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Birds--General/lovebird has blood on perch

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Expert: - 12/9/2006


Question
My lovebird has blood on her perch.  This has happened periodically in the two years we have had her.  I always figured it had something to do with menses, since there is no physical injury on her feet or body that we can detect.  The blood used to occur for a day or so every couple of months.  Recently it has been about once a week or so.  Other than that, she seems fine -- behavior, eating, and interaction with us has not changed at all.

Answer
Hi, Kathi.  Thanks for posting!

Birds don't have menses, so the blood is coming from her somewhere.  Usually, blood on the perch means some type of foot or leg injury, so look her over very carefully.  Could also be mouth or head injury and she gets blood on the perch when she cleans off her beak or rubs her head on the perch.  Her injury could be so small you might not see it.  It could also be blood from a broken blood feather...do you see any blood on any of her feathers anywhere?  I wouldn't worry too much if you can't find anything, as a little bit of blood (couple drops) isn't really significant, as long as she's acting fine otherwise.  If it's a broken blood feather, the broken feather will need to come out or it could bleed more.  Birds injure themselves a lot inside their cages and we never notice.

Come back with any additional questions.

Chrys  

Birds--General

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Chrys Meatyard

Expertise

I`ve been raising/breeding/handfeeding/selling parrots for over 20 years (parakeets/budgies, cockatiels, 6 subspecies of conures, parrotlets, amazons, lovebirds, etc.). I've been published in "Budgies" and "Cockatiels" offered by Bow Tie Productions, and have written avian articles for publication in England. I can provide advice in raising healthy birds, handfeeding/weaning babies, some health problems (although I'm NOT an avian veterinarian), nail/beak/wing clipping, general husbandry, etc. I also have experience with racing/showing homing pigeons. I cannot diagnose specific illness over this website. If you suspect your bird is ill or if you have an emergency, contact an avian veterinarian or emergency pet clinic ASAP.

Experience

Experience: Over 20 years raising parrots and over 13 years raising pigeons. Organizations: Currently, American Racing Pigeon Union and American Federation of Aviculture. Prior member Miami Valley Bird Club, Southern Ohio Pigeon Association, National Cockatiel Society, Miami Valley Sportsman's Club, others. Publications: Monthly newsletters of bird clubs.

Publications
I've been published in "Budgies" and "Cockatiels" offered by Bow Tie Productions, and have written avian articles for publication in England.

Education/Credentials
American Federation of Aviculture, completed Level I course, Fundamentals of Aviculture. Keeping/breeding parrots and other birds for over 20 years.

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