That Bird Blog » bird health

Parrot Body Language – Puffed Feathers

findiviglio — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:07:26 +0000

Hello, Frank Indiviglio here. Parrots use a wide range of postures when communicating with one another and with their owners. Understanding the meaning of your parrot’s body language will simplify interactions with your pet, and is also important in assessing its health. Today we’ll look at puffed feathers - a behavior which can have several [...]

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Parrot Body Language – Puffed Feathers

Bird Breeding – Why Do Good Parents Sometimes Attack Their Chicks?

findiviglio — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:13:41 +0000

Hello, Frank Indiviglio here. Parrots that pair up well, mate, hatch eggs and feed their chicks are every bird-breeders dream. However, some such birds present us with a frustrating situation - just as the chicks begin to grow feathers, one or both of the otherwise doting parents begin to pluck at their chicks’ feathers. Bleeding [...]

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Bird Breeding – Why Do Good Parents Sometimes Attack Their Chicks?

Keeping a Preventative and Emergency Health Care Kit for Birds

findiviglio — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 18:49:31 +0000

Hello, Frank Indiviglio here. In caring for birds at home and in zoos, I have found that having emergency care items on hand has often prevented minor mishaps from turning into disasters. Supplements that aid in preventative health care are also essential. Today I have assembled a list of products that parallel those used in public [...]

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Keeping a Preventative and Emergency Health Care Kit for Birds

Lumps, Abscesses, Tumors and Swellings on Budgerigars and other Birds (Part I)

findiviglio — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 20:34:15 +0000

Hello, Frank Indiviglio here. Swollen areas and assorted growths are regularly seen on the otherwise hearty budgerigars (parakeets) and, less commonly, on other parrots, finches and softbills. Ranging from harmless to quite serious, these typically arise from trauma, abscesses, tumors, ruptured air sacs, hernias, cysts or egg-binding, but other -less obvious maladies may also be [...]

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Lumps, Abscesses, Tumors and Swellings on Budgerigars and other Birds (Part I)

Avian Health Concerns: Recognizing and Eliminating External Parasites, Ants and Moths; Part I

findiviglio — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 20:39:29 +0000

Hello, Frank here. The possibility of a flea or mite infestation in one’s home is a very troubling concern…pet-owners’ fears about this have been the source of many distressed calls for assistance that I have received over the years. The good news for bird keepers is that external parasites are not all that common among our [...]

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Avian Health Concerns: Recognizing and Eliminating External Parasites, Ants and Moths; Part I

Avian Medical Emergencies: Burns

findiviglio — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 21:00:03 +0000

Avian Medical Emergencies: What to do if Your Pet Bird Receives a Burn Injury Hello, Frank Indiviglio here. Birds at large in our homes, especially the ever-curious parrots, are at risk for burn injuries. If this happens, calm, quick and medically-appropriate action is absolutely essential if your pet is to survive. First Step: First Aid Areas burned [...]

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Avian Medical Emergencies: Burns

Humidity and Dust: Improving Air Quality for Birds and Bird Owners

findiviglio — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 19:16:45 +0000

Hello, Frank Indiviglio here. Overly-dry indoor air is a common throughout much of the US, particularly in the colder months when naturally arid air and house-heating systems are both at work. Bird and human skin can suffer as a result. Daily misting of your pets can help, but in some cases it might be wise to [...]

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Humidity and Dust: Improving Air Quality for Birds and Bird Owners

Overproduction of Eggs – Avian Health Concerns

findiviglio — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 19:00:37 +0000

Hello, Frank Indiviglio here. All too many birds are difficult to breed in captivity, but the opposite problem - chronic egg laying - is common to some popular species as well. It is most often seen in cockatiels and budgerigars, but is by no means limited to them. Health Risks A hen that produces multiple clutches on a [...]

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Overproduction of Eggs – Avian Health Concerns

Dealing with a Prolapsed Cloaca: Avian Health Concerns

findiviglio — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 22:08:28 +0000

Hello, Frank Indiviglio here. Cloacal prolapse can occur in any bird species (as well as in reptiles and amphibians) and is evidenced by moist or dried tissue protruding from the vent. It is frequently associated with egg-laying, and may occur before, during or after the process. A calcium deficiency is usually at the root of the [...]

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Dealing with a Prolapsed Cloaca: Avian Health Concerns

Avian Health Concerns: “My Parrot Seems Healthy, but Sometimes Passes Whole, Undigested Seeds in its Stool. Is this Normal”?

findiviglio — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 22:18:22 +0000

Hello, Frank Indiviglio here. The presence of whole, undigested seeds in a parrot's stool is cause for concern. It is usually associated with hyper-motility of the gastrointestinal (digestive) tract -- in other words, food is passing too quickly through the system, and digestion is not taking place. The problem usually centers in the glandular stomach (proventriculus) [...]

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Avian Health Concerns: “My Parrot Seems Healthy, but Sometimes Passes Whole, Undigested Seeds in its Stool. Is this Normal”?