Many of us have been unlucky enough to experience constipation, this uncomfortable feeling in our stomachs can be the result of a poor diet or a lack of exercise. What many don’t know is that animals can also get constipated. All types of dog breeds, cats breeds and other domesticated and wild animals can suffer from constipation too. But how about birds? Can birds get constipated? This article looks into it.

Yes, birds can get constipated, birds can get constipated as a result of low fibre, gastroenteritis, eating a lot of food with little water or a lack of oil. This results in the bird having difficulty defecating. Luckily, you can help treat this by giving the animal foods rich in fibre and oil.

Do birds get constipated?

Birds can get constipated if their diet is low in fibre, if it has gastroenteritis, if it eats a lot of food with little water or eats a diet that is lacking in oil. You will know a bird is constipated if its droppings are drier than they should be and it can’t pass them. This happens because the bird’s bowels are puling more liquid out of the faeces than they should.

Constipation may not require a vet visit, but, you must have an accurate diagnosis to treat the problem. If you try out some of the suggestions listed below to clear constipation and the bird still doesn’t poop correctly, then consult with a vet for help. 

How to treat a constipated bird? 

A constipated bird should be given vegetable oil or water to ease bowel movements. Also, feed the bird foods that are oil-rich. Find out the kinds of fruit the bird eats in the wild and serve them with its meals. Bird digestion is pretty quick so you should see results within a day or two.

Keep an eye on the animal to see if the bird needs care from a vet or if the change in diet has worked well. Another reason for constipation may be a routine that lacks exercise. Ensure the bird gets to move around as a workout to help with proper digestion. 

How do I know my bird’s poop is healthy? 

Bird poop should match the colour of its food or vary slightly to be considered healthy. Any serious variation from the original colour is a sign that there is something wrong. Particularly dark poop, when the bird is eating brighter and lighter coloured foods, indicates likely internal bleeding or a parasitic infection.

Bird poop should also be a mixture of a soft solid and a milky white urate. A variation in the consistency of the birds poop is a signal that there is a problem, like constipation. 

A strong smell from bird poop is a sign of bad health. Figure out through research or from a vet about common intestinal problems that the bird can face and see if you can remedy it. Keep in mind that birds are very fragile and need expert advice when sick. 

How do bird owners deal with poop?

Some bird owners choose to train their birds to do number two (and one) at specific places. This helps to maintain cleanness. Others create mixtures for cleaning bird poop that will leave no stain and that prevent air contamination.

A common and easy way to deal with bird poop is to use a pressure washer. This is mostly used on hard and outdoor surfaces which do not stain easily. You can train a bird to poop in designated poop areas while outdoors as well. 

Can you train a bird where to poop?

A bird can be trained where to poop just like many other domestic pets. Monitor the bird to figure out the signs of when it is ready to poop. Then whenever you notice it is ready to poop, train it to move to the designated poop area(s). Reward it with a treat to reinforce the behaviour. 

Conclusion

In conclusion yes birds do get constipated, this happens less likely in the wild where they’re getting foods rich in fibre, domesticated birds can more likely become constipated. You can treat this by offering the bird more fibrous foods, water and oil.

If your birds pop is similarly coloured to the food that its eating and the poop does not smell then you know it’s healthy. You can train a bird to poop in specific places and if you want to get bird poop off surfaces you can use a pressure washer.

If you enjoyed this article then you may also be interested in other bird related articles. Here are some articles that you may be interested in: What do birds smell like?, Can a bird’s broken leg heal on its own?, Hydrogen peroxide in a birdbath, helpful or harmful?,  Why do birds poop on black cars?,