Budgie Droppings

What Your Bird’s Poop Can Tell You

Monitoring your budgie’s droppings is one of the simplest ways to keep an eye on your pet bird’s health. While it may not be the most glamorous part of owning a budgerigar, changes in the colour, consistency, quantity or smell of droppings can sometimes provide an early indication that something is not right.

Every budgie is different, so the most important thing is to become familiar with what is normal for your own bird. Diet, water intake, activity and even the time of day can affect the appearance of budgie droppings. However, a persistent or significant change should never be ignored, particularly when accompanied by other signs of illness.

Fewer Budgie Droppings Than Usual

A sudden reduction in the number of budgie droppings can be just as important as a change in their colour or texture.

Fewer droppings may indicate that your budgie is eating less than usual. It may also occur when a bird is unwell, stressed or experiencing another health problem. In a hen, difficulty passing droppings combined with other symptoms may also warrant prompt veterinary attention.

Pet budgie owners should pay attention to what appears on the cage paper each day. If there are noticeably fewer droppings than normal, check whether your bird is:

• Eating and drinking normally
• Active and alert
• Perching normally
• Behaving as it usually does
• Passing droppings regularly

A significant reduction in droppings combined with reduced appetite or changes in behaviour is a good reason to contact an avian veterinarian.