Pet bird first aid, step by step

A pet bird can look fine until it is seriously ill, so a bird huddled on the cage floor, or bobbing its tail with each breath, needs an avian vet now. A resting bird under 300 grams takes 30 to 60 breaths a minute, and a 10% weight change is worth a call.

Written by Justin Alcalde, AHA and American Red Cross instructor, CPR West Covina · Reviewed

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What normal looks like in a pet bird

Size changes almost every number, so a budgie and a large parrot will not match. Feathers can hide even severe weight loss, so a gram scale and the cage paper tell you more than a glance.

CheckWhat is normalHow to check
WeightSteady. Call an avian vet about a 10% gain or loss, or a loss 3 days in a rowA digital scale that reads in grams, at the same time of day. The Association of Avian Veterinarians (AAV) suggests weekly; the 3 day rule needs daily weighing. For a 30 gram bird, 10% is only 3 grams
Breathing at restBarely noticeable, beak closed, tail still. Merck lists 30 to 60 breaths a minute in birds under 300 grams and 15 to 30 in birds of 400 to 1,000 gramsCount from across the room before you handle your bird. After handling, breathing should settle within 3 to 4 minutes. Open beak breathing or a bobbing tail while resting can mean breathing trouble: go now
Posture and feathersUpright on the perch, feathers smooth, eyes bright and fully openLook from a distance. Fluffed feathers, half closed eyes, more sleep than usual or sitting low on the perch can be signs of illness: call an avian vet
DroppingsFormed green or brown feces, white urates and a little clear urine. Most birds pass one every 20 to 30 minutesPlain paper on the cage floor, changed daily, so you can see the number, color and texture

How to check your bird, mostly by watching

Handling makes a bird breathe faster and its heart race, so watch first and count before you touch. A scale with a perch on top lets a tame bird step on by itself.

  1. Weigh in grams

    Once a week or more, at the same time of day. Log it.

  2. Watch breathing from across the room

    Beak closed, tail still. Count before you pick your bird up.

  3. Read the fresh droppings

    Count them, and compare color and texture with your bird's usual.

  4. Check nostrils, eyes and vent

    Clean and dry, with no crust, discharge or stained feathers.

  5. Note food and water

    Eating or drinking much more or less than usual: call an avian vet.

What a change in droppings can mean

Each dropping has three parts: green or brown feces, chalky white urates and clear liquid urine. Diet and stress can change them for a short time, and nectar eaters such as lories normally pass wetter ones. VCA advises an avian vet when droppings stay abnormal for more than 24 hours. Blood spots away from the droppings can come from a broken blood feather, and a straining hen may need our egg binding guide.

What you seeWhat it can be a sign ofWhat to do
Formed green or brown feces, white urates, a little clear urineNormalNothing. Red or orange pellets can tint the feces to match
Watery, but the feces part looks normalExtra urine, often from fruit, wet foods or stress. Without those, it can be a sign of kidney troubleCall an avian vet if it lasts past 24 hours
Loose, mushy fecesTrue diarrhea, which can come with serious illnessCall an avian vet today. Go now if your bird also seems unwell
Green or yellow urates, the part that should be whiteLiver trouble, an infection such as parrot fever, or lead poisoningCall an avian vet today
Black, tar like fecesDigested blood from bleeding in the gut, or lead poisoningGo to an avian vet now
Fresh red bloodBleeding low in the gut or at the vent, egg binding in a hen, a growth, or lead poisoningGo to an avian vet now
Whole, undigested seedA digestive problem, such as avian gastric yeast or a nerve disease of the gutCall an avian vet today
Far fewer droppings than usualA bird eating too little, or a hen that is egg boundGo to an avian vet now

Watch the steps

Is your bird egg bound?Is your bird egg bound?Your bird's feather is bleeding: what to doYour bird's feather is bleeding: what to doWhat to do if your bird is not breathingWhat to do if your bird is not breathing

Keep the steps on your phone

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Questions people ask

Does a healthy bird need an avian vet?

It helps a lot. Merck suggests a checkup every year, and AAV points out that a vet who has seen your bird when well knows its usual weight and behavior. Look for one with the Find a Vet tool at aav.org or the ABVP search for board certified avian vets.

Should I wait until morning to see if my bird gets better?

No. The AAV tells owners not to hold off until tomorrow, because a bird is often sick for a while before signs show. Phone an avian vet or a bird-friendly emergency clinic tonight. Meanwhile keep your bird quiet, with the air around it at about 80 to 85 F. Merck says a bird that pants or spreads its wings is probably too hot.

Are nonstick pans really dangerous to birds?

They can be. Merck notes that some nonstick cookware releases a toxic gas when a pan overheats to about 536 F, and small birds often die suddenly after very little exposure. Some irons, self-cleaning ovens and heat lamps can release it too, so keep the cage well away from the kitchen. A bird wheezing or struggling to breathe after fumes needs an avian vet at once.

Why is my bird's first dropping of the morning so big?

That is usually normal. Some birds hold their droppings overnight, so the first one is a large mix of feces and urine, and AAV notes it is often looser and can smell stronger. Judge color and texture from later droppings. A hen getting ready to lay can also pass large droppings.

What should I bring to the avian vet?

Your weight log, and the most recent paper from the cage floor so the vet can look at the droppings. For a checkup, Merck suggests bringing your bird in its own cage, or photos of the setup if that is not practical. In an emergency, use a warm carrier with a towel over at least three sides, and a passenger can pull up bird first aid steps in PetAid.

Pet first aid for every pet

This is first aid, not veterinary care. Get to a vet or an emergency animal hospital as soon as the steps are done.

Sources