Black Nares

Anyone have any ideals? Otherwise he seems fine and looks good.

I gave him a steam bath. It seemed to help a little. Does anyone have any more insight on this?

I am guessing that this has come about over a short time period and fresh warm water is not having much affect in fully removing it?

There are a couple of underlining medical issues, which could be the source, but they tend to be rare.

If you are using newspaper or like printed paper for the bird droppings, it is very possible what you are seeing is ink transfer. Current water based ink used in near all common printing especially for newspapers is much safer than what was used in the past. However, it 'easily transfers' and will discolor surfaces that come in contact with it.

Trying using non-printed paper for the bottom of your bird cage. Non-printed 'news print' quality paper is available and commonly used to wrap glassware when shipping.

After using the non-printed paper or other non-printed products for four to six weeks; if the black areas remain, see your local avian qualified vet.

You're going to have a grumpy 'tiel on your hands but you definitely need to take a wet washcloth to the area and see if it will come off. If not, it's probably something health-related and it is vet time. Does Jet have any toys or anything that is that color? Newspaper or something like that seems like a good explanation but it looks a little too symmetrical for my liking. I sure hope it comes off and is just nothing!

This is actually Rex. My found tiel that is in quarantine. The steam baths seem to be helping. He looked that way when I picked him up. Yes the ring is very symmetrical.

It has lightened some and the very edges by the opening have returned to a healthy color. The outer edges are still disclolred but not as dark.

I started giving him veggies once he started eating. He is eating carrots and broccoli.

Whoops!! My mistake!

Have you gotten him vetted since you brought him in? I would definitely go into super quarantine mode until you get definitive answers. It is unfortunate that he was like this before you got him so you can't really go searching in your own home. I'm almost willing to bet someone smoked around him and that is what is going on. It would explain why the steam baths are helping as well because, not only are they cleaning the tar, but they are improving his respiratory system.

Carrots and broccoli are great!!

I think it looks too symmetrical to be dye. Does it look like it is 'dye', like is the coloration disappearing immediately after a misting or bath? I would take him to the vet, but his nares might have just been agitated by something in the previous environment. I believe that agitated nares turn a bright pink, so it might be dead skin that has turned black?

Every bird's body reacts differently, but when I adopted Kiko he had lived in the 'smoking room' for years. They always smoked a few feet from his cage. Reddened nostrils and hello/clear discharge was all he had. It cleared up extremely quickly after a bath and a new home away from that environment.