When your cockatiel starts having diarrhea, it is customary to worry about something wrong with them. You want to make sure the cockatiel is doing fine, and this can be concerning. There are several reasons why your cockatiel may have diarrhea, and most of them are not harmful to the bird.
Why Does My Cockatiel Have Diarrhea?
Why Does My Cockatiel Have Diarrhea? Cockatiels get diarrhea after consuming a lot of water, drinking nervously in stressful times, eating many water-rich foods such as fruit, taking a bath, or competing dinking with other birds in the home. Usually, this is not a big concern to worry about and will clear up on its own.
At first, your cockatiel may have diarrhea from an infection. In this case, it is advisable to visit a veterinarian as soon as possible.
Let’s take a closer look at the causes of cockatiel diarrhea to help us understand what it is, how to cure it and how to take care of our cockatiels.
Causes of Diarrhea In Cockatiels
When you notice that your cockatiel is dealing with diarrhea, it is essential to find out why. This will give you a good idea of the steps you can take to help cure the problem. Some you can do yourself, and others may need help from a veterinarian to help you understand. The most common causes of diarrhea in your cockatiel are:
Fear
This is something you can notice in your cockatiel when you first bring it home. Your cockatiel may feel upset, and when they are scared, they may have loose poop.
Cockatiels who have a nervous temperament and then are stunned may have the same issue. The good news is that this will resolve quickly, either when your cockatiel starts to feel more comfortable or when they are over being startled.
You will need to give some space and time to your cockatiel to feel at home before it clears up.
After a Bath
This is also a common issue. For example, you can bathe your bird and then notice that there is poop that is almost entirely liquid. The reason for this is that during the bath, your cockatiel can consume much more water than recommended for them.
The most common way to get rid of all that waste is through liquid stools. However, you should notice that this will not be going to last that long. First, they need to get the water through their system, and then it will all be cured up and ready to go.
This is not a cause for concern. However, it would help if you were sure that they are being careful and not taking too much water every time you try to clean them.
Fruits and Vegetables
Although fruits and vegetables may suit your cockatiel, you still need to give your bird some caution. Fruits and vegetables have higher water levels than the seeds your cockatiel eats more often. Therefore, eating fruits such as watermelon or wet lettuce, which also contains water, can cause your cockatiel to have loose poop for as long as it takes to process that food.
Limit your cockatiel to eating large amounts of fruits and vegetables containing water because, in that way, you can help it.
Molting
This will not cause your cockatiel to have loose poop but may be the cause of some cockatiel. Also, molting has a lot of side effects, so you need to be very careful to make sure that your cockatiel will be safe.
When your cockatiel is on the most wretched heights of pin feathers, you are more likely to notice this problem. But, for the most part, if the cockatiel eats or drinks well, then this is not something you should worry about, and you should not do anything else about it.
Competitive Drinking
Sometimes competing for drinking can be a problem, especially if you have more than one cockatiel in your home. This can cause the cockatiels to have an intense flock mentality. This means that they have to do things together. For example, if one of them eats, the other bird can feel like it is eating. This can happen even if you do not put your birds in the same cage with each other.
This can also happen with the water they drink. If one of them has to drink, then the other will drink. Then the first one will drink again, and then the second also. This can put them in a big feedback loop, where they can continue to drink, but not because they are thirsty, but because someone else is drinking, so they will think they should do the same.
Because cockatiels are taking large amounts of water, they must somehow eliminate it. And most often, it happens is with loose stools. So if you see that the birds are getting into competitive drinking, it may be a good idea to take their water away from them for a little bit so they will stop and not have diarrhea.
Is Diarrhea a Sign of Illness
While the other options listed above are the most common causes of diarrhea in your cockatiel, they may also have diarrhea when they get sick.
If they catch a virus, they may have the same problem as the body tries to remove the disease from your cockatiel. If you have checked all the other options on the list, but diarrhea does not go away fairly quickly, then it may be best to visit a bird vet to see what you can do about this condition of your cockatiel and help in that.
How Can I Stop Cockatiel Diarrhea?
Once your cockatiel starts to suffer from this condition, you will want to take a few steps to help cure the problem and make it feel better. If you are not sure why your cockatiel suffers from diarrhea, then, in this case, the best option would be to take your bird to the vet.
Try adding a small amount of bran, oats, or kefir to their diet to get started. Kefir can be very important because it can balance the bacteria found in your cockatiels digestive tract.
Oats and bran are also good because they can absorb water that is present in the stomach, and at the same time, will help your bird have firmer stools. It may be possible to use some over-the-counter medications to help your cockatiel feel better if the condition is not improving.
Various products on the market will help your cockatiel fight of diarrhea and restore the health of your pet’s digestive system. To make sure your cockatiel is nourished as possible, you will also need to look at some vitamins and electrolytes at this time.
There are veterinary offices that can provide great options for you. If you suspect that something is causing diarrhea in your cockatiel, then it is time to remove that product to make them feel better. For example, if it is a competitive drink, take the bowls with water.
If your cockatiel is upset, try a few options to calm them down and help them feel more at home. If it is from eating human food, then it is time to get rid of human nutrition and rely on seeds and their regular food.
When is Cockatiel Diarrhea a Problem?
If you notice that your cockatiel condition is not improving after a day or two, it is time to visit your vet. Cockatiel may have diarrhea because it has an infection. They may need some kind of medication or antibiotic to help with this. Leaving diarrhea untreated can cause your cockatiel to become dehydrated, leading to severe health problems.
Diarrhea accompanied by sunken eyes, sudden weight loss, and tremors means that your cockatiel should be seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible. As soon as you notice these signs, take your cockatiel to the vet to check.
Understanding Cockatiel Diarrhea
Cockatiel diarrhea is not usually a big deal. You may notice a few loose stools, and then the condition will heal on its own without much work for you.
But if your cockatiel is sacred, competitive to drink, or there has been too much water in their human diet, then it is natural for them to have loose stools. First, the problem has to go away, and then your cockatiel will feel better.
