What Is A Normal Bird Dropping?A normal bird dropping has three separate components. The first portion is called the feces, which is solid and worm-like, and may be dark green in color (usually in seed-eaters), or brown (usually in pellet-consuming birds.) Feces may be other colors, as well, depending on what the bird has recently consumed. For example, certain berries will cause the feces to take on the color of the fruits ingested. It can be alarming if droppings suddenly appear reddish in color, as this may be interpreted as blood, so it is important that owners keep track of what their bird is consuming, so that color changes can be correctly evaluated. If a bird doesn't eat any solid food for about 24 hours, the fecal portion of the droppings will become dark, dark green (that is almost black) and very sticky and tarry. This is often mistaken for digested blood in the droppings, but it is actually a type of bile (biliverdin) from the liver. The next portion of the droppings is called the urates. Urates are off-white, cream colored or slightly yellowish, and are opaque. Urates are the result of digestion and metabolism of proteins in the bird's system. They are removed through the kidneys. Green or yellow stained urates may be found in the clinically ill avian patient with liver disease. Green urates can also be found in birds that are actively suffering from infection with Chlamydophila. If you notice a change in the color of a bird's urates, you should bring this to your avian vet's attention. The third portion of a bird's dropping is the urine. This is the watery waste from the kidneys. There will be varying amounts of liquid urine in a dropping depending on the amount of water ingested. For example, a bird that is consuming a lot of fruits and vegetables (with high water content) will urinate more than a bird that is just eating dry pellets. Of course, a bird should always have access to fresh, clean drinking water, and it is best delivered by the use of a water bottle to prevent bacterial contamination from fecal matter and foods dunked in the water bowl. As a pet bird owner, one of the best ways that you can help your bird is by frequently evaluating droppings. Changes in droppings can often be the first, subtle sign that something is amiss. By catching any illness early before the bird becomes clinically ill, you'll have the best chance in correcting a problem before it becomes life-threatening. It is also a very good idea to purchase a good quality scale that can weigh your bird in grams (not ounces) and to utilize that scale to monitor your bird's weight weekly. Any changes of more than a few grams should be an indication that it is time to contact your avian veterinarian. These two simple steps can provide you with valuable information about your bird's general health. |