Why does my parakeet have varying poop sizes before laying eggs?

Thank you for your question about Pecker, and I really appreciate you including pictures as they are very helpful! The droppings overall look very normal and appropriate, which is great. The urates are bright and white and the amount of urine is appropriate. I see what you mean about the difference in color - the lighter brown are less concerning to me than the darker colored ones. The reason for that is dark brown to black stools can be indicative of digested blood in the feces, also known as melena. In Pecker's case, with him being very new to you and you doing a diet switch (which is great, by the way - I recommend that budgies eat at least 50% pellets and then the rest of the diet can be made up of seed and produce items), I wouldn't worry too much because it may be due to the transition. However, if the dark stools continue, it would be advisable to take Pecker in for a wellness examination to have him (and his feces) evaluated. When you go, please make sure that you bring some of the dark feces, as your veterinarian can have it tested for occult (hidden) blood. They can also perform a thorough physical exam on him. Also, if anything about Pecker changes, including his attitude or appetite, this would also be reason to go into a veterinarian sooner rather than later. I would recommend regular weighing for him as well - you can do this by using a perch on top of a digital gram scale (found in the kitchen section of most department stores). I would recommend doing this 3 times per week. This will allow you to ensure he is not getting chunky or losing weight for some reason! Good luck with your new pet!

Thanks for your question about Blue. From what I can gather, you are concerned about her watery droppings, but you don’t have any other concerns about her. If this isn’t correct, please repost your question. Watery droppings can be loose poop, but it can also be increased urine. Since Blue just laid eggs, she may be stressed, which can result in an increase in waterin the droppings. This should improve within a few days of her laying the eggs. If things don’t improve, there may be something else going on. This can include problems with her kidneys or infectious diseases (such as bacteria). If the droppings don’t improve, I would recommend that Blue is taken to a veterinarian for evaluation. They can take a close look at her and the droppings and can look at a sample under the microscope. From there, they can make treatment recommendations. I hope that gives you a place to start, and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

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.

It is quite common to happen but I would not say it is normal. I suggest you go over her diet very carefully and make sure everything is 100% correct. Here is a good link for you to reference regarding diet: https://pets.thenest.com/list-foods-can-feed-parakeets-7731.html If you are feeding seeds/pellets be sure they are high quality like Zupreem or RoudyBush: https://www.petland.ca/collections/bird-food-1/products/zupreem-fruitblend-flavor https://www.petland.ca/collections/bird-food-1/products/roudybush-maintenace-premium-bird-food-available-in-different-sizes Usually this is a diet related issue. If you keep noticing this happening even after you have corrected the diet then I suggest you get Coco to an avian veterinarian for an exam.

Here is a good article on bird poop: https://www.petcoach.co/article/bird-droppings-the-importance-of-daily-observation-in-early/ It would help to know what breed of bird you have and what you feed your bird and whether your bird is showing any signs of illness or discomfort, as this also would determine whether the poop on the pictures is abnormal or normal. So maybe you can ask the question again giving us this information so we can help you better,

Thanks for reaching out about Tweety. Could she be trying to pass an egg and is egg-bound? Otherwise, a gastrointestinal foreign body, cloacal prolapse or other condition is possible. A veterinary visit is highly recommended, as soon as possible. Providing heat support can help, in the range of 80-85 F but is not a cure. Good luck.

Diet changes can affect the stool, and if you're feeding any extras in addition to the diet change, this could be causing the change you are seeing. It is also possible that his current diet is causing some minor GI upset if it changes immediately after eating and then returns to normal. Other issues such as internal parasites can also cause stool changes, so ruling out and treating for any parasites may be a good idea. Removing any extras such as fruit and veggies and providing only his balanced diet for a few days may also help him adjust and his stool return to normal. If the problem persists, or you see any other symptoms or changes such as reduced eating/drinking, lethargy, etc, then seeking vet care in person to rule out any more serious issues is best.