Parrot Health - Introduction to Keeping a Healthy Parrot

If you have a single pet parrot then the health issues you face will be very different than those encountered by fanciers keeping a collection of birds in an aviary. This is particularly true of viral infections which can spread quickly between birds kept in groups. The types of illnesses faced by a single pet parrot are usually treatable by available medication if caught in the early stages, thus it is important that you know your parrot well and keep an eye on it. The most risky period can be when your bird is young and its immune system is not fully developed.

Even if you keep a single bird you remain at risk from a contagious disease if you visit other parrots and then return to your bird without first thoroughly cleaning your hands, in fact some illnesses are so contagious they could spread just from your feet if you walked in an infected area prior to coming in touch with your pet. Another risk would be using a second-hand or borrowed cage that has not first been thoroughly cleaned.

If you have purchased a young parrot you may want to have the vet screen its droppings for parasites as this will help you catch any illnesses in the early stages. This is an expensive precaution, but it could save you money in the long run, and will maximize your pet's chances of a long and healthy life.

It is incredibly difficult to diagnose a sick parrot and it is highly recommended that you consult a vet right away if you notice any unusual patterns of behavior in you bird such as loss of appetite or deterioration in the quality of plumage. Another important tip is to keep an eye on your parrot's tail which should not move around noticeably. If tail movement is noticeable then this is often a sign of respiratory problems.

You will find that large parrots tend to respond better to treatment than parakeets, and with small birds there is always a risk that the antibiotics will be too strong for them.

Illnesses can cover a number of areas and it is beyond the scope of this article to go into detail, but the areas of health to watch out for are:


Bill and eye ailments, particularly overgrown bills
Digestive tracts issues, E. Coli is a well known example
Fractures, it is important to handle birds with care
Nutritional disorders, including lipomas and candidiasis
Parasites, such as intestinal roundworms
Plumage issues, such as French moult
Reproductive tract issues, like egg-binding
Respiratory problems, these often involve blocked sinuses

Danny Oakes writes is a passionate aviculturist who writes on parrot care, and recently wrote a detailed piece about parrot health along with a separate article about the controversial issue of wing clipping.