My bird's droppings have clear liquid. Is he sick? What's the cause?

If you're only noticing the watery stools on occasion, one of my first thoughts would be diet-related. Some veggies and fruits can cause watery stools, and if you notice this happens after giving them a new treat or something to snack on, it could be related. Removing all extras for a few days and seeing if the stool improves can help determine this. If it isn't food related, additional issues such as internal parasites, stress, diet changes, GI upset, infections, etc can also be possible causes. Keeping them in a low stress area, and scheduling a veterinary visit if the loose stools continue or other signs of illness such as listless behavior, weight changes, not eating or drinking, etc appear is best.

All bird droppings are made up of three parts: Feces, the solid, central part which can vary in color depending on the food the bird eats. Urates, the next layer of the ring, which can be cloudy-clear or with shades of white, yellows and greens, again depending on the foods eaten. Urine is the clear liquid, usually outer layer of the ring. Depending on the amount of fruits and fluids the bird eats/drinks, this can be a significant part of the dropping. Diarrhea is often actually Polyuria. True diarrhea is when the feces part of the droppings are not well formed and liquidy. Diarrhea is usually caused by a disease. Polyuria is when there’s more than usual amounts of the urine and urates (the feces are still well formed). Polyuria may be caused by viral infections, allergies to foods or even a tumor somewhere. There are just so many possible causes that a vet visit is essential in order to catch things early.

Fruits and new food can definitely be a cause of watery stool, especially if it started after all these changes. I would remove any extra treats for a few days and only feed the new food to see if that helps settle his stomach down. Once he's settled in, you can then add in treats one by one to see how he does. If the loose stools continue even after a few days on the diet with no snacks, or he shows any other signs of illness, a vet visit is always best.

Looser stools can be caused by a number of things. If you've recently given Sky a bunch of snacks (such as fruits and veggies) or changed her diet, this can cause temporary stool color changes or moist stool. Removing any extra treats and letting her adjust to her new diet for a few days may help. If she has differently colored pellets in her food, this may also cause color changes to the stool as well. Other causes can include parasites, GI upset, illness, nutritional issues, metabolic issues, etc. If she didn't have a diet change or any snacks, or is showing other signs of illness in addition to the loose stool/color change (you mentioned she is less active), then having her examined by a vet is best. They can treat her for parasites and help rule out any more serious underlying conditions that may require treatment.

Submit a sample to your veterinarian to diagnose parasites or bacterial/fungal overgrowth. Discontinue feeding fruits and vegetables until the stool is normal, then introduce one at a time slowly. Clean and sanitize the cage, bowls, toys and perches. Discard anything that cannot be sanitized. Use paper towels on the cage bottom and change them daily until his droppings are normal. Provide plenty of fresh, clean water. Keep him warm and as stress free as possible. If he develops lethargy, loss of appetite or if the droppings don't begin to firm up in the next 24 hours, have him examined by your vet or an experienced avian vet.

Black, tarry, or bloody stool can indicate issues such as a GI bleed, digestive upset, or even parasites. In some cases, adding in too many fruits or veggies, or even different colored pellets within your bird's diet can also change the color of the stool, so if your bird is acting normal except for the stool change, stopping all treats and extras beyond regular food, checking for any pellets in the food that may be a similar color, and seeing if it clears up may help. If your bird is ill in addition to the color change, such as acting listless, not eating or drinking, losing weight, etc, it would be best to have him seen by a vet, so it is a good idea to try and explain this to your parents. If your bird is ill, it is very cruel of them to not provide him with appropriate medical care, or to at least seek a humane euthanasia if he is suffering and they do not wish to treat the issue.

Those are some pretty loose stools and/or vomit. I would pick up any extras such as toys he may be eating, snacks, treats, etc for a day to see if this resolves the issue as these can sometimes cause GI irritation and upset. If the vomiting continues, you see more loose stool, or you see other symptoms such as changes in appetite, behavior, energy levels, etc, then it would be best to bring your bird to your vet as there could be an issue such as an infection, obstruction, GI upset, parasites, etc causing it.