Red nostrils, sneezing, discharge...

Hello! My boyfriend and I got two caiques about 2 1/2 weeks ago and took them to a vet about a week ago. They both checked out fine.

Problem is that my boyfriend's caique has really red nostrils and sneezes a lot. She was doing this at the vet, but again, she checked out fine. I'm concerned because theres discharge every time she sneezes and my bird keeps trying to clean her nose. She also scratches inside her nose. Wouldn't this have raised an alarm to the vet? She has been doing it ever since we bought her.

Also, we have to leave for vacation for 4 days on Wednesday and they will be taken care of by my family in the same cage. I don't want my bird to get whatever his bird has... but she has been like this ever since we bought her.

There are no candles, air fresheners, and no one smokes. Being in college, we don't have the money to go to the vet a week after we just went and pay $100+, especially when she was doing this at the vet and he said she looked fine.

It it were me I would try to find another vet to get a second opinion. Because that just doesn't seem right.

Did you see a regular vet or an avian vet?
I have heard of caiques that like to pick their noses. I know that sounds gross but some like to do that.
Is it dry where you live? Some people have to use humidifiers in their houses for their birds....I sure hope someone can help you out with this. Good luck

Yes, I went to an avian vet that was suggested by local bird owners and the exotic bird store I got my caique yet. They seemed competent... Unfortunately, since we are going on vacation in a day, I don't think we have time to schedule a check up at the vet. I will talk to my boyfriend to see if he wants to make an appointment after vacation.

It is definitely not dry where we live. We live in st. louis and the midwest has gotten rain (along with violent storms and tornados) for the past week and a half. Maybe we have a humidifier in the storage, though, and try that out. Thing is, the bird is in the basement, which is where my boyfriend is most of the time, and maybe its too cool?

If you are worried about it, I wouldn't be waiting until after a vacation! Call in the am and get that little bird in. Tell them what is going on and they should make time for you.

Also, i forgot to add that I will try my hardest to make an appointment tomorrow so that she can visit the vet before we go on vacation, but I dont know if they will have a spot open... I sure hope they will

my eclectus parrot had sinus infections on and off for the first 2 years of her life. our vet always told us we had to keep an eye on her breathing as in how much her chest went in when she took a breath, that can mean a respitory infection. also common symptom of sinus infection is she would hold her beak open and gag, it looked like she was going to throw up. i wouldn't put the birds together because if it is a sinus infection it can be transmitted. we always got told when a bird sneezes its nothing as long as theres no discharge

We could not get an appointment before the vacation, so I had my mom make sure that she was keeping an eye on them while we were gone. The redness went away the day before we left fortunately. When I got back today, I saw no signs of sneezing, much less discharge. Both caiques are doing great and haven't sneezed all day. I will keep you updated, but they have been acting great and have been playing hard all day. I have a feeling it might have been an irritant in his house, so we will check to see if symptoms come back while she is at his house.

Thank you all for your suggestions and help! Sorry I got so scared I just know that their respiratory system is very fragile and sensitive.