Translated by Nick R
Although it may not be so apparent, birds age with the passing of the years, and just like humans, they begin to show signs that indicate that our friends are no longer the youngsters they used to be. That is when their appearance and behavior change.
Read to the end to recognize 7 signs of aging in birds and the age at which they are considered old.
Table of Contents
1. If your bird has plumage changes, it’s aging.
Just as it happens with human beings, birds also show similar gray hair when they get older.
As time goes by, our friend’s feathers are no longer the same, not to the point of having gray hair, but they still have some changes once the years come. Yet, most birds do not develop gray hair as they get older, except for wild species such as nightjars.
More specifically, as birds age, they begin to show depigmentation of their plumage, which is evident in a duller plumage. The colors and brightness of their wings are no longer the same.
Curious fact
A team of scientists from the University of Sheffield (UK) 2015 discovered that birds do not have gray hair because their genetic machine doesn’t use pigments such as melanin, but nanostructures.
These nanostructures make it possible to maintain the coloration of the birds’ plumage for a lifetime, defying time. Apparently, this is the same strategy used by amphibians and reptiles.
2. If your bird slows down physical activity, it’s aging
Something very evident when someone has entered old age is their movements and overall physical activity.
When birds are at this point and they are getting older, you’ll notice that their physical activity is not the same, but less. This is evident because birds are usually very active, we are talking about species such as canaries, goldfinches, parakeets or diamonds, which flutter all over the place.
When you notice that your bird loses its balance, moves slower, jumps and flights are shorter, you will know that it is getting older.
This is a sign that you need to make changes in his space to prevent him from overexerting himself or having accidents. One such change includes changing perches to shorter and lower perches, and you could also set aside a smaller cage for older birds.
3. If your bird is not as neat as it used to be, it’s getting older
Grooming is a very important and frequent activity among birds, as it is part of their grooming.
Has grooming become less frequent and has it become a chore for your bird?
If it is a positive answer, and your bird started to have difficulties with such common tasks as grooming, it means that it reached an advanced age where it will no longer be able to reach the same places on its body without being affected, mainly because arthritis does not let it.
4. If your bird has a very long beak and nails, it’s getting old
Birds that have aged begin to present certain aesthetic neglect that results in very important physical changes for their quality of life.
This sign is the consequence of the two previous ones: the lack of activity and grooming damage the natural wear of its beak and nails, which cause an overgrowth.
This overgrowth is detrimental and affects his quality of life, since, if his beak and nails grow more than normal, he will have difficulty eating, moving, and pressing things. Remember that he is no longer a youngster!
5. If your bird loses weight, it’s aging
When your bird gets older, its body assimilates food differently and it’s very possible for it to suffer from hypervitaminosis, a disease that produces an excessive accumulation of vitamins in the body, affecting the liver in some cases.
However, if it doesn’t suffer or has suffered from this disease, the bird’s low weight is mainly due to the fact that its organism does not absorb nutrients with the same efficiency, decreasing the use of food. You’ll be able to see them in their trunk and legs, which will look thinner.
For this reason, it’s very important to change the bird’s diet, avoiding foods with vitamins A and D in excess. Some of these foods are:
- Carrot
- Pumpkin
- Broccoli
- Orange and reddish fruits.
- Foods with high content of oil or fat.
Additionally, the low assimilation of vitamins is related to the opacity of the colors of its plumage, since they are essential nutrients for the pigmentation of the feathers.
6. If your bird’s legs are depigmented, it is aging
Another of the most obvious signs to determine if your bird is going through its aging stage is its legs. – Its legs?
Yes. Birds’ feet obviously change as they age, as their bodies change and do not assimilate the same nutrients from their food, the nutrients that allow the genes to express themselves and maintain the bird’s homeostasis (balance of the body).
The legs will become depigmented as well as their plumage, looking more opaque. For example, a canary’s legs are flesh-colored and shiny in their youth; when they get older, their legs become grayish and more scaly.
This sign will greatly affect your bird’s ability to mate, as females check this part of the body to select the youngest males.
7. If your bird is not behaving the same as it used to, it is getting older.
Your bird’s mental health is important, changes in his behavior are often indicators that something is wrong, but also that he is no longer young.
Is your friend no longer the same?
Pay attention to your bird’s behavior. Domestic birds are usually very cheerful and enjoy the company of people. If your bird becomes more shy, less cheerful or in the case of songbirds, stops singing, it is an indicator that it is entering its old age.
As birds age, they are looking for peace and quiet and more protection as if they were chicks again (think of your grandparents). Try to offer them a comfortable space and environment, without noise, quiet and safe; move their cage and play area to an exclusive and appropriate place.
At what age do birds age?
You should keep in mind that not all bird species age at the same time. Some, depending on their life expectancy, will age faster than others.
For example, birds with an average life expectancy of 10 to 12 years will begin to age at the age of 7 or 8 years. While longer-lived birds with a life expectancy of 15 to 20 years will begin to age at about 10 to 15 years of age.
Before you go…
You know! Birds age too and will need twice as much care, so treat them well, making their last years gentle. She will no longer be the same playful bird, but believe me, its love for you will still be intact. Love your pets and take care of them!
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