upatsix.com - Your Source For Pet Bird Information

Thanks everyone. Patches poop looks better today. I must say he is pretty p!$$ed off at me. I am hopeful

How is the vomiting? I've been worried he wouldn't be able to keep the meds in him long enough for them to work.

Well after nearly two weeks on meds Patches seems back to his old self again. His poops are normal 'cute' little nuggets.
The vet office called and gave the results of his DNA testing and it is confirmed: Patches is indeed a "boy".
As you recall in the beginning of this post his sex was in question because of all the calcium he was consuming and the size of his poops (like egg poops). I am guessing he was doing those things because he was sick. Thank God he is on the road to recovery.

Very happy he's healing

I just got back from Boanire to check out the parrot rehab and rescue operation
I worry terribly when I am away from MY birds. I do have very good pet sitter but regardless, I worry.
I decided to bring Patches to the avain surgeon for a complete blood work check up (as you recall he had been treated for a psuedomonas infection 2-3 weeks ago) He was still doing watery poops. Everything came up Ok except his hemocrit level was slightly elevated, she thinks due to dehydration. (?) I am trying change his diet. She suspects he is eating too many (colored)pellets and not enough enriched seeds.I know this sounds weird since vets encourage pellets over seeds but she said in some cases it can affect cockatiels kidneys if they eat exclusively pellets (!) I had asked her if any other reason could cause the hemocrit levels to be elevated thinking it was his mad obsession with cuttle bones (I removed them this week)
We shall see if his poops are more solid with a dietary change.
Anybody ever encounter this?

Oh! That is a good idea about the sprouted seeds. I forgot about that!
Yeah, my vet says the same thing about making sure my birds eat mostly pellets. Even my pigeon eats Harrisons. But I think in Patches case, the vet suspects he MAY be reacting to something in the pellets. This is just an experiment to see IF he has changes in his poop.

When pellets were developed for parrots in the 80s, they contained more protein than they do now, per my vet. In the mid-90s, my vet at that time said I should feed my 'tiels only pellets. After I'd done this for nearly a year (So sorry, babies ), one died with kidney disease and my vet had me change their diet immediately to include 60% seed. I've had no more kidney deaths, but when I checked with my current vet this past year about whether I should be feeding the 'tiels ANY pellets, he explained that pellets are no longer as dangerous for 'tiels as they were years ago.

FWIW, I feed my dozen 'tiels about 30% pellets, 40% seed, and 30% grains and greens. I fed a lesser amount of grains and greens for many years, but increased it -- and decreased the amt of seed -- when I retired 6 years ago.

So very glad you made the trip to Bonaire! That's very exciting Will we hear more about it, see pix? Hope so

For some reason just adding pics on this site is difficult (!) Well, at least for someone like me! I will have my husband doit for me.
Anyways, Patches is till doing watery poops. Now i am wondering if it is the nutriberries (?) I'll try this week on seeds and rice pellets. Button is on rice pellets since she is prone to so many illnesess.

I changed Patches diet to seed and rice pellets.(I took away the colored pellets)
His poop looks better-but not perfect, but better.I am wondering if it was the nutriberries making his poop watery?
He is more active and chatty too.

Hmmmmmm...I am wondering if that is indeed the isssue (Colored pellets).Hmmmmmm...
All the birds love the rice pellets anyways