Abnormal dropping

[rmpressler]

Hi forum,

I'm a new budgie owner of three days and this morning I found my bird with a very odd dropping that is just hanging from his vent. It's black, gooey, and just hanging. There is white at the very bottom of the hanging strand. It's been there for about an hour so far, and I can't find any information about this online, so I'm worried it might indicate something.

When I got him, I asked the store associate what they were fed and made sure to buy the exact same feed so that for the first few weeks at least he'd have the same feed. As far as I can tell, he's been eating it, because I find seed hulls on the floor of his cage, and in the seed net around the cage. I think he's also been drinking because his water bowl will have a feather or two in it every morning.

(Sorry it's sideways)

Any idea if this is anything to worry about or what might be happening?

Thank you so much,
Richard

[Wolf]

It is possible that your bird isn't getting enough moisture. What exactly are you feeding the bird? The food might be causing this if it is too dry as even if the bird drinks normally, dry food must have enough moisture for the bird to digest it and will draw it from surrounding tissues. Try getting the bird to east some leafy greens or some fruit. Budgies are not big fruit eaters, but it might try some. Perhaps pureeing some vegetables that it likes and offering that might help.
You might try soaking his seeds for a couple of hours as well.

[rmpressler]

Thanks for your reply Wolf!

The food I'm giving him right now is Kaytee Supreme for parakeets. Very small seeds excluding sunflower seeds. I plan to convert him to pellets but for the adjusting period to the new environment (like I mentioned I just got him Sunday), I've been trying to keep as many variables constant as possible. I'll try soaking his seeds in water, and I've added a couple leaves of organic spinach soaked in water to the cage.

I've also spoken to the store that I got him from (they're a small town store with pretty decent employees...better than big box pet retailers anyway). At first, the owner suspected pneumonia which nearly made me have an anxiety attack. However, he's not fluffing his feathers and he's still very active in the cage. Still, just to be safe, I added a space heater to the room because the air conditioner did make it quite cold last night. Eventually, he flew down to the floor of the cage which is paper towels and while down there, the stool happened to stick to the paper towel and fall off him. So the stool is finally gone but I've read that abnormal stool tends to be an indicator that something is wrong so naturally I'm freaking out because I already love this bird.

Thanks again Wolf!

-Richard

[Wolf]

The air conditioner is bad for your bird as it produces ozone and this may lead to lung infections or loss of lung function in our birds. While the studies on this are incomplete it appears to be the indications at this time. However the primary issue appears to be primarily one of dehydration and possibly some malnutrition. You are feeding primarily an all seed diet and this is the reason for possible malnutrition as the bird need to eat fresh vegetables and fruits if it will as both are significantly higher in moisture levels than what it is getting. A budgie is a desert bird and has evolved water conserving feature such as getting most of its water supply from its foods and drinks sparingly in the morning and evenings. The seeds are dry.
In addition to the things already suggested you could also cook some brown or wild rice and sprinkling some of its seed mix on it and offering this to the bird to eat. You could also put an ice cube or two in its water to entice it to drink a little more. Pellets are not recommended for budgies as they draw too much moisture from the birds body and can damage the birds kidneys due to this as well as cause severe dehydration over time as it not only draws water from the birds body it nullifies the birds natural water conservation feature of getting water from its food.

[Pajarita]

Actually, when the poop remains stuck to the vent, it's usually too soft but, in any case, it's abnormal. Cook some whole grains (you find them in health stores, Whole Foods and even regular supermarkets nowadays) like brown and wild rice, barley, quinoa, steel cut oats (aka Irish oatmeal), millet, wheat, etc (you can also use Kashi 7 Whole Grains pilaf) and mix them some some cooked lentils and small white beans, corn, peas, carrots (not the ones in slices but the ones in tiny little cubes) and chopped broccoli (in the frozen aisle) and offer this as breakfast (mix in some seeds at the beginning so he will start eating it but, as he starts to do it, eliminate them) along with a different leafy green every day (all except for spinach and collard greens). You can also mix in some good probiotics with the 'simple gloop' .

Be careful with the air conditioning, parrots don't do well with them, the air is too cold and too dry for them on top of the ozone problem. Budgies like heat (they come from arid regions but they concentrate along the banks of rivers where there is vegetation) and do well with it as long as they are not under the sun or without water (don't use a bottle, always use a bowl). If he continues with the abnormal droppings, you will have to take him to a vet for antibiotics but, in the meantime, you can try using the ones they sell in places like Petco or Petsmart and are placed in the water.