Yes, pet birds can poop anywhere and they are most likely to poop after a healthy meal. But, if this behavior of the bird is creating a mess, then get to know how you can stop the bird from pooping everywhere.
Why Do Birds Poop Everywhere?
Birds have high metabolic waste and so they poop anywhere and everywhere. Based on the size, diet, and health of the bird the frequency of pooping varies. If the bird is small, it would take 10 to 15 minutes to eliminate waste and if the bird is larger it would poop every 30 to 45 minutes.
Here’s why they poop everywhere:
Birds Lack Sphincter Muscle Control
Birds do not have the sphincter muscle that controls the waste products from getting released anywhere or anytime. Thus, birds cannot control their pop and need to release it immediately.
High Metabolic Rate
Birds have a high metabolic rate, so their food gets processed faster and they need to eliminate the waste quite often.
Stress or Excitement
Due to stress or if the bird gets excited, then their bowel movement increases. Also, if the bird gets frightened then it can release water more frequently.
Natural Instinct
Birds mark their territory by pooping anywhere and everywhere, which prevents the predators from approaching, and also the smell of the waste keeps them away.
Dietary Habits
If the bird’s food and water get irregular, then it can affect their bowel movement. If you feed the bird too much fruits and vegetables, then it can lead to watery drooping and if you feed a high protein diet, they release more solid feces.
How to Stop Birds from Pooping Everywhere?
Try to understand the bird’s pooping habits, such as when, how often, and where the bird poops. If you can get these answers, it would be a lot easier to control their pooping behavior.
Here are the tips that you must follow:
Keep the bird in the Cage
If the bird is let out of the cage or allowed to roam freely in the room, then you won’t be able to control when or where they poop. To tackle this situation, either you can potty train the bird or keep them in a well-sized bird cage, where they can spread their wings. This will keep the area clean and also allow the bird to lead a healthy lifestyle.
Note Down the Poop Schedule of the Bird
Notice the behavior of the bird and the timings when it poops. This can help you to schedule the time to allow it to fly into the room without any hesitation. If you can understand when the bird is likely to poop you can put it inside the cage and after it is done, release the bird. However, you need to be patient, so that the bird can be restricted to poop everywhere.
Train the Bird
You can create a designated area or space for the bird to poop and instruct the bird to use it wherever it needs to relieve itself. Try using treats, rewards, or positive reinforcement and with regular practice, they would associate the areas for pooping. You can also use a potty-training bird toy, which would encourage the bird to eliminate waste in a specific area.
Use Bird Diaper
You can also invest in a good quality bird diaper, which can be attached to the back of the bird to catch the waste. These are available in different sizes and designs and are mostly used by bird owners who allow the bird to fly around the house. Buy washable and reusable bird diapers for a sustainable approach.
Restrict flying space
If you are allowing the bird to fly anywhere in your house, then it can take advantage and create a mess all over the place. So, try to restrict them in the room where you have placed the birdcage. This is a smart way to teach the bird that whenever the bird needs to relieve itself, it needs to fly back to the cage. Thus, the bird would get a chance to stretch its wing without pooping everywhere.
Clean the Poop Instantly
If the bird started pooping everywhere then it would also create an uncontrollable smell, so you must keep a poop remover. Make sure you get a good quality cleaner so that it can remove the stain as well as the smell. The cleaner should be well-equipped to clean the poop from anywhere, be it sofa or curtain, which would save the use of tissue paper and keep your house guest ready.
How to Potty Train a Pet Bird?
When you are about to potty train a pet bird, remember it needs patience and consistency, as it might take weeks or months to learn the behavior depending on the age and learning capability of the bird. But, it would definitely reduce the mess and you do not have to clean the bird droppings from everywhere.
So, here are the steps you need to follow:
- You have to create a specific area for the bird to poop; it can be a tray or a newspaper.
- Create a perching area and notice how the bird reacts to it.
- Note down the natural pooping habit of the bird, which is usually after they eat, drink, or early morning.
- When the bird is about to poop, instruct the bird to go to the pooping areas, it can be done by using a phrase or hand gesture.
- Whenever the bird poops in its designated area praise the bird, and give them a treat or reward. Carry this process every day, until the bird learns to poop in the designated area.
Can You Detect Health Issues Through Bird Poop?
Normal bird poop consists of solid feces, urates, and urine, but if there is any change in consistency, color, odor, or amount of these three parts, then it indicates the bird is having health issues. Also, a change in the frequency of a bird pooping can be noted due to diet, health, bowel movement, activity level, trees, or any sudden change in environment.
Why Does the Bird Poop on the Owner?
Birds pooping on the owner is indeed a unique and unusual behavior but there are reasons behind this choice of pooping. It is a sign of trust and shows their level of comfort with the owner. If the bird is not getting enough attention, they can poop to get a reaction from the owner. It can happen as part of their instinct, as birds cannot control their poop.
Is Pet Bird Poop Harmful for Humans?
Yes, pet bird poop is harmful to humans as it contains harmful bacteria and pathogens, such as Salmonella and E.coli. It can also have fungus which causes respiratory diseases such as histoplasmosis. If you inhale the bacteria from the dried bird dropping, then it can transmit bacterial infection “parrot fever” from the bird.
To prevent these health risks, you must regularly clean the birdcage wearing gloves, use a poop remover and disinfect the area wherever the bird poops and replace the cage lining or other materials. Also, take the bird for a regular check-up to ensure it is doing well.
Which Birds Can Be Easily Potty Trained?
Parakeets, cockatiels, conures, and lovebirds can be easily potty trained. However, you must remember that it takes effort, patience, understanding of the bird’s behavior, and consistency to successfully potty train a bird.
