Why does my cockatiel look like she's having hiccups? Is she sick?

He may be sneezing which could be indicative of bacterial respiratory infection, aspiration pneumonia or mite infection. He should be examined as soon as possible by your veterinarian or an experienced avian/wildlife veterinarian. Keep him warm and as stress free as possible until he sees the doctor.

Symptoms of illness or injury may include lethargy, decreased appetite, loose or discolored droppings, perching low with feathers fluffed out and eyes closed, vomiting or discharge from the eyes, nose or beak. If you think Luna may be ill, have her examined by your veterinarian or an experienced avian vet as soon as you can. Birds are quite adept at concealing illness, so by the time they are symptomatic, they are already very ill.

If Girl is having trouble breathing after that little of activity I would be concerned there is an issue such as an upper respiratory infection or some sort of injury. Since breathing problems are concerning and serious, it would be best to try and get her to a vet in your area so that she can be examined and treated for any healthy problems. Keeping her warm, reducing activity, and eating and drinking may help, however a vet visit is needed to address the issue.

I'm sorry that your bird is so ill. This is a definite respiratory emergency. Could be an inhaled toxin like from Teflon or smoke oor a serious infection. Your bird needs heat, oxygen and ER care. Keep warm and upright until you can get to the vet. Do not try to give the bird anymore to eat or drink. Good luck with your sweet baby.

Without an exam it would be hard to tell if he is OK. You can do a few things first, such as remove any substrate in his cage that may kick up dust (replacing it with cage lines or newspaper/paper towels can help), and make sure he is not in a drafty room or one with a lot of dust and pollen that could cause sneezing. Making sure he is in a room that isn't too hot or cold and that is free from harassment by other pets or people can also help as panting can sometimes be related to temperature or stress. However, if you are seeing any nasal discharge, he is constantly panting with his mouth open, he isn't eating or drinking, or he worsens or doesn't get better, then seeking vet care is best. If you don't have an avian vet, seeing if any local vets in your area will take a look is a good course of action.

Unfortunately, without an in-person exam, it would be impossible to say. Birds are extremely good at hiding illnesses, and by the time they do show symptoms, it's usually pretty serious. I would try to schedule an appointment with a vet that can see birds ASAP. In the meantime, keeping your bird in a separated hospital cage with low perches, plenty of food and water, and kept warm can help make them comfortable and may help.

Sometimes, respiratory illness or fungal infections can cause growths or blocked nasal passageways in birds. If you can keep the area clear with a clean washcloth, that's best, however if there area is bothersome, can't be flushed out easily, or is changing in appearance, it would be best to have Luna looked at by a vet. They can safely flush out any debris in the nose and get her started on medication to treat any bacterial or fungal infection present.