The veterinarian will assess the droppings of the bird and the behavior during this time. A healthy bird will be alert and attentive to the activity going on within the environment. Any abnormal behaviors such as tail bobbing, fluffing, head tucking or dropping off to sleep may indicate illness. The next stage of the exam will include the weighing of the bird. Charting the weight gain or loss helps to evaluate the general health of the bird as well as the nutritional status.
Birds often hide illness and weight change is one of the few methods of recognizing a problem.
Once the weight has been obtained, it is important to do a physical exam. During the physical exam, the veterinarian will look at the mouth, beak, and cere to assure that the tissue there is healthy. Plaques, discharges or the presence of accumulated food particles will be noted as indications of disease. The eyes and ears are examined to assure that they appear healthy. The skin and feathers are examined and abnormalities will be noted on the record as well.