The survival instinct in birds means they’ll often pretend to be fine when they’re sick.
The answer is to watch your bird carefully and look for tell tale signs that help you recognise when illness strikes.
Keep an eye on his droppings. If they change, either in colour or substance, and you haven’t changed his diet, then he may be getting sick.
Watch his eating habits too. If his appetite changes dramatically something is wrong. If his appetite doesn’t return to normal within a few days get him looked at; considerable weight loss or gain is dangerous.
Another sign is a change in his feathers. Birds fluff up their feathers to keep warm and also when they relax for sleep. But they also have a tendency to do this when sick. If your bird sits puffed up all day, he’s probably suffering with something.
Discharge from your bird’s eyes or nose is also a sign that he’s unwell. If this is occurring it’s usually a more sinister illness, so take him to the vet immediately.
Your bird will try to deceive you when he’s unwell, so if you have any niggling doubts and witness any of the above, seek help from a specialist avian vet. It’s better to be safe than sorry.