Sneezing or Letting Air out?

[sanja8888]

Hi guys,

My Green Cheek Conure is 5 months old and he is molting right now. I just got him about a week ago, and he seems to be sneezing? Although it sounds more like just letting air out from time to time. I even saw him, while he was scratching his face, put a nail inside his nostril and then it sounded like the letting air out. Is his nose clogged? He is really active, plays with toys, loves to be petted, but has no patients to be trained lol...

One a few occasions, when he "sneezed" there was like water sprayed out, see through clear water.

I plan on taking him to the vet this week because I am paranoid but do you guys have any similar experiences?

[MandyG]

My Amazon will sneeze on occasion, but I have never noticed any type of discharge.

I read somewhere that birds may occasionally sneeze a clear liquid and it may be just their natural way of trying to clear any foreign bodies near/in the nostrils (like we do). As long as there isn't any other symptoms that may be all it is. I can't verify the accuracy of that information though. When in doubt always check with an avian vet. It's better to be safe rather than to leave your bird's health in the hands of the internet!

[sanja8888]

I completely agree with you, I will definitely take him to the vet for a check up anyways = ) But i do feel better knowing that some birds just sneeze sometimes =) thanks for replying! And your parrot looks really cute!

[Kim S]

You say he is molting right now. It could just be a tiny feather he's got stuck. I see the nail in nose action here as well during molting season. Its funny, they sneeze continuesly till they pull the nail out of the nostrill.

If he doesnt have any wet discharge, coughing or other symptoms of upper respitory problems, I dont thinks theres anything wrong. But it never hurts to go to the vet.

[ptuga72]

You say he is molting right now. It could just be a tiny feather he's got stuck. I see the nail in nose action here as well during molting season. Its funny, they sneeze continuesly till they pull the nail out of the nostrill.

Jake does that! and it always takes him a while to pull it out too. I also watch him itching his ear, which makes him yawn. Scarlet makes herself yawn when she opens her mouth too wide when she tries to bite us

[BirdbrainJan]

Franklin's been doing that a bit too...he scratches his ears, then his cheek, then sticks that nail in his nose and sneezes. Must be normal...what a weird trigger though!

[sanja8888]

Thanks for your reply's guys! I didn't think that would be very common but I guess the nail in nose is pretty popular haha...i've realized he just sneezes during itching his face but a paranoid first time parrot owner is allowed to get worried hehe thank God for this forum though i could not find a single thing about this on google other than that he might be sick!

Anyways I feel much better!

Thank you guys for responding so fast!
Sanja

[ptuga72]

but it is good to remember that if there is discharge coming from the nares/the feathers around the nares are crusted, or if you see other unusual behavior (constant yawning, tail bobbing, lethargy, change in voice or coughing) that a vet trip is needed.

don't worry, I freak out over everything too

[dani.girl916]

Yeah my WB caique does the same thing..sticking his nail into his nose and sneezing. it is quite interesting haha.

The one thing that worries me is one nostril looks like it has a small amount of darkish blockage than the other, which is wide and clear. Is that weird for a bird? I have had him for about a month now (he is 6yrs old tho) and there hasn't been a day (I think) where he hasn't sneezed. Idk if this is normal or not tho. Its almost kind of concerning when he goes into a sneezing fit... There isn't any discharge of any kind except for a light spray of clear liquid occasionally, hardly ever. And he seems very content as always, no tail bobbing or sitting low on a perch with feathers puffed out etc. And I have not noticed a lot of sleeping on his own during the day unless the gets scratches that feel so good he falls asleep in my hand. (I have never known a parrot to be soooo cuddly and want soooo many scratches wherever, the lady that owned him before handled him so lovingly all the time that is is soooo great to handle, I couldn't have asked for a better parrot!) So should I be worried about the sneezing at all?

Thanks!

[birdvet]

My Nanday Conure sneezes occasionally (especially ater picking his nose) and sometimes I get "snotted" on by clear liquid. Sneezing is normal from time to time (as it is in us and other animals) but if its frequent its definitely worth getting checked out at your vet.

The one thing that worries me is one nostril looks like it has a small amount of darkish blockage than the other, which is wide and clear. Is that weird for a bird? I have had him for about a month now (he is 6yrs old tho) and there hasn't been a day (I think) where he hasn't sneezed.

If one nostril looks different it may be worth getting checked out. It could be something harmless but could be a chronic sinusitis as well. Doesn't sound urgent but definitely worth a vet check I'd say. I'd recommend to any of my clients who called with that history to come on by for me to check their bird over.