Should I potty train my bird? Are there health risks for pet birds?

You will need to watch her closely for signs she needs to go. This can include squatting or twitching her tail feathers. When you see her do this, get her to perch on your hand, hold her over a paper towel and say "Do your thing" or "Go potty" or a phrase of your choosing. Hold her until she goes then praise and reward her. Be consistent and be patient. A parrot may go to the bathroom as often as every 15 minutes, so you will have ample opportunity to get her to go where you want. You can read more here: http://www.parrotsecrets.com/parrot-pottytraining.php

If he is always fluffed up or otherwise listless, this can be a sign that he isn't feeling very well, and an exam from your vet is always a good idea. As for the pottying, birds tend to just go wherever they are (some can be trained not to), and so if he's perching on the food and water, he is likely to go there. Adding in some perches similar to the dishes may encourage him to perch there instead, or simply getting dishes that are more of a silo instead of a bowl can prevent stool from getting in them. Daily cleaning of all dishes will also help with any stool that gets in them.

That is an odd and concerning behavior. I would bring Rio into your local vet first just to rule out any health issues, as eating stool can sometimes indicate a nutrient deficiency. Removing the objects he is intentionally pooping on, and making sure there is a barrier between him and his stool can help reduce this behavior, but ruling out any underlying health issues is the best course of action.

Thank you for your question about Blue. I am glad that you asked, as no, this is not a normal color or consistency for budgie feces to have. I didn't see how old Blue was, or if she was on any medications, but I would recommend that you have her evaluated by a veterinarian. Dark, tarry stool like what you are describing may be due to digested blood. This can be secondary to some medications, certain toxins if she has gotten into something, or can be due to certain diseases of the intestinal tract. Your veterinarian can gather a detailed history from you which may reveal the cause, and will perform a thorough examination. From there, they may have recommendations for diagnostic testing. If possible, bring pictures, or even better a sample, of the stool for them to look at. They may also prescribe medications for Blue. Please do not give her any human medications, as many of these are harmful for our feathered friends. I hope that gives you a place to start, and that Blue feels better soon.

Thank you for your question about Pecker, and I really appreciate you including pictures as they are very helpful! The droppings overall look very normal and appropriate, which is great. The urates are bright and white and the amount of urine is appropriate. I see what you mean about the difference in color - the lighter brown are less concerning to me than the darker colored ones. The reason for that is dark brown to black stools can be indicative of digested blood in the feces, also known as melena. In Pecker's case, with him being very new to you and you doing a diet switch (which is great, by the way - I recommend that budgies eat at least 50% pellets and then the rest of the diet can be made up of seed and produce items), I wouldn't worry too much because it may be due to the transition. However, if the dark stools continue, it would be advisable to take Pecker in for a wellness examination to have him (and his feces) evaluated. When you go, please make sure that you bring some of the dark feces, as your veterinarian can have it tested for occult (hidden) blood. They can also perform a thorough physical exam on him. Also, if anything about Pecker changes, including his attitude or appetite, this would also be reason to go into a veterinarian sooner rather than later. I would recommend regular weighing for him as well - you can do this by using a perch on top of a digital gram scale (found in the kitchen section of most department stores). I would recommend doing this 3 times per week. This will allow you to ensure he is not getting chunky or losing weight for some reason! Good luck with your new pet!

A green component to the stool can be normal, and if your birds are otherwise acting healthy and it's been ongoing this long it could just be diet related. Making sure they are on a balanced diet can help. However, if you are seeing very watery stools or other signs of illness in addition to this, an exam is always a good idea to rule out illness such as parasites or infection. As for taming them, if your birds have a favorite treat, you can offer this every time you work with them, starting with having them get used to you being nearby, progressing to petting them in the cage, then asking them to "step up" (usually done by placing a finger just under their chest, encouraging the natural step up behavior onto a perch). Taking small baby steps can help get them used to you and tamed without extra stress.

Thanks for reaching out about Rico and including a photo. The droppings appears well, with some feces and urine but these ratios can change during the day/night and depending on what last eaten. Just to let you know, a veterinary visit is recommended at least annually, just like in people, dogs and cats. Good luck.