Red poos

TropicalAussie · Post by **TropicalAussie** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 5:10 pm

Hi guys,

This question is about my lorikeet, Nibbler, but I'm hoping you can still help. I was cleaning my varied lorikeet's cage on the weekend and I noticed that there were red markings on her tray. It was the same look as her normal dried droppings, just like they had been dyed red. I'm really worried and am taking her to the vet this week but I was hoping someone could give me some insight as to what it could be. I noticed them about 2 months ago when I last cleaned the cage (my partner usually cleans it) but we'd just put a red calcium perch in her cage and figured it must be that, but now I've seen them again. My partner said he hasn't noticed any red droppings.
Could it be from eating strawberries because I know my partner has been giving the birds a few of them lately? Or a vitamin deficiency, but we give them vitamins in their water weekly?
IFfanyone has any ideas, it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Post by **Lauren** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 11:45 pm

Its a good thing your taking her to the vet. I would do the same.
Yoda is obsessed with strawberries lately and it does change the colour of his poop. Not like a blood red. Just a redish tinge. Sometimes you can tell what theyve been eating just by the colour. Orange for carrots, red for strawberry, blue for blueberry.. well.. thats been my experience anyways. :wink:

Clare · Post by **Clare** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 11:51 pm

My IRN's poos change colour with thier diet. Especially some varieties of grapes, it goes dark purple. My vet said it was fine. Most berries I feed them change it. They do stain feet too.

Post by **Lauren** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 11:58 pm

Oh the feet! Yoda has had red feet for a few days now. hehe :roll:

TropicalAussie · Post by **TropicalAussie** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 8:18 pm

Thanks guys. She hasn't done a coloured poo in three days. I've stopped giving her anything coloured to check if it's the food. That's what the vet recommended I do before I bring her in.
I thought it was weird that she wasn't showing any other signs of being sick than the red poos. I might leave it two more days, then give her a strawberry and she if she does a red poo and then I'll know it's that.

swanwillow · Post by **swanwillow** » Tue Sep 18, 2007 5:41 pm

WHAT are you feeding your lorikeet? Diet changes shouldn't be a concern; no matter WHAT I feed mine, the color is ALWAYS that same brownish color... strawberries or not.

I'm just asking what her main diet is, cause they really shouldn't be on the new lory pellets; all they are are normal pellets with added sugar; for lorikeets, thats NOT a good thing. seeds that are sprouted are fine, but no straight seeds except for like, a few times a month treat; they can't digest them and can develop an impaction.

I've researched my butt off about lories, they are my FAVORITE bird species! but boy are they messy!

TropicalAussie · Post by **TropicalAussie** » Tue Sep 18, 2007 8:09 pm

I feed her loriwet and loridry. I wouldn't ever give her those pellets, she wouldn't eat them.
I also feed her apples, grapes, strawberries, canned peaches, occasionally some honey mixed in with her wet mix.
Oh, you're right about the mess!!! I've got miniature lories (the varied and purple crown) and I clean up more mess from them than my Indian Ringneck.
So, you reckon the red poos are something to really worry about? There was only a couple in her tray and I still haven't seen any since Saturday.

Fah · Post by **Fah** » Wed Sep 19, 2007 6:18 am

Regarding the colouring in the poop it can be as dangerous as an intestinal issue to as comical as the runs. I once changed from seed to pellets on two young IRN... one came out a little hungry.. the other had a full on tummy issue.. went all violent and dizzy.

Replaced with seed... it did nothing but eat and bang. Healthy birdie again.

Things like this can be from anything to a bad batch of berries casuing the digestive system to just shoot it right out... to having an internal cut / infection.

When it comes to something you are truely in doubt of... it never hurts to play safe. Take it to the vet and just get a simple blood work done. Heck.. maybe even just talking to a true professional might help.

julie · Post by **julie** » Wed Sep 19, 2007 6:38 am

Cookie (rainbow lorrie) eats cherries, strawberries and passion fruit and his poop changes colour. I have also noticed when the irns eat cherries there poo changes colour too.

swanwillow · Post by **swanwillow** » Wed Sep 19, 2007 6:59 am

well, maybe my lorikeet is crazy since her poop doesn't change color! huh, maybe you could call a vet and ask.. and they wouldn't charge?

The one single thing I hate the MOST about lory poop; I can't for the life of me figure out if its diarrhea or not! I mean, with all other birds, its easy; watery droppings. With lories... what? watery? when is it NOT!

I was told, if theres no other signs of illness, then its probably nothing.. Blueberry (my lory) was either regurgitation or vomiting; I can't tell which one. BUT, since she just hit puberty (s/he? dunno) its PROBABLY regurgitation...

lorikeets are definitely my favorite though
I'll never be without one, and am trying to find a breeding pair of goldies, and maybe others too.