Female Green Cheek Conure smells bad

[Frumpydumple]

Hello, I have a 3 year old female Green Cheek Conure and she has smelled really bad for a few months now, she bathes almost every day, has a good diet, and has her water changed twice a day, and her cage is clean, but on her back and wings she just seems to smell really bad, none of my other birds smell, and I heard that this is not normal and could be an infection. The smell does seem to go away sometimes, but it is worse now. What could this be?

 

[ShellyBorg]

You need to get your bird into the vet as soon as possible. Smells can indicate a infection or even cancer. Our birds are amazing at hiding illnesses for long times before showing any outward signs. Good Luck

 

[Frumpydumple]

Thank you very much for telling me. I will get her to the vet as soon as I can. I knew it wasn't normal, I was just trying to find out what it was that was causing it exactly.

 

[MonicaMc]

Sounds like a possible infection of the preening gland which is located at the base of their rump, right between the wings. It could also be another sort of infection.

Vet check by an avian vet is the best thing you can do.

 

[94lt1]

Our green cheek smelled too.. It was a yeast infection... She'd had it before we get her.... An good avian vet should be able to find it by checking the birds droppings..

She's over it now... Thank god.. Good luck with yours.

 

[Mariahh0721]

Does this just apply to conures or all birds? One of my indian ringneck smells, we gave him a bath and he smells better but he still smells a little off. He just went to the vet last Friday and she said he was healthy, it is possible he's just a smelly bird

 

[ShellyBorg]

All birds. And when it comes down to it all animals, even humans. If there is a change of body smell , of just a off smell that is not right. Please get medical help.

 

[MonicaMc]

Different parrots have different smells. Amazons are known for having a "musky" scent to them, some would even go as far as to describe it as a "gym sock" kind of smell. However, this smell is quite normal for the species to have.

Lorikeets and eclectus may smell "fruity" based on their diet. Cockatoos may smell "powdery" since they are 'powder birds'. Cockatiels may also smell 'powdery' or like "popcorn" (not sure how that's possible, but I've smelled it, too!).


In short, birds do have different smells to them and that's normal... but if a bird all of a sudden smells differently, and it's not due to a diet change, then the bird could be sick.

 

[Mariahh0721]

He's smelled like that since I got him, so I'm not sure If its normal ill be sure to take him to the vet and address that specifically I don't see y

 

[Mariahh0721]

Sorry my sun conure was walking around on the screen

I don't see why the bet would tell us if he's healthy if there may be a problem

 

[BoomBoom]

Our green cheek smelled too.. It was a yeast infection... She'd had it before we get her.... An good avian vet should be able to find it by checking the birds droppings..

She's over it now... Thank god.. Good luck with yours.

How did you treat the yeast infection? I heard some vets recommend adding a bit of cider vinegar to drinking water for a straight 1 week.

Boomer, my sun conure, has a lovely smell (to me anyway). Kind of fruity and baby powder smell. When I smell under the wing (I know I shouldn't), he's got that Boomer smell I love lol! The best way I could describe it is this fruity-sweet chicken curry?

 

[MonicaMc]

I beg your pardon, my Lola does not and has never smelled "like a gym sock"

Well, if it helps make Lola feel any better, I don't think she or any other 'zon smells like gym socks either! :xmas_lol2

How did you treat the yeast infection? I heard some vets recommend adding a bit of cider vinegar to drinking water for a straight 1 week.

The ACV "may" work for a light infection, however it's possible for it to not help at all or make things worse. If a bird has an infection, it's almost always best to use medications prescribed from an avian vet for the specific infection. General medications (such as Baytril, an antibiotic) are not always as effective as using specific medications, and even then, it may be required to try several medications to find one that the bird *will* respond to if they don't respond to the first(s).

 

[Frumpydumple]

Hello, thank you for responding, Cookie does not smell as bad now, but I will get her checked over anyway. I will try the apple cider vinegar.

 

[94lt1]

This is almost a year we've had Rain..and her funky smell is coming back..guess I know now what it is...its that time folks..

 

[riddick07]

So basically what this resurrected thread is saying is that its a good thing I inhale my birds like crack (I don't even want to know how much bird dust is in my lungs) Though it is depressing that Loki has lost his baby smell:5_sad::19_indiff

 

[Laurasea]

Reserection!!!! Beware this is an old thread. Ok my GCC smelled bad and it was a yeast infection. My CAV wanted me to spray her with dilute chrorahexadine (spell?) I myself and other members didn't feel comfortable with that! EllenD even pointed out risks to eyesight! Members did recommend probiotics! Using the probiotics in addition to taking her outside for 15 min to 30 min daily sun/shade helped her get over it in a few days. I have become a believer of probiotics!!! And I am glad other members smell their birds! Tho the yeasty musty smell was so bad I didn't need to sniff her. She makes soup of her water all day long, and I empty and clean it all day long nit sure if this lead to the yeast..