Tips n' Techniques #06
Identifying Illness

Birds that are well fed and housed are generally trouble free of disease and illness but like most pets they do experience health problems from time to time.

There are many signs of bird illness but it is important to pay close attention to notice changes in appearance or behaviour to detect them.

Some simple things to watch for are; One eye partially or fully closed, Slow head nodding with frequent periods of closing both eyes, appears weak and sitting with feathers fluffed up, scaly skin around eyes, beak or legs and feet, sudden feather loss (not moulting season), matting of feathers on top of head or around ears, shivering, deep breathing, mouth open while breathing, discharges from the eyes or nostrils, gagging or stretching of neck, decrease in the amount of droppings per day, undigested food or blood in droppings, sudden loss of weight and lumps under the skin.

Of course not all illnesses are critical or life threatening, and most can be treated quite easily with the proper advice, the key is to recognise a problem as early as possible.

It is harder to recognise when a bird is sick than perhaps with a cat or dog, but generally if your bird appears weak, becomes unusually quiet, sits with its feathers fluffed up, has its eyes partially closed or has a drooping posture it may be critically ill.

Birds can die very quickly if not cared for properly and the "Lets wait and see" approach can waste valuable time. A bird that you suspect is very ill, should be removed from the company of other birds and placed in a warm, dimly lit and quiet area. A temperature of 26-29oC is desirable and a shallow dish of drinking water must be available. Handle the bird as little as possible and ring a vet to seek advice once you have made your bird comfortable.

Poor nutrition can cause such things as infertility, rickets, convulsions, anaemia, bone deformities, decreased immunity, nasal or eye discharges, diarrhoea, digestive complaints, liver dysfunction, fatty liver disease, slower healing, goiter and many other ailments. Like any other pet, if your bird is showing signs of being ill ring a vet and seek advice.

In this article we have brought together many pieces of information and simplified it to create greater awareness and understanding of the special requirements of birds. Even different varieties of birds can have quite different requirements and it is recommended that further knowledge is sought. There are many informative books available on the feeding and caring for specific birds and it is highly recommended you acquire these for detailed information. Whilst all care has been taken in the preparation of this booklet, Vortex Industries Pty Ltd cannot be held responsible for the results of any action taken on the basis of information contained in the booklet. If in doubt you should consult your vet.

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