Birds
Questions & Answers

Browse by Species

Cats

My Love Bird has stopped eating as much, been losing weight, throwing up, and has been kind of had a drooping head and body overall, also has a bald spot that looks irritated. Our love birds have their water changed 3 times a day, their food changed twice a day and clean cages as well as those anti mite things on their cages. We don’t know what to do as we fear one of our love birds is getting worse and worse, could you help?

Small birds, such as lovebirds, need to be examined by an experienced avian veterinarian at the first sign of disease. There are many illnesses that could cause the signs that you describe. Please call us to set up a convenient...

Is it possible to acquire a disease-free Silkie chicken. I don’t want to threaten the health of my 20 pet budgies, but I was considering a “lap chicken” as a pet. Are there any viruses inevitably endemic to domestic chickens that are a danger to my budgies? Are vaccinations available or recommended for chickens? The hen would be a house pet, and never exposed to wild birds, or mosquitoes.

Thanks for your question. Before acquiring a pet chicken, be sure you check with your local code enforcement to see whether you are allowed to have farm animals where you live. They are prohibited in many areas. Disease-free poultry are...

Do you treat ducks?

Yes, we have extensive experience in the treatment of ducks and other types of birds. Dr. Peter Helmer is a Board-Certified Specialist in the care of birds and has worked on lots of waterfowl as well as chickens and other...

My 3 year old Quaker Parrot has been self mutilating. What can I do?

Q: My 3 year old Quaker Parrot has been self mutilating. It started on his neck and legs. But now he has pulled all the feathers from under his wings. Now he has a raw spot under one wing. Should...

I accidentally spooked a mother bird from her nest and 2 babies. It’s been hours and she hasn’t returned. Will she come back?

Yes, she will return. Birds have a very strong maternal instinct. The best course of action is to leave the babies and nest undisturbed and the parent bird will come back.

Should birds get vaccinations?

It is very important that breeding birds and young chicks be protected against polyomavirus through appropriate vaccination. There is little risk to the routine use of the vaccine in adult pet birds; however ...