I think Percy is sick ;-(

[Eric&Rebecca]

I was just sitting next to Percy and I saw he was looking a bit sleepy. I thought that was a bit off so I did my daily dropping check the droppings we all fine apart from two I noticed had bubbles in. This is a sign of gas or infection. He had something to eat and then reperched but now he looks a bit sleepy again. He's not fluffed up but I'm petrified! He's just grinding his beak at the moment. His breathing is normal aside from a couple of sneezes. There is no discharge from the nostrils and he has been eating well all day. All the food I have given him was freshly bought before he came and was sealed and refrigerated. He has been in quarantine with no breaks in this. When I approach the cage he sits upright and alert and when he is sleeping he sleeps upright and not crouched over his feet.


I rang the emergency avian vet and the vet on duty said it's not really considered an emergency so I shouldn't bring Percy in until tomorrow... They are only open for emergencies.

I am a total wreck because that's the only avian vet in London! I've only had him a few days and he's sick and now the so called 'emergency avian vet' won't see him till tomorrow.

What should I do in the meantime? I don't have a heat lamp so i'm warming up the room using the underfloor heating. He looks like his just falling asleep but I'm scared he is dying!!!!

[Eurycerus]

Aww I wish I could reassure you but I'm not well versed in sick parrots (other than obvious signs of sickness). Although I can say that Nika sneezes randomly, so his sneezes are probably not indicative of anything. I hope he's okay and good luck! I bet if you keep him warm and well hydrated he'll come out alright.

[Eric&Rebecca]

I rang the emergency avian vet and they basically told me off.

They said his slight tail bobbing is just a young bird keeping balance.
His sneezing is because he is full of keratin and he has no discharge so not a cold.
Bubbly poop is not an emergency apparently even though it could indicate an infection.

They told me he probably just has gas. PROBABLY! They don't KNOW that but they wouldn't let me bring him in and they said he would need to be treated at a regular appointment tomorrow.

[marie83]

Has he had a lot of fruit? A few people I spoke to when bubbles were randomly appearing in my birds poop have said their birds sometimes get bubbles then x

[Eric&Rebecca]

No... not fruit.. He didn't eat huge amounts the first two days this is only his second day of big eating. He has harrison's mash and prestige australian parakeet mix. We haven't tried new veggies and fruits just yet...

There was a recent normal poop with no bubbles and then the two with bubbles.

[Eric&Rebecca]

He just did a poop... no bubbles. I think the tail bobbing isn't tail bobbing, he just emptying his crop (you know when they look like they yawning) and is bounces the same way then. He's gone back to napping and grinding his beak now.

[friend2parrots]

i read in your other thread that you got an appt at the vet. if it offers any reassurance, going to the vet would put your mind at ease, and sometimes thats important.

just wanted to mention however, that beak grinding is a sign of satisfaction and relaxation, and birds generally do it when they are really comfortable. so bubbly poop aside, the beak grinding is a good sign.

i personally think he's going to be just fine. not sure if you had a chance to read the longish post about grasskeet behavior that i wrote in the other "not convinced Percy's Ok" thread about an hour ago, but i think reading it will put your mind at ease.

all the best