should i be worried

[paintedparrots]

ive had my 3 year old cockatiel for more than a week now. he still bites when my fingers are close so i need o get him used to me but ill deal with that later.

what im worried about it possible illness. he sneezes a lot in a day and i dont know if its normal for a cockatiel to sneeze a lot. sometimes itll be one sneeze, and sometimes its 4 in a row (rarely) but when i get a close up look of their nostrils i see some sort of mucus in there. its not runny and i think its maybe green and the inside is redder than the outside but id say thats normal cause its the nostril of course, but i dont know what shades of red are bad and what are normal.
he eats often so food isnt a problem. i havent checked his poo but im sure thats fine, i doubt it would have any effect it looks ok. hes not a very active bird if im honest, he doesent sing all the time but on rare occasions and often sits at his door cause its his favorite spot where he normally puffs up a lil and sit there preening, resting and climbing his cage. the previous owner game me his probably 5 ton bag of seeds and that his main diet, aside from cornflakes and possibly any treat that i think he deserves but im just worried about the sneezing since im not as experienced and this kind of stuff just worries me a lot since i dont want anything bad to happen to them so what should i do? theres no vet that lives close to me so it would be a couple hour ride and i dont have a travel cage for him, plus hes a big scaredy cat. im really worried for the worst.

 

[GaleriaGila]

Welcome! Lots of cockatiel peeps (and more) who will help you, I'm sure. I bet the first thing they'll hope for is that you could find an avian veterinarian. Meanwhile, you can take any issue or topic which interests you, use the Search Tab and then read about it. I do that a lot. The people here are an amazing source of information, advice, and support. I'm glad you're here.
P.S. Could you post pictures of your bird's affected areas?

 

[Scott]

Welcome to the forums, thanks for joining!!

Multiple and frequent sneezing is not normal, and the possible discharge (even if not runny) is enough evidence to see an avian vet. Please keep in mind sick birds do their best to cover the symptoms, so there may be an underlying illness.

Many techniques to reduce or prevent biting exist. This is a favorite "Biting" thread from the Training Forum: http://www.parrotforums.com/training/63988-bite-pressure-training.html

 

[Allee]

Welcome paintedparrots!

As Scott mentioned, the best chance you can give your new friend is a visit to an avian vet. Respiratory issues can quickly lead to infection and birds are very good at hiding symptoms. Hopefully, this is something easily treated.

Do you have other birds? If so, it would be wise to follow quarantine procedures for their safety.

Regular baths are important for all parrots, cockatiels produce powder to condition their feathers, frequent baths will cut down on the powder and possibly help with the respiratory issues.

If your three year old has had a seed only diet for his entire life you may be seeing some results, if a bird isn't getting the nutrition they need, it's reasonable to assume they have a low energy level, diet can also weaken the immune system. You would be doing your little friend a favor by looking into a better diet. His health will improve and it will likely add years to his life. Here are some helpful links for you.

http://www.parrotforums.com/parrot-...7-converting-parrots-healthier-diet-tips.html

http://www.parrotforums.com/parrot-...afe-fresh-foods-toxic-food-lists-sprouts.html

http://www.parrotforums.com/parrot-food-recipes-diet/57416-sprouting-made-easy.html

http://www.parrotforums.com/parrot-food-recipes-diet/28242-ingredients-pellets.html

Best of luck! Please keep us updated!

 

[texsize]

I have a lot of cockatiels and sneezing while not uncommon it does not occur often.
sneezing with a discharge for me would signal an immediate visit to the vet.
best this is to take care of it early as possible.
texsize

 

[wrench13]

Sneezing with ANY discharge is a trip to the AVIAN Vet.

 

[SilverSage]

Agreed with all above; yes, you should be concerned and you should take him to an AVIAN vet (not just a vet that sees birds, not just an exotic vet) ASAP. Also, if you have other birds I hope you are practicing good quarantine.

The all seed diet is not good, and I suggest introducing sprouts (easiest switch out there), leafy greens, other fresh foods, and pellets. Also, give him a bath


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[Flboy]

Welcome to you. Am glad you are concerned enough to ask! Take good care of your new baby!
A simple cat carrier will work perfectly for a travel cage, rigged with a perch if possible.

You can pick those things up for next to nothing used! Just clean it very well and verify it won't open on it's own!
Also pet shops carry a simple carrier, under 20 bucks.

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[Kentuckienne]

Sneezing with any kind of material in the nostril? Avian vet, immediately. Don't ask me how I know because I'll cry at you.