Avian Information
Looking After Your Bird
Birds make great pets but they can be a hard animal to know when to get vet care for. When you own an avian friend, it is essential that you spend time with it to observe subtle changes in weather condition, water and food consumption and behaviour.
A bird-like a parrot in the wild, are instinctively aware that they are prey. Often they continue to hide illness and weakness as part of their survival instinct. The built-in mechanism is something to keep in mind. One of the first signs that most owners take note off is the decrease in talking or vocalising.
Parrots Signs of Disease
Changes in breathing like tail bobbing when breathing, sneezing, wheezing sounds when breathing or breathing with its beak open
Seizure or trembling
Walking in circles
Falling off the perch or losing balance
Weakness
Sitting at the bottom of its cage
Sitting low on the perch
Changes or decreasing in singing or vocalization
Lack of interest and inactivity
Closed eyes or increased sleeping
Fluffed feathers
Prominent keel or weight loss
Vomiting
Decreased or increased thirst and appetite
Changes in frequency, quantity, consistency or colour of urine or droppings
Swelling or lumps on any part of its body
Elevated or drooped wings
Eyes that are sunken, dull or abnormal colour
Crusts or discharge at the nostrils
When you look for high-quality avian healthcare you are at the right place. Our vets are here for you to do general health checks, nutritional needs, behaviour and housing of parrots. While smaller bird species do not require as much space, larger parrots do.
The key to good health for your parrot is cleanliness as we have encountered too many sick birds due to dirty cages, feeding and water bowls. A clean cage can help to prevent fungal, viral, and bacterial infections.
Parrot Nutrition
Parrots are often fed a seed-only diet, which is where bird owners go wrong. A seed like a sunflower especially drastically reduces the bird’s life span as it is high in fats and the cause of liver disease.
As there is a large range of different parrot species dietary needs can vary greatly. The following are general recommendations for most commonly kept parrot species (not including lorikeets which are nectar-feeding birds):
40-70% commercial parrot pellet designed for the species of your pet
20-35% vegetables (capsicum, carrot, zucchini, broccoli, chilli, corn, squash, spinach, sweet potato, pumpkin, peas and beans)
7-15% fruits with seeds removed (melon, banana, strawberry, blueberry, peaches, grapes, apple, pear) and native vegetation (Ensure all plants are free from wild bird droppings. Most Australian blossoms, gum nuts and plants are ok to feed)
10-15% quality commercial seed mix designed for the species of your pet
1-2% snacks for treats and training (unsalted nuts such as cashew, macadamia, and walnuts. pasta, eggs, brown rice)
