Small parakeets

Egg binding

SignsHen with swollen vent crouching on the floor, straining, rapid breathing, dragging one leg

PreventionSuppress hormones (no more than 12 hours of light, remove nesting material, avoid excessive petting). Calcium supplementation

Avian gastric yeast (megabacteria)

SignsLosing weight despite eating, undigested seed in droppings, vomiting, black droppings, lethargy

PreventionFecal test on arrival. Treat before adulthood. Do not share dishes with other birds

Crop infection (ingluvitis)

SignsFrequent vomiting or head-shaking that flings food, bad breath, swollen crop, reduced appetite

PreventionChange food and water daily; keep dishes clean. Hand-feeding formula at the right temperature. No old food or spoiled greens

Tumors (testicular, kidney)

SignsCere (above the nostrils) changes color, one leg paralyzed and bird falls off the perch, swollen abdomen

PreventionCommon in budgerigars. Suppress hormones and keep a healthy weight. Checkups every six months for early detection

Obesity / fatty liver

SignsMore fat than muscle on the chest so the keel cannot be felt, out of breath soon after flying, overgrown beak, yellowish abdomen

PreventionWeigh every morning. Switch from a seed-based diet to pellets and measure portions. Daily out-of-cage time for exercise

Scaly face/leg mites (Knemidokoptes)

SignsBeak, feet and area around the eyes become white, crusty and thickened; beak deforms and overgrows; itching

PreventionAvoid contact with infected birds. Test on arrival. Check beak and feet daily

Fractures (wing, leg)

PreventionClose windows and draw curtains during free flight. Remove causes of night-time thrashing (noises)

First aidIf a wing droops or a leg points the wrong way, do not handle; place in a small box, keep dark and warm, and see a vet the same day. Do not splint it yourself

Bleeding from a nail or beak

PreventionTrim nails short of the blood vessel. Watch for loose threads on fabric that can catch nails

First aidPress with clean gauze for a few minutes; apply styptic powder (for small animals) or potato starch. See a vet if it does not stop

Burns / hot water

PreventionStop cooking, boiling water and ironing during free flight. Do not leave hot drinks out

First aidGently cool the area with room-temperature water, apply no oil or ointment, keep warm and see a vet the same day. Urgent if breathing is labored

Collisions / bruising

PreventionPut markers on window glass and mirrors. Close gaps behind furniture, aquariums and toilet lids

First aidKeep warm in a dark, quiet box and watch for 30 minutes. See a vet immediately for unsteadiness, bleeding or head tilt. Head trauma: see a vet the same day

Psittacosis

RouteInhaling dried droppings or feather dust; mouth-to-beak feeding

PreventionWear a mask and mist with a spray bottle before cleaning so dust does not rise. No mouth-to-beak feeding. Tell your doctor you keep birds if you have fever or cough

Cryptococcosis

RouteInhaling spores of mold growing on droppings

PreventionRemove droppings daily and avoid damp spots. People with weakened immunity should not do the cleaning

Salmonellosis

RouteOral, via hands that touched droppings or dishes

PreventionAlways wash hands after care. If washing dishes in the kitchen sink, disinfect the sink

Bird allergy / hypersensitivity pneumonitis

RouteInhaling feather dust (powder down) or dust from droppings

PreventionAir purifier, ventilation and frequent cleaning. See a doctor early for a persistent cough

Food

• Complete pellets as the staple (about 10% of body weight per day)
• If feeding seed, add cuttlebone/oyster shell grit, leafy greens and a vitamin supplement
• A little leafy greens daily (komatsuna, pea shoots); feed twice a day, morning and evening

Water

• Change every morning; twice a day in summer. A sudden change in water intake needs attention
• Place the water dish where food and droppings cannot fall in. A bottle can be used as well

Toys & play

• Chewable wooden or paper toys, swings, bells
• Check jute/hemp rope toys for fraying that can tangle toes; replace regularly
• Do not leave a mirror in permanently; it triggers hormonal behavior and dependence

Nest, bed & hideout

• No nest box or pot nest except for breeding (prevents hormonal behavior)
• 2–3 natural-wood perches of different thicknesses

Bedding & litter

• Newspaper or paper towels under the grate, changed daily
• Wash the grate weekly; check droppings daily
• No sand or pet pads (dangerous if chewed)

Cage / housing material

Plated metal with no rust or peeling paint. Beware of zinc and lead poisoning

Size & space

Rectangular, at least 35–45 cm wide. One bird per cage as a rule

Layout

• Place perches at different heights so droppings do not fall into food
• Food and water near a perch, where droppings cannot fall in
• Cover at night for 12+ hours of dark rest

Placement notes

• Keep away from the kitchen (cooking fumes), direct sun and air-conditioner drafts
• At eye level, with a wall behind it, where the bird feels secure

Exercise, free-roam & walks

• 30 minutes to 1 hour out of the cage daily. Close all windows and doors and stay in the room
• Before letting the bird out, put away pots, water, houseplants and small objects
• In breeding season, shorten out-of-cage time and stop the bird from crawling into dark spaces

Temperature & humidity

Temperature25–28°C (28–30°C for chicks, sick and elderly birds)

Humidity50–60%. Use a humidifier in dry winter air

Summer & winter

• Summer: avoid direct sun, keep below 28°C, change water often as it spoils
• Winter: pet heater plus thermometer, cover for warmth. No direct air-conditioner draft

Nail trimming

When overgrown, hold up to light to see the vessel and trim only the tip. If unsure, have the vet do it. For bleeding, press and apply styptic powder

Brushing, skin & coat care

Not needed. During molt, do not disturb feathers; mist before cleaning up dust. Abnormal feather loss: see a vet

Other care

Bathing 2–3 times a week (room-temperature water). The beak wears naturally; overgrowth may signal liver disease or mites, so see a vet

Protection from predators

• Never let the bird out in a room with cats, dogs or ferrets. Keep the cage out of their reach too
• Near windows, watch for crows and snakes getting in and the bird escaping
• Mosquitoes carry avian pox. Use screens or netting

Foreign-body ingestion

Metal fragments, beads, thread, rubber bands and nails cause heavy-metal poisoning or intestinal blockage if swallowed. Put small objects away before free flight; if swallowed, see a vet urgently

Being stepped on

These birds walk on the floor and come to your feet. Shuffle when walking, do not sit during free flight, and always check where the bird is before standing up

Getting pinched

Crushing deaths from doors, sliding doors and cushions are common. Do not open or close doors during free flight; always know where the bird is

Falls

Clipped birds fall and strike the chest. Obese birds fall easily too. Lay rugs on the floor and do not let the bird fly from high places. If it falls and does not move, see a vet immediately

Escape

Always close windows and the front door. If the bird escapes, call its name loudly and set the cage outside to lure it back. Search via the police, public health center and social media, and file a lost-pet report

Safe release procedure

1. Stop moving, exhale, and relax your hand
2. With the other hand, gently press the base of the beak to open it
3. Return the bird to the cage and give it some quiet distance
4. Review the cause of biting (hormones, fear, territory)

After the release

Wash the wound under running water and disinfect. See a dermatologist for swelling or fever. Discuss breeding-season aggression with the vet

What to tell the vet & what to bring

Weight records, newspaper with droppings, when symptoms started, type of food. Confirm in advance that the clinic treats small birds

Checking consciousness, breathing & heartbeat

• Breathing: is the chest rising and falling; open-mouth breathing or tail bobbing
• Heartbeat: place a finger on the chest and feel for a very fast vibration
• Consciousness: call its name, touch it, see if it opens its eyes

Stopping bleeding

• Press the site with clean gauze for a few minutes
• For a nail or feather shaft, apply styptic powder or potato starch
• If bleeding continues or spreads, keep pressing while transporting

Transport

• Line a small plastic carrier or box with a towel and warm with a hand warmer
• Dark, quiet, no jolting, and no direct heating or air conditioning in the car