Ringneck Discolouration Around Nostrils

[JR014]

Hi everyone. New to this forum and new to bird keeping.

I got 2 ringnecks around 6 weeks ago. In the last week or so, one of them has developed a blackish discolouration around his nostrils. He also seems puff himself up from time to time and seems to shiver a bit.

He still flies around and make plenty of noise, though does seem to be a little less active. There is no sneezing or coughing and he seems to be fine with his breathing.

I have attached some photos.

Is this something I need to get looked at? Or something I should monitor that could go away on its own?

Thanks in advance.

 

[LaManuka]

Welcome to the forums, JR014, and your beautiful ringnecks! Don't forget to tell us their names, will you?

It's hard to say for sure what the problem may be with your birds, but it just appears to me that the discolouration may be due to moisture caused by discharge coming from the nostrils, and that may be an indicator of respiratory infection. Are you able to ascertain whether the the feathers are moist or not? In any event, birds are unfortunately *extremely* good at masking signs of illness, and they often act quite normally despite being ill. Personally, as it would seem that these birds are being housed together, I'd be taking them both to an avian specialist vet to get them checked out. Only one may be showing symptoms now but the other may well follow suit, and I do think it would be well worth your while to have them examined by a professional.

I'm not sure exactly where in the world you are located, but the following resource should help you to find an avian vet in your vicinity....

Avian Vet Resources

After a suggestion by a member, @Abu Colo, the Mod Team decided to create a list of veterinarians around the world who see birds. This was something we had discussed a few years ago, but the task seemed so large that we didn't get very far. However, the need is there and we decided that the time...

www.parrotforums.com

Avian vets should be consulted where possible, rather than regular vets, as birds differ so very much from other pets in their physiology.

I wish you the very best of luck with your pair, and hope they will both be ok

 

[JR014]

Welcome to the forums, JR014, and your beautiful ringnecks! Don't forget to tell us their names, will you?

It's hard to say for sure what the problem may be with your birds, but it just appears to me that the discolouration may be due to moisture caused by discharge coming from the nostrils, and that may be an indicator of respiratory infection. Are you able to ascertain whether the the feathers are moist or not? In any event, birds are unfortunately *extremely* good at masking signs of illness, and they often act quite normally despite being ill. Personally, as it would seem that these birds are being housed together, I'd be taking them both to an avian specialist vet to get them checked out. Only one may be showing symptoms now but the other may well follow suit, and I do think it would be well worth your while to have them examined by a professional.

I'm not sure exactly where in the world you are located, but the following resource should help you to find an avian vet in your vicinity....

Avian Vet Resources

After a suggestion by a member, @Abu Colo, the Mod Team decided to create a list of veterinarians around the world who see birds. This was something we had discussed a few years ago, but the task seemed so large that we didn't get very far. However, the need is there and we decided that the time...

www.parrotforums.com

Avian vets should be consulted where possible, rather than regular vets, as birds differ so very much from other pets in their physiology.

I wish you the very best of luck with your pair, and hope they will both be ok

Thanks for the response.

I can't really tell if it's wet around the discolouration or not. If it is wet, it isn't obvious.

I've been watching him this afternoon and he seems to be acting mostly his normal self and is eating ok. Just those marks around the nose worry me.

I live in Brisbane Australia and I have spoken to an avarian vet near me who can see him tomorrow. Was just making sure it was worth taking him in to be checked.

As for the birds and their names. They are Ackrow and Lilly. I've attached a picture of them both from today

 

[LaManuka]

Oh they're a beautiful pair! And I think you're doing the right thing in having them checked out, I always have any new flock member checked for general wellness. Even if it turns out there's nothing wrong right now, it establishes a baseline for your birds' health and also a relationship with your bird vet in case of future emergencies. I live in Brisbane too and I highly recommend Brisbane Bird Vet at Chermside - I've been seeing Dr Adrian there for almost 30 years and he is one of the very best in the business. If you're going there you will be in very good hands, although there are a couple of others in Brisbane who are very good too.

Welcome again to you, Ackrow and Lilly, I'm glad to have you all join our virtual worldwide flock!

 

[JR014]

Oh they're a beautiful pair! And I think you're doing the right thing in having them checked out, I always have any new flock member checked for general wellness. Even if it turns out there's nothing wrong right now, it establishes a baseline for your birds' health and also a relationship with your bird vet in case of future emergencies. I live in Brisbane too and I highly recommend Brisbane Bird Vet at Chermside - I've been seeing Dr Adrian there for almost 30 years and he is one of the very best in the business. If you're going there you will be in very good hands, although there are a couple of others in Brisbane who are very good too.

Welcome again to you, Ackrow and Lilly, I'm glad to have you all join our virtual worldwide flock!

Haha yep small world. That's the one I spoke to on the phone (I'm in Narangba so that is my closest from what I could see online). Good to know he comes with good recommendations!

Thanks for the welcome! I'll be sure to keep myself on here asking more questions, as I still have plenty to learn

 

[LaManuka]

Oh that's awesome you're going to BBV! Adrian and his staff will be only too happy to answer any other questions you may have about bird care, honestly I don't think there's anything that man doesn't know. We are very fortunate in Brisbane that we have a number of excellent bird vets here, but Adrian is a bit of a local legend. I hope you'll keep us updated as to how you go after your appointment too

 

[Cottonoid]

Welcome! What beautiful birds!

I'm glad you have an appointment already, and with a great vet by the sounds of it!

I agree with getting any symptom at all checked out. My recent adoptee also had feather staining - but then progressed to losing weight; it was hard to tell how he was feeling while he was at the parrot rescue because he was so anxious overall. He was a pretty sick little birdie when I brought him home. Thanks to people here spotting all his symptoms along the way, he's now on the mend with antibiotics, but it was quite serious by the time I got him to the vet.

 

[Laurasea]

welcome an what a gorgeous pair.

Definitely a respiratory issue. Things with birds can be subtle and they are hardwired to hide any sickness. But they can't hide the staining, which is always abnormal.

Awesome that you have a great veterinarian lined up! Please share the visit and treatment plan with us. We all learn so much from each other and your thread will help many others.

If you can start monitoring weight with a digital kitchen scale that will be great for you. Sometimes early symptoms can just be weight loss and when caught early like that easy to cure them. So its a good life long practice.