How do I know if my bird is ill?

Look for changes from your bird's normal behaviour and appearance. Warning signs can include persistent fluffed-up feathers, sleeping more than usual, sitting on the cage floor, changes in eating or drinking, abnormal droppings, breathing difficulties, tail bobbing, loss of balance, reduced vocalisation and sudden changes in behaviour.

One sign doesn't always mean your bird is sick, but several changes together or a sudden, severe change, should be taken seriously.

If you're worried about your bird, contact your vet promptly. Online advice cannot diagnose your bird or replace professional veterinary care.

10 Signs Your Bird Might Be Unwell

6. Their breathing has changed

Open-mouth breathing, noisy breathing, difficulty breathing or obvious tail bobbing should never be ignored. Contact your vet promptly if you notice breathing problems.

7. They're struggling to perch or balance

Wobbling, falling from perches, difficulty gripping or suddenly struggling to move normally can indicate illness, injury or weakness. Contact your vet if your bird's balance or mobility suddenly changes.

8. They've become unusually quiet

If your normally vocal bird suddenly stops chatting, singing or calling, pay attention. A change in vocalisation can be significant when it happens alongside other changes in behaviour or activity.

9. Their appearance has changed

Look out for unusual feather loss, feather plucking, swelling, discharge around the eyes or nostrils, drooping wings or changes around the beak and feet.

Not every change means illness, but anything unusual or persistent is worth checking with your vet.

10. They're behaving differently

Sometimes the biggest clue is simply:

“That's not like my bird.”

If they're suddenly withdrawn, irritable, unusually clingy, uninterested in toys or reluctant to interact, don't automatically put it down to bad behaviour. An unexplained change in behaviour can sometimes be an early sign that they're unwell.

Can I check my bird's health at home?

Yes and you don't need to turn it into a stressful examination. One of the best things you can do is simply observe your bird regularly. Look at them when they're relaxed and behaving normally.

Your everyday bird health checklist

You don't need to obsess over every little change.

The purpose is simply to know your bird well enough to notice when something genuinely seems different.

What about seasonal changes?

As autumn approaches, you may notice your bird resting slightly differently, particularly as household temperatures and daylight change. Fluffing feathers can also be more noticeable when temperatures drop because birds use their feathers to help retain body heat. However, don't use the change of season to explain away persistent lethargy, excessive fluffing, breathing problems or other unusual behaviour.

Read our seasonal guide: Is My Bird Too Cold? Keeping Your Bird Comfortable as Autumn Arrives

What about the cost of caring for a sick bird?

It's worth thinking about veterinary care before you need it. The cost of treating a bird can vary considerably depending on:

• The species
• The problem
• How quickly treatment is needed
• Whether tests are required
• Medication
• Follow-up appointments
• Whether specialist veterinary care is needed

There's no useful “average cost of treating a sick bird” because the difference between a straightforward consultation and a serious emergency can be substantial.

Where can you save money?

The best saving isn't avoiding the vet. It's spotting problems early.

Good everyday care can also help support your bird's health:

• Feed an appropriate, balanced diet
• Provide suitable housing
• Give opportunities for exercise and enrichment
• Keep the cage clean
• Provide fresh water
• Minimise exposure to harmful fumes
• Monitor changes in behaviour
• Arrange veterinary care when something doesn't seem right

And remember that some household hazards can be particularly dangerous to birds. The RSPCA warns about exposure to toxic fumes from non-stick cookware and other household hazards.

What should I do while I'm waiting to speak to the vet?

The safest approach is usually to keep things calm and avoid unnecessary handling.

Make sure your bird has easy access to:

• Fresh water
• Their usual food
• A comfortable, quiet environment
• Appropriate warmth without overheating
• A safe place to rest

Don't suddenly change their diet or give medicines intended for another animal unless your vet has specifically advised you to do so.

And if your bird is having difficulty breathing, don't spend time trying lots of home remedies first. Contact your vet.

Don't make this common mistake

“They're still eating, so they must be fine.”

Not necessarily. Birds can hide illness, and a bird may continue eating despite a health problem.
Likewise:

“They're just moulting.”
“They're probably tired.”
“It's just because the weather has changed.”
“They'll be better tomorrow.”

Sometimes those explanations will be correct. But if your bird's behaviour has noticeably changed, don't assume there's nothing wrong simply because they are still eating or haven't stopped moving completely. Look at the whole picture.

What we recommend at Smith's Pets

When a customer tells us that their bird “doesn't seem right”, our advice isn't to try to diagnose it from a symptom list.

We'd rather you were safe than sorry.

Our team can help you understand what might be normal behaviour and talk through general husbandry, diet, environment and care. But we're not a substitute for a vet, and we wouldn't want a health concern to be delayed because someone was relying on advice from a shop, website or social media.

If your bird is showing worrying symptoms, particularly breathing difficulties, severe weakness, loss of balance or a major change in behaviour, speak to your vet.

That's the best thing you can do for your bird.