poop smell and color change, I'm a little worried

I'm a bit concerned about Zeus, my 10yr Greenwing. He was acting very weird today, a bit temperamental and always wanting to sleep. I could tell something wasn't right, it wasn't just him being tired.
His droppings didn't look bad all day, but around 5pm today I noticed something. Usually just 1 "blob" falls, but this time 3 did. I didnt really think much of it, just thought it was odd, and waited for his next. His next was normal, OK. But the next after that was almost neon green. Consistancy was ok, but the color was way off. I'm still waiting for his next.

His droppings have always smelled, just a tiny bit. Nothing enough to be alarming, but I've noticed the smell kind of getting a little worse. It used to be at the point that when it was time to clean his cage after a few days you could smell a little bit, but it wasn't appalling. Now its to the point that right after 1 dropping, you can tell there is a small smell to it. haha Its hard to explain. Its not like if the dog pooped, you can really smell it. This is more like, if you were right next to him and he went, you MIGHT catch a smell of it, but most likely not.

Idiot me, built him a really nice perch, and I used a galvanized bracket to hold his favorite toy up. He was actually perching on this little bracket (3" long) and I'm betting chewing on it. I didnt think about it until I was doing some research on what could be causing this in him. I immediately took him down off that piece, got him away from it. Once I got him away from that bracket, he seems back to his normal self. Bouncing, playing, and overall active. I hope I didnt hurt him with the galvanized metal.

I'm immediately putting him on a natural apple cider vinegar and water drink (1/4 cup cider per gal water) for a couple of weeks. He has a vet visit on dec. 20th, the soonest this vet could get him in.

Should I take him to the vet immediately? Of course its starting to get into the holidays so hopefully someone will be open.

I forgot to mention his diet. He always has a bowl of pellets available, along with large shelled nuts, mostly walnuts. A fruit and seed mix are in his bowl as well, but he doesn't really like it. He just eats the pellets. This is the largest % of his diet.
Oranges are his favorite fruit, usually has 1 a day of the tiny clementine type.
He hates veggies, I'm trying to find one he will eat.
He loves chicken, yeah I know.. I eat a lot of it, usually around 1 lb a day and he'll freak if I'm eating it and he isnt getting any. He might have a couple grams worth a day, nothing worthwhile.
I clicker train with peanut butter. He get rewarded with a little bit on the end of a butter knife each time.
1 dum-dum sucker a day because he loves them.

Other MISC healthy things if I'm eating it and think he'll like it. Sometimes an apple, carrots, etc. He wont really eat them. Mostly nibble on it for a little bit then drop it.

OK, he just went. His dropping was perfect consistency and color, and I couldnt really smell it. He is eating and drinking normally, acting normally.

It's only been a few days on his new perch. Remove the hardware, give him TONs of water and water-rich fruits / veggies. If his poop gets worse, then take him to the vet. Otherwise, he'll be just fine.

Just watch his behavior, but don't OVER-read into it. You can tell if a bird is sick by his actions / activities.

For example, a normally active bird that goes completely docile / inactive.. something's wrong.

A noisy bird that goes quiet.. same thing.


If his behavior is fine, I wouldn't worry about it. I would, however, give him a bath after 24 hours of being away from the perch and getting good food / water.

If the poop situation doesn't rectify itself within 24-36 hours, I would say a vet visit is in order. If his behavior isn't better / normal by tomorrow morning.. Vet visit.

So basically, an active bird going inactive. A loud bird going suddenly quiet. time for a vet.

If it's a docile bird going wild, I wouldn't worry about it so much as it would require more energy expenditure to do that.. something a sick bird won't do.. unless it's on meth! .. sorry to make light of it.. just letting you know all will most likely be well, but don't over-read the bird's behavior.. you'll end up driving yourself nuts.

nyspy said:

but don't over-read the bird's behavior.. you'll end up driving yourself nuts.

Click to expand...

Ain't THAT the truth! I am the poster child for that one

Good luck with your baby, I'm sure he will be fine.