Moustache Parakeet may be ill

Question
Hi,

We have a Moustache parakeet (under a year old) -- we have had him/her for about 5 weeks.  We went on vacation and left it at a bird boarding facility for 10 days.  When we picked up the bird, the gentleman who worked there mentioned that the bird looked pale.  He also mentioned that the bird was missing its tail feathers (They were there when we left it) I asked him if the bird should be taken to the vet -- he said "oh no" just give it some fruit in its diet-- we normally do -- but I only left nutriberries for the 10 day period.  I noticed that the stool is watery and the bird seems lethargic.  (I know when our dogs come back from the kennel they seem lethargic because it is so quiet at home). I was wondering if it might be stress or if they changed the bird's diet (I left pellets and nutriberries for each day -- separately measured and labelled) -- I know it sounds extreme -- but it was the first time we were leaving the bird.

Should I wait a day or so and see or should I take the bird to an avian vet right away.  (The bird belongs to my 8 year old and she will be heart broken -- so will the rest of the family) if anything happens to the bird.  

Thank you for any advice.  

Answer
Hi, Lorna.  Thanks for posting your concern.  Yes, your bird was definitely stressed out when you boarded it while you were gone.  Birds are creatures of habit and routine.  When these are disturbed, a bird will stress.  Only the bird facility can tell you if they changed it's diet.  And yes, a change of diet will also stress a bird and most of the time, a diet change will also upset their digestive system.  

I recommend you take your bird to an avian vet right away (don't wait...make an appt today).  This is because you haven't had him/her long enough to have learned his behavior well enough to really know if s/he is sick or not.  In addition, 10 days at a boarding facility is long enough for s/he to have caught some type of illness from another bird.  Something else that may have happened is because your bird was stressed out from being boarded, some type of "bug" could have overcome your bird's immune system and s/he could be ill.  I'm a bit concerned about all the bird's tail feathers being missing...this indicates to me that something was going on that wasn't quite right (birds don't just loose all their tail feathers at the same time).  I would also recommend perhaps you think twice before boarding your bird at this facility again.  

Come back if you need more information.  Thanks.  

Chrys