Stumble It!
Mar 09 2009
Keeping Your Bird Healthy
Here are some things that you can do to help keep your bird healthy. Or to help you notice if something is wrong.
A simple thing to do is weigh your bird once a week. Make sure to weigh them at the same time and to wait until after the morning “bomb”. One of the first things that you will notice if your bird is getting sick is a change in weight. I recommend using a food scale. We use one that we weigh our coffee on. Make sure it will use grams. Either create a little perch for them to sit on or just train them to step right on the scale. Keep a small notebook that lists the date, weight, time and any other notes.
Take your bird in for a Well Bird Exam. Preferably you have a vet that has some avian experience or is avian certified. This exam done once a year helps to set up a base line of your bird’s health. That way if they get sick you have some notes and tests to compare.
Here are some things that the vet should be looking for:
- Feather and skin condition
- Clear eyes and nares
- Any signs of malnutrition
- Respiratory issues
- Weight should be taken
- Posture noted
Request that a fecal exam be done and that they look for any parasites, any indication of declining kidney and/or digestive health. A Gram stain should also be done to check for bacteria and yeast.
Click HERE to search for an Avian Vet in your area.
I go to the Avian Medical Center in Lake Oswego and to East Mill Plain Animal Hospital .
Do you need a scale?
Information Sources:
AAV Website veterinarian-search
