Is he sick?

[nicolee0085]

I have a 9 year old green cheek. I don't know the gender. He has been super horny lately. I know it's the season but he's never been like this. He's constantly humping everything and regurgitating. This has been going on for about a month. A few days ago his voice changed. Not all the time but literally just for this one yell he does. Everything else sounds normal. Today his poop has been runny. Any ideas of what could be going on?

 

[noodles123]

I have a 9 year old green cheek. I don't know the gender. He has been super horny lately. I know it's the season but he's never been like this. He's constantly humping everything and regurgitating. This has been going on for about a month. A few days ago his voice changed. Not all the time but literally just for this one yell he does. Everything else sounds normal. Today his poop has been runny. Any ideas of what could be going on?

Your bird could be egg bound which can be an emergency. If you have an avian vet, I'd get him/her in ASAP to verify what is going on. If you have a female, this is very possible given what you are describing hormonally .
Either way, a change in voice should always be taken very seriously, and you have also noticed smaller dropping which could indicate that your bird is eating less or has some sort of blockage-- my bird's poop got smaller when egg-bound.


Also, remove all huts, tents or access to shadowy spaces (indefinitely- adult birds get hormonal with these), make sure your bird is getting a solid 10 hours sleep in a quiet space (this regulates immune health, mood and hormones). Also, pet only on the head or neck and don't let your bird get under furniture, in boxes or any shadowy spaces (also, remove mirrors in the cage). The things I mentioned above are important in keeping adult birds healthy long-term (even if it's not spring time). In terms of temporary changes, avoid allowing access to shredding paper and wicker-style toys that are easily "nest" like and put pause on warm mushy foods (unless that is all he/she will eat, in which case obviously you wouldn't want to starve your bird).


A bird can be SUPER hormonal and show fairly discrete behaviors, but the following things should be discouraged- If your bird raises its tail, quivers in a sexual way, rubs on you, is hiding in your hair, pushing up against you etc, do not encourage or attend to it. If you see any hormonal behavior, but your bird down and do not attend to it-- do your best to remove your attention or totally change the subject.

 

[Laurasea]

Runny poop isn't normal, unless just ate veggies or fruits.

Having a digital kitchen scale set to grams and weigh every day if you think something is up. Sick burds usually drop weight, female with eggs gain.

Any symptoms should be taken seriously as birds hide being sick.

 

[nicolee0085]

I haven't wighed him in about six months but he's always wighed 69 grams. I just weighed him and he weighs 96 grams. Now I'm freaking out

 

[noodles123]

I think that points to an egg/eggs (most come in clutches, 1 each 24 hours or so, but Noodles only ever makes 1 at a time for some very odd reason). If you knew when the weight gain started, you would have a better guess of when the eggs should come out, but you basically have roughly 48 hours or so from the time of formation to expulsion of the egg. This isn't exact, but it can be an indicator of egg binding vs just egg laying. Larger or smaller poops do occur in egg bound birds but it may not be that...Heck, even just a bird laying a normal egg can show some of those signs.


I would make sure you get him/her checked though, as that is a massive weight gain if it isn't a clutch of eggs and because you aren't sure if this is binding or just laying (but it's super important to know). The first time my female cockatoo made an egg, it was years after she was sexually mature and she did need injections to help her pass it.



Feeling the abdomen of a hormonal parrot is very sexy to them, so try to avoid it, but you can try to quickly feel for a bulge ifyou are familiar with how that area normally feels. That having been said, they sometimes form high and cannot be felt, even by avian vets. An x ray would tell you a lot.


Make sure you crack down on those hormonal triggers (10 hours sleep, head and neck only, no shadowy spaces etc) and if an egg comes out, DO NOT remove it until your bird totally loses interest. You can buy really convincing dummy eggs online at dummyeggs.com http://dummyeggs.com/ (if you remove an egg before that time, or fail to swap it with a convincing dummy, you reset the cycle and they will make more).

 

[nicolee0085]

If they are pregnant it would be that much of a weight gain? He has had diarrhea literally this whole day

 

[noodles123]

You need your bird to go to the vet ASAP- the weight gain could be from eggs if there is other inflammation etc, a tumor or fat, but either way, you cannot afford to gamble when it could be something serious--- especially with diarrhea all day.


You may have an overweight bird who gained a lot of weight and then is carrying eggs on top of that-- it could be a combination. When you feel his chest (which again, should be avoided unless medical) can you feel his keel bone or is it indented? A fat bird will have an indent and a chubby one you won't be able to feel a bone at all. If the bone is super sharp (almost concave) that is a very underweight bird. Either way, vet ASAP, because that diarrhea is not sustainable and you have noticed enough red flags to be concerned.


That weight gain is huge though, and given what you are describing, I would ask to be seen on an emergency visit ***if you have an avian vet*** An exotics vet could possibly help if they deal with a ton of birds, but an emergency visit to a standard vet is generally fruitless unless your bird needs supportive car like oxygen or fluids. Most avian vets can work you in on emergency (although some do require a fee).

 

[nicolee0085]

If there are eggs in there....how long does it take before they should come out?

 

[noodles123]

it can take 1-3 days I believe---at least for mine (3 being quite high) but what you are describing is not typical for a parrot who will lay naturally. You don't know how long they have been in there already IF there are eggs.


Birds hide illness like crazy, so time matters when you do see symptoms. The weight gain is concerning, as is the fluid loss etc that is occurring from a day of diarrhea. Plus, you noticed a change in voice more than a few days ago (or so it sounds). It may or may not be eggs, but a day of poop like that is enough to prompt a serious vet visit.


In many cases, healthy birds lay eggs without showing any signs that they will. That is not always the case, but what you are describing doesn't sound totally typical--- that weight gain is huge. Obese birds are also more prone to egg binding, as are those with high seed diets. Given the extremely hormonal behavior you have seen, plus this gain and the changes to droppings, I would say that if it is not egg binding, you still need to get it checked ASAP.


Frequent weighing and observational clues can also be helpful for future reference (if this is egg binding).

 

[noodles123]

Loose poop is not always abnormal in an egg laying female (it can be normal, but the duration and intensity also matter). I'm more concerned about that happening in conjunction with everything else-- the weight changes, plus the behavior and voice changes are what prompt me to direct you to a vet.

 

[nicolee0085]

So he always goes to bed at 6:30. Tonight he was saying night night at 5:30 so I let him go to bed. I heard him biting his cage so I checked on him and there was an egg at the bottom of his cage. My baby isn't a boy The egg only weighed 6 grams so I'm guessing there are more in there?

 

[noodles123]

Yes, there should be more (especially with that weight gain). Is the egg intact? Like I said, DO NOT take it out unless you swap it for a dummy egg (wait until all interest is lost-- the risk of keeping the real one in there is that it can be a stinky mess and some birds will try to eat them).



This is a good sign that the process is started. If any eggs come out broken, that is another cause for concern (if they are broken as the come out).

Keep an eye on behavior and weight-- if this is the first time this has happened, I'd still get follow-up care to make sure they are all out ---it is promising that she laid one on her own.



Do keep a very close eye on removing all of those shadowy triggers, touch triggers etc.

 

[nicolee0085]

Yes it's in tact. I thought I was supposed to take it out. I'll put it back in. How long do I leave it in there?

 

[noodles123]

Cannot believe I forgot this- providing foods higher in calcium and get her a cuttle bone if she doesn't have one, as she will need calcium to produce eggs that come out intact etc. Normal nutrition can be enough, but laying females should get more calcium than non-laying.

 

[noodles123]

Yes it's in tact. I thought I was supposed to take it out. I'll put it back in. How long do I leave it in there?

I would order a clutch of dummy eggs on Amazon ASAP and that way, you can take it out when you swap it a few days from now when they arrive. You leave it until your bird loses interest, which can be a month...but a real egg for a month can be a stinky mess if it is broken or played with...Hence the dummy eggs. dummyeggs.com sells their stuff on amazon. My prior replies mention this above.

 

[nicolee0085]

What can they eat that's high in calcium. I've always had a cuttle bone but he's never touched it.

 

[noodles123]

Avoid high protein and high sugar foods too, as these can make egg laying more likely. I am not saying to cut off bird's current diet (as that is dangerous too).
Here is a link with some tips- https://parrotfunhouse.com/blogs/pa...my-bird-is-laying-too-many-eggs-what-can-i-do --- this link suggests "

1. Berries - strawberry, blueberry, raspberry, blackberry
2. Melons - watermelon, honeydew, cantaloupe
3. Cruciferous vegetables - cauliflower, kale, bok choy and Brussels sprouts
4. Leafy green vegetables - watercress, arugula, red leaf lettuce, spinach, beet greens, collard greens and swiss chard
5. Cucumber, zucchini
6. Non-starchy vegetables - radish, beetroot, cucumber, zucchini, green beans, carrots and bell pepper"

Under veterinary supervision and proper dosing, you could ask about a vitamin supplement mixed in with moist food (not in the water), but only with extreme caution, as these can cause them to OD and harm organs in excess. They should not be added to water, so if your vet suggests that, I'd look for a new vet.


here is another link: https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/chronic-egg-laying-in-birds


here is a link to high calcium foods- https://animals.mom.com/calcium-rich-food-birds-7482.html (remember, still try to avoid high protein or sugar). some protein and sugar=ok but you don't want too much . Same with fat-- and again, do not cut her off from what she knows (but do be mindful).

 

[noodles123]

Strongly suggest you buy these eggs- https://www.amazon.com/DummyEggs-Fa...8d4a2&pd_rd_wg=uhSbA&pd_rd_i=B077BLM29M&psc=1


They are convincing and even come with a file in case there are plastic markings. You do not want a clutch of real eggs for that long if you can help it. I am assuming these are not fertile, correct?


Don't let your bird see you do the swap--- I would do the swap right before lights out so that your parrot doesn't have a ton of time to keep looking at the new egg for differences. If you swap at bed, lights go off and differences will be less obvious by the next day (in theory).

 

[noodles123]

Another thing- just because a bird leaves the egg, does NOT mean they have lost interest. If the egg stays untouched for many days and you don't notice her moving it to different locations or ever paying any attention for like a whole week with absolutely no interest, then remove it...but make sure you do not remove it too soon, as it can start a new batch of eggs forming.


If an egg is broken, you DO need to remove it for the health of your bird, which is yet another reason to use dummies and always have them on-hand.


If an egg is broken upon impact, that is okay (still need to remove it) BUT if an egg is cracked or broken when it comes out because it cracked internally, that needs serious attention in case of medical complications. Make sure you can account for all pieces of the shell if you are having a hard time making this determination.

 

[nicolee0085]

Thanks for all if the information everybody! Dummy eggs will be here Thursday! He currently eats pellets, small amounts of hemp seeds, a few frozen corn kernels and a dried fruit and veggie mix. I wonder if he's already getting enough calcium...