My budgie has ruffled feathers and runny poop. Is he sick? What to do?

Thanks for reaching out about Sky and including photos. Birds are typically fluffed when cold or ill. A veterinary visit is recommended, sooner than later. Providing heat support can give some aid but is not a cure for illness. As a new bird, moving to a new home can be stressful for a young animal, and suppressing the immune system, allowing subclinical infections to manifest. Good luck.

Thanks for reaching out about George. Fluffed feathers and closed eyes are general signs of illness. A yellow droppings must be differentiated from yellow diarrhea and yellow urine/urates, as these are due to different affected organs and therefore different treatments. Providing heat support in the 80-85 F can give some support. A veterinary visit is recommended, as soon as possible. Good luck.

Thanks for reaching out ab out Beau and including photos. Agree that if too cold with fluff feathers in an attempt to increase insulation. But they usually do not decrease eating, as calories needed to make heat. A darker green stool is often a sign of decreased appetite, increased white and clear urine is increased drinking. Millet is a poor diet as devoid of many vitamins and minerals and is basically the equivalence of potato chips. A wide variety of vegetables is needed, a plant based protein source (beans, legumes, tofu) and avian pellets are recommended. As he is likely ill, a veterinary visit is highly recommended to assess and provide a diagnostic/treatment plan. Provide heat support 24/7. Good luck.

Thanks for reaching out about Eelu. It sounds as if she is sick and needs to see a veterinarian. If no avian veterinarian is available, a dog/cat vet is recommended. A bird with feathers fluffed, eyes closed and hanging by the beak seems too weak to perch or eat well. Providing supplemental heat might give some comfort but is not a treatment. Removing perches and placing a towel on the bottom of the cage will prevent falling. Good luck.

Thanks for reaching out about Bambi. Dull eyes and fluffed feathers are general signs of illness and not specific for any particular disease. Providing heat support in the 85-90 F as an incubator can give some comfort, but is not a substitute for a treatment. Offering water via a small syringe can help maintain hydration. A veterinary visit is highly recommended to assess Bambi's health, to provide diagnostic and treatment recommendations and to review diet/husbandry. Good luck.

Thanks for reaching out about Yes and including photos. Birds fluffed their feathers to provide more insulation, whether cold or ill. Providing heat support in the 80-85 F range can give some comfort. A veterinary visit is recommended to assess and help determine why he is acting ill. Monitor for food and water intake, might have to be separated from other bird to determine. Good luck.

Budgies hide ill-health well, and a dirty vent might be your bird's only symptom. Sometimes diarrhea only lasts a day or two, but longer-lasting problems indicate a more serious condition, requiring a visit to the vet. Dangers of diarrhea include waste build-up due to clogged vents, and intestinal damage from blocked ducts. Diarrhea makes him at risk from dehydration, weakness, lack of appetite and weight loss. Extreme cases lead to fits and starvation. Checking your bird's poop when he has a dirty vent can give useful information. Normal droppings are soft, olive-green to brown and coiled or cylindrical. Poop that's very dark, very pale, liquid, lumpy, dry, sticky or bubbly mean illness and need vet attention. Green-stained vents often mean poor quality feed and usually appear within 24 hours of eating new food. Providing healthier food should make symptoms disappear. One check of feed quality is biting. Grains should split cleanly and be hard to bite. Intestinal inflammation causes most diarrhea in budgies, due to bacterial or fungal infections. Vets can test for infections and treat with antibiotics. Worms, gut changes due to abnormal growths, viruses, liver disease and problems with egg production can also cause diarrhea. Less obvious causes of upset tummies are stress from a change in environment and over-use of antibiotics, causing an imbalance in normal gut bacteria. Vets can use probiotics and prebiotics to re-introduce healthy bacteria. Sick budgies need to be kept warm to conserve energy, and clean water is important in preventing dehydration. When he's lost his appetite, tempt your bird with his favorite treats, or offer specially-designed, easily digested feeds. Some budgies love soaked millet sprays. Cold, sweet black tea provides fluids and energy from sugar, and tannin in tea coats his intestines. Intensive nursing can often help in cases without a specific cause.