Can Birds Be Spayed or Neutered? All About Fixing a Bird Explained!

Spaying is a surgical procedure done in females where the ovaries and uterus are removed, while neutering is a surgical procedure done in male animals where the testicles are completely removed. So, can birds be spayed or neutered?

Yes, depending on the owner’s preference, birds can be spayed or neutered. A skilled avian veterinarian performs neutering and spaying to ensure no further damage to the bird’s body. This surgical procedure is done when your pet bird is under anesthesia to prevent extreme pain.

Similarly, spaying or neutering in birds can be quite tricky, especially when you do not know the gender of the bird. In most cases, the gender is tested through the DNA test before the surgical procedure is done. In addition, birds that undergo spaying or neutering should be healthy to make the process successful.

It is also important to note that spaying or neutering in birds can be very risky since many birds’ reproductive organs are very internal. Accessing them can be tricky and sometimes interfere with a normal bird’s system. They can sometimes lead to further infections, reducing your bird’s lifespan. Therefore, ensuring the risk is worthwhile before proceeding with the surgery is best.

Why Are Birds Spayed or Neutered?

Birds are spayed or neutered for the following six reasons:

1. Control Overpopulation

Overpopulation of birds can be challenging since resources are always limited, depriving them of many vital things. Hence, neutering and spaying can help since birds can no longer reproduce. This population control helps maintain a healthy generation of birds.

2. Prevents Passing of Unwanted Genes

Once you notice characters that are not pleasing in your birds, it is essential to conduct spaying or neutering to prevent the passing of those genes to the next generation. Such unpleasing characters include stunted growth, aggressiveness, cannibalism, etc.

3. Prevent the Spread of Reproductive Diseases

Reproductive diseases are life-threatening as they can sometimes be challenging to treat. These diseases are genetic; hence, once passed on to youngsters, they can lead to the loss of many birds. Nonetheless, a professional should do spaying and neutering to prevent careless deaths.

4. It Makes Your Birds Healthy

Spaying or neutering makes your birds healthy, especially when they have problems with their reproductive systems. This surgical procedure enables birds to retain their proteins and calcium since they cannot lay eggs anymore. A bird gains weight and has healthy feathers.

5. Increases the Bird’s Lifespan

Birds that are properly spayed or neutered will have an increased lifespan since they are not exposed to any health risks. Mainly, they are less likely to get reproductive infections such as testicular cancer, leading to a healthier and happier life.

6. Caging Birds of the Same Parents

If birds of the same parents mate, they will likely produce weak youngsters susceptible to diseases. Usually, this is very unhealthy for your birds as it can lead to birds developing specific characteristics, such as aggression that makes them injure themselves due to depression.

How Are Birds Neutered?

Birds are neutered surgically, and an avian vet performs surgery on the bird’s testes. Sometimes, they block the tubes that allow the passage of sperm from the testes. These render birds incapable of producing the sperm responsible for fertilization.

Also, neutering in birds can be done through estrogen implants. Professionals and advanced technology carefully follow this process to prevent exposing the bird to health risks. Afterward, birds should be well taken care of for proper healing, restoring them to a healthy status.