Bird Examination Chart The ABCs of illness detection Appearance Coprology (the study of droppings) Birds must be observed very carefully every day for • Eyes: dull, glassed over, frequently closed or • Droppings are very scant (absent), are different subtle signs of illness. If several symptoms are present discharge present. Matting of feathers around eyes. colors, or are very watery. Watery droppings are at the same time, contact your avian veterinarian • Beak: overgrown or misshapen. Look for ridges normal for the first 24 hours after a change of immediately. Any stress can weaken a bird’s immune directly beneath nares (nostrils). environment, or a change in diet. system, but because they disguise signs of sickness, • Cere and nares: discharge coming from nostrils or • Droppings do not contain normal fecal portion, you must know what to look for so you can catch matting of feathers around the area. urate portion and urine portion, or one of the three is problems early. Whenever possible, discreetly • Mouth: open-mouth breathing; slimy, mucous-filled abnormally large. observe the bird. Your presence may cause them to mouth; white plaques seen in open mouth. • Changes in dropping color. Consistency and act healthier than they actually are. The ABCs listed • Wings: dull feathering with many stress bars. Any frequency must be monitored closely. here should serve as warning signs. bleeding. One wing hanging lower than the other. A bright-green color change • Feet and legs: scabs, poor scaling, flaking. Missing may be a sign of anorexia, The eyes toes (not indicative of disease, but previous trauma). • Feathers: fluffed, frayed or tattered, large featherless ulcers, disease, viral infection Ridges form are dull, glassed over. areas. Multiple breaks in feather construction. Tail or toxicity. directly beneath bobs when bird is breathing. nares (nostrils), • Body: holds head in strange position or holds and the cere and body in strange position, looks uncomfortable Diarrhea is an abnormal nares produce or has convulsions, extremely thin. discharge. • Vent (cloaca): pasty vent, matted feathers frequency and liquidity of around vent. the feces usually caused by bacteria, parasites, viruses, Behavior fungi or chlamydia. • Attitude: sleepy acting, very inactive, not eating or drinking. Sits on floor of cage or is frequently picked Wings and on by cage mates. Yellow droppings may indicate feathers • Rarely vocalizes, frequently sits with beak tucked chlamydia, Pacheco’s virus or under wing and foot pulled up into body. are frayed other viral infection. Black or or tattered. • Inactivity; no playing, climbing or flying. • Does not eat or drink. May sit at feeder but not red droppings may indicate an Area around the vent seen eating. ulcer, intestinal bleeding or an (cloaca) is unclean, • Stands for long periods with beak hanging and feathers are matted. open on cage bars. internal injury. • Seldom or never preens its feathers.
Signs of a healthy bird The eyes are bright and clear. No discharge or Healthy droppings matting of feathers is present. The beak, mouth, cere and nostrils Fecal material are smooth and free of discharge. Urates Urine There should be no plaques or white nodules in mouth and no labored or open-mouth breathing.
Wings and feathers are smooth, not frayed or tattered. There is no bleeding, and the bird will exhibit normal preening habits.
The tail remains still while the bird is breathing.
The bird occasionally vocalizes and readily eats and drinks.
Area around the vent (cloaca) is clean, and feathers are not matted. For more information on birds and bird health, call the KAYTEE Helpline at 1-800-KAYTEE-1 or visit us at kaytee.com KT110505 © 2006 KAYTEE Products, Inc.