Red Belly Acting Sick?

[edwardandbella]

Hey guys, Edward my red belly was sneezing the other morning and had clear discharge from his nose. I took him in the bathroom for a steam session and by the next day he was back to normal. His eating and behavior hasn't changed. However, he seems pretty grumpy lately. He nips at his sister Bella if they are on their play stand together. He also makes this sound quite often, I can only explain it has a very soft beep sound. But he will still play with his toys and what not. I work 3-11pm and play with them when I come home and they go to sleep around 12am. I don't cover the cage because Im afraid of them chewing the cloth. Is it possible they arnt getting enough sleep and that's why he seems kind of grumpy? I have only had them home for about 3 weeks and they are getting much more used to me and love to hangout!! Maybe Im just a new parrot owner who is over concerned lol

 

[SoCalWendy]

Yes... Birds should wake at sun up and go to sleep at sundown or close to it. Playing with your birds at midnight could be making them grumpy and stressing their system. This is just my opinion. I keep a pretty strick schedule with Rio, she is up and out of her cage by 7-7:30 and back there no later than 8 pm. Occasionally she may stay up a little long but not much. So get yours on a better schedule. Since you work a swing shift, leave a dim light on, so you don't have to turn on the lights when you get home. Try to not wake your babies when you get home. Take the time you have on the mornings and early afternoons to spend time with them. Hope it helps

 

[edwardandbella]

Okay I will start doing that from now on. I just love hanging out with them so much lol! Well I covered the cage last night so they could maybe sleep in a little longer and Edwards attitude has done a complete 180! He wont stop talking and is currently hanging upside down on his toy. I didn't know a perfect nights rest was that IMPORTANT since they are in captive. But now that I do I will make sure they get proper rest! I love how they each have their own personality and habits!

 

[kq_fan]

With the discharge, if its clear and liquid like then its fine but if it has a color and if it is thick then you should bring him in. My Lilo had clear watery discharge and I was freaking out because when my Mango passed away, he died from discharge on the nose and eyes (because he was very sic). So I am now very cautious about that so I rushed to the vet and she was 99.9% healthy! With the biting, if he is younger then 3 years then he just might be going from baby hood to adult hood at that time they are little demons. He will pass at about 2-4 years. Good luck!

 

[edwardandbella]

Yea it was clear and thin. I put and air cleaner in the room and it cleared all up. I was worried sick but it all worked out. And yes they are almost two and I adopted them so Im not sure how the previous owner was with them.

 

[edwardandbella]

Its clear. I think they are both very sensative to dust and what not because today bella was sneezing with the same discharge but acting 100% normal. I took her in the bathroom for a steam bath and she was whistling and playing with her bell. Shes still sneezing but everything seems normal. It comes and goes.

 

[SoCalWendy]

Okay I will start doing that from now on. I just love hanging out with them so much lol! Well I covered the cage last night so they could maybe sleep in a little longer and Edwards attitude has done a complete 180! He wont stop talking and is currently hanging upside down on his toy. I didn't know a perfect nights rest was that IMPORTANT since they are in captive. But now that I do I will make sure they get proper rest! I love how they each have their own personality and habits!

Well there you said it - a perfect nights sleep is THAT IMPORTANT - every creature can appreciate a good nights sleep. By doing this you won't be stressing their bodies. Glad it's helping.

 

[MonicaMc]

If they haven't been to an avian vet for a well bird check up, it wouldn't hurt to take them in now and make sure they're healthy!

 

[edwardandbella]

They have been to one and checked out good! The sneezing thing comes and go and I think its just dust allergies. I love them so much, they are so funny to watch! Both have been warming up greatly too! However, how do you keep them from jumping off their cage or play pen? Lol

 

[MeganMango]

Mine are all a little sneezy right now because we have started to turn on the heat and it has dried out the air. A humidifier helps, we have one for me because Im use to a very hmid climate and recently moved to a dry one. My red belly gets pretty grumpy if he doesnt get enough sleep, but we do play with him at night. He goes to bed around 10:00pm, and then we all get up around 6:00AM. He joins in our morning routine and then we go to work. I know he sleeps a lot while Im at work because we put a web-cam on him. On the weekends he sleeps from around 12-4, and then he is back to being active. We get home around 5 when he has crazy time (flies around and plays pretty hard) and then we do training and hang out until bed-time again. I think consistency and routine are important.