At the parrot sanctuary this week, a young boy asked me do parrots bleed?
I thought it seemed an odd question, but I did remind myself that I have had parrots for years, and I am very accustomed to their needs.
I explained the answer to him and then realized maybe this isn’t common knowledge.
Let’s answer the question, do parrots bleed?
Yes, parrots do bleed. Bleeding can be caused by a minor injury to something much more significant. If your parrot is bleeding, seek veterinary attention to establish the bleeding cause and get them the appropriate medical care they need.
Seeing your parrot bleeding would strike fear in most parrot owners.
Common causes for parrots bleeding are bleeding blood feathers, fractured or pulled and plucked toenails and beaks, and traumatized wingtips.
This article will discuss why your parrot may bleed, how to help your bleeding parrot, and when to seek veterinary care, and much more.
Let’s look at the most popular questions online about why your parrot may bleed.
How to stop my parrot bleeding?
Parrots don’t have a huge amount of blood in their bodies.
Only 10% of their body weight is blood, meaning that any blood loss can be significant for a parrot.
If you see more than a couple cc of blood, you need to act quickly to ensure your parrot’s health.
A healthy parrot has good blood clotting chances and can experience losses of up to about 50% of blood loss with supportive veterinary care.
This is not a “band-aid” approach with a bleeding parrot; they will require assistance immediately.
It is essential to find the cause of the bleeding.
Is the bleeding from an internal or an external injury?
Internal bleeding comes from a body cavity like the mouth, ears, nares, or vent, while external bleeding comes from the skin.
Determine the exact location of the bleeding.
Determine the extent of the injury.
Internal injuries require emergency veterinary attention: Get your parrot to the vet as soon as possible.
This includes bleeding from an orifice such as the nares, mouth, ears, eyes, or in the droppings.
Animal bites will require a vet urgently due to infection.
External injuries such as broken blood feathers, minor cuts.
If the bleeding is external, minimal, and not from an animal bite, place your bird in a clean cage to minimize movement and make observation easier.
If bleeding doesn’t stop within 5 minutes, give parrot first aid: Parrot first aid, in this case, means applying bird-safe styptic gel at the site of the bleeding and applying pressure for 1-2 minutes.
Once the bleeding has stopped, keep observing your parrot in the cage for at least 1-2 hours to ensure the bleeding doesn’t reoccur.
Keep your parrot warm and allow rest.
Why is my parrot bleeding from their bottom?
This could be a medical condition called melena.
Melena is bleeding in the upper section of the gastrointestinal tract.
It will appear very tar-like in color, blackened, or with a greenish tint in the bird’s stool.
Many loving and caring parrot owners are familiar with their parrot’s droppings.
When there is a change in color of those droppings, it can alert the owner to contact their veterinarian.
Do always seek veterinary advice if you see any signs of bleeding from your parrot’s bottom.
Why is my parrot bleeding from their beak?
A bleeding beak must be treated immediately.
If the bleeding is severe, owners may need to control bleeding at home before getting their birds to a vet.
Parrot beaks contain many blood vessels and nerves.
Beak injuries can result in significant bleeding and pain for parrots and inhibit a bird’s ability to eat.
Parrots with bleeding or very painful beaks and showing signs of not eating should be examined by a veterinarian right away.
Why is my parrot bleeding from its feathers?
Blood feathers, also known as pin feathers, are new feathers that are starting to grow.
They are actively growing; they need an ample blood supply and will bleed if broken, consequently the name.
When the feather is mature, the blood supply will recede, and the waxy sheath will be removed by the parrot.
This is a typical and regular process for parrots.
Why are my parrot’s nails bleeding?
This commonly happens when clipping your parrot’s nails, and the nail has been cut too short.
This can easily occur when trying to clip nails as your parrot only has to move at the wrong moment, and you’ve cut it too short by accident.
To stop the bleeding, clean the nail with lukewarm water and cornstarch in your hand or a bowl and dip the bird’s nail in it.
This will clot the blood. You may need to dip the nail a few times before it stops bleeding. Ensure the cornstarch does not get in your parrot’s eyes, and make sure they don’t inhale it.
Do female parrots bleed during periods?
Parrots do not have a uterus, which means they also have no uterine lining and don’t ritually shed any blood.
Female parrots do not have periods like mammals, but they do have a cycle.
They tend to be reproductive during particular times of the year, which depends on their location and other factors.
They produce eggs to breed.
If my parrot is bleeding, should I call a vet?
If you are in any doubt about your parrot’s health and well-being, do not hesitate to contact a vet.
If the bleeding reoccurs, take your parrot to a veterinarian immediately.
If your parrot is lethargic or panting, call the vet and get your parrot in urgently.
Do your best to stay calm and create a safe, confined space for your parrot, as it may reduce stress immediately.
Always seek veterinary advice if the injury is due to an animal bite.
Animal bites can be deadly due to infections within 24 hours and may involve severe internal injuries that you can not see.
Here you have found some of the common reasons parrots bleed and how to treat them.
Bleeding is a health concern and should always be treated as such. You must not ignore a bleeding parrot.
Do your best to stay calm and be aware your parrot will likely be in pain if bleeding.
Remain patient as any additional stress for your parrot can make bleeding worse.
If you have any concerns about your parrot’s health and well-being, contact a vet who can advise your bird’s appropriate care.