Parrots hide illness until they cannot anymore. In the wild, a sick bird gets targeted by predators. Your parrot has the same instinct: it will look healthy until it is very sick. Knowing the early signs is the difference between a treatable condition and a lost bird.
What to check every morning
Before you do anything else, look at your parrot for 30 seconds. Is it on both feet? Are the eyes bright and round? Is the bird vocalising at its normal level? A quiet parrot is a red flag. Changes in behaviour — aggression, withdrawal, reduced vocalisation — are often the first sign of illness.
Droppings tell the story
Check the cage floor every morning. Normal droppings have three parts: dark green or brown solid, white or cream urate, clear liquid urine. Yellow or lime-green droppings (liver issue). Red or black droppings (internal bleeding). Watery droppings with no solid (infection). Foul smell (bacterial overgrowth).
Feather and skin warning signs
Fluffed feathers that do not smooth out, excessive sleeping, drooping wings, tail bobbing (laboured breathing), weight loss felt through the keel bone, discharge from the nares or eyes — any one of these needs veterinary attention.
Where to find an avian vet in Cairo
Avian vets are not common in Egypt. The main options are the veterinary teaching hospitals at Cairo University and private exotic pet clinics in Maadi, Zamalek and New Cairo. Ask for a vet who specifically treats birds — a general vet may not have parrot experience. Save the clinic number before you need it.
In an emergency, keep the bird warm at 28-30C, minimise handling, and get to the vet immediately. Do not give any medication without a prescription — parrots are extremely sensitive to drug dosages.