FAQ: Health for birds

No, fumes from bleach and other strong products can harm a bird. When cleaning with such products, move the bird to another room and bring it back only after airing well.

Yes, many insecticides are toxic to birds. Do not use them in the bird's room, and if you must, move the bird elsewhere and follow the product label and ventilation instructions.

Fumes from paint, varnish and glue and building dust can harm a bird's airways. During renovation keep the bird in another, well-ventilated room or somewhere else temporarily.

Lead and zinc can be found in old paint, curtain weights, jewellery or some metal objects a bird chews. Supervise a bird flying free, and if you suspect poisoning, contact a vet urgently.

Very dry air can dry out a bird's skin and feathers. Regular bathing or misting and a clean humidifier without fragrance additives, cleaned regularly, help.

Keep the cage in the shade, provide plenty of clean water and offer a bath. If the bird breathes with its beak open, holds its wings away from its body or seems lethargic, move it somewhere cooler and contact a vet.

Place the cage away from opening windows, doors and the air conditioner's airflow. If the bird sits fluffed up and listless for a long time, it may be a sign of illness rather than just cold, so contact a vet.

Probiotics are supplements of beneficial bacteria that support the gut flora. For birds they are mostly used on a vet's advice, for example after a course of antibiotics or stress, following the product label.

A healthy, well-fed bird usually does not need probiotics. If you are thinking of using them regularly, ask a vet first and follow the label instructions.

They are mixtures of salts and other substances dissolved in water that help maintain fluid balance, for example in hot weather or after a journey. Use them according to the label; they do not replace a vet's help if the bird is ill.

Birds lose fluids very quickly, so diarrhoea is dangerous for them and a vet should be contacted first. Use electrolytes or other supplements only as the vet advises.

No, vitamins and medicines for people are designed for a completely different body size and metabolism, so they can be dangerous for a bird. Give a bird only products made for birds or medicines a vet has prescribed.

Home remedies do not replace a vet's examination, and while waiting for them to work, a bird's condition can quickly get worse. If a bird seems ill, contact a vet as soon as possible.

Supplements for times of stress are sold for birds, but anxious behaviour can also stem from health problems. Ask a vet first, and for lasting results a calmer environment and routine often matter most.

These are additives some breeders use to maintain the feather colour of red or orange canaries during the moult. They are not necessary for the bird's health, and when used, the label must be followed strictly.

In the wild a weak bird becomes easy prey, so birds instinctively try to look healthy. By the time signs of illness are clearly visible, the illness is often well advanced, so there must be no delay.

Get urgent help if the bird sits fluffed up on the cage floor, struggles to breathe, is bleeding, is not eating, is straining, is injured or its droppings have suddenly changed a lot. A bird's condition can worsen within hours.

Fluffed-up feathers and sleepiness during the day are often among the first signs that a bird is unwell. Keep the bird warm and quiet and contact a vet as soon as possible.

Marked tail movement with every breath often shows that a bird is struggling to breathe. It is a serious sign, so the bird needs to see a vet urgently.

It is a condition in which a hen cannot lay an egg that has formed. She may strain, sit on the cage floor, have a swollen belly or seem weak – it is an emergency that needs a vet straight away.