Hi everyone. I’m looking for advice from people who have experience with common mynas or other softbill birds. I’m really worried about my 5-year-old pet common myna, Meeku, whom I’ve rescued and raised since he was a baby.
Recently, I’ve noticed abnormal droppings, changes in his energy levels, and problems with his vent. I’m trying to figure out what could be causing these symptoms.
A little background about what happened:
I recently had to leave home for a trip and entrusted Meeku’s care to someone else. Unfortunately, when I returned, I found out that his water hadn’t been properly changed. Instead, fresh water had been added to the dirty water, and he had been drinking from that water for approximately four days.
Afterward, I became particularly concerned about his droppings and his vent, which had become blocked/dirty with sticky fecal material. I’m not sure whether the dirty water is related to his symptoms, but I’m worried it may have exposed him to harmful bacteria.
The symptoms I’ve noticed include:
Stringy droppings, sometimes with a green portion that looks stretchy or mucus-like.
Sticky, whitish/stringy fecal material around his vent, with his vent becoming blocked.
Periods of low energy, sleeping more than usual, fluffing up, and being quieter than normal.
Some feather loss.
Changes in the appearance and consistency of his droppings.
He has also had periods when he seems more alert, stays awake longer, and eats normally. This makes it difficult for me to understand how serious the problem might be.
What I’ve done so far:
I collected a fresh fecal sample and sent it to a laboratory for parasite and bacterial testing. I’m currently waiting for the results. However, I’m worried about whether the sample will be accepted for testing because the droppings were collected from the floor.
A local vet previously suggested that his symptoms might be caused by a dietary imbalance. I’ve also been trying to introduce softbill pellets into his diet, but he hasn’t started eating them properly yet.
I’d really appreciate advice on the following:
Could drinking water that wasn’t properly changed for four days expose a bird to bacteria or other infections that might cause these symptoms?
Can bacterial infections or parasites cause green, stretchy/stringy droppings and a blocked or dirty vent?
Could a dietary imbalance explain the symptoms, or should I be investigating other causes?
His diet is:
Plain simple cooked egg and fruits and vegetables
I even ordered pretty birds species specific soft bill diet for him but had to put a stop to it since he wasn’t interested in that so I crushed it into powder form and mixed it into his egg and bread but that upset his stomach. And he didn’t poop. When he did it was a mushy poop and there was a lot of it. I’ll introduce dried mealworms into his diet too. But his dropping issue has made me reluctant to add anything else in his diet right now.
If his parasite and bacterial tests come back negative, what other tests should I discuss with an avian vet?
What should I do if the abnormal droppings continue despite him eating normally and occasionally appearing active?
And I can’t take him to a vet since he really becomes stressed from handling.
Has anyone experienced anything similar with their Indian myna or another softbill bird?
I’m very attached to Meeku and have raised him since he was a baby. I’m trying my best to find the cause rather than treating him blindly, which is why I’ve sent the samples for testing.
Any advice from people with relevant experience, especially those familiar with mynas and avian veterinary care, would mean a lot to me. Thank you for reading.
