YES, I know this is a sign of illness, he was taken promptly to the vet and given antibiotics which I'm administering twice daily and his large cage is being kept in absolutely pristine condition.
For the last two days, my cockatiel's droppings have been sticking to his vent feathers. He's very young and while he's tame, he's not yet fully used to being handled. We're unsure on how to help him clean it off! He's obviously trying to preen it and is quite uncomfortable. We've tried offering him a shallow bowl of water and we have tried misting him lightly with water but he gets uncomfortable and frightened. I've tried wiping it (when he will allow me) with a moistened paper towel but all I seem to do is spread it. He really hates being turned upside down (I have to do so to give him his meds) so I can't get good enough access to it. How can I help him clean the droppings off?
For the last two days, my cockatiel's droppings have been sticking to his vent feathers. He's very young and while he's tame, he's not yet fully used to being handled. We're unsure on how to help him clean it off! He's obviously trying to preen it and is quite uncomfortable. We've tried offering him a shallow bowl of water and we have tried misting him lightly with water but he gets uncomfortable and frightened. I've tried wiping it (when he will allow me) with a moistened paper towel but all I seem to do is spread it. He really hates being turned upside down (I have to do so to give him his meds) so I can't get good enough access to it. How can I help him clean the droppings off?