What to do if my cockatiel has watery yellow poop? Is it serious?

Thanks for reaching out. Yellow stool is not normal and can be an indication of an intestinal infection, intestinal parasites, liver disease and other problems. A veterinary visit is recommended to assess and provide a diagnostic/treatment plan. The birds should be separated prior to your veterinary visit, so you can monitor appetite. Providing heat support in the 80-85 F range can give some aid. Good luck.

Unfortunately, those are very vague symptoms of illness that can be caused by a great number of things including GI upset, nutritional issues, parasites, illness, etc. You can try a few things at home first to see if it helps Ria improve. If you are feeding her many extras such as fruits and veggies, these can sometimes cause loose stool. Removing these extras and feeding only her regular balanced diet for a few days may help this clear up. If the problem continues, she may need to see a vet (if you don't have a bird-specific vet, a regular one may still see her) to check for parasites or other more serious issues which will need to be treated. If she is very ill, moving her to a hospital cage away from other birds to prevent the spread of illness and being picked on, and providing her easy access to food and water may help until you can get vet care.

Thanks for reaching out about Artie and including photos. A solitary watery dropping is not to be concerning but if continues a veterinary visit should be scheduled. Changes in appetite, i.e. offering lots of fruit, could temporarily change the stool. Good luck.

I'm sorry to hear Ophelia isn't doing well. If she's had any other signs of illness such as changes in eating and drinking habits (drinking less water), or seems listless, is losing weight, etc. I would be concerned that there is something underlying such as an illness, infection or even parasites which are also causing the stool changes. You didn't mention if you give her treats or have changed her diet, but sudden changes in diet or an excess of fruits and veggie treats can sometimes cause color and stool changes, which should resolve after getting used to the new food, or removing any extras other than her regular diet. Pellets in diets can also sometimes cause stool changes or color changes as well. If she is otherwise normal and healthy and you made this change, then giving it a day or two to see if it returns to normal may help. However, if the problem continues, she seems in distress, or you haven't made any changes, then having your vet take a look and bringing in a sample of Ophelia's stool to your vet for a fecal test is best to rule out more serious issues.

The color of the droppings can vary depending on the diet. If Keke is behaving normally otherwise, there is likely no cause for concern. Continue to monitor the stool and diet. If he becomes lethargic, stops eating or develops loose droppings, then have him examined by your veterinarian or an experienced avian veterinarian.

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.

Constant open mouth breathing could be a sign of a respiratory issue, extreme stress, other underlying illness, or even being too warm. If Honey is already in an area that is quiet and stress-free and is not too hot or too cold and she is still having problems breathing, it is best to seek veterinary care ASAP. Changes in stool could also point to an underlying illness, infection or even parasites that are causing her to be ill. If she's housed with other birds, it is best to move her to a separate hospital cage that is kept warm and with easy access to food and water until you can be seen by your vet.