Animals eat and have to poop, and birds are not exceptions. Usually, birds develop a change in their droppings when they are sick, and it is good to understand what a healthy parakeet’s poop should look like. This is essential for determining the health status of your bird and taking action in the event of any health issues. So, what does healthy bird poop look like?
The following are the three components of parakeet poop:
1. Fecal Component
It is mostly the dark, solid portion of the bird’s droppings. Can be green or brown. The color can change depending on the food you feed your bird.
2. Urate
This is the chalky white part of the poop.
3. Urine
Urine is the liquid part of poop. Usually clear or transparent in color.
To determine the health of a parakeet, several factors must be considered.
What Should Budgie Poop Look Like?
1. Poop Color
The color depends on the food consumed. The color will change if you feed different kinds of fruits, vegetables, and seeds. For instance, red, green, or brown treats can change the color of your bird’s poop, and some of the colors will be seen in the poop.
Watch for a few weeks to memorize the color when the bird eats certain foods. If it changes, it signals an underlying health issue.
The poop color should be grassy green or olive green for a seed-based diet, and for pellets, the poop has a brownish tone. Urate has a shade of white, and the urine is transparent.
2. Smell
Budgie poop has little to no smell as their diet consists mainly of seeds, fruits, and vegetables.
However, the poop will smell if the bird eats a diet consisting of meat, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts. These foods contain many sulfur compounds, which produce a foul odor in the poop.
Birds lack anal glands, which generate foul smells in other animals. They also lack cecum, so no fermentation takes place in the guts, and the birds will not pass any smelly gasses.
3. Amount of Poop
The size of each bird’s droppings should be about the same. Small-sized birds pass small poop, while large-sized birds pass large poop. Any increase or decrease in size may be a sign of a health issue. Hence, too little or too much poop compared to your bird’s size is abnormal and should be checked.
4. Consistency
There should be no change in shape from the point of excretion of the poop up to the time it dries. The poop should not fall apart once it has been dropped.
5. Texture
Budgie poop has a texture similar to toothpaste but not like tar, as this is a symptom of internal bleeding. It should not be dry but have an equal amount of feces, urate, and a moderate quantity of urine.
The texture can change if your bird is introduced to new fruits, vegetables, or seeds. Also, nesting females’ poop may change in appearance.
The poop should be soft enough to come out of the vent with ease, but at the same time, it should be firm enough to retain its shape after it has been dropped. Hence, bubbly, coarse, and overly liquid feces are abnormal, and your bird should be checked by a veterinarian.
6. Frequency
Parakeets poop 40-50 times a day. This is due to their high metabolism, so food is digested quickly. They also excrete frequently to keep themselves light for flight.
If your bird passes more or fewer feces, you should consider having it checked.
What Does Sick Parakeet Poop Look Like?
When a parakeet is unwell, there will be some changes in its poop, such as:
1. Increase in the number of droppings.
2. A decrease in the number of droppings.
3. Change in poop color or texture.
4. Bubbly-looking droppings.
5. Presence of blood in the poop.
6. A dirty vent with poop stuck on feathers around the vent, which signals a health problem or diarrhea.
Why Is My Parakeets Poop Green and Watery?
Having watery poop is an indication that your parakeet is having diarrhea. Parasites, or viral, bacterial, and fungal infections, can cause diarrhea.
So, is it bad if my bird’s poop is green?
Yes, it may be bad for your bird to excrete green poop. This can be a result of eating less because of stress or an internal organ disorder.
However, green poop should not raise any concern if your bird eats a diet consisting of leafy green vegetables. This is because the type of food eaten greatly determines the color of the poop.
What Does the Color of Parakeet Poop Mean?
Parakeet poop can have varying colors depending on the health status of the bird or its diet.
1. Green Poop
Olive green is normal for healthy droppings.
If the poop is bright green, your bird is not eating or has liver issues.
2. Black Poop
A parakeet’s poop can have a black color due to a poor diet with excess protein intake.
It can also be a result of digested blood or the excretion of bile due to stress or the bird not eating.
3. Brown Poop
Budgie poop that is brown in color can be a result of the intake of pellets.
Yellowish-brown poop with a mushy, strong odor is a sign of some health issues with your bird.
4. Budgie Poop White
Birds convert nitrogenous wastes into uric acid, which forms the white part of normal budgie poop.
If the poop is all white, then the bird is not processing food well.
5. Yellow Poop
It’s normal for poop to have slightly yellow uric acid. However, bright yellow is abnormal, and your bird might be sick.
Yellowish-green urate can be a sign of diabetes or liver disease in birds.
6. Red Poop
If your bird has eaten red foods, it’s normal for its poop to have a red color. Intestinal problems can also be a cause for such poop, as the bird will be passing blood in its poop.
If the urate part is red, then it is a sign of lead poisoning.
7. Gray Poop
A bird can have grey poop if it has a problem with its pancreas.
Unhealthy Budgie Poop
1. Maybe watery, slimy, with an unpleasant smell.
2. Increase in watery components or too much urine. Which is an indication of a disease, the bird has eaten wet food or drank excessive amounts of water.
3. Smelly droppings as a result of a digestive problem or infection
4. No poop at all is a sign that the bird is not eating or has a blockage.
5. Undigested food in the poop signals issues with the digestive system, infections, or intestinal parasites.
Budgie Poop Watery
The poop texture varies based on how much water is in the bird’s diet. Intake of fresh fruits and vegetables daily will lead to more watery feces.
Having excess urine but stools that remain the same can be due to illnesses, parasites, infections, or stress.
Watery poop is sometimes passed when a budgie has Diabetes.
Budgie Poop Is Green and Watery Treatment
1. Ensure that you feed your budgie a diet consisting of a mixture of seeds, pellets, fruits, and vegetables.
2. Regulate the amount of water your bird takes.
3. Take your budgie to the veterinarian for a medical checkup and treatment.
Is Budgie Poop Toxic?
No, healthy budgie poop is not toxic, but when left to dry out, the poop releases bacteria and fungi into the air. The bacteria can cause respiratory issues if inhaled.
Unhealthy budgie poop is toxic as it contains many parasites and bacteria. It can also have roundworm larvae.
Ensure that you regularly clean your budgie’s cage to keep it free of bacteria and fungi. Wear gloves when cleaning the cage and avoid touching your nose, eyes, or mouth. Consider wearing a face mask if you have any respiratory conditions.