Is my Parakeet sick?

Question
Hi Chrys,

Thanks for getting back to me so quick.

In reply to your question, he is molting, the scratching is directed more towards his left ear. I feed him on food bought from the pet store, the general mixed seed packets you get ('Food for Cockatiel's kg). I do give him the odd chopped up Apple or Pear. In fact that when the sneezing started just after feeding him the apple. He does have a treat stick inside the cage too. (Fruit and nut).

Do i need to get him to a vet. I worry as this is my first ever pet and i want to do things right.
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-----Question-----
I have just purchased my cockatiel 3 weeks ago. He seemed fine and settled down
quite quickly. How ever a couple of days ago he has been sneezing and scratching
himself alot. He eats and drinks fine.His droppings at times are a little runny
and other times normal. I am worried about him as he has stopped squawking as
well. Please help.

-----Answer-----
Hi, Pascal.  Thanks for posting!

Sneezing doesn't necessarily mean a bird is sick.  It could just mean he has something in his nostrils that needs to come out.  Birds don't catch colds, so sneezing isn't related to this.  Scratching could be from molting, but could also mean the air is too dry and is resulting in dry skin.  Exactly where is your bird scrating himself?  Is your bird molting?  Runny droppings could be the type of food the bird has recently eaten...what type of daily diet do you have your tiel on?  I need more details in order to try and help.

Thanks.

Chrys

Answer
Hi again, Pascal.

Molting results in pin feathers, which can be prickly to a bird as they grow out.  This is most likely why your bird is scratching.  Apples shouldn't make a bird sneeze...must be something else involved here.  Since molting is very stressful on a bird (combined with the recent move to a new environment, which is also stressful), I suspect this is what is causing the runny droppings at times.  However, it is possible runny droppings can be caused by other things.

Whether you take him to a vet or not is up to you, but you haven't given me any reasons in your posts to believe your keet is sick.

Chrys