Why is my lovebird pooping hard, dry droppings with no urine?

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.

Without much other info it would be hard to say what is going on. Some organ issues, parasites, and infections can cause whiter stool or urea changes, while feeding too many snacks/changes in diet can change it as well. If this has been ongoing for a while, I would have the affected bird checked out by your vet to rule out any serious health issues.

All bird droppings are made up of three parts: Feces, the solid, central part which can vary in color depending on the food the bird eats. Urates, the next layer of the ring, which can be cloudy-clear or with shades of white, yellows and greens, again depending on the foods eaten. Urine is the clear liquid, usually outer layer of the ring. Depending on the amount of fruits and fluids the bird eats/drinks, this can be a significant part of the dropping. Diarrhea is often actually Polyuria. True diarrhea is when the feces part of the droppings are not well formed and liquidy. Diarrhea is usually caused by a disease. Polyuria is when there’s more than usual amounts of the urine and urates (the feces are still well formed). Polyuria may be caused by viral infections, allergies to foods or even a tumor somewhere. There are just so many possible causes that a vet visit is essential in order to catch things early.

Birds that have their feathers up, also known as being fluffed, can do this for a number of reasons. These can include being cold, which can happen in air conditioned houses in the summer. They are fairly comfortable around 75-80F. Other reasons can be more serious, and include them being sick. With both of your birds having changes to their droppings - you mentioned there was more urine present than feces/poop - the birds could be drinking more water, or they may be eating less to cause these changes. To fully evaluate what is going on, I would recommend a vet visit for them. There, a full physical exam can be performed, and then blood work may be recommended to ensure that the kidneys (which are important in water regulation and the making of urine) are working properly. They can also determine if your birds are thin as well. Hope this helps, and good luck!

Thanks for reaching out about Pearl. The components of the droppings (feces, urates, urine) can vary during the day, due to diet, or other possibilities. The explained example sound like increased urine and less urates. This could be due to increased water consumption but possibly also due to renal disease. Some intestinal parasites can also modify how the intestines absorb water through the intestinal tract. If the problem persists, an visit to an avian veterinarian is recommended.

Thanks for reaching out about Popo and including photos. This sounds as if she is not eating (therefore no feces) and drinking more water (more urine). This is called polyuria. Kidney or liver problems, ingested foreign bodies, pain, hormonal problems are just a few of the possibilities. A veterinary visit is recommended to assess and provide a diagnostic/treatment plan. Providing heat support in the 80-85 F range can give some comfort. Not sure which antibiotic this is but unlikely this is caused by a gastrointestinal infection. Good luck.

Normal stools can be a little on the dry side. I would make sure Twitter is also getting enough water daily so that he isn't dehydrated. If his symptoms return, the stools still look off to you, or you see other signs of illness, a recheck with your vet is a good idea.