Expert: Chrys Meatyard - 1/11/2007

Question
Hi,

From the last 2 days I keep noticing my cobalt lineolated parakeet is coughing regularly. Overall she is a lively bird and keeps herself amused with toys and enjoys preening her friend who is a male olive green linnie.

As I type this minute, she is playing with her bell toy but is also coughing sometimes. I'm not sure what's wrong but I have a hunch it might be the nesting material I put in their box where they spend a lot of time. The nesting material is actually for finches as I have no other material. It's a fine hair-like material. Maybe some of that is stuck in her throat?

Their cage is cleaned once a week and disinfected. The 2 linnies live alongside 2 budgies who are also a male and a female. We give all 4 birds a good mist spray shower once a week when their cage is being washed and disinfeced.

All four bireds' diet is made up of premium budgie seed and frozen mixed vegetables which we defrost and give them daily. Their water is also changed daily.

I'm worried and would really appreciate your advice.

Many thanks.

Khan

Answer
Hi, Khan.  Thanks for posting!

If this bird is actually coughing, she might have a respiratory problem.  I doubt the nesting material is causing the problem, but it might be.  Unless you are breeding this pair, they don't need a nesting box with nesting material inside.  If you leave as is, babies are sure to come.

An all-seed diet is not a healthy diet for your birds.  They need more fresh veggies, pelleted food, and a variety of other types of healthy, human foods.

If this is indeed coughing, are there signs of anything coming out of the bird's nostrils?  Is the bird showing any other signs of illness?  Is the bird having any breathing difficulties?  It could be the nesting material or something else in her throat, but the only way to get to the bottom of this is for you to take the bird to an avian veterinarian for a medical evaluation in order to determine if there's a problem.  Don't wait too long because if this bird is ill or developing an illness, she could go downhill fast.  

Chrys