The last thing any of us want is to see our littles ones ill in anyway, the following is a helpful guide as to what to look for, Birds are very good at hiding being unwell and sadly when you do notice it can be to late.
Please be aware of all of the following to maintain your parrots well being, whenever in doubt, Always contact your avain vet, in the UK we dont have that many but many vets do have specialists they refer you to, so dont be put off.

Signs of illness in birds as characterized by changes in general appearance or stance:

• Sitting low on the perch
• Sitting on the bottom of the cage
• Hanging onto the side of the cage with his beak instead of sitting on a perch
• Head tucked under wing and standing on two feet
• Ruffled feathers (consistently)
• Weakness
• Losing balance, teetering, or falling off of perch
• Lumps or swelling of any portion of the body
• Picking at his feathers or body
• Trembling (caiques can tremble or waking or with excitement)
• Not preening
• Harassed by other birds
• Eyes dull, sunken, or abnormal color
• Walking in circles
• Unusual smell to bird or droppings
• Drooped or elevated wing(s)

Changes in behavior and general attitude that may be signs of disease in birds:


• Inactivity
• Decreased or changes in vocalizations or singing
• Drooping wings
• Collapse
• Seizures
• Increased sleeping or eyes closed
• Poor response to stimuli
• Changes in personality, e.g., more submissive, more aggressive
• Displaying juvenile behavior, e.g., begging for food

Changes in color, volume, consistency, and number of droppings indicating illness in birds:


• Change in color of the urates (the normally white portion of the droppings), urine (the normally clear portion), or feces (normal varies with species)
  
• Change in consistency: watery (increased urine), loose feces (diarrhea), hard feces (constipation) indicating illness
• Bloody droppings
• Undigested food in feces
• Decrease in number or size of droppings
• Increase in urates

Signs of disease in birds characterized by changes in appearance of the head:


• Discharge around the eyes and/or nares
• Squinting or half-closed eyes
• Overgrown or flaky beak
• Shiny black beak in a cockatoo (symptom of Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease)
• Loss of symmetry (one area seems swollen or smaller compared to the other side)
• Redness or loss of feathers around the eye
• Discoloration of the beak
• Flicking or twitching of the head

Changes in feathers suggestive of illness:


• Ruffled or fluffed feathers
• Lost, misshaped, or broken feathers
• Decreased preening
• Wet, stained, or matted feathers on the head, vent, or other area
• Dull feathers
• Long or excessive molt, bald spots
• Pulling or picking at feathers
• Abnormal color or barring

Changes in legs or feet associated with disease:


• Lameness or favoring a leg
• Flakiness, crusting, or discoloration of feet
• Abnormal nail growth
• Shifting feet
• Swollen feet or joints


Signs of illness in birds associated with changes in breathing:


• Difficulty breathing
• Breathing with an open beak
• Tail bobbing when taking a breath
• Sneezing
• Discharge or crusts around the nares
• Wheezing or clicking sounds
• Exercise intolerance (heavy breathing after exercise, or inability to exercise)
• Change in sound of voice

Changes in eating/drinking/digestion indicating disease:


• Increased or decreased appetite
• Increased or decreased drinking
• Vomiting or regurgitation
• Straining to defecate or pass an egg
• Diarrhea
• Swelling in the crop area
• Weight loss (use a scale) and/or prominent keel (breast bone)
• Discharge from mouth
• Inability to pick up food or manipulate it
• Protrusion from the vent

Injuries:

• Burns
• Bite wounds
• Injury from flying into a window or other object
• Bleeding

Credit for these list goes to
© 2007 Foster & Smith, Inc.
Reprinted as a courtesy and with permission from PetEducation.com
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