Bird Health

You've found your feathered friend limping and not able to climb up to its perch. After a closer look, you can see that its leg is broken. It's after hours, and the avian veterinarian's office is...

Birds kept outdoors are prone to parasites and lice, which can cause extreme itchiness and feather irritation. One sign of lice in birds is that they will pull their feathers out and scratch...

Typically very low maintenance, birds are great pets for apartment dwellers, as well as homeowners. Birds do not get pregnant but they will lay eggs to hatch. This is called being gravid. Birds...

Choosing a qualified and competent veterinarian is one of the best things that you can do for your bird... and yourself! If you have many options available, it's not always easy to choose. Check...

With pet parrot on shoulder, you decide to take a walk outside. "Aren't you afraid it'll fly away?" is one of the top stranger FAQs. When you reply, "No, his wings are clipped"...

This article is all about how to clip parakeet wings. It's a bright, summer day as you unlatch the cage to play with your pet parakeet. After some time of stretch her wings and flying around the...

If you are interested in raising ducks, one important thing you will need to know is how to tell the difference between male and female ducks, also called gendering. It is much easier to gender...

The simple answer to this very common bird question is that birds--canaries included--don't get pregnant. Pregnancy is when a fetus develops inside a mother. Birds lay eggs, and the young ones...

Pet birds, poultry and wild birds are all susceptible to external parasites like mites and lice. The head louse and the body louse are the two most common species of louse. Bird lice are...

One of the principle eye concerns with cockatiels is eye infections. Conjunctivitis, an inflammation or infection of the conjunctiva, seems to be of an unknown cause. Research into the cause and...

Avian renal disease is a common ailment in birds of prey. Although it is often unrecognized in the small birds that are found in homes as pets, avian renal disease should still be of concern if a...

Parrots, birds in fact, do not catch colds. Therefore, any symptoms that would appear to be a cold by human-judged standards is likely to be something else. Because birds have delicate respiratory...

Anywhere from one-hundred thousand to one billion birds are estimated to be killed annually just from the impact with glass-paned windows alone, according to estimations provided by Dr. Daniel...

There are many types of bird feeders available. Some are designed to allow only small birds to feed, others are built to deter squirrels, and still others are built for specific types of bird food...

Because all birds tend to conceal signs of ill health--an instinctive reaction in order to avoid being targeted by predators--it's not always obvious when they're sick. Some indicators they can't...

Injuries to bird wings, nails and other areas of the bird's body can happen without warning, causing uncontrolled bleeding. It is essential to have a emergency supplies on hand before the injury...

Finding a baby bird brings out the caregiver in most people. Small and vulnerable, it is hard to resist the impulse to scoop it up and bring it home. In reality, this is the last step you should...

Breathing problems in budgies are often a sign of a serious illness in budgies. A bird having trouble breathing can appear to be gasping for air. It may move it's tail with each breath, or sit...

Both young and older birds can suffer from joint problems such as degenerative joint disease. This condition is also known as degenerative arthritis, osteoarthritis or simply arthritis. There are...

Baby birds that seem lost are a common occurrence each nesting season. If you find an abandoned young bird, helping it might seem the natural thing to do, but most baby birds that appear lost...

The most common eye disease in parakeets is cataracts. Eye infections, however, are generally symptoms of other disease, malnutrition, illness or toxicity. It is important to assess the bird's...

Clear glass windows and doors pose a hazard to flying birds because they cannot see the panes. Glass reflects objects that the bird may think are real, such as trees, grass and the sky. The Bird...

Mites are a common health problem in budgies purchased from disreputable and unclean breeders or pet shops. Mites can also occur in pets that have received good care. When this happens, the mites...

Avian veterinarians use anesthesia to eliminate pain, minimize anxiety and to relax the muscles of parrots during surgery. Careful monitoring during anesthesia is important to avoid or treat...

Bird fleas, or Dasypsyllus gallinulae, is a species of flea that lives on nesting birds like chickens. They are born during the bird's nesting season, and feast on mothering hens and chicks. They...

Budgies have a tendency to hide it when they are not feeling well. A bird that is sick may act perfectly healthy until it becomes so weak that it can no longer hide the signs and symptoms of...

Ducks are banded for a number of reasons. The Harvest Information Program (HIP) for Migratory Birds uses data gleaned from ducks with bands for aerial surveys designed to keep track of wintering...

Many bird species can have thyroid problems. Thyroid hyperplasia, also known as goiter, is an enlargement of the thyroid gland, and several conditions can cause it to occur in lovebirds.

Avian influenza, also known as bird flu, is a viral infection that occurs in birds. Wild birds worldwide carry avian influenza and are usually unaffected by the virus. Domesticated birds,...

Bird flu, also known as avian influenza, is a viral infection that occurs primarily in birds. Wild birds around the world carry the virus and are usually unaffected by it. Domesticated birds,...

Because finches travel in large packs and are often closely related, they are very susceptible to diseases in the wild. An infected bird can cause an outbreak around your bird feeder, so be aware...

The rooster is the male chicken and it engages in various rituals and courtship processes to impregnate the female chicken, or hen. Surprisingly, this is quite an involved process and their...

There is nothing more beautiful than watching a hummingbird feed. There are many hummingbird feeders available at your local department stores. A less expensive way to enjoy the birds is to make...

Keeping our birds busy can be a costly endeavour. Using Dixie cups to make foraging toys for them is cheap and easy. Here's a quick way to make a good foraging toy using simple household items.

Raising chicks, ducklings and goslings is an activity for both farmers and bird lovers. They can be raised in large or small numbers using brooding females or with a box and a heat source....

Lovebirds comprise a colorful and diverse group of small parrots that are originally from Africa. Lovebirds have been kept domestically as pets for more than 100 years. These birds are short with...

Gouldian finches are popular, colorful little birds that are generally easy to maintain, and live from 8 to 17 years. Though this beautiful finch is not known to commonly suffer from any...

Many people enjoy keeping birds for pets. These pets can be entertaining, loving and fun. Birds often chirp and make noises, so keep this in mind if you live with other people. Pet birds are easy...

If you spot a bird hopping around with one wing lower than the other, its wing may be broken. If you can easily catch the bird, it is in need of rehabilitation because it might fall victim to...

Avian pox occurs in a bird's unfeathered areas, like legs, mouth and wattle (on roosters). It attacks all ranges of birds, from wild turkeys to household finches. This viral disease can be rated...

Chickens are a common farm animal and are one of the most popular animals raised for food in the United States. While chickens can flutter their wings and use them to roost high in trees and...

Native to central Australia, Budgerigars, commonly known as parakeets and budgies, make fun-loving and social pets. Males and females are nearly identical and it can be all but impossible for an...

Keeping your pet bird's nails (claws) from getting too long is an important part of keeping your feathered friend happy. Use these tips to make that easy.

There are several different types of eye diseases that can affect birds. Some are quite problematic and may even be fatal. Some rare, but serious, bird eye diseases may be transmitted to humans.

Black or red insects, which often look like moving dots, on a bird are most likely bird mites. Bird mites drink blood and are nocturnal. Bird mites travel out of the bird's nest and will attack...

Button quail are a smaller quail variety, and they are easy to keep and quite prolific at breeding when their basic requirements are met. Quail are generally good about incubating their own eggs,...

Many diseases can threaten the health and life of a pet bird. Often, caged birds contract diseases from unclean cages or not having enough gravel in their cages. Pet birds can also become sick...

Stress can be a dangerous condition that can cause birds to develop behavioral problems. Homeopathic treatments like Rescue Remedy---a natural, flower-based treatment created in the early 1930s---...

If you have a wild bird in your home, it is important to get it to a professional veterinarian or wild bird rescue center as soon as possible. Wild birds are not pets and should not be kept in a...