Note: All birds become fluffed up at times. If this is a rare, one time event, it is probably not a problem. If, however, the bird is fluffed up more than usual, is inactive, and/or is sleeping while other birds are active, it probably signifies a problem. First, separate the bird from any other birds to try to contain the spread of illness. Place him in a hospital cage or a spare cage with a heat source (ceramic heat lamp, light bulb [60W], heating pad), and cover it with a towel.

Yes, your bird is probably ill and should be seen by a veterinarian. A bird that is unable or unwilling to perch is generally not healthy. Fluffing for long periods of time means the bird is trying to stay warm and often is a sign of illness. Be aware, however that many birds will fluff their feathers from time to time for short periods.

If your bird is an exotic pet bird such a parrot or parakeet, take your bird to your local veterinarian. If your bird is poultry (chickens, turkeys, guinea fowl, domesticated ducks, or domesticated geese), call your local veterinarian. If this is not possible, and symptoms in your birds are severe, please report the illness to the Arizona Department of Agriculture Livestock and Poultry Hotline Number at 1-888-742-5334.

Your bird may be ill. If you haven't already, seek out a veterinarian that specializes in birds and consult them as soon as possible.

To test individual birds or obtain a diagnosis of a disease problem in a flock contact the University of Minnesota Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. The Minnesota Poultry Testing Laboratory (MPTL) does not test sick or dead birds. The Minnesota Health Department no longer tests dead birds for West Nile Virus because the disease is now established in Minnesota.

A bird carrying PDD may or may not show outward signs before the disease becomes critical. Dr. Hannis Stoddard cites reports of incubation lasting as long as eight years before clinical signs are exhibited, but some cases of acute outbreaks suggest that a shorter incubation period may be at play. The fact that some exposed birds remain normal is good news for the avicultural community. This suggests that continued research efforts could provide effective control measures to prevent disease.

The best indicator would be the bird's droppings. Bright green or watery droppings are not a good sign. Also a sick bird will sit huddled and puffed up, with its eyes closed. The bird's song may change or stop and it may stop talking. Wheezing or sneezing or a nasal discharge is bad news. The bird might "pump" its tail. It may not eat or it may consume vast amounts of water. Observe your bird every day, that way when something occurs out of the ordinary, you'll notice.

For any bird that appears sick or is dead, avoid contact and call the Health Department's Office of Environmental Health, at (703) 838-4400 EXT. 261or 266. We will need a description of the bird and an approximate time the bird was found in order to decide whether to send the bird for WNV testing.

The people that have become sick so far from avian flu, mostly in Asia, have started with similar symptoms to the flu that we see every year, but generally more severe. These include muscle aches, fever, cough and sore throat.

If your bird is all puffed up and looking sleepy for loooong stretches of time, like... hours and hours and hours in a single day... it's probably sick. Most birds conceal their illness very well until they are *extremely* sick. In the wild, if they moped around listlessly like us at the first sign of illness, they'd get snatched up by a predator right away. Birds are vigilant and alert because they have to be to stay alive.

This is a difficult question, as there are many ways to tell, but most people are not that familiar with or wanting to pick up the bird and look at it in the store. Given this and you are looking at it through a glass pane or wire panel, you may do the following: watch it for twenty minutes to half an hour. If it is moving well, is capable of flight and rapid movement, you can start to feel good about the bird.

Our Vet is on call 24 x 7 and is located just across the road from our premises and is also a fully qualified Avian Vet, whom we use for our own collection of pet and breeding birds.

You can stand back and watch him. See if his mom or dad comes back to care for him - if they don't, call someone to help.

Illness with the H5N1 avian flu has been reported among domestic and exotic cats in Asia, which is unusual. Since the H5N1 avian flu virus has not been identified in Arizona or the United States, dogs and cats which may capture wild birds are not at risk for this disease.

A chronic disease or infection will cause this behavior. Exposure to too low a temperature can also cause him to sit fluffed up.

If you become ill such as getting a cold or the flu, you can stay on Medifast provided your symptoms aren't too severe. Taking antibiotics (if necessary) won't harm your Medifast plan but may temporarily slow your weight loss.

YKHC: Many birds have worms and function just fine. You probably have had birds like this in the past.

The lovebird is not sick, but it may never have seen the food that you are offering it, it may not like the food or it may simply be reluctant to try something new. Various methodologies have been incorporated for working new foods into the lovebird diet, some with success. The first is to grate or shred the new food up and put it in with the lovebird's favorite food (you can also blend it in a food processor, while taking care to ensure integrity of the food and no turning it into a liquid).

We will notify you as soon as possible and we will bring your bird to the avian veterinarian you specify when you dropped your bird off. The client is responsible for any charges incurred for the medical care and treatment of their bird. Payment will be made to us when the bird is picked up. Avian Suites? is aware of how much interactive, out-of-the-cage, time birds require. That is one of the key reasons your bird will have its own room.

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eye infection that attacks finches arrived in our area a few years ago. In worst cases, the eyes are sealed shut, and the birds are blinded. If you can pick the bird up (wear gloves!) and bring it to a rehabilitator, do so. If you have a cage for it, sprinkle seed on the floor so the bird will find and eat it. If the bird can still see, it may well get over its infection on its own.

A possible answer to all of these questions would be to look at the bird's weight, and whether there is a significant change in the pattern or average weight of the bird. A bird's weight can't give you the WHOLE answer like a thorough vet examination with blood tests, etc., could give you, but it does provide a relatively inexpensive and VERY valuable insight into the bird's physiology you can't get with the naked eye.

No, it is not sick. Sometimes when a bird sees its reflection in the window, for territorial reasons, it will try to fight with the reflection. If it is only occurring in a small basement window, cover the window with cardboard or another material so the bird cannot see its reflection. You can also try to hang window decals which may distract the bird from its own reflection. <return to top of page>

A pet bird would have to come in contact with a wild or domesticated bird with avian flu to become infected. Most human cases probably came from direct contact with infected birds or their droppings. Follow good health habits when cleaning your bird’s cage, and wash your hands frequently. In the United States there is no need at present to remove a flock of chickens because of concerns regarding avian influenza. The U.S.

Take down your feeders and clean them with a 10% bleach solution (1 part bleach and 9 parts water). Let them dry completely and then re-hang them. Also, rake underneath the feeder to remove old seed and bird droppings.