the feather out, and pinch off the feather follicle to stop any bleeding from there.
A bleeding toenail can be treated by pushing the nail into a wet bar of soap; the soap will form a plug over the nail and stop the bleeding.

If the bleeding is coming from anywhere else, or you can’t get it to stop, seek veterinary assistance urgently. If possible, maintain finger pressure till you get to the Surgery. A broken wing or leg, left unsplinted, can get swung around, stepped on, bitten, and generally injured more than the original break.

Sometimes this subsequent damage is so bad the limb has to be amputated. Taping the wing to the body with sticky tape, or strapping a broken leg, can prevent further damage. It also markedly reduces the amount of pain and stress your bird is feeling. If your bird is having difficulty breathing – opening its mouth with each breath, heaving its body up and down (or tail bobbing) with each breath, or making audible wheezes, grunts or rattles with each breath go straight to the Surgery.

Emergency treatment can save many of these birds, but not if they’re left for a day or two. Things NOT to do

Do not give your bird alcohol or coffee as “a stimulant” Do not give your bird old antibiotics or pet shop remedies. These rarely work, and waste time while waiting for a response. Do not ring your neighbour, your uncle or another breeder for advice. Bring your bird to the West Toowoomba Vet Surgery as soon as possible. First Aid is NOT a substitute for veterinary care. Do not assume that you know what is wrong with your bird. It might not be worms!

For many years birds have had a reputation for being ‘soft’ or weak healthy one minute, sick the next, dead the minute after. This is because people didn’t recognise that birds hide signs of illness as well as they do, and then they wait a few days to see if the bird gets better by itself.

Can I give my bird a cold?

A. – Most human diseases, including those that cause the common cold and the flu, are not transmittable to our companion birds. If exposed to certain viruses or bacterial infections known to afflict parrots, your bird could develop an infection on her own even if her human family is healthy.

A healthy parrot with a strong immune system should be able to fight most viral or bacterial infections. By: Margrethe Warden Featured Image: Via Paul Dymott/Shutterstock.com

: Is My Bird Susceptible To The Cold Or The Flu?

What is a natural antibiotic for birds?

Its action is carried out in particular with the increase of leukocytes and monocyte-macrophages capable of engulfing harmful external agents.
Echinacein exerts a cortico-like anti-inflammatory function.
Dosage and use: mix carefully 2 g of ECHINACEA in 1 kg of food and administer for 5/7 days.
In water, dissolve 1.5 g of ECHINACEA in 1 liter of water and administer for 5/7 days, making sure to change the water every day.

Packaging: jar 100 gr available birds : Happy Bird Echinacea natural antibiotic for birds

How can I help my bird recover?

Feeders, especially hummingbird feeders, should be placed within 15 to twenty feet from the nearest window.
Windows that are made of a large pane of glass, such as a bay window, are the most dangerous type of window to place near a bird feeder.
Since many wild bird species have exceptional vision, they can be baffled by the reflection of the sky and gardens seen in windows from the outside.

Unfortunately, in order to deter these predators and preserve the lives of the birds in our yard, you may need to take down your seed feeder and either move it or wait until the cats are no longer visiting your yard. Windows and backyard predators are the most common causes of injured, or ailing, wild birds.

Place the wild bird in a cardboard box and cover it with a lid or towel.
Then place the box in a cool, safe place to give the wild bird time to recover from the shock of the injury.
Be careful when handling the injured bird; use gloves to protect yourself from any disease or germ.3.
Check on the bird periodically to ensure that the situation is getting better.

We love to see your bird encounters, share them with us on our Facebook page,

Is honey good for sick birds?

Do Birds Eat Honey? – Unfortunately, birds, like us, will often eat things that are not good for them. And honey is no exception. Birds will happily eat anything you offer in search of sweet, energy-rich foods to sustain themselves. That includes honey.

What is the best treat for a bird?

By Dr. Laurie Hess, DVM, Diplomate ABVP (Avian Practice) Just like us, birds love to eat treats. Whether you are rewarding your bird for performing trained behaviors or just giving him a little extra love, a treat can help you both build strong bonds. There are a variety of different foods that can be given as treats, as well as bird-specific treats like ZuPreem Real Rewards®, but it is important to consider your bird’s health when treating him.

It can be difficult to know when to treat, how much and what to feed. Check out these tips to know the best practices for treating your bird. What kind of treats should I give my bird? Not all treats are alike, and some are healthier than others. The best way to identify what treats are best for your bird and how much of them to feed is to talk with your veterinarian.

In general, vegetables and fruits are a good option, as many are rich in vitamin A, which is essential for a bird’s diet. Some options include carrots, bell peppers, tomatoes, leafy greens, as well as snap peas, broccoli and string beans, which are easily held by most birds and simple to munch on.

Small amounts of fruit, such as berries, grapes and pieces of melon, mango, papaya, apple and pear are also a good option for birds. Bird-specific treats found in pet stores are another option. ZuPreem Real Rewards treats offer four varieties for all species of pet birds, including Trail Mix, Tropical Mix, Orchard Mix and Garden Mix,

Real Rewards are a mix of fruits, vegetables and nuts that provide a healthy snack for your pet bird. High-fat, high-salt items, such as chips, pretzels and pizza are not appropriate for birds and should be avoided. Some foods, such as those containing artificial sweeteners, alcohol, chocolate and caffeine may be toxic to birds and should never be given as treats.

Seed, in general, is high in fat and low in nutrients, which is why it should only be offered as an occasional treat, if at all.
How many treats should I give? The key to providing healthy nutrition for pet birds is to ensure that at least 60 percent of their diet is made up of nutritionally complete and balanced pellets.

Up to another 30 percent can be comprised of fresh vegetables and fruit, with the remaining 10 percent containing treats such as ZuPreem Real Rewards or less nutritious options like unsalted nuts, popcorn, crackers or small bites of bread and limited quantities of seed.

When should I treat my bird? Before you provide your bird with treats, it is important that he has eaten his pellets – the staple of his diet that contains all the nutrients he needs to stay healthy.
You shouldn’t offer treats before he eats pellets, or he may fill up on treats and not want to eat pellets.

Many birds are social and look forward to eating special treats with their owners at a predictable time each day. If your bird likes to eat with you, you can also leave pellets in your bird’s cage all day, so that he can graze on them, and save the treats until dinner time.

Then he can eat them in your company.
How do I avoid overfeeding? Most pet birds spend much of their time each day sitting in their cages, expending very little energy and eating out of boredom.
This behavior predisposes them to becoming overweight.
As a result, it’s critical that bird owners pay attention to how much food they offer their pets and follow the advice of their veterinarians regarding the quantities of pellets, produce and treats they offer.

How much any particular bird should be given depends on his age, activity level and reproductive status. Growing, breeding and nursing birds generally require more calories each day. Treats as rewards and bonding experiences Just like humans, birds will work hard to get treats, which is why they are excellent rewards for training.

Find foods that your bird loves and offer them as rewards during behavior training.
If you only give him those foods during training, he is likely to be more motivated to learn new behaviors.
His favorite treats can also be used to help with bonding.
Many birds are initially afraid of people’s hands, however, pairing the sight of you and your hand with receiving a treat will build your bird’s trust and encourage him to interact with you to get a treat.

Sometimes birds are tired or not hungry and won’t obey commands, even for their favorite foods. The key is to be patient and let your bird take the lead. If your bird seems disinterested or irritable, stop and try again later. Even successful training sessions should be kept short – no more than five to ten minutes once or twice a day.

Chukwudi Eze