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I posted this in cockatiel chat too.... But

I think I have said before on here how I lay napins down in Rosie's house at night to catch her big morning poopies.

Well I took a day off of work today and this morning when I went to get her up the minute I got in front of her house I smelt a stink. I was wondering what the heck it could be and I picked up her poopie napkins and ugh her poop had the strongest sour smell. Rosie has otherwise been doing good shes eating and being active. Yesterday she did wake up with not much energy but after a few hours she got back to her active self.

I called her Dr but shes in a conference all week, so I called Michelle (the girl that owns the shop I bought her from) and she said that she is probably getting ready to lay an egg . Her poops have been very watery during the day and they firm up in the evenings cuz that is when she eats the most but they still have like alot of slimy liquid in them.

I know that alot of you have experienced egg laying. So does that sound like something that happens with your babies poops when they are gonna lay? I'm so scared I am terrified of egg binding and Dr Duffin said her calcium was a little low when she done her blood tests but said it was probably cuz she was hormonal. But she didn't tell me to give her any calcium suppliments or anything. I am gonna go buy some on my own today. But anyway back to my original question..

Thanks guys. .

Is there any other vet that can see your bird? I know nothing about egg laying but I do know that bird poop does not smell. And if in fact your cockatiel is going to lay an egg and that is the reason for the smell, you should still take her to the vet and have her calcium monitored if it is low.

Good job with the paper towels under her at night. I do the same thing with my three birds. Do you weigh her? That is another good way to keep track of any potential health issues.

I always say better safe than sorry. Money can be replaced, your bird can't.


Bev

When in doubt do a gram stain. Even if your Dr is out of town one of their vet techs can accomplish this.

I do them myself.

I actually have an appointment for her today at 3, I just rather be safe than sorry. And I do weigh her daily, I'm usually not here in the mornings to take her weight before she eats cuz I work but I usually weigh her during the day or at night and she has been weighing in at about 97, 98grams she eats the most in the evenings between 5 & her bedtime at 8. She seems fine other than the stinky poopies. Wish us luck at the Dr today .

The napkins for the big morning poopies really help ALOT huh?

Absolutely and you are doing the right thing by taking her to the vet. Please keep us posted!!!

And yes, paper towels at night under your birds and weighing them are great tools. Since they hide signs of illness, it gives us something to work with should the poop be off or the weight down.



Bev

FYI: Gram Stains

The Gram's Stain should be run each year. For this test, your veterinarian will take cloacal and choanal swabs and stain them with a special stain. These slides will then be examined under the microscope to determine the types and numbers of bacteria present. Gram negative rod bacteria may be agents of disease. The presence of Gram negative Rods may indicate the need for a bacterial culture and sensitivity so that the bacteria can be accurately typed and the proper antibiotics determined (if needed).

Believe it or not my Rosie has had several gram stains done in her little life. She had a bacterial infection a couple of months ago but hopefully they will do another today I am thinking with the way her poopies are looking they will.. We will be leaving for her appt in half hour..

how do you do your own gram stains?

Rosies Mommy wrote:how do you do your own gram stains?

This should give you a good start:

http://www.avianweb.com/identifysickbirds.html

Pay attention to the very bottom where the link will take you to a do it yourself instruction on it. I took chemistry in college so I do all my own staining and Petri dishes for all the birds.

Dutch

Well I took Rosie in for her appt and they done a gram stain and the Dr said that she had alot of yeast so she gave her a med for the yeast with a little bit of antibiotic mixed in with it. I asked her to give Rosie her first dose and Rosie threw it up and then she threw up a little when we got home. Dr Cantos said that she might throw up the first few times that I give it to her. Also I mentioned that she was sensitive to an antibiotic that Dr Duffin had given her and she said that if she isn't doing good on this med to call her and she will prescribe her the med without the antibiotic and just the med for her yeast..

I also called in advance and asked if they could have her blood test results faxed over from their other clinic because I wanted to talk to Dr Cantos about her low calcium and they did. I asked her about giving her calcium and she did prescribe Rosie a powder form to put in her food once or twice a day. She said that they have a calcium injection but that her calcium isn't that low so the powder would do just fine. I put some on Rosies corn and I Swear she knew it was there cuz she picked up her corn and dropped it and walked away from her bowl *Sigh* smart little girl.

So wish us luck on the recovery and the med working for her without any ill effects.

I'm so glad I took her to the Dr phew

You can also give her a little plain probiotic yogurt or organic apple cider vinegar. I know people who do that for a few days every month.

What is her favourite food? Can the meds be hidden inside? When I have to medicate, I put the meds in a little sweet potato mash I make for my birds. It gets gobbled up. Knock on wood, I haven't had to do it for a long time.

There is always a solution so don't worry.

Bev