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Kili Making Bubbling Sound, Should I be alarmed?

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Kili Making Bubbling Sound, Should I be alarmed?

Postby Michael » Wed Nov 04, 2009 11:23 pm

I've been kind of worried today cause Kili (Senegal Parrot) was making strange throaty sounds. It kind of sound like something between gargling, weezing, and snoring. Her tail shakes up and down and her tongue shakes around when this happens. It's not on every breath but maybe about every 5 seconds when she is relaxed. She was really mellow sitting on me and she was doing this. I'm not sure if it could be a sign of illness or respiratory problems or just some "behavior."

I suspected something may have gotten stuck in her mouth or throat because she was chewing a big treat seed but stopped and was flicking her tongue around a lot and eventually dropped the seed and spit out further seeds I gave her after that. I looked inside her beak when she was making these sounds and it looked like there was water at the back of her beak/throat. She did eat a full pellet meal after this, drank water, and went to bed but should I be alarmed?
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Michael
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Re: Kili Making Bubbling Sound, Should I be alarmed?

Postby pchela » Thu Nov 05, 2009 12:09 pm

Sorry if this is a stupid question, but she's not grinding her beak is she?
"I bet the sparrow looks at the parrot and thinks, yes, you can talk, but LISTEN TO YOURSELF!" ~ Jack Handy ~ Deep Thoughts
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pchela
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Gender: This parrot forum member is female
Posts: 1281
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Types of Birds Owned: Senegal -Pippin
Red Belly - Nicholas
Lesser Jardine's - Rupert
Timneh African Grey - Isabeau (Ibby)
Flight: Yes

Re: Kili Making Bubbling Sound, Should I be alarmed?

Postby Michael » Thu Nov 05, 2009 12:19 pm

No, she's not grinding her beak during this bubbling sound. The bubbling sound definitely comes because at times her beak (back of beak toward throat) was filling up with liquid and air passing through that would make a bubbling sound.

I am trying to determine if this is a mating behavior, strange but safe behavior, or illness.

Kili seems to be fine and normal this morning except that at one point she did this again. Before that her throat seemed dry. But when I handled her she got in the droopy wings posture. Her wings were shivering. And she started getting wet in the throat and making something between a purring sound and a bubbling/gargling sound.
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Michael
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Gender: This parrot forum member is male
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Flight: Yes

Re: Kili Making Bubbling Sound, Should I be alarmed?

Postby pchela » Thu Nov 05, 2009 12:37 pm

The water in the back of the throat doesn't sound good. I haven't heard of that as a normal behavior but I'm no expert. She could have something stuck in her crop. I would definitely call your vet and ask him if it is cause for alarm.

Other thoughts; Do you think she might be mimicking some sound she's heard?
Are her nares pink or red at all? Is there any discharge from them? Some birds can suffer from allergies. Are her droppings normal? Does she seem listless or less active than normal? Is she puffed up?
"I bet the sparrow looks at the parrot and thinks, yes, you can talk, but LISTEN TO YOURSELF!" ~ Jack Handy ~ Deep Thoughts
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pchela
African Grey
 
Gender: This parrot forum member is female
Posts: 1281
Number of Birds Owned: 3
Types of Birds Owned: Senegal -Pippin
Red Belly - Nicholas
Lesser Jardine's - Rupert
Timneh African Grey - Isabeau (Ibby)
Flight: Yes

Re: Kili Making Bubbling Sound, Should I be alarmed?

Postby Michael » Thu Nov 05, 2009 1:22 pm

No. Other than this occasional bubbling she is completely normal. Normal weight, normal behavior, no discharge.

She's not mimicking a sound because the bubbling is resultant of breathing in our out through liquid rather than pure vocalization. Also when she's vocal she'll usually make different kinds of noises that I could recognize as her typical vocalizations.

Currently the greatest suspicion is on mating behavior but I can't find anyone to confirm this sort of behavior in Senegals or other parrots.
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Michael
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Gender: This parrot forum member is male
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Number of Birds Owned: 3
Types of Birds Owned: Senegal Parrot, Cape Parrot, Green-Winged Macaw
Flight: Yes

Re: Kili Making Bubbling Sound, Should I be alarmed?

Postby pchela » Thu Nov 05, 2009 1:37 pm

I did an internet search and couldn't find anything on what you are describing. The liquid in the throat is what concerns me. Do you have an avian vet that you can call and talk to? My avian vet takes phone calls and answers questions free of charge.
"I bet the sparrow looks at the parrot and thinks, yes, you can talk, but LISTEN TO YOURSELF!" ~ Jack Handy ~ Deep Thoughts
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pchela
African Grey
 
Gender: This parrot forum member is female
Posts: 1281
Number of Birds Owned: 3
Types of Birds Owned: Senegal -Pippin
Red Belly - Nicholas
Lesser Jardine's - Rupert
Timneh African Grey - Isabeau (Ibby)
Flight: Yes

Re: Kili Making Bubbling Sound, Should I be alarmed?

Postby Michael » Thu Nov 05, 2009 1:43 pm

Maybe I should call your vet lol. I haven't found a good avian vet near me. The one vet I know is mostly a cat/dog sort of vet with a little bird experience.
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Michael
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Gender: This parrot forum member is male
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Types of Birds Owned: Senegal Parrot, Cape Parrot, Green-Winged Macaw
Flight: Yes

Re: Kili Making Bubbling Sound, Should I be alarmed?

Postby pchela » Thu Nov 05, 2009 2:32 pm

Hmmm... I suppose you could call my vet. The out of state area code might give it away though. :mrgreen:

Seriously, you know your bird. If you think that something is wrong then you are probably right. If she's sick, she'll let you know. The biggest problem with parrots is that they hide their illnesses because the weak members of the flock get picked off... so if you do see any signs of illness you have to get her to a vet ASAP because by the time symptoms appear, she's probably been sick for a while already.
"I bet the sparrow looks at the parrot and thinks, yes, you can talk, but LISTEN TO YOURSELF!" ~ Jack Handy ~ Deep Thoughts
User avatar
pchela
African Grey
 
Gender: This parrot forum member is female
Posts: 1281
Number of Birds Owned: 3
Types of Birds Owned: Senegal -Pippin
Red Belly - Nicholas
Lesser Jardine's - Rupert
Timneh African Grey - Isabeau (Ibby)
Flight: Yes

Re: Kili Making Bubbling Sound, Should I be alarmed?

Postby pchela » Thu Nov 05, 2009 2:41 pm

I just found this list of signs to watch for if you think your parrot might be sick. It might be helpful to you.


Signs to pay attention to;

Prolonged molt or continual presence of pin feathers
Feather picking
Shifting of feet
Lameness
Stain or debris in feathers over the nostrils
Crusty material in the nostrils
Loss of feathers or swelling around the eye
Excessive sneezing
Excessive clearing of the ears
Excessive scratching at head
Overgrowth of beak or nails
Baldness
Decreased or excessive food or water consumption.
Change in attitude, personality or behavior
Decreased activity
Decreased talking/singing
Increased sleeping
Change in appearance or posture - ruffled feathers
Weakness, inability to stand
Staying on the bottom of the cage,
Sitting low on the perch
Drooping wings
Convulsions.
Change of respiration
Noticeable breathing movement (tail bobbing or gasping for breath)
Heavy breathing after exertion
Change in voice
Respiratory sounds such as sneezing,gurgling, wheezing or clicking
Change in weight or general body condition
Enlargement or swelling of the body
Injury or bleeding.
Vomiting
Discharge from nostrils, eyes or mouth.
"I bet the sparrow looks at the parrot and thinks, yes, you can talk, but LISTEN TO YOURSELF!" ~ Jack Handy ~ Deep Thoughts
User avatar
pchela
African Grey
 
Gender: This parrot forum member is female
Posts: 1281
Number of Birds Owned: 3
Types of Birds Owned: Senegal -Pippin
Red Belly - Nicholas
Lesser Jardine's - Rupert
Timneh African Grey - Isabeau (Ibby)
Flight: Yes

Re: Kili Making Bubbling Sound, Should I be alarmed?

Postby Michael » Thu Nov 05, 2009 2:49 pm

No - Prolonged molt or continual presence of pin feathers
No - Feather picking
No - Shifting of feet
No - Lameness
No - Stain or debris in feathers over the nostrils
No - Crusty material in the nostrils
No - Loss of feathers or swelling around the eye
No - Excessive sneezing
No - Excessive clearing of the ears
No - Excessive scratching at head
No - Overgrowth of beak or nails
No - Baldness
No - Decreased or excessive food or water consumption.
No - Change in attitude, personality or behavior
No - Decreased activity
No - Decreased talking/singing
No - Increased sleeping
No - Change in appearance or posture - ruffled feathers
No - Weakness, inability to stand
No - Staying on the bottom of the cage,
No - Sitting low on the perch
No - Drooping wings
No - Convulsions.
No - Change of respiration
Yes - Noticeable breathing movement (tail bobbing or gasping for breath)
No - Heavy breathing after exertion
No - Change in voice
Yes - Respiratory sounds such as sneezing,gurgling, wheezing or clicking
No - Change in weight or general body condition
No - Enlargement or swelling of the body
No - Injury or bleeding.
No - Vomiting
No - Discharge from nostrils, eyes or mouth.

Basically the two that I can mark yes are the symptoms I already described and there are no others. Also the yes is really "sometimes." And the sometimes I only observed 3 times and have reason to suspect it may be related to hormonal behavior but I don't know.
User avatar
Michael
Macaw
 
Gender: This parrot forum member is male
Posts: 6286
Location: New York
Number of Birds Owned: 3
Types of Birds Owned: Senegal Parrot, Cape Parrot, Green-Winged Macaw
Flight: Yes

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