Are black lines on bird feathers and watery poop signs of stress?

Thanks for reaching out about Pudge and including photos. The black around the rim of the back feathers are probably stress bars. Poor feather quality can be due to dietary deficiencies, metabolic disorders (liver, renal), infectious diseases (viral, bacterial) and others. A veterinary visit is recommended to assist with a diagnostic/treatment plan. Diet should consist of pellets, a proteins source, a wide variety of vegetables and few or no seed. Good luck.

The consistency and appearance of droppings can be affected by diet. It is possible Flint had some fruit or fluids which resulted in looser droppings than normal. If he is behaving normally, keep an eye on what he eats and his droppings. If they remain loose and larger than normal, consider an exam with your veterinarian or an experienced avian veterinarian. You may want to submit the droppings to diagnose intestinal parasites or bacterial/fungal overgrowth. It is never recommended to medicate a pet without the advice of your veterinarian. Inappropriate antibiotic use can lead to resistant bacteria and may complicate any underlying condition which can delay diagnosis. If Flint did have an infection that was not susceptible to the antibiotic used, then there would be no improvement. An exam would be recommended to diagnose and properly treat any infection. Your vet can also take a look at the wing feathers to rule out infection (mites, bacterial, viral, fungal). You can bathe or mist him with warm water to promote preening and healthy plumage.

It could be infection or irritation. You would need to have her physically examined by your veterinarian or an experienced avian veterinarian to definitively diagnose this or other cause. Some birds will develop "stress bars" or spots on feathers when ill or when facing nutritional deficiency. Feather development is affected by an underlying cause resulting in darker coloration. It usually occurs in younger birds, but can happen in mature birds too.

Thank you for your question about Blue. I am glad that you asked, as no, this is not a normal color or consistency for budgie feces to have. I didn't see how old Blue was, or if she was on any medications, but I would recommend that you have her evaluated by a veterinarian. Dark, tarry stool like what you are describing may be due to digested blood. This can be secondary to some medications, certain toxins if she has gotten into something, or can be due to certain diseases of the intestinal tract. Your veterinarian can gather a detailed history from you which may reveal the cause, and will perform a thorough examination. From there, they may have recommendations for diagnostic testing. If possible, bring pictures, or even better a sample, of the stool for them to look at. They may also prescribe medications for Blue. Please do not give her any human medications, as many of these are harmful for our feathered friends. I hope that gives you a place to start, and that Blue feels better soon.

Stress and diet can both contribute to feather health and coloring. As long as your bird is behaving normally otherwise, there is likely no cause for concern. Monitor for lethargy, loss of appetite, loose droppings or excessive feather loss (not due to molting). These are symptoms that should be addressed by your veterinarian or an experienced avian veterinarian.

Seed and pellet colors can sometimes affect stool color, especially if the birds are otherwise healthy and acting normal. However, stool color can also sometimes be affected by issues such as parasites, illness, etc and birds are great at hiding it sometimes. Bringing in a sample of stool to your vet for testing, or keeping an eye and watching for any signs of sick birds may help figure out any possible causes.

Black, tarry, or bloody stool can indicate issues such as a GI bleed, digestive upset, or even parasites. In some cases, adding in too many fruits or veggies, or even different colored pellets within your bird's diet can also change the color of the stool, so if your bird is acting normal except for the stool change, stopping all treats and extras beyond regular food, checking for any pellets in the food that may be a similar color, and seeing if it clears up may help. If your bird is ill in addition to the color change, such as acting listless, not eating or drinking, losing weight, etc, it would be best to have him seen by a vet, so it is a good idea to try and explain this to your parents. If your bird is ill, it is very cruel of them to not provide him with appropriate medical care, or to at least seek a humane euthanasia if he is suffering and they do not wish to treat the issue.