I could easily have lost Tau my tiel this week if I hadn't already done the research for a budgie I fostered early last year.
Tau hasn't had the easiest start in life. I thought everything was sorted and no more emergencies. I'll admit, I GOT COMPLACENT.
As far as I remember from previous tiels their poops have always been on the very wet side, especially after fruit or a bath. But Tau's have been well balanced since I got her. Nice dark green faeces with a dollop of white urates and a little urine.
I thought everything was fine. When I introduced her to her forever home she knew where her food was, and was drinking from the drinker I provided.
But something changed. I don't know what the trigger was, but I noticed on Monday that her poops were a lot drier. No noticeable urine, but nice green faeces and a dollop of white urates. But she was drinking, I'd seen her drinking so that couldn't be the problem could it?
I freshen my birds' water often so I never noticed that she wasn't drinking. And by Wednesday she'd slowed down and stopped singing.
I cleaned her cage so I could get a good look at her poops. Nothing for 4hrs then 2 solid green poops, no urine and no urates. SH#T.
Having already done the research I instantly emptied and washed her treat bowl and put it back filled with fresh water. Before I'd even closed her cage she was there. She visited that bowl 6 to 8 times in the first hour and took a good drink. She was also attacking the cuttlefish bone and iodine block with a vengeance. By this time she had stopped pooping altogether. I was straight on the phone to my vet for an appointment - today. She wasn't pooping at all, was loading up on water, and had to wait 2 days for intervention.
She started pooping again Thursday afternoon. Not a lot and a bit of a push for her. No urates, just faeces and urine. Things were starting to work again, but it was still hard work for her.
Working on the assumption she was constipated I started applying heat to her abdomen with warm wet cloths. She seemed happy for the contact with me, but still very down and depressed. She managed a few good poops before bed. Today had better come soon.
Last night I heard what I can weirdly call music to my ears. Her cage has a steel tray underneath and I kept hearing a 'ding' , getting bigger and more frequent. I relaxed a bit and took myself to bed. Let her do what she needs to do.
This morning, as soon as the cage lights came on, she started calling for me. As I got to her cage she came to the door and was ready to step up. In the bottom of her cage was the biggest mess of green, white and water I've honestly ever seen. She had evacuated 3 days of food and a good load of water.. While I was cleaning it up she was on my shoulder calling non stop.
I'm still going to keep her appointment with the vet, just to check her out after what she's been through, as far as I can see though she's back to normal.
So I say to you, as parront, do the research now. There is so much a simple poop can tell you about the health of your birds. Waiting until a bird is poorly may be that little bit too late.
Don't get complacent. Keep an eye on their water consumption. Never assume they are using their drinker just because you've seen them use it in the past.
I have one question though. Why would a bird stop drinking from it's normal safe source of water? The drinker was refreshed twice daily, and steam sterilised every evening.
Spend a little time on the net today. Google 'poopology'. There's a great deal of advice to absorb, and it may save a bird's life one day. And if you're unsure about an unusual poop ask someone.
Tau hasn't had the easiest start in life. I thought everything was sorted and no more emergencies. I'll admit, I GOT COMPLACENT.
As far as I remember from previous tiels their poops have always been on the very wet side, especially after fruit or a bath. But Tau's have been well balanced since I got her. Nice dark green faeces with a dollop of white urates and a little urine.
I thought everything was fine. When I introduced her to her forever home she knew where her food was, and was drinking from the drinker I provided.
But something changed. I don't know what the trigger was, but I noticed on Monday that her poops were a lot drier. No noticeable urine, but nice green faeces and a dollop of white urates. But she was drinking, I'd seen her drinking so that couldn't be the problem could it?
I freshen my birds' water often so I never noticed that she wasn't drinking. And by Wednesday she'd slowed down and stopped singing.
I cleaned her cage so I could get a good look at her poops. Nothing for 4hrs then 2 solid green poops, no urine and no urates. SH#T.
Having already done the research I instantly emptied and washed her treat bowl and put it back filled with fresh water. Before I'd even closed her cage she was there. She visited that bowl 6 to 8 times in the first hour and took a good drink. She was also attacking the cuttlefish bone and iodine block with a vengeance. By this time she had stopped pooping altogether. I was straight on the phone to my vet for an appointment - today. She wasn't pooping at all, was loading up on water, and had to wait 2 days for intervention.
She started pooping again Thursday afternoon. Not a lot and a bit of a push for her. No urates, just faeces and urine. Things were starting to work again, but it was still hard work for her.
Working on the assumption she was constipated I started applying heat to her abdomen with warm wet cloths. She seemed happy for the contact with me, but still very down and depressed. She managed a few good poops before bed. Today had better come soon.
Last night I heard what I can weirdly call music to my ears. Her cage has a steel tray underneath and I kept hearing a 'ding' , getting bigger and more frequent. I relaxed a bit and took myself to bed. Let her do what she needs to do.
This morning, as soon as the cage lights came on, she started calling for me. As I got to her cage she came to the door and was ready to step up. In the bottom of her cage was the biggest mess of green, white and water I've honestly ever seen. She had evacuated 3 days of food and a good load of water.. While I was cleaning it up she was on my shoulder calling non stop.
I'm still going to keep her appointment with the vet, just to check her out after what she's been through, as far as I can see though she's back to normal.
So I say to you, as parront, do the research now. There is so much a simple poop can tell you about the health of your birds. Waiting until a bird is poorly may be that little bit too late.
Don't get complacent. Keep an eye on their water consumption. Never assume they are using their drinker just because you've seen them use it in the past.
I have one question though. Why would a bird stop drinking from it's normal safe source of water? The drinker was refreshed twice daily, and steam sterilised every evening.
Spend a little time on the net today. Google 'poopology'. There's a great deal of advice to absorb, and it may save a bird's life one day. And if you're unsure about an unusual poop ask someone.
